White River
(updated 5-12-2022) Cotter Trout Dock (870-435-6525)
said, “Celebrate! The sun is shining, no rain for
several days and we're beginning to dry out. Bull
Shoals tailwater has been very low – near minimum flow
amounts (785 cfs) – during most of each day over the
last week and fishing is good. Bait/spin fishers do
best if they get on the water before the late
afternoon hatch when the rainbows fill up on emerging
bugs. It's a great time for topwater fly action! Water
clarity at Cotter and upstream is back to normal
(clear to excellent) after a few days of dinginess
from creek runoff. Downriver is taking a little longer
to improve due to Crooked Creek and Buffalo River
drainage.
Late afternoon releases from Bull Shoals Dam have been
heavy, up to five units (15,000 cfs) for a few hours
before returning to minimum flow levels. The lake
level is rising – 680.90 feet msl as the lakes above
us are very full and Bull Shoals absorbing the high
waters.
“The brown bite has switched back and forth between
sculpins and minnows – keep both on hand if possible.
You'll still catch some great browns with shad upriver
near the dam. The rainbows have been filling up on the
large insect hatch we've had this week, so luring them
in with a strong scent is the best way to hook some
nice fat trout. Garlic PowerBait has proved
successful, with either the yellow or white being the
best. Expect increased generation from Bull Shoals Dam
in the coming days. Deeper water means more drift
fishing, no wading opportunities – but the trout love
lots of fresh, cold water and they are feisty and
healthy when they get it. Stop in on your way to the
river.”
(updated 5-12-2022) Dave McCulley, owner of Jenkins
Fishing Service in Calico Rock, said the rains last
Thursday only added to the already muddy and high
river conditions. By Friday the river once again
topped 14 feet. Due to the muddy conditions, fishing
in the main river was not feasible but moving into the
creeks produced great results on Friday and Saturday.
“By anchoring next to the bank and fishing with corn
we saw a mix of 11- to 15-inch rainbow trout and saw
some nice brown trout to include a fat 18-inch-plus
brown trout. By Sunday afternoon the river started to
clear up, but with both Bull Shoals and Norfolk Dams
conducting reduced flows it is taking a while for the
river to become clear. The last few days the river has
averaged between 6-8 feet in depth.
“An additional challenge the last couple of days has
been the amount of moss flowing downriver; fishing
lines and bait quickly become covered in moss. In
those conditions we recommend fishing the shallow
gravel bars and shoals. Throw your bait upriver and
let the current carry it to the deeper holes at the
end of the shallows where the trout are gathering to
feed. We are starting to see hotter temperatures make
sure to bring plenty of sunscreen and water.”
(updated 5-12-2022) John Berry of Berry Brothers Guide
Service said that during the past week they had
several rain events (combined for 1.75 inches in
Cotter), hot temperatures and heavy winds (to include
lake wind advisories). The lake level at Bull Shoals
rose 11.5 feet to rest at 19 feet above power pool of
661.3 feet msl. This is 14.7 feet below the top of
flood pool. Upstream, Table Rock Lake fell 1.2 feet to
rest at 11.1 feet above power pool and 3.6 feet below
the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake rose 1.4 feet to
rest at 7.5 feet above power pool or 0.9 foot below
the top of flood pool. The White has had some wadable
water. Norfork Lake rose 6.9 feet to rest at 13.7 feet
above power pool of 556 feet and 11.3 feet below the
top of flood pool. The Norfork tailwater has 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. All of the lakes in the White
River system are now above power pool. With the
current lake levels, we can expect some wadable water
on the White and Norfork to prevent downstream
flooding.
On the White, the hot spot has been the
catch-and-release section below Bull Shoals dam. 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.
John also said, “I have often written about fishing
with my wife, Lori. She is the love of my life and the
best fishing partner ever. We have fished from the
Smoky Mountains to Montana and a bunch of places in
between. She and I share a love of fly-fishing and the
outdoor life. It is our goal to fish together once a
week. Her broken arm and my bout with cancer kept us
off the stream for a while. Now we are both healthy.
We have returned to the gym to get in shape and are
fishing whenever possible with our busy schedule of
guiding, writing, teaching fly-fishing at ASU-Mountain
Home and showing dogs.
“We try to choose our days carefully. We want good
weather with comfortable temperatures, low to moderate
winds and no rain. Days like this have been hard to
come by lately with our near constant rain (it is
raining as I write this). We also look for lower flows
on the river. Last week I caught the perfect day. The
forecast was for a high temperature of 78 degrees,
winds of 5-10 miles per hour and no rain. The river
was quite low with flows of about 3,000 cfs, or a
little less than one full generator.
As is our habit, I arrived at the river early while
Lori was feeding and walking our two Labrador
retrievers, Tilley and Ghillie. I rigged our rods and
launched the boat. It should be noted that Lori and I
had the same rod, reel, fly line, leader tippet,
flies, lead shot and strike indicator.
