(updated 6-23-2022) Cotter Trout Dock (870-435-6525)
said the bite is on and the anglers on the White River
in the Arkansas Ozarks are catching trout on the first
cast of the day, on the last cast in the afternoon and
on a whole lot of casts in between. Anglers of all
ages and persuasions are catching trout downriver from
Bull Shoals Dam in the Cotter neighborhood. The water
is cold and clear, refreshing, and provides a cool
updraft when you're moving downstream in a john boat.
Bull Shoals Dam is continuing releases from the lake,
which are required to bring the lake down to desired
power pool level. Four or more generators, 14,000 to
17,000 cfs all day, has been the norm. The generation
is a little heavier in the afternoon than the morning.
The lake has dropped 3 feet over the last couple of
weeks and, at this writing, is at 685.55 feet msl and
continuing to drop.
Plan your baits based on water conditions: Begin with
the tried-and-true shrimp and egg pattern (orange
and/or yellow and/or pink) for a swift catch of
rainbows, move to worms or to drifting a pink or
orange 2-inch worm as the water rises later in the
morning. Spinnerbaits are also a good option in the
morning before the higher releases.
Later in the day, as the water rises, pull out the big
baits: Look for the 4- to 5-inch Smithwicks, orange
bellies, blue or black backs or a chrome and blue
Husky Jerk. The brown trout X-Rap Rapala and the Elite
Blue RPS-9 (Rapala’s size 9) are good baits to use as
well. Brook trout Rapalas might be the secret this
week.
A family fishing adventure offers time together in an
outdoor arena, sharing quiet moments and watching
nature "happen" in real time, in a digital-free
environment (or as much as you desire it to be.) Go
catching and enjoy Arkansas’s natural resources.
(updated 6-23-2022) John Berry of Berry Brothers Guide
Service said that during the past week they had no
rain, brutally hot temperatures (to include heat
advisories) and moderate winds. The lake level at Bull
Shoals fell 1.4 feet to rest at 24 feet above power
pool of 661.8 feet msl. This is 9.2 feet below the top
of flood pool. Upstream, Table Rock Lake fell 2.4 feet
to rest at 0.8 foot above power pool and 13.2 feet
below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell 0.4 foot
to rest at 6.9 feet above power pool or 1.7 feet below
the top of flood pool. The White has had no wadable
water. Norfork Lake fell 1.8 feet to rest at 14.9 feet
above power pool of 556.6 feet msl and 9.5 feet below
the top of flood pool. The Norfork tailwater has not
had much wadable water during the day.
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 well above power pool. With the current lake
levels, we can expect high water all summer.
“On the White, the hot spot has been the White Hole,”
John said. “We have had much heavier flows and sulphur
mayfly hatches. 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 San Juan
worm with an orange egg.
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.
(updated 6-23-2022) Dave McCulley, owner of Jenkins
Fishing Service in Calico Rock, said the river
remained high and fast this week, averaging between
8.5 and 10.5 feet in depth. Both Bull Shoals and
Norfork dams are generating a lot of water both to
lower the lake levels and to meet the summer
electricity demand. The water remains clear and cold.
Using inline spinners (both gold and silver work well)
with Power Eggs (bright colors work best) and shrimp
worked best. In the deeper water add an extra weight
to keep the bait on the bottom. Using deep-diving
crankbaits has been effective for bigger trout. We are
also seeing some nice largemouth and smallmouth bass
being caught in the creeks and sloughs. A benefit of
high muddy water we had the last couple of months was
increased food for the trout. Over the last week we
have seen several 18-inch-plus brown trout and fat 15-
to 20-inch rainbow trout. There was one trout stocking
in the last week.
The weather is hot, stay hydrated, wear sunscreen and
a hat.
Bull Shoals Lake
As of Thursday, the Army Corps of Engineers reported
the lake’s elevation at 685.28 feet msl (normal
conservation pool: 662.00 feet msl; top flood
elevation is 695.00 feet msl). Total outflow from the
dam is 18,049 cfs, and releases have been constant
this week. The reported lake elevation at Table Rock
Lake was 917.08 feet msl (normal conservation pool:
916.58 feet msl; top flood elevation is 931.0 feet
msl), with outflow of 3,460 cfs.
(updated 6-16-2022) Del Colvin at Bull Shoals Lake
Boat Dock said Thursday morning that the high lake is
still proving problematic for some folks trying to
find a parking spot. The limited parking with water up
in some of the lot can be an issue, so plan your visit
ahead.
Despite the high water, Del says, the lake is “really
clear in the main part.” The back of the bigger creeks
have stain, he said. The water temperature is ranging
about 79 degrees.
An early topwater bite has been key. Target windy,
main lake secondary points, especially when the Army
Corps of Engineers is generating water from the dam.
