White River
(updated 8-2-2017) Cotter Trout Dock (870-435-6525) says
the only thing that could make a summer day on the White
River any better than it already is would be
spectacularly mild, sunny, gorgeous days. We've got it
here in the Arkansas Ozarks at Cotter. Make a date
to get to the White River, bring a picnic lunch to enjoy
at Big Spring Park between the morning and afternoon
catching sessions. Fluctuating water levels require a
variety of baits. The staples will include yellow and
pink Power Bait, 1/4 ounce red/gold spoons, a few jigs
including white, black and olive green (White River Zig
Jigs perform well) and a Rapala Countdown (gold/black is
a favorite). A cup of nightcrawlers or redworms is
a must. We're beginning to see some grasshoppers, so try
yellow or green hopper baits and skip them on the river
to attract some curious browns.
(updated 8-2-2017) Sportsman’s White River Resort
(870-453-2424) said the water has a lot of moss in it,
but fishing has been decent. Three generators are
running at night, and eight are cranking up during the
day. Rainbow trout are biting consistently well, but
it’s nothing to “rave” about right now.
(updated 8-2-2017) John Berry of Berry Brothers Guide
Service in Cotter (870-435-2169) said late last week
that they had had a trace of rain in Cotter, warmer
temperatures and moderate winds. The lake level at Bull
Shoals dropped 1.1 feet to rest at 24.8 feet above
seasonal power pool of 661 feet msl. This is 9.2 feet
below the top of flood pool. Upstream, Table Rock fell
1.4 feet to rest at 1.3 feet above seasonal power pool
and 12.7 feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake
fell 0.4 feet to rest at 6.8 feet above seasonal power
pool and 2.8 feet below the top of flood pool. On the
White, they had no wadable water with moderate
generation. On the White, the hot spot has been the Rim
Shoals. The hot flies were olive Woolly Buggers (sizes
8, 10), Y2Ks (sizes 14, 12), prince nymphs (size 14),
zebra midges (black with silver wire and silver bead or
red with silver wire and silver bead size 16 or 18),
pheasant tails (size 14), ruby midges (size 18), root
beer midges (size 18), pink and cerise San Juan worms
(size 10), and sowbugs (size 16). Double-fly nymph rigs
have been very effective (John’s current favorite is a
size 14 bead-head pheasant tail nymph with a ruby midge
suspended below it). Use lots of lead and long leaders
to get your flies down.
John, noting the recent heat spell, also says, “I
checked the temperature when I was on the river the
other day and it was 99 degrees. The fish are still
there. Our major trout streams are tailwaters and the
water temperature is constantly cool year-round. The
trick to fishing now is to beat the heat.
Bull Shoals Lake
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the
lake’s elevation at 686.18 feet msl (normal conservation
pool: 659.00 feet msl).
(updated 8-2-2017) Del Colvin at Bull Shoals Lake Boat
Dock had no new report this week, but summer patterns
should dominate. Look for bluffs, points and saddles and
try working a drop-shot rig with a fineese worm or
shad-style bait. Always have a topwater shad-imitation
tied on and ready in case you see some surface action.
Topwater lures like Whopper Ploppers and Spooks are also
good bets in the mornings. You can also drag a jig
or stroke it over the tops of submerged bushes to draw
some strikes from bass.
K Dock Marina said the lake is slowly starting to drop,
but the surface temperature is really going up! They’re
seeing most people fishing early and late evening to
avoid the heat. Not a lot of trolling right now. All
species are slow due to high water and temperature.
Water level going into last weekend was 687 feet msl and
falling (27 feet above normal). Water temperature was
ranging 88 to 92 degrees. Water is clear.
Norfork Lake
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the
lake’s elevation at 570.41 feet msl (normal conservation
pool: September-April 552.00 feet msl; April-September,
554.00 feet msl).
(updated 8-2-2017) Lou Gabric at Hummingbird Hideaway
Resort said the water level is falling around 2 to
3 inches per day and currently sits at 568.86. The lake
is clear to its normal green summer time tint. The
surface water temperature has reached 90 degrees, plus
or minus a few degrees. Fishing has not changed much
over the last couple of weeks, which means the striped
bass bite continues to be strong in deep water and all
other species are biting in zero to 20 feet of water.
When Lou has had the chance to get out, the bite has
been strong. Striped bass are being caught from south of
Point 2 to the dam and east of the dam to Jordan Island.
