(updated 10-20-2022) Cotter Trout Dock (870-435-6525)
said trout fishing on the White River in the
north-central Arkansas Ozarks continues to offer
all-day action for anglers of all ages as one of the
most productive trout streams in the country. Releases
from the dam have been heavier these past two days
than over the previous several weeks because of
increased power demands due to colder temperatures.
Bull Shoals Lake is below its power pool of 659 feet
msl elevation, currently recorded at 655.59 feet msl.
The average river flow is lower than one unit
(1,000-2,000 cfs) but that is subject to change with
the heavier demand.
The rainbow catch was abundant this past week – if you
were dangling a worm. Nightcrawlers and red wigglers
bested the bubblegum pink scented worm in this lower
water; however, the XFactor white worm is coming into
its own along with white, garlic-scented PowerBait.
Lower water level also means finding the deeper holes
and drifting over them if you're looking for the
browns. Anglers last week had less success with the
shrimp/PowerBait combo than usual, but found that
alternating shrimp and worms over the course of the
day provided more action.
The annual spawn is fast approaching, so don't be
discouraged if you don't hook a brown every day.
“You'll enjoy your fishing adventures much more if you
come prepared for Arkansas weather extremes. This week
we experienced a couple mornings with temperatures
below freezing and the afternoon sunshine bringing
temperatures to the upper 50s, low 60s. Whatever the
weather, we celebrate life here in The Natural State
and always look forward to meeting fellow trout
lovers.”
(updated 10-20-2022) Dave McCulley, owner of Jenkins
Fishing Service in Calico Rock, said Wednesday that
“the last couple of mornings Mother Nature has sent a
friendly reminder winter is just around the corner.
“Although the temperatures have been cold, the fishing
has been hot. Late last week through Monday we saw low
water (2 feet) in the morning, slowly rising by
midmorning to about 4 feet. The last couple of days we
are seeing a little higher water in the morning
cresting at about 6 feet before slowly dropping again.
“During times of low water, nickel and gold Colorado
Spoons worked best. Rapala Countdowns (rainbow
trout-colored) also worked well. Once the water
reached 3.5 feet and higher, drift fishing with Power
Eggs topped with shrimp worked well. In the last week
there was one trout stocking of 1,000 or more 11- to
12-inch rainbows and an additional 1,000 or more 6- to
8-inch rainbows.
(updated 10-20-2022) John Berry of Berry Brothers
Guide Service said that during the past week, they had
about a half-inch of rain, cooler temperatures and
heavy winds. The lake level at Bull Shoals fell 0.4
foot to rest at 3.2 feet below power pool of 659 feet
msl. This is 39.2 feet below the top of flood pool.
Upstream, Table Rock Lake fell 0.1 foot to rest at 6.9
feet below power pool and 20.9 feet below the top of
flood pool. Beaver Lake fell 1.4 feet to rest at 4.9
feet below power pool or 13.5 feet below the top of
flood pool. The White had some wadable water. Norfork
Lake fell 0.1 foot to rest at 0.6 foot below power
pool of 553.75 feet msl and 26.8 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. All of the lakes in the White River system are
now below power pool. With the current lake levels,
expect lower flows and more wadable water.
“On the White, the hot spot has been Rim Shoals,” John
reports. “We have had lower flows in the morning that
have been fished very well. 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. My
favorite has been a pheasant tail nymph with a ruby
midge dropper.”
John also said, “After four years of high water, we
finally have all of our lakes Levels well below flood
pool and are now comfortably in power pool. When this
occurs, control over generation changes from the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers (during the Vietnam war I was
a lieutenant in the Corps of Engineers) to the
Southwestern Power Administration.
“When the Corps of Engineers is in control its only
thought is to get rid of the water as quickly as it
can. SWPA, however, is more interested in selling the
power generated during hours of peak power demand.
Hence we are getting increased generation on the White
and Norfork during the afternoon hours when power
demand is greatest with little or no generation in the
morning when power demand is less.
The reality of low water has been a mixed bag. On the
White, most of the low water has been around 1,500 cfs
or the rough equivalent of a bit less than half of one
full generator. Before minimum flow, low water was
just 50 cfs. With minimum flow, low water is 700 cfs,
a significant increase that is marginally wadable at
best.
“The 1,500 cfs is way too much to wade and, worse, it
is not enough to float particularly if you have a
propeller driven motor. I have been fortunate enough
to find a nice section of the White River where I can
get a decent drift. Even better, it is loaded with
trout. The problem is that I am very limited as to
where I can go. It is too high to wade and not high
enough to drift. I have already torn up one propeller
navigating through it. I always carry a spare prop and
the tools to install it.
“The Norfork has been a different story. There has
been plenty of low water. With minimum flow at 200 cfs
it is quite wadable. The problem is that SWPA has
scheduled a brief flow of maybe half a generator, or
about 1,500 cfs or more, for an hour halfway through
the morning. This is too much to wade and you have to
get out of the river and wait a few hours for the
water to drop out.
