(updated 5-5-2022) Cotter Trout Dock (870-435-6525)
said fishing the White River tailwater in Cotter this
past week meant keeping your rain suit near and
ensuring your tackle box contained rainbow-hued baits.
It’s been a great week on the White – the water has
been staying somewhat low and consistent, but that may
soon change.
Bull Shoals Lake is continuing to rise as the spring
rains in southwest Missouri and north-central Arkansas
fill the reservoirs, but to alleviate conditions
further downriver the Army Corps of Engineers and the
Southwestern Power Administration are maintaining
low-level releases. Bull Shoals Lake is at 672 feet
msl. Water releases from Bull Shoals Dam have been
nearly the same each day for almost a week now, so we
might be tempted to believe a pattern is developing: a
smooth, steady flow of about one generator, (3,300
cfs) all morning until around noon, when an extra
generator is sent downstream for three or four hours.
“We'll enjoy the routine for as long as it is offered
because the trout fishing has been phenomenal, the
catches healthy and the cold water refreshing as the
air temperatures begin to reach into the mid-80s. The
fish have been snapping at a variety of baits. Shore
anglers have been finding some luck with
garlic-scented yellow and pink Power Eggs. Fishing
with guides and from boats, the rainbows have been
biting hard on pink worms and frozen shrimp. This
strategy has also netted a few big browns, but the
best way to catch a lunker has been with river minnows
or lures with a silver flash to them. Another good bet
is the Smithwick Rogue with orange belly and red eyes.
“Once the trout have had their fill of the staples,
cast something new and flashy to pique their interest.
Come visit and experience The Natural State in all its
springtime glory. Drop in and say ‘Hey’ on your way to
the river.”
(updated 5-5-2022) Dave McCulley, owner of Jenkins
Fishing Service in Calico Rock, said that late last
week and through Tuesday the water levels stabilized
with clean water. Fishing was good with many different
combinations of Power Eggs catching trout. The most
popular Power Eggs were the Sunrise or a combination
of two white garlic Power Eggs and two orange garlic
Power Eggs. Fishing with sculpins resulted in some
17-inch-plus rainbows and almost-legal brown trout.
There were also some big bites on the sculpin but they
couldn’t get the fish in the boat. Some people had
success fishing the shoals and throwing Kast-A-Way
quarter-ounce gold spoons or gold-colored CD9 Rapala
Countdowns. The rains Monday and into Tuesday resulted
in muddy water and high water levels of almost 14 feet
on Wednesday.
Looks like another round of rain on Thursday and no
rain for at least a week after that. The lakes are
filling up and we expect the water will clear up, but
the river may stay at higher-than-normal levels as
they let more water out of the lakes.
(updated 5-5-2022) John Berry of Berry Brothers Guide
Service said that during the past week they had
several rain events (combined for a bit less than an
inch in Cotter), warmer temperatures and heavy winds
(to include lake wind advisories). The lake level at
Bull Shoals rose 1.7 feet to rest at 8.7 feet above
power pool of 659 feet msl. This is 26.2 feet below
the top of flood pool. Upstream, Table Rock Lake fell
1 foot to rest at 0.1 foot above power pool and 15.1
feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake rose 0.9
foot to rest at 6.9 feet above power pool or 2.3 feet
below the top of flood pool. The White had no wadable
water. Norfork Lake rose 1.4 feet to rest at 6.9 feet
above power pool of 553.75 feet msl and 18.2 feet
below the top of flood pool. The Norfork tailwater had
more wadable water. Most of the lakes in the White
River system are now above power pool. With the
current lake levels, expect some wadable water on the
Norfork tailwater.
On the White, the hot spot has been Cain Island. The
hot flies were Y2Ks, prince nymphs, zebra midges
(black with silver wire and silver bead or red with
silver wire and silver bead), pheasant tails, copper
Johns, pink and cerise San Juan worms, gold-ribbed
hare’s ears and sowbugs. Double-fly nymph rigs have
been very effective. Try a prince nymph with a size 18
ruby midge.
Remember that the White and North Fork rivers and Dry
Run Creek are infected with didymo, an invasive alga.
Thoroughly clean and dry your waders (especially the
felt soles on wading boots) before using them in any
other water. Many manufacturers are now making rubber
soled wading boots that are easier to clean and are
not as likely to harbor didymo.
John also said, “On Monday I had a guide trip with Al,
a gentleman from Dallas. We had all of our
communication by text. We agreed to meet at the White
Sands Cafe in Cotter at 8 a.m. The best water
predicted for that day was a full day of wadable water
on the Norfork. We had agreed to do that.
“When I sat down and talked to him at breakfast, I
learned that he was a recent cancer survivor and that
he thought that he could only wade for a couple of
hours. It was time to change plans. We needed to be in
the boat. It would be too low on the Norfork. On the
White, the prediction called for three generators. I
checked the website and found that the actual
generation was a bit less than one full generator, a
very nice level to fish. We opted for the White.
“My house is four blocks from the White Sands Cafe. We
drove there and I hooked up my White River johnboat. I
always keep it ready to go in case I get a last-minute
trip. I only had to remove the boat cover to be ready
to roll.
