White River
(updated 10-27-2022) Cotter Trout Dock (870-435-6525)
said Bull Shoals Lake remains well below power pool
even after a record-breaking rain. White River water
clarity was unaffected by the almost 4 inches received
here, as almost all soaked into the ground. That means
the trout still had lots of clear, cold water in which
to romp and roll, and tease anglers.
“Mother Nature has treated us to mercurial weather
this October, and with those changes in temperature
come changes in water releases from Bull Shoals Dam:
minimum flow during the early morning hours rising to
three to four units (9,000 to 12,000 cfs) later in the
day. This is due mostly to power demands during the
cold weather we've seen on and off over the last week.
Bull Shoals Lake is 4 feet below power pool and still
dropping despite that record rainstorm.
“The brown bite has been iffy because the annual spawn
is on, but we're still seeing some action with
sculpin. Be careful not to disturb the spawning beds
(the redds) if you motor through spawning areas around
Rim Shoals or on either side of the catch-and-release
area.
The rainbows have been feisty and paying most
attention to orange baits. Xfactor steelhead orange
eggs are a favorite for two weeks running paired with
a bead of shrimp or alone. Lures with orange bellies
were favored, too. However, the jig fishers found most
success with brown or brown/orange-colored jigs,
one-sixteenth- or one-eighth-ounce, depending on water
depth.
“This October has been spectacular for warm,
shirtsleeve days, and even though it's pretty chilly
right now we expect a warm front to move in later this
week. We've been promised more sunshine and temperate
days to continue for a while. Come visit Cotter; catch
your share of rainbows and enjoy the beauty of our
Natural State.”
(updated 10-27-2022) Dave McCulley, owner of Jenkins
Fishing Service in Calico Rock, said Wednesday that
recent days have started with cool mornings and then
warmed up to comfortable days. “We have seen varied
generations from both Bull Shoals Dam and Norfork Dam.
Late last week we saw the river levels up, but into
the weekend the water got as low 2 feet. Starting
Monday we saw higher water levels.
“Spoons continue to be the go-to lure in the low
water. Additionally, black jigs, Rooster Tails, lures
with a spinner and Rapala Countdowns have worked very
well. Power Eggs with shrimp, corn or worms continue
to work well when the water rises above 3 feet.”
Since the last report there have been two trout
stockings with a total of about 1,500 trout stocked at
the Calico Rock boat ramp and another 1,500 at the
Chessmond Ferry boat ramp.
(updated 10-27-2022) John Berry of Berry Brothers
Guide Service said that during the past week, they had
3.5-inches of rainfall in Cotter, cooler temperatures
(to include frost advisories) and heavy winds (to
include wind advisories). The lake level at Bull
Shoals fell 0.6 foot to rest at 3.8 feet below power
pool of 659 feet msl. This is 39.8 feet below the top
of flood pool. Upstream, Table Rock Lake fell 0.6 foot
to rest at 7.5 feet below power pool and 21.5 feet
below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake rose 9.4 feet
to rest at 4 feet below power pool or 13.6 feet below
the top of flood pool. The White has had wadable
water. Norfork Lake fell 0.3 foot to rest at 0.9 foot
below power pool of 553.75 feet msl and 27.1 feet
below the top of flood pool. The Norfork tailwater has
had more wadable water. With the current lake levels,
expect lower flows and more wadable water.
“On the White, the hot spot has been Wildcat Shoals.
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, “Reel Recovery is a nonprofit
organization that helps men in the cancer recovery
process by introducing them to the healing powers of
fly-fishing while providing a safe, supportive
environment to explore their personal experiences of
cancer with others who share their stories. As a
cancer survivor I was fortunate to attend the Arkansas
Reel Recovery Retreat at Cedar Wood Lodge earlier this
week.
“Cedar Wood Lodge is a luxury lodge on the White River
near the Ranchette Access. I had a private room in a
quaint, beautifully furnished cabin near the main
lodge. All of the meals were prepared on-site except
for a sack lunch for a day of fishing on the North
Fork River that was supplied by Heidi’s Ugly Cakes in
Norfork. The food was excellent. The only problem is
that I think I gained about 3 pounds.
“We had several group discussions where we shared the
story of our cancer, the problems and the positive
impacts. All of the guys were open and willing to
share. The talks were casual and nonthreatening. All
of the participants got something out of it. I know I
did.