“The other problem is an unreliable schedule. I was
scheduled to take my clients on a wade trip on Tuesday
this week. They went wade fishing on Monday and got
surprised when the water came up two hours early. They
requested that I take them out in the boat on the
White because they were concerned about the schedule
on the Norfork. We went out on the White and did well.
“We do have wadable water but you need to be very
careful. It could be too much to wade and not enough
to float.”
Bull Shoals Lake
As of Thursday, the Army Corps of Engineers reported
the lake’s elevation at 656.17 feet msl (normal
conservation pool: 659.00 feet msl; top flood
elevation is 695.00 feet msl). Total outflow from the
dam at noon Thursday was 686 cfs. The reported lake
elevation at Table Rock Lake was 910.17 feet msl
(normal conservation pool: 917.00 feet msl; top flood
elevation is 931.0 feet msl), with outflow of 20 cfs.
(updated 10-20-2022) Del Colvin at Bull Shoals Lake
Boat Dock said Thursday that the lake level is down
more than 3 feet (655 feet at last check). The water
temperature has dropped to around 70 degrees. Junk
fishing with typical fall patterns in ongoing. The
cooler nights have the shad starting to ball up and
moving out to deeper water. Turnover is still
happening in the backs of creeks. There are always a
few shallow fish, so try a Chatterbait square bill
spinnerbait or flipping brush in the skinny stained
water in the early morning. There’s a few fish there,
but hit or miss. Try a rock crawler on the channel
swings on points and ledges. Fish the windy side if
you have any wind. Target bushes and rock transitions
close to deeper water. The jig bite is starting to get
better as the sun goes up. Target steeper banks.
‘For me, the deep bite is still the best. Drop shot
Damiki with a tater shad spoon or a Robo-worm has been
reliable with the pressure conditions.”
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 553.22 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 noon
Thursday was 206 cfs. Wednesday saw 4+ hours of
generation (5-9 p.m.) averaging 2,480 cfs.
(updated 10-20-2022) Steven “Scuba Steve” Street at
Blackburn’s Resort said the lake level is 552.93 feet
msl and has dropped 1.5 inches in the last 24 hours
with several hours of running three-quarters of a
generator. The White River at Newport is 2.75 feet,
which is very low, indicating not much is being
released into the White or North Fork rivers. It was
very windy most of the week with the powerful cold
front but it is sunny and cool now (Wednesday) with
lighter winds. Highs are to get near 70 tomorrow
(Thursday) and near 80 for the weekend. The surface
water temperature has dropped to right at or just
under 70 degrees with the cold clear nights. The wind
and white caps stirred up the water a bit but it is
still pretty clear and you can see your lure down
about 6-7 feet on the main lake. Several schools of
shad have moved into the area around Mallard Point to
Cranfield Island and some smaller hybrid stripers and
white bass are chasing them. They start off shallow
from 20-25 feet of water early and then go deeper as
the sun rises. Spoons jigged vertically are best, but
trollers dragging umbrellas are also catching a few.
Some black bass are with them. It is either feast or
famine for the crappie. They go from not biting for
several hours and then start fast for about an hour.
“I have had the best luck about 4-5 p.m. casting a
Bobby Garland Jig on a 1/16th-ounce white with red eye
jighead past the brush from 18-30 feet of water and
letting it sink into it for about 10-15 feet. Crappie
are mostly biting on the drop. When they quit, they
quit.”
Jug fishermen are catching some catfish partway back
in the creeks on live bluegill and they are biting
better as the moon wanes. New moon is Oct. 25.
Walleye are on main lake points and are shallower than
last week. They have paired up and are roaming but not
too far from brushpile to brushpile looking for bait
fish. Both scuba divers and spooners are doing well on
them. The numbers are not high, but they are
good-sized, ranging 20-24 inches.
Overall fishing is just fair but it has its moments.
For a daily fishing report and lake condition go to
www.blackburnsresort.com and click on Scuba Steve's
Blog.
(updated 10-20-2022) Lou Gabric at Hummingbird
Hideaway Resort had no new report. Lou posts nearly
daily on his Facebook page with photos and where the
fish are biting and what’s biting. Check it out.
Norfork Tailwater
(updated 10-20-2022) John Berry of Berry Brothers
Guide Service in Cotter (870-435-2169) said Norfork
Lake fell 0.1 foot to rest at 0.6 foot below power
pool of 553.75 feet msl and 26.8 feet below the top of
flood pool. There has been more wadable water on the
Norfork in the morning and it has fished a much
better. 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 eighteen
inches below a brightly colored San Juan worm (hot
fluorescent pink or cerise). “My favorite rig has been
a size 14 pheasant tail nymph and a size 18 ruby
midge. The fishing is much better in the morning and
late afternoon and tapers off midday.
Dry Run Creek has fished poorly. School is back in
session and the creek is not as busy. Weekends can get
a 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.
Carry a large net, as most fish are lost at the net.
Buffalo National River/Crooked Creek
(updated 10-20-2022) John Berry of Berry Brothers
Guide Service in Cotter (870-435-2169) said Crooked
Creek and the Buffalo River are low but fishing well.
With cooler temperatures, the smallmouths are more
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.