“We drove to Rim Shoals. The water was a bit stained
from the previous night’s rain but the level was low
and inviting. I had fished there the previous Friday
with my wife, Lori, and had done well. I had the rod
she used still rigged. I put it in the boat. I rigged
Al’s rod the same way with a size 14 red fox squirrel
nymph with a size 18 ruby midge dropper.
“I launched the boat and began drifting. We picked up
a small rainbow on the first drift. On the next drift
we hooked a big trout. It hugged the bottom and moved
with a purpose. With the stained water it was
difficult to see the trout. I finally got a glimpse of
it and realized it was big brown. It fought well, but
Al did everything right. I was finally able to net the
big fish. It was a 24-inch male brown, a trophy. Al
was stoked. We took a photo and gently released it.
“We continued fishing and landed a few more small
rainbows. Then we hooked and landed a stout 19-inch
female brown. We broke for lunch at noon and then
returned to the river. The afternoon was a bit slower.
We were able to catch a few rainbows but nothing like
the browns. We quit about 4 p.m. and returned to
Cotter.
“We had made a last-minute change and it had worked
out well. Al was quite comfortable and had caught some
nice trout. Life is good!”
(updated 5-5-2022) White River Trout Club
(870-453-2424) says the river is high and muddy and
they have had no reports lately.
Bull Shoals Lake
As of Thursday, the Army Corps of Engineers reported
the lake’s elevation at 673.61 feet msl (normal
conservation pool: 660.73 feet msl; top flood
elevation is 695.00 feet msl). Total outflow from the
dam is 4,327 cfs. The reported lake elevation at Table
Rock Lake was 919.08 feet msl (normal conservation
pool: 916.18 feet msl; top flood elevation is 931.0
feet msl), with outflow of 14,764 cfs.
(updated 5-5-2022) Del Colvin at Bull Shoals Lake Boat
Dock reported similar finishing patterns again this
week to his recent reports. The lake level is only 12
feet high as of Thursday morning. The temperature is
ranging 60 degrees give or take a degree. Bass fishing
has been fair. The unstable weather has made the
fishing go up and down for several weeks. Heavy rains
have the lake on a steady rise. The shad have moved
and spread out. Use a 2.8 Keitech on a quarter-ounce
ball head or swim a grub 2.8 swimbait in shad colors.
Target windy main lake secondary points on sunny days
by dragging a Jewel football jig, a Carolina rig,
shaky head or Ned rig in green pumpkin variations in
5-20 feet around secondary points and channel swings.
The flipping bite is tougher as the water comes up, so
around deep bushes use a Beaver/Senko/small jig. If
you find warm and dirty water, use bright
spinnerbaits, Chatterbait or a square bill. The bite
hasn’t been typical of years’ past with these cooler
temps, so fish the conditions.
Visit Del’s YouTube site (Bull Shoals Lake Boat Dock)
for more information and tips on fishing Bull Shoals
Lake.
Norfork Lake
As of Thursday, the Army Corps of Engineers reported
the lake’s elevation at 564.61 feet msl (normal
conservation pool: Sept.-April, 553.75 feet msl;
April-Sept. 555.48 feet msl; top flood elevation 580.0
feet msl). Total outflow from Norfork Dam at 11 a.m.
was 151 cfs, though daily flows have reached 6,000 cfs
once each day this week, later in the day.
(updated 5-5-2022) Steven “Scuba Steve” Street at
Blackburn’s Resort said Wednesday the lake level is
563.34 feet msl and has risen 6 inches in the last 24
hours with light generation. It has risen 2 feet since
the 2½-inch rain very early this week. The creeks run
hard for several hours, making the backs of creeks in
the lake muddy, but it settled out very quickly and is
clearing again rapidly. There has been very little
effect on fishing except for the very extreme areas of
the lake where locally heavy rain occurred. The
surface water temperature is in the mid-60s and has
been stable this week with cool temperatures.
The stripers, white bass and walleye have all finished
spawning and the crappie are still doing it in a
piecemeal fashion, adjusting to the water rise. Some
being caught are still full of eggs. Black bass are in
the middle of spawning with several finished, several
on beds and several just staging. “I have still seen
no fry under the dock but the gizzard shad are there.
Several fish of different varieties are being caught
casting small plastics on jigheads to the shore part
way back in the creeks and working back to the boat
slowly but without dragging them.
“There is a topwater bite for temperate bass and a few
black bass that have spawned some mornings, especially
after a warm night, but not nearly what it usually is.
Trollers are catching some stripers on planer boards
with live shiners. The flathead catfish are back in
the creeks and prespawn feeding on live bait, but are
not very big. The ones that I am catching are in the
3- to 4-pound range and look like they all came from
the same class.
“Crappie fishing has improved in the last several days
with high numbers being caught instead of just big
ones.
“Overall fishing is fair to good with big walleye
slowing a bit and crappie increasing. More bass will
start coming up with the temperate bass as the spawn
progresses. Keep a topwater lure handy all the time as
fish could come up anytime and anywhere when you least
expect it.”