“They concentrated on the fishing aspect of the
program. All of the participants were matched with a
river buddy. These were local guides or serious
fly-fishers that were there to teach the participants
to fly-fish. Now I already know how to fly-fish, but I
wanted to be on the same footing as the other
participants and be challenged to learn something new.
“I decided to learn to Euro nymph. This is the hot new
way to fly-fish that was developed in Europe a few
years ago. It involves long rods, heavy flies, a very
long leader and no strike indicator. You use a sighter
instead. This is a brightly colored section of leader
material to detect strikes.
“I chose a fellow guide, Steve, who specializes in
this technique to be my river buddy. We worked on it
for two trips to the river on as many days. I managed
to catch a few trout. I did not master the technique,
but I got off to a good start. It is something that I
will work at and try to master. I can see that it
could be a killer technique.
“Aside from learning something new about fly-fishing,
what did I get out of the retreat? I learned that I am
not alone. There are many other men who have had the
same or similar effects from cancer. It can be
survived and the introduction of a calming sport like
fly-fishing can be an integral part of the healing
process.
“I got a lot out of the retreat and I recommend it to
others. My neighbor has been diagnosed with cancer and
I am going to suggest that he attend a Reel Recovery
Retreat. I think it will help him and I think it can
help you.”
Bull Shoals Lake
As of Thursday, the Army Corps of Engineers reported
the lake’s elevation at 655.10 feet msl (normal
conservation pool: 659.00 feet msl; top flood
elevation is 695.00 feet msl). Total outflow from the
dam at 2 p.m. Thursday was 6,919 cfs. The reported
lake elevation at Table Rock Lake was 909.52 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 has begun. 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 Roboworm 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 552.89 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 205 cfs. Wednesday saw 14+ hours of
constant generation (8 a.m.-10 p.m.) averaging 2,480
cfs, and one hour Thursday of generation reaching
2,382 cfs at 8 a.m.
(updated 10-27-2022) Steven “Scuba Steve” Street at
Blackburn’s Resort said Wednesday the lake level is
552.96 feet msl and has risen about 3 inches in the
last two days after the 3.5 inches of rain on Monday
and Tuesday total. It was very dry and most of it sank
in with not a lot of runoff, but the creeks did run
for a few hours on Tuesday, though not fast. The wind
has been relentless and early morning has been about
the only time to get out of it.
Bass fishing has been the best back in the creeks on
windblown banks on crankbaits and single spinnerbaits.
The creeks had warmed up with the earlier warm weather
more than the main lake and the bass were there in the
stained water and also shallow. Crappie were still on
brush in 25 feet of water partway back in the creeks,
but they are very spooky and the wind makes it hard to
stay on them. Some Kentucky bass (spotted bass) are
with them. The same is for the temperate bass on the
main lake in open water. The white bass are in the
12-inch range and smaller hybrid stripers are together
on shad at various water depths and most are suspended
at 30-40 feet. They are shallower in the morning and
go deeper in the afternoon. “I found several in over
80 feet of water 35 feet down (Tuesday) between
Mallard Point and Cranfield Island on the north side.
“Many bluegill are on the top of brush and under
docks, shallow and biting worms and crickets. The
larger walleye have slowed but I am getting several
just at the 18-inch size or just under. It was a good
run on the walleye in the 20-24 inch range, but that
is over for me for now.
“The full moon is on Nov. 8 and it will be the best
time to catch stripers on the shoreline in the late
evening and just after dark on the stick bait. The
lake is in good condition but overall fishing is just
fair.”
For a daily fishing report and lake condition go to
www.blackburnsresort.com and click on Scuba Steve's
Blog.
(updated 10-27-2022) Lou Gabric at Hummingbird
Hideaway Resort had no new report. Lou posts nearly
daily on his Facebook page with photos and where and
which fish are biting best. Check it out.
Norfork Tailwater
(updated 10-27-2022) John Berry of Berry Brothers
Guide Service in Cotter (870-435-2169) said Norfork
Lake fell 0.3 foot to rest at 0.9 foot below power
pool of 553.75 feet msl and 27.1 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 18 inches
below a brightly colored San Juan worm (hot
fluorescent pink or cerise). “My favorite rig has been
a pheasant tail nymph size 14 and a ruby midge size
18. 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 10-27-2022) John Berry of Berry Brothers
Guide Service in Cotter (870-435-2169) said Crooked
Creek and the Buffalo River is fishing well. With
cooler temperatures, the smallmouth bass 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.
