(updated 2-2-2023) Cotter Trout Dock (870-435-6525)
said, “We continue to experience variable water levels
in the tailwater of the White River watershed in
Arkansas, from just under a unit (2,500 cfs) to four
units (12,000 cfs) throughout the day.
Bull Shoals Lake is at 657.35 feet msl, remaining 2
feet below power pool. My guess is that demand for
power has been pretty steady with the sleety, icy
weather, so expect persistent fluctuation in the
coming days.”
Anglers need to be creative in this situation; try
some things you might not have tried
before. Trout will adjust to water level
changes, but it might take a little time, so be ready
to try several baits and changes in your fishing
tactics. As always, worms work very nicely during the
rise. Spinners and jigs are a good bet during lower
water flows. Seasoned jig users know that they'll be
successful every time if they have the right color.
That's the key – finding the right color for the
current weather, sky, water conditions. This week's
favorites have been ginger, white and orange/brown.
Keep your bait mid-depth with added weight if needed.
A bright-colored bead (peach or orange) tied several
inches above the hook sometimes draws them in. To lure
the browns as they move away from spawning beds,
alternate between a good-sized sculpin and a really
big river minnow – Red Fins if you can find them.
Troll a minnow (live or manufactured) mid-depth 3-4
feet from the bank and be ready for the tug.
“Come on over and enjoy the river's surprises.”
(updated 2-2-2023) Dave McCulley, owner of Jenkins
Fishing Service in Calico Rock, said, “We hope
everyone stayed safe during the recent winter storm.
Because of the storms last week and again this week
there have not been very many fishermen on the river
around Calico Rock. Those who did fish did well on
artificial lures such as spoons, Rapala Countdowns and
dark colored jigs. A few brown trout were caught that
were between 19-25 inches. We also saw numerous
rainbow trout in the 13- to 15-inch-plus size.
“With the reduced fishing pressure during the winter
the fish have been able to eat and grow. Even the
smaller rainbows had thickness to them. We have seen
water depths between 5-9 feet with clear water. Over
the next week we should see cool mornings but warmer
temperatures into the upper 50s and lows 60s during
the day.”
(updated 2-2-2023) John Berry of Berry Brothers Guide
Service said that during the past week, they had 9
inches of snowfall in Cotter, brutally cold
temperatures and heavy winds. “As I write this, we
have a glaze of ice on all roads making driving
perilous with more ice expected today.” The lake level
at Bull Shoals rose 0.5 foot to rest at 1.6 feet below
power pool of 659 feet msl. This is 37.6 feet below
the top of flood pool. Upstream, Table Rock Lake fell
0.4 foot to rest at 0.7 foot below power pool and 16.7
feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake rose 0.6
foot to rest at 1.6 feet below power pool or 11.2 feet
below the top of flood pool. The White has had no
wadable water and moderate flows. Norfork Lake fell
0.2 foot to rest 0.5 foot below power pool of 553.75
feet msl and 26.7 feet below the top of flood pool.
The Norfork tailwater has had more wadable water.
All of the lakes in the White River system are still
at or below power pool. With cooler temperatures,
expect higher flows and less wadable water. Also
expect heavy generation during peak power demand such
as this week with the frigid temperatures.
The catch-and-release section below Bull Shoals Dam
has reopened to regular fishing, and the State Park’s
seasonal catch-and-release is over. Night fishing is
now allowed in this area.
John says, “On the White, the hot spot has been White
Hole. We have had some lower flows that have fished
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
cerise San Juan worm with an orange egg dropper.”
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.
John also said, “After a three-year absence, the
Annual Trout Unlimited Banquet is back. This banquet
is a fundraiser for the White River Chapter #698 of
Trout Unlimited. This is hands down the biggest party
of the year for anyone interested in trout fishing. I
always attend with my lovely wife, Lori. I have gone
to every one of them over the years and always had a
great time.
“This year’s banquet will be held at the Elks Lodge at
101 Elks Way in Mountain Home on Saturday, Feb. 18,
2023. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. It has always been held
there and it is an excellent location. There is plenty
of parking, a very nice facility with a well-stocked
bar, and enough room to dance.
“The cost is quite reasonable. A single ticket is $40,
a couple’s ticket is $60 and a sponsor’s table is
$600. The sponsor’s table seats eight and includes 16
drink tickets, a sponsor gift and public recognition
for your sponsorship. There is a buffet and a cash
bar.
“One of the big features is an auction and raffle.
There are a number of desirable items that include a
framed Duane Hada print (White River Grand Slam), a
slate cutting board with a Trout Unlimited logo, a
youth fly-fishing outfit (a four-piece 4-weight fly
rod with case) and a wooden canoe-shaped book case and
a walnut coat rack. Other items include gift cards
from local restaurants, some fine bottles of liquor
and some very nice art.
“All of this sounds like a great night out. That is
not the reason to attend. You should go because we
need to support the major trout conservation
organization in the area. This is a fundraiser that
supports their conservation and education projects in
this area.
“Their lead conservation project is the planting of
Bonneville cutthroat trout eggs in the North Fork and
White rivers. Originally supervised by the late Dave
Whitlock, this project is designed to introduce a
sustainable trout species in these rivers. This would
increase angling enjoyment and reduce reliance on
stocked species.