For a daily fishing report and lake condition go to
www.blackburnsresort.com and click on Scuba Steve's
Blog.
(updated 5-5-2022) Lou Gabric at Hummingbird Hideaway
Resort said the bite for most species has been good on
Norfork. The never-ending changes in the weather have
definitely affected the bite by not allowing it to
become consistent. The fish keep moving around as
their comfort zone changes. But with a little looking
each day you will find the fish. The largemouth bite
has been the best, with crappie, walleye and
striped/hybrid bass all being a close second. Most of
the species in our lake have spawned or are in the
process except for bluegills. Catfish are close to
their spawn cycle, if not already in it.
Largemouth bass have started their post-spawn feed.
Topwater action can be found most early mornings and
late evenings. “I have found them surface-feeding both
back in creeks and coves as well as out on the main
lake, especially near long brushy points. It’s prime
time to start fishing with flukes and you can catch a
lot of bass up inside of the newly sunken brush.
Swimbaits and spinnerbaits are also working very well.
If a cool front moves through, the fish do seem to
move off the shoreline, but can be found nearby in
10-20 feet of water, and will move back into the brush
very quickly.”
Crappie are also on their post-spawn feed. You will
find them schooled up, roaming from brush to brush,
out in 20-30 feet of water. A great way to catch these
roaming fish is to troll Berkley Flicker Minnows in
size 7. Some of these crappie are relating strictly to
brush, and the brush is usually in less than 20 feet
of water. A few crappie are still spawning and can be
caught by casting to the shoreline with small grubs, a
small swimbait or a Road Runner.
Striped/hybrid bass fishing has been good, but the
fish seem to be continually moving. You need to find
the shad and the stripers will be nearby. “One day I
found them back in creeks close to the shoreline and
the next day they were out on main lake points that
have a lot of sunken buckbrush. The lake is getting
more and more buckbrush under water due to recent
rains and the rise in the water level. Threadfin shad
are getting very close to spawning, if not already
spawning, in some areas of the lake. If you can find
spawning threadfin, the stripers will be close to them
in very shallow water. Cast out a topwater bait, a
swimbait or a Kastmaster and hang on.”
Walleye fishing has also been pretty good. “The best
bite for me has been early in the morning before
sunrise. Find an area with bait and cast a small
3.5-inch swimbait with a one-eighth- or quarter-ounce
jighead. The walleye will be near the surface feeding
on the shad. You will also find them in about 18-25
feet of water on the bottom. Vertical-jigging or
dragging a crawler harness will pick up some fish. Or
you can troll a hard crankbait that gets down to 15-18
feet to catch some nice ones. Back in the coves and
creeks are good places to find walleye."
The surface water temperature has been keeping fairly
consistent, ranging from 63 to 65 degrees. The water
level is rising due to recent rains. The current level
is 563.37 which is about 9 feet over normal seasonal
pool. The water is fairly clear, but may stain up a
bit with the most recent rains and runoff.
“If you are looking for almost daily fishing reports
and to see what species are being caught, check out
Hummingbird Hideaway Resort’s Facebook page. Give us a
like and start seeing what is happening on the lake.
Happy Fishing and enjoy Norfork Lake.”
Norfork Tailwater
(updated 5-5-2022) John Berry of Berry Brothers Guide
Service in Cotter (870-435-2169) said Norfork Lake
rose 1.4 feet to rest at 6.9 feet above power pool of
553.75 feet msl and 18.2 feet below the top of flood
pool. The Norfork tailwater had more wadable water.
The water level for the top of power pool has been
reset higher for all of the lakes in the White River
system. Most of the lakes in the White River system
are now above power pool. With the current lake
levels, expect some wadable water on the Norfork
tailwater.
There has been more wadable water on the Norfork
during the day and it fished moderately. The most
productive flies have been small midge patterns, like
zebra midges (black or red with silver wire and silver
bead). Grasshoppers have produced fish, particularly
when used in conjunction with a small nymph dropper
(try a size 20 black zebra midge). Double-fly nymph
rigs have been very effective. Try a small bead-head
nymph (zebra midge, copper John or pheasant tail)
suspended 18 inches below a brightly colored San Juan
worm (hot fluorescent pink or cerise). The fishing is
much better in the morning and late afternoon and
tapers off at midday.
Dry Run Creek has fished well. Weekends can get quite
crowded. The hot flies have been sowbugs and various
colored San Juan worms (worm brown, red, hot
fluorescent pink and cerise). Small orange or peach
eggs have been very effective. Carry a large net, as
most fish are lost at the net.
Remember that the White and North Fork rivers and Dry
Run Creek are infected with didymo, an invasive alga.
Thoroughly clean and dry your waders (especially the
felt soles on wading boots) before using them in any
other water. Many manufacturers are now making rubber
soled wading boots that are easier to clean and are
not as likely to harbor didymo.
Buffalo National River/Crooked Creek
(updated 5-5-2022) John Berry of Berry Brothers Guide
Service in Cotter (870-435-2169) said Crooked Creek
and the Buffalo River are high and off-color. With
warmer temperatures, the smallmouths could soon become
active. The most effective fly has been a tan and
brown 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.
