(updated 9-25-2019) Cotter Trout Dock (870-435-6525)
says, “Bull Shoals Lake is just 6 feet above desired
power pool level today. Compare that to the 27 feet over
power pool the lake was less than two months ago and we
appreciate the work the Corps of Engineers has been
doing. We are still receiving approximately 16,000 cfs
around the clock (equivalent to five power generators)
but it won't be long before the water level drops to a
less-swift, easier-to-navigate amount.
“The days are getting shorter and finally, cooler, tie
that to the higher water levels and we're seeing
rainbows spawning. Find an egg pattern orscented
egg-like bait that matches the color of the roe, and
you'll have more trout chasing your line than you can
manage. This week that would be X-Factor's steel head
orange, followed by fluorescent orange or sunrise
PowerBait. Red Wiggler Worms should always be an option
during high water events, with worm imitators (red,
natural or bubblegum pink) just as successful, if not
more so; cast toward the bank as you drift downstream
and the rainbows and an occasional brown will snap them
up. The browns are continuing to respond best to minnows
for now, but as the spawn kicks into high gear in the
next month or so, keep your options open and carry an
array of baits to pique their curiosity. Red/gold Thomas
Buoyant spoons, the gold Cleo and one or two stick baits
(Smithwicks with orange bellies are a tried-and-true
favorite), are tackle box staples on the White. We're
due for a colorful autumn this year; come watch the
leaves fall and the trout count rise. See you on the
river.”
(updated 9-25-2019) Sportsman’s White River Resort
(870-453-2424) says the river is clear and is at a
normal level and current. The trout bite has been
excellent this week, they report. They say 500 trout
were stocked recently, and one angler this week caught
the trout “Grand Slam”: rainbow, brown, cutthroat and
brook trout. He caught all four on a fly rod. PowerBait
is the bait of choice for rainbow-catching anglers this
week. The rainbows are excellent and are also biting
drift rigs, Power rigs and Power Worms. Brown trout are
picking up and are biting on jigs and stick baits. They
also report that for the first time in 15 years they had
seen a summer “shad kill” on the river.
(updated 9-25-2019) John Berry of Berry Brothers Guide
Service in Cotter (870-435-2169) said hopper season is
in full swing. Use a short (7½-foot) leader to turn over
the big fly. Cast near the bank and hang on. The takes
can be vicious. John says he prefers large western foam
hoppers so that he does not need to dress them. Add a
dropper nymph to increase your catch.
The White has fished very well. The hot spot has been
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 sizes 16,
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
combination is a cerise San Juan worm with an egg
pattern suspended below it). Use long leaders and plenty
of lead to get your flies down.
Bull Shoals Lake
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the
lake’s elevation at 670.54 feet msl (normal conservation
pool: 659.00 feet msl).
(updated 9-25-2019) Del Colvin at Bull Shoals Lake Boat
Dock said the Bull Shoals Lake level is back to normal
after a long summer of water being quite high.
Visibility is 5-10 feet. The clarity is clear and the
surface water temperature is 82 degrees. Bream are good
on redworms and crickets. Crappie are good, with best
results found in the creeks and around brushpiles.
Minnows or jigs will work. Black bass are shallower now,
in 15-20 feet depth. The bite is good on spinnerbaits,
topwater lures, buzzbaits and jigs. Nothing reported on
catfish. White bass are excellent using bottom bouncers
in 32-36 feet of water. Check Del’s YouTube page (Bull
Shoals Lake Boat Dock) for his latest video report on
what’s biting and techniques to use.
Norfork Lake
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the
lake’s elevation at 560.92 feet msl (normal conservation
pool: Sept.-April, 552.00 feet msl; April-Sept., 555.75
feet msl).
(updated 9-25-2019) Tom Reynolds of STR Outfitters said
September is still hot with no rain and cold weather. We
have had some cooler days but the weather needs to turn
cold with rain which is only cure for the dam stripers.
Once we get some rain and cooler weather the stripers
will be able to move from the depths. We continue to
catch limits of stripers above the state line. The
stripers are in the water depths from 18 to 24' and the
water is cooler with plenty of oxygen. We are using 3 to
5” gizzard shad on downlines and long lines.