She arrived about the time I got the motor started.
She got in the boat and we motored upstream. Lori
caught the first trout. I was happy for her. She
caught the second trout. I was impressed. She caught
the third fish. I was getting concerned. What was
happening? About that time she hooked her fourth. Lori
was one fish short of a limit and I had not had a bump
yet.
“I was beginning to think that I was losing my touch.
Was this karma for some grievous error in my past? Or
is she just better than I am? Then I suddenly got a
bite. I set the hook and reeled in a nice rainbow. I
had broken the ice. I felt even better a couple of
minutes later when I caught another. Things were
starting to look up. I began to match her fish for
fish. About lunch time the bite began to slow down. We
decided to head home. In three hours, we had four
doubles and managed to catch over 30 trout. I was
redeemed!
“Sometimes it takes a minute to get going. Don’t worry
about what the other angler is doing. Concentrate on
your own game!”
(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 681.59 feet msl (normal
conservation pool: 661.65 feet msl; top flood
elevation is 695.00 feet msl). Total outflow from the
dam is 637 cfs, though flow has reached about 17,000
cfs once during the past two days and was at 10,000
cfs in the afternoon of May 9. The reported lake
elevation at Table Rock Lake was 926.90 feet msl
(normal conservation pool: 916.40 feet msl; top flood
elevation is 931.0 feet msl), with outflow of 21,485
cfs.
(updated 5-12-2022) Del Colvin at Bull Shoals Lake
Boat Dock said Thursday the lake level is at 680 feet
msl, which is 22 feet high. Despite this high water,
the lake is really clear in the main part. Bigger
creeks have stain. The temperature is around 70
degrees. Bass fishing has been up and down. Heavy
rains have the lake on a steady rise, almost a foot a
day. The shad have moved and are spread out. If it’s
cloudy and windy, use a 2.8 Keitech on a quarter-ounce
ball head, or swim a grub or 2.8 swimbait in shad
colors. Target windy main lake secondary points and
humps. Don’t pass up the shad way out on the points,
and use topwater LC Gunfish or Zara Spooks. For sunny
days, dragging a Jewel Football Jig and
Carolina-rigged tubs, a shaky head, Ned rig in green
pump variations are the best presentations.
A lot of fish are holding on the old shoreline.
Submerged roads, flooded parking lots and picnic
tables are holding fish. Use a floating worm or
drop-shot around docks. The flipping bite is tougher
as the water comes up, so fish around deep bushes and
laydowns, and use a Beaver/Senko/small jig. If you
find warm, dirty water, use a bright spinnerbait,
Chatterbait, Plopper or square bill.
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 570.19 feet msl (normal
conservation pool: Sept.-April, 553.75 feet msl;
April-Sept. 556.40 feet msl; top flood elevation 580.0
feet msl). Total outflow from Norfork Dam at 9 a.m.
Thursday was 0 cfs, though daily flows have reached
3,000 cfs once each day this week, later in the day.
(updated 5-12-2022) Steven “Scuba Steve” Street at
Blackburn’s Resort said the lake level is 569.93 feet
msl and has risen steadily since last week's report
with not much generation and a very high White River
at Newport. The surface water temperature has reached
the low 70s with the recent hot weather, and the water
clarity remains good with some floating debris but not
bad. Fishing has been pretty good with most species
biting and in various stages of spawn. Some crappie
are holding off spawn because of the steadily rising
water and continuously having to move nests with
several still full of eggs and are scattered all over
the lake. Casting a 2-inch jig over and around brush
is working well in both the backs of creeks and main
lake. Bass are still about 50 percent spawned and are
doing the same thing as crappie, but many are feeding
on the bank in the creeks on crawdads and creek
minnows. The topwater bite for temperate bass is
happening every day now just before and after sunrise
but not nearly as many fish as in previous years and
not as big. Bluegill are staging for spawn and there
are a lot of big ones. Flathead catfish are biting
very well on live shiners and perch on throwlines set
in deeper creek channels. This will not last much
longer but the blues and channels will come in next.
The lake overall is in excellent condition and a good
color for fishing and is clearing daily. Good time for
overall fishing.
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 5-12-2022) John Berry of Berry Brothers Guide
Service in Cotter (870-435-2169) said Norfork Lake
rose 6.9 feet to rest at 13.7 feet above power pool of
556 feet and 11.3 feet below the top of flood pool.
The Norfork tailwater has 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.
All of the lakes in the White River system are now
above power pool. With the current lake levels, we can
expect some wadable water on the tailwater to prevent
downstream flooding.
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-headed
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 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 5-12-2022) John Berry of Berry Brothers Guide
Service in Cotter (870-435-2169) said Crooked Creek
and the Buffalo River are a bit 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.
