(updated 8-4-2022) Cotter Trout Dock (870-435-6525)
said The White River below Bull Shoals Dam has seen a
lot of ups and downs this week. After several weeks of
steady high water, we are now experiencing extremely
low levels throughout the morning and into early
afternoon when releases increase to 6,000 cfs, then
11,000, later up to 21,000 cfs. Low water is ideal for
fishing from the shore and for wading enthusiasts.
Those fishing from jon boats must locate and remain in
the narrow channel. Be courteous to others. Often
trout become skittish with rapid changes in water
level, but the bite has remained very good.
Fluctuating water levels require a variety of baits.
The staples include yellow and pink PowerBait, ⅙-ounce
red-and-gold spoons, a few jigs including white, black
and olive green and maybe a Rapala (the brook trout
has been favored). Nightcrawlers or redworms are a
must. Berkely Hit Sticks have been making a hit on the
river as well. Grasshoppers are coming in a little
early. Try yellow or green hopper baits and skip them
on the river to attract some curious browns. Stay
aware of water levels and get safely to shore when you
notice the rise coming. It's easy to get so focused on
catching trout that you don't notice the water until
it's at your knees!
(updated 8-4-2022) John Berry of Berry Brothers Guide
Service said Monday last week they had several rain
events (combined for 2.25 inches in Cotter), brutally
hot temperatures (to include heat advisories) and
moderate winds. The lake level at Bull Shoals fell 2.3
feet to rest at 7 feet above power pool of 661 feet
msl. This is 27 feet below the top of flood pool.
Upstream, Table Rock Lake fell 0.1 foot to rest at 2.7
feet below power pool and 16.6 feet below the top of
flood pool. Beaver Lake fell 1.2 feet to rest at 2
feet above power pool or 6.7 feet below the top of
flood pool. Norfork Lake fell 0.8 foot to rest at 5
feet above power pool of 555.75 feet msl and 19.2 feet
below the top of flood pool. The White and the Norfork
tailwater finally had a few hours of wadable water
last week.
With the current lake levels, we can expect high water
for a few weeks. The prediction for the lakes to reach
power pool has been updated to Aug. 16.
On the White, the hot spot has been Rim Shoals. 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 cerise San Juan worm with a
girdle bug. Remember, the White River, Norfork Dam
tailwater 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 8-4-2022) Dave McCulley, owner of Jenkins
Fishing Service in Calico Rock, said “It was good to
get the rain last week. It is nice to see grass
turning green again. The rain didn’t affect the
fishing, which remained steady this week. On
Monday, a 21.5-inch and 7-plus pound rainbow was
caught near the bridge in Calico Rock. Silver in-line
spinners with sunrise or orange power eggs topped with
shrimp worked the best this week to catch a limit of
rainbow trout. There has been more variation in
the water levels this week. Since Monday, we are
seeing the water levels crest between 9 and 10 feet in
the morning and drop as low as 5 to 6 feet by the
evening. As the water drops during the day, the
fishing picks up. Be careful during the lower
water levels. There are places where you could run
your boat over gravel bars, etc. The water will be
more shallow and can damage motors and props. Fishing
the shallow gravel bars and shoals has been the most
productive. Later in the day, throwing ¼-ounce spoons
worked well. The AGFC used their pontoon raft to
stock more than 4,800 rainbow trout from Calico Rock
to Sylamore Creek 18 miles downriver.
Bull Shoals Lake
As of Thursday, the Army Corps of Engineers reported
the lake’s elevation at 667.61 feet msl (normal
conservation pool: 661.00 feet msl; top flood
elevation is 695.00 feet msl). Total outflow from the
dam at 9 a.m. Thursday was 6,297 cfs. The reported
lake elevation at Table Rock Lake was 914.02 feet msl
(normal conservation pool: 917.00 feet msl; top flood
elevation is 931.0 feet msl), with outflow of 1,588
cfs.
(updated 8-4-2022) Del Colvin at Bull Shoals Lake Boat
Dock said on Tuesday the water temperature is 88
degrees give or take. Typical summer patterns are
working. There are always shallow fish, but the heat
and falling water has lots of bait over the old river.
Target channel swings and ledges close to deep water.
Use a topwater Lucky Craft gunfish in the early
morning. When topwater slows, a ½-oz. flutter spoon in
a shad pattern or a small swimbait would be best.
Then, move to a mooneye Tater Shad, drop shot or Jewel
spoon to target schooling fish. A lot of fish have
moved deep with the warm temperatures. Brush piles are
also coming into play with lower water levels. If you
are a power fisherman, get in the backs of feeder
creeks that have shad. The creek fish have pulled back
with the water coming down. Topwater will slow when
the sun starts getting high. Move out and switch to a
Jewel special ops football jig in green pumpkin orange
or a green pumpkin Ned rig. Fishing around channel
swings. standing timber ledges and lay downs with
beavers and Zoom Ol’ Monster worms in green
pumpkin/red, red shad and plum are all working.
Del regularly posts new YouTube videos. Visit his
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 560.01 feet msl (normal
conservation pool: Sept.-April, 553.75 feet msl;
April-Sept. 556.25 feet msl; top flood elevation 580.0
feet msl). Total outflow from Norfork Dam at 9 a.m.
Thursday was 3,155 cfs, but got up to 6,289 cfs on
Wednesday.
(updated 8-4-2022) Steven “Scuba Steve” Street at
Blackburn’s Resort said “The lake level is 560.28 feet
msl and has dropped 2.5 inches in the last 24 hours
with alternating between one and both generators. The
surface water temperature is 85 degrees and the water
is clear down to about 20 feet and then gets cloudy
after that. The thermocline starts at about 23 feet.
The early morning bite for walleye, smaller stripers
and hybrids is still the best with after dark
largemouth bass fishing next. Bluegill are in main
lake cuts in 20 feet of water and catfish are with
them. Trotlines with live bluegill and jugs are
catching some good ones, but not a lot of quantity.
Channel catfishing has been down for me this year, but
flatheads have been very good. Kentucky Bass are
moving in shallow water in the evening and are feeding
on crayfish. Some crappie are moving back onto main
lake brush piles, but not a lot. Look for brush that
is about 35 feet deep at the bottom and 25 feet deep
at the top. Live bait trollers are catching some
smaller stripers on shad in the mornings. It is
typical early August fishing, but the water is more
clear than in previous years.
For a daily fishing report and lake condition go to
www.blackburnsresort.com and click on Scuba Steve's
Blog.
Norfork Tailwater
(updated 8-4-2022) John Berry of Berry Brothers Guide
Service in Cotter (870-435-2169) said Norfork Lake
fell 0.8 foot to rest at 5 feet above power pool of
555.75 feet msl and 19.2 feet below the top of the
flood pool. The Norfork tailwater also had some
wadable water in the past week.
With some limited wadable water on the Norfork the
last few days, 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 well. School is
out and the creek is busy. Weekends can get quite
crowded. The hot flies have been sowbugs, various
colored San Juan worms (worm brown, red, hot
fluorescent pink and cerise) and white mop flies.
Small orange or peach eggs have been very effective.
Buffalo National River/Crooked Creek
(updated 8-4-2022) John Berry of Berry Brothers Guide
Service in Cotter (870-435-2169) said Crooked Creek
and the Buffalo River are up. With hot temperatures,
the smallmouths are less 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.