The larger stripers are being caught in 50 to 70 feet of
water. They're lying on the bottom early in the morning
and during the day. Live bait is working very well, but
several artificial baits also are working. Vertical
jigging with a spoon, as well as jigging with a small
3-inch grub (green or off-white) on the bottom. Move
your bait very slowly along the bottom. Trollers are
picking up some nice stripers, but again you will need
to get your bait down below 45 feet. Many nice-sized
largemouth bass have been seen in about 3 feet of water
early in the morning around the dock. The gravel parking
lot is still partially under water and the bait fish and
small blue gills are loving it with the warm water. Bass
are having a field day feeding at will. Look for those
flooded roadways early in the morning and cast out your
favorite soft-plastic crayfish imitation or swim bait
and you should pick up some nice fish. I am also noting
some bass hitting the surface early in the morning as
well as at sunset. Walleye fishing has also starting
picking up. The best water depth is around 18 feet on
large rounded points. Use a crawler harness with a
bottom bouncer or drop shot a live minnow to pick up
some nice fish. Bluegill also are in the 18-foot water
depth range; crickets have been one of the best baits at
this time. White bass have been sporadically erupting in
the mornings. I have gotten reports from all different
areas of the lake with topwater action. There have been
some nice-sized hybrids and mid-sized whites coming up
and feeding on small shad.
(updated 8-2-2017) Tom Reynolds of STR Outfitters says
this summer’s striper fishing has been the best in
years. Most guides are producing limits on each trip.
The stripers are moving deeper as the water warms up.
The highest temperature seen so far is 90.5 degrees in
the early morning and around 95 degrees later in the
day. The warm water puts a lot of pressure on the
stripers as oxygen levels keep dropping, which forces
the stripers go to deep. The good news is that they are
still feeding heavily in the morning, from 6 to 9 a.m.
Reynolds urges anglers to only catch your limit and quit
fishing. He’s seen a few floating stripers that were
caught and released, but can’t survive after the fight
during these hot days and low-oxygen conditions. The
basic fishing rig has not changed. A 3- or 4-oz. weight
with a short leader puts the bait on the bottom, then
bring it up about a foot and keep it there as you move
around. Stripers are still concentrated around the dam
area; the best places are Dam Cove, Koso, Thumb, Point 1
and the Hudson Area. Trolling and spooning is also
producing some fish but not the numbers the live bait
is. This action should continue into August.
Norfork Tailwater
(updated 8-2-2017) John Berry of Berry Brothers Guide
Service in Cotter (870-435-2169) said Norfork Lake fell
1.9 feet to rest at 14.3 feet above seasonal power pool
of 555.75 feet msl and 10 feet below the top of flood
pool. On the Norfork, they had no wadable water. All of
the lakes in the White River System are now below the
top of flood pool. We should expect a lot of generation,
with limited wadable water in the near future.
Meanwhile, the water is stained. It fishes well one day
and poorly the next. Navigate this stream with caution
as things have changed a bit during the recent flooding.
There has been major gravel recruitment at the bottom of
Mill Pond and the dock hole. The most productive flies
have been small midge patterns (sizes 18, 20, 22) like
ruby midges, root beer midges, zebra midges (black or
red with silver wire and silver bead) and soft hackles
(sizes 14, 16) like the Green Butt. Egg patterns have
also been productive. Double-fly nymph rigs have been
very effective. Try a small bead-headed nymph (zebra
midge, copper John or pheasant tail) suspended 18 inches
below a brightly colored San Juan worm (hot fluorescent
pink or cerise size 10). The fishing is better in the
morning. John’s favorite rig has been a cerise San Juan
worm with a ruby midge dropper. Dry Run Creek is fishing
well one day and poorly the next. With school out, it
can get a bit crowded. The hot flies have been sowbugs
(size 14), Y2Ks (size 12) and various colored San Juan
worms (worm brown, red, hot fluorescent pink and cerise
size 10). While you are at the creek you should visit
the Norfork National Fish Hatchery. It is fascinating.
Be sure and remove your waders before entering to
prevent the spread of aquatic diseases.
Buffalo National River/Crooked Creek
(updated 8-2-2017) John Berry of Berry Brothers Guide
Service in Cotter (870-435-2169) said the Buffalo
National River and Crooked Creek are low and clear. With
the warmer weather the smallmouths are more active.
John’s favorite fly is a Clouser minnow. Carefully check
the water level before entering Crooked Creek or the
Buffalo River. There are no dams on these streams. They
both have large drainages and are prone to flooding
during and following any rain event. The water can rise
very quickly.
