White River
Sportsman’s White River Resort
(870-453-2424) said the river is clear and high with eight generators
running. Trout are excellent, although it’s difficult fishing for
beginners. Experienced anglers are doing well with drift baits, Rogues
and Rapalas.
Randy Oliver at
www.randyoliverguide.com (901-832-1903) said he had no fishing report.
Guide Davy Wotton filed no fishing report.
Jim Brentlinger at
Linger’s Guide Service and Fishing Lodge(870-499-5185)
said generation is still heavy on the White River from Buffalo City to
Red’s Landing. That will continue until April 14 when some type of
“normal” generation schedule begins. The water is very heavy and very
fast. Be very careful when boating. Don’t make quick turns and stay away
from the bank so you don’t get hung up in new trees in the water.
Rapalas and Rogues will produce fish but you have to be patient.
PowerBaits on the bottom will work.
Triangle Sports
(870-793-7122) said the river is clear and high. Crappie are fair with
minnows under bobbers, in brush piles and in the creeks. Bass are fair
in the creeks with crankbaits, plastic worms and Gitzits.
Buffalo River
Just Fishing Guides
said as of Tuesday, Ponca was very low at 2.1 feet, Pruitt was very low
at 4.2 feet, Tyler Bend was moderate at 5 feet and Buffalo Point was
moderate at 4 feet. Water levels are just right and clear. Water
temperature is averaging 65 degrees, good for smallmouth bass. Water
levels are lower and very clear. Make sure you are fishing the deep
holes on warm, sunny days. Some good fish have been caught. With the
warmer temperatures continuing, fishing is really picking up. Fish slow
and deep with soft plastics or crawdad pattern flies.
Crooked Creek
Just Fishing Guides said
gauge at Kelley’s Slab was reading 11.22 feet and 324 cfs Tuesday. This
is about half a foot under the low-water bridge at Kelley’s Access.
Water temperature has been averaging 64 degrees.
Bull Shoals Lake
As of
Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at
654.96 feet msl (normal conservation pool – 654 msl).
Mike Worley’s Guide Service said
the water level is dropping fast with eight units running 24/7 at the
dam. Water temperature is in mid-60s. The water is muddy on the upper
end of the lake but much clearer from Point 11 to the dam. The bite has
picked up in the clearer water with walleye, bass, catfish and large
bluegills biting on night crawlers fished in 10-20 feet on bottom
bouncers or split-shot rigs during daylight. Stickbaits are catching
walleye and bass in the evenings and at night. White bass are schooling
and blowing up in the larger bays and creek arms, mostly in the
evenings. Bass can be caught on top-water baits in the morning and on
Carolina-rigged lizards and other soft plastics in bedding areas.
Bull Shoals Tailwater
Just Fishing Guides
said flows are continuous at 20,000-25,000 cfs as the Corps of
Engineers evacuates the lake. Try bright bigger nymphs and attractors
like San Juan worms and eggs, or try throwing big streamers with a
sink-tip. Don’t forget to add extra weight to get your nymphs down.
Lake Norfork
As of
Tuesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at
557.41 feet msl (normal conservation pool: September-April – 552 msl,
April-September – 554 msl).
Blackburn Resort had no report.
101 Grocery and Bait Tim Partin had no report.
STR Outfitters
Tom Reynolds said stripers are off the points in the main lake. The
Corps of Engineers has been lowering the lake with four gates and a
generator going 24 hours a day. This will continue until April 14. The
fish have moved from the creeks by the current from the dam. Fish the
points from Diamond Bay to the dam and up to Brushy and Big creeks. I
have been catching most of the stripers dragging a split weight and
threadfin shad in 25 feet of water. The best bite was after 10 a.m. The
threadfin started spawning in the marina, so look for them on the points
as the main lake warms. Fishing will continue to get better as the
weather continues to warm.
Hummingbird Hideaway Resort Lou
Gabric said Norfork Lake is bustling with fishing activity. The fishing
and catching has been great. Largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass
fishing is by far the best bite on the lake. Over the past week or so, I
have seen more 3- to 5-pound bass caught than ever before. I believe
this shows that the previous high-water years were a benefit to the
Norfork Lake fishery with the increase in numbers of fish, as well as
the size. The fish are hitting top-water lures early in the mornings and
late in the day. Cast a Spook, Fluke, Rogue or your favorite top-water
bait into the sunken buck brush, let it sit for 10 seconds or so then
walk-the-dog back to the boat. You may get hammered immediately in very
shallow water or they may follow it back and hit part way back to the
boat. Once the sun comes up, the fish are falling back into 12-20 feet
of water. You can then cast crankbaits, swimming minnows, jig and pigs.
If it is windy, try a spinner bait. I have found that the closer to the
bottom you are the more strikes you will get. For those fishing with
live bait, cast right up into the buck brush with no weights. Let the
minnow do its job and attract the fish. The striper and hybrid bite is
starting to happen, but is still a little inconsistent. Walleye are
feeding in the same areas as the bass and stripers; I haven't landed any
yet, but I know of quite a few nice-size walleye being caught. The
surface water temperature has fallen to the upper 60s. The lake is still
very stained with some clearing starting to happen in parts of the
lake.
Guide Steve Olomon had no report.
Randy Oliver at
www.randyoliverguide.com (901-832-1903) said he had no fishing report.
Norfork Tailwater
Randy Oliver at
www.randyoliverguide.com (901-832-1903) said he had no fishing report.
Just Fishing Guides
said after heavy rains last month, the Corps of Engineers is lowering
Norfork Lake with a combination of one unit of power generation and
spillway releases equivalent to 8,000 cfs. Egg, worm and streamer
patterns are your best bets.
They caught a lot of fish -- 20 to 22 inch
brown trout were common with plentiful rainbows. While here, they scheduled a
camping trip with us for their friends and employees on our private island at
the mouth of the Buffalo River. They
have done this before and say it’s still talked about amongst them.