Use a topwater lure, an LC Gunfish or a Zara Spook. Or
get in the back of feeder creeks that have shad. The
creek fish have pulled back with the water dropping
some. The topwater bite will end when the sun starts
getting high. Slow-dragging a Jewel Special Ops
football jig in green pumping orange or variations of
that is a good way to fish. Keep your boat around 30
feet. A lot of fish are on the old shoreline. The
flipping bite is tougher now as the submerged
vegetation is starting to lose its leaves. Around
standing timber and laydowns, use a Beaver or big
worm, or small jigs. The drop-shot bite has been
heating up. As always, 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 560.99 feet msl (normal
conservation pool: Sept.-April, 553.75 feet msl;
April-Sept. 556.48 feet msl; top flood elevation 580.0
feet msl). Total outflow from Norfork Dam at noon
Thursday was 5,707 cfs.
(updated 6-23-2022) Steven “Scuba Steve” Street at
Blackburn’s Resort said the lake level is 570.30 feet
msl and has dropped almost 3 feet from its recent high
on June 6. The surface water temperature is 87 degrees
and the lake looks clear from the surface but is
cloudy down past about 12 feet and then clear again at
about 25 feet. Some fish are going deeper with the hot
weather and increasing surface temperature, and some
nice stripers and walleye are being caught on shad
anywhere from 50-60 feet of water and at various
depths on the jigging spoon and dragging umbrellas
through the shad. The early morning bite is the best.
Other walleye are on main lake points from 16-25 feet
near the bottom. Some crappie are still back in the
creeks on wood but many are under docks in the shade.
There is a topwater bite some days early but are
mostly small bass. Other bass are still in the
buckbrush in the evening and are hitting creature
baits and plastic worms. Catfishing is fair on throw
lines and jugs in 20 feet of water with live bait. The
lake overall is in good condition and the level drop
is welcome.
For a daily fishing report and lake condition go to
www.blackburnsresort.com and click on Scuba Steve's
Blog.
Norfork Tailwater
(updated 6-23-2022) John Berry of Berry Brothers Guide
Service in Cotter (870-435-2169) said Norfork Lake
fell 1.8 feet to rest at 14.9 feet above power pool of
556.6 feet msl and 9.5 feet below the top of flood
pool. There has been no wadable water on the Norfork
and it fished poorly. 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 moderately. School is out and
the creek is busy. 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.
John also said, “I have been guiding on Dry Run Creek
for over 30 years. During this time I have learned a
thing or two. I consider it to be the most challenging
place to guide. The fish are truly huge. They receive
a ton of pressure and have all been hooked several
times before. They are a bit skittish. The typical
angler on Dry Run Creek is around 10 years of age and
has never fly-fished. They are expected to land large,
wily trout that would challenge an experienced adult
angler. Ninety percent of the fish are caught by 10
percent of the anglers.
“My client Russ brought his grandson, Austin. This is
the second grandchild that he has had me guide (there
is one more). He brings them one at a time so that
they get plenty of individual attention. Austin was 12
and had fished, but had never fly-fished.
“We started at my favorite spot and could only land a
7-inch rainbow. The previous week my young client had
hooked a 12-pounder. We decided to move on. Our second
spot produced nothing. We moved again and were
rewarded with three nice rainbows. We lost a good one
and I explained that on a big one you can’t horse them
in. You have to let them run and wear them down before
you can net them.
“It was 11 a.m. and I was getting concerned. The fish
were just not biting. We were an hour before quitting
time and we had not landed a big fish. My goal for
every trip is to catch a trophy, a fish that is 24
inches long or longer. We moved again to a spot that I
do not usually fish. It was time for the Hail Mary!
“The spot was loaded with trout and I began changing
flies to find something that would produce. We caught
a small rainbow. I looked in my fly box and saw a pink
San Juan worm. Real men fish pink worms.
“It was 15 minutes from quitting time. On the second
cast, Austin hooked a good one. It took a reel
screaming run upstream and suddenly we had a lot of
line out. Austin did exactly what I told him as I
coached his struggle with the big trout. It was an
epic fight. The trout made several long runs. The big
rainbow slowly surrendered line as we brought him
near.
“I released a sigh of relief as I netted him. We had
accomplished my goal with five minutes left in my day.
We were all stoked and took several photos of the
26-inch trout before gently releasing it.
“We had not caught a lot of trout but one really good
one can make for a successful trip.”
Buffalo National River/Crooked Creek
(updated 6-23-2022) John Berry of Berry Brothers Guide
Service in Cotter (870-435-2169) said Crooked Creek
and the Buffalo River are low and navigable. With
warmer temperatures the smallmouths are 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.