The bass are schooling early morning off the main lake
points feeding on small shad. Small topwater lures and
spoons will produce lots of action. The crappie are
schooling over deep brush piles in waters no shallower
then 30' and the crappie are suspended around 15'.
High water, no rain, high water temperature, little
current, small dam releases, and almost no oxygen has
resulted in a striper kill this year. Stripers need 5
ppm to be active and as the summer passes and the high
water the oxygen level has continuing to decrease. It's
now less than 2 percent and we are seeing some dead
stripers at the dam. Once we get some rain and cooler
weather the stripers will be able to move from the
depths and the kill will be over. We can only pray this
happens soon.
If you do not want to travel that far wait until its
start getting cooler at night and the water temperature
gets into the mid seventies then try the creeks and
Robinson Point. One trick is go up the creeks until you
find a drop in the water temperature, the stripers will
be close by.
(updated 9-18-2019) Lou Gabric at Hummingbird Hideaway
Resort said Norfork Lake is on the tail end of its
summer pattern with many species still in very deep
water. As the weather starts to cool, the fish will
become much more active and start to feed heavily.
According to the long-range forecast the area is
expected to start getting cooler weather very shortly,
he said. “The best bite on the lake for me has been for
crappie. The crappie bite has been fantastic. I have
been vertical-jigging a quarter-ounce spoon and a
1-ounce spoon. The best color has been a white spoon
with a chartreuse back. The fish have been aggressive
and are hammering the spoon as it is falling. Find brush
piles that are in 30-35 feet of water that come up to
around 15 feet. The crappie have been suspended on the
top of the brush around 15 feet as well as being buried
in the brush all the way to the bottom. I have been
catching the larger fish toward the bottom. Most of the
crappie that I have been catching are in the 9- to
11-inch range. The bigger slabs are still out roaming
away from the brush, but will be heading into the brush
as the water cools. Norfork Lake has a 10-inch size
limit, but I have been catching many keeper-size fish.
“The bass bite has also been very good. Again, many
smaller fish are feeding up toward the surface early in
the morning, with the larger ones hanging around in
deeper cooler water. I have been catching spotted bass
that have been in the 13- to 15-inch range. The best
areas I have found are on main lake points with lots of
buckbrush still partially submerged. I have been casting
a swimbait up next to or even inside of the brush and
letting it sink, and the spots are hammering it on the
fall. The fun part is trying to get them out of the
brush. I have also marked many bigger fish along deep
bluff lines suspended down 10-15 feet deep.”
The striped bass bite has slowed, Lou says, which is
very typical for this time of year especially with
higher than normal water levels. The stripers that head
down toward the dam area should be moving away from the
dam area and are scattering throughout the lake. As the
water cools, they will again start to school and become
very aggressive. Norfork Lake’s surface water
temperature is holding in the mid-80s, but should start
to drop with the upcoming cooler weather. The lake
continues to drop 1-3 inches per day depending on how
much power generation is going on. The current water
depth is 560.94 feet msl, which is only about 5 feet
above normal seasonal pool. The main lake is clear with
a slight stain, with some of the creeks and coves a
little more stained. “Happy fishing and see you on the
lake,” he says.
Norfork Tailwater
(updated 9-25-2019) John Berry of Berry Brothers Guide
Service in Cotter (870-435-2169) said the Norfork has
been fishing slow. The dissolved oxygen level is low and
has slowed the bite. 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 ruby midge (size 18)
suspended 18 inches below a red fox squirrel and copper
(size 14). The fishing is better in the morning.
Dry Run Creek is fishing better. The browns have begun
making their annual migration up stream. With school
back in session it will be less crowded during the week
The hot flies have been sowbugs (size 14), Y2Ks (size
12), various colored San Juan worms (worm brown, red,
hot fluorescent pink and cerise size 10) and mop flies.
Buffalo National River/Crooked Creek
(updated 9-25-2019) John Berry of Berry Brothers Guide
Service in Cotter (870-435-2169) said the Buffalo
National River and Crooked Creek are low and clear. The
smallmouths are more active with the warm conditions.
His 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.
