(updated 8-11-2022) Cotter Trout Dock (870-435-6525)
said The White River water clarity flowing from Bull
Shoals Lake past Cotter on its way south toward the
Mississippi River is exceptional. The clear, cold
water released through Bull Shoals Dam keeps the river
habitat perfect for the trout provided by the Arkansas
Game and Fish Commission trout program all year long.
We are continuing to see a fair amount of fluctuation
in releases from the dam as it completes its work
supplying electrical power and continuing to lower the
lake to the desired power pool. Bull Shoals Lake is
currently just five feet above the power pool, sitting
at 666.30.
One way we've lured those trout away from their
perfect habitat this week was with the peach-and-brown
or olive, moss green jigs (1/8 ounce) played over the
shoals. They provided a rapid and steady interest from
the rainbows. The sculpin made a comeback when the
water dropped and uncovered so many. It's good to see
the prevailing food source, especially since the brown
trout and larger rainbows love to make a meal of
sculpins. As we mentioned last week, the
grasshopper is back for the season. A hopper fly for
late afternoons on these hot, dry summer days should
provide action to last until dark.
(updated 8-11-2022) John Berry of Berry Brothers Guide
Service said Monday that during the past week, we have
had a minor rain event (just a bit over a quarter inch
here in Cotter), brutally hot temperatures (to include
heat advisories) and moderate winds. The lake level at
Bull Shoals fell one and one tenth feet to rest at
five and nine tenths feet above power pool of 661
feet. Upstream, Table Rock Lake fell six-tenths of a
foot. We have had a few hours of wadable water on the
White and a little more than that on the Norfork
Tailwater. On the White, the hot spot has been Rim
Shoals during the mornings’ low flows. 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 ruby
midge.
Remember that the White and Norfork Rivers and Dry Run
Creek are infected with didymo, an invasive alga. Be
sure and thoroughly clean and dry your waders
(especially the felt soles on wading boots) before
using them in any other water.
(updated 8-11-2022) Dave McCulley, owner of Jenkins
Fishing Service in Calico Rock, said even with the
rain, river conditions have been good. We continue to
see water levels crest between 9 and 10 feet in the
mornings and drop throughout the day to as low as 5
feet by the evening. The dropping water levels have
made for some great fishing this week. Guides are
reporting catching up to 70 to 90 fish during a full
day guide trip. Silver in-line spinners with Berkley
Power Eggs and topped with shrimp continue to be the
bait of choice for the rainbow trout. Fishing with
sculpins has produced a few nice rainbows and brown
trout. When the water gets lower later in the day,
¼-oz. copper and gold Colorado spoons or Rapala
Countdowns on the gravel bars have been productive.
Bull Shoals Lake
As of Thursday, the Army Corps of Engineers reported
the lake’s elevation at 666.07 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 8,285 cfs. The reported
lake elevation at Table Rock Lake was 913.63 feet msl
(normal conservation pool: 917.00 feet msl; top flood
elevation is 931.0 feet msl), with outflow of 1,840
cfs.
(updated 8-11-2022) Del Colvin at Bull Shoals Lake
Boat Dock said on Tuesday the water temperature is 87
degrees, give or take. Typical summer patterns are
working. There are always shallow fish, especially
with the recent rains. 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 rig or Jewel spoon to target schooling
fish. A lot of fish have moved deep with the warm
temperature. Brush piles also are 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 558.69 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 205 cfs, but got up to 6,233 cfs on
Wednesday.
(updated 8-11-2022) Steven “Scuba Steve” Street at
Blackburn’s Resort said the lake level is 558.91 feet
msl and has dropped 2 inches in the last 24 hours with
generation a little less than half the time. The
surface water temperature is 88 degrees and the water
is clear down to about 20 feet. The creeks are
stained. Many fish are still in the 27- to 35-foot
range, just off the bottom around main lake points and
hitting spoons. Smaller bass and bream are shallower
in the 20-foot range in the warm water. Largemouth
bass are coming to the shore to feed on crayfish at
dark. Other fish are in open water, chasing shad over
30 feet of water. The larger stripers and walleye are
in deep water on the river channel, which is normal
for this time of year. The best bite is from 6-8 a.m.
and then again starting at dark. That is expanded a
bit in cloudy weather. Some crappie are starting to
show up on brush piles on Bobby Garland Baby Shad and
live minnows as the brush piles come into play with
the dropping water. Look for brush that is about 40
feet deep at the bottom and 25 feet deep at the top.
Catfishing is still fair on jugs and trotlines baited
with small bluegill at night, but the approaching full
moon and dropping water is not helping things. Norfork
has dropped 14 feet since its high of 573 on June 6,
but is still about 7 feet high from a normal
mid-August. The lake is in excellent condition for
boating, swimming and fishing. Parking and day
use areas are all back in service as are most
campgrounds.
For a daily fishing report and lake condition go to
www.blackburnsresort.com and click on Scuba Steve's
Blog.
Norfork Tailwater
(updated 8-11-2022) John Berry of Berry Brothers Guide
Service in Cotter (870-435-2169) said Norfork Lake has
been more wadable in the morning. 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.
Buffalo National River/Crooked Creek
(updated 8-11-2022) 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.