“My favorite project is the Rim Shoals trail. They
took a short trail at Rim Shoals and enlarged and
substantially improved the trail. This gives us easy,
safer access to more of this catch-and-release area. I
have used this trail over the years and I love fishing
there.
“Their education projects include a summer camp for
local kids, and they put on trout in the classroom
program at local schools. Both of these programs
educate our most precious asset, our children.
“There were also projects to maintain Dry Run Creek
and to develop access to Round House Shoals in my
hometown of Cotter.
“To get your tickets to the Annual Trout Unlimited
Banquet, go online to the White River Trout Unlimited
chapter #698 website, www.whiterivertu.com. Lori and I
already have ours. Don’t delay, space is limited.”
Bull Shoals Lake
As of Thursday, the Army Corps of Engineers reported
the lake’s elevation at 657.35 feet msl (normal
conservation pool: 659.00 feet msl; top flood
elevation is 695.00 feet msl). Flow on Thursday ranged
from 3,700 to 11,110 cfs, and tailwater elevation was
453.30 feet. The reported lake elevation at Table Rock
Lake was 914.20 feet msl (normal conservation pool:
915.00 feet msl; top flood elevation is 931.0 feet
msl).
(updated 1-26-2023) Del Colvin at Bull Shoals Lake
Boat Dock said the Bull Shoals water level 656 feet
msl, or about 2 feet below normal pool. The lake came
up a little. Water temperature Thursday was 48
degrees, give or take. "Fishing is good. Shallow guys,
there are plenty of fish on the bank. If there are
wind and clouds, I’m covering water where the wind
hits square on the bank – hopefully on a point, chunk
rock, steep bank or ledge rock. I’m saying close to
deeper water. A Spro Crawler, Wiggle Wart, Red Craw or
green variations. You’ll have keep moving to find
them, but when you do there’s usually a few close.
"There are always fish to be caught on a jig. If it’s
flat, try sunny points with brush or ledges 30-40
feet. The winter patterns are working. Offshore video
gaming. Shad are still spread out; target bigger bait
balls and shad becomes the structure. Creek hollers,
50-90 feet overall depth. Every day every creek will
be different. Watching the loons and graph time pays
off this time of year. Use a single 2.8 white swimbait
or jerkbait or flutter spoon around those high
swimming shad balls. It’s usually best early or late
in the day when shad are up in the water column. If
they are being finicky, hang a Tater Shad over the
side. For schooling fish, use a Jewel Scope or spin a
Jigging Rap. Jewel Scuba Spoon for the bottom
dwellers. Lots of different species showing up out
there in the middle of the lake. Each day is
different, so fish the 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 553.05 feet msl (normal
conservation pool: Sept.-April, 553.75 feet msl;
April-Sept. 556.25 feet msl; top flood elevation 580.0
feet msl). Flow below the dam Thursday midday was
6,203 cfs.
(updated 2-2-2023) Steven “Scuba Steve” Street at
Blackburn’s Resort said, ”These are the conditions
when I came in at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday: The lake level
was 553.11 feet msl and had dropped 1.2 inches in the
last 24 hours with both generators running about a
third of the time. The White River at Newport is 16.49
feet and is as high as it has been for months. It is
not coming from Norfork or Bull Shoals but must be
from between here and Newport. The surface water
temperature is 46 degrees, and the cold weather and
mixed precipitation has not changed it much. Both the
main lake and the creeks have the same clarity and you
can see your lure down about 5 feet.
“Fishing is not the best but a few good fish are being
caught every day. Crappie numbers are not high but
they are good-sized on slip floats with live minnow
over brush piles during the day and casting small jigs
behind the brush near the shore when they come up to
feed in the late evening. Black bass fishing is also
slow but you can catch a few keepers on the grub near
the shoreline next to deep water. A few white bass and
smaller hybrids are together and on the bottom in
about 55 feet of water around main lake points on
flats. The lake is in excellent condition but fishing
overall is just fair at best.”
For a daily fishing report and lake condition go to
www.blackburnsresort.com and click on Scuba Steve's
Blog.
(updated 2-2-2023) Lou Gabric at Hummingbird Hideaway
Resort had no new reports, but Lou posts almost daily
on his Facebook page with photos and where the fish
are biting and what’s biting. Check it out.
Norfork Tailwater
(updated 2-2-2023) John Berry of Berry Brothers Guide
Service in Cotter (870-435-2169) said Norfork Lake
fell 0.2 foot to rest 0.5 foot below power pool of
553.75 feet msl and 26.7 feet below the top of flood
pool. The Norfork tailwater has had more wadable
water.
All of the lakes in the White River system are still
at or below power pool. With cooler temperatures,
expect higher flows and less wadable water. Also
expect heavy generation during peak power demand such
as this week with the frigid temperatures.
There has been wadable water, on the Norfork. The most
productive flies have been small midge patterns like
zebra midges (black or red with silver wire and silver
bead). 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). John says his 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 a bit better. 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.
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.
Buffalo National River/Crooked Creek
(updated 2-2-2023) John Berry of Berry Brothers Guide
Service in Cotter (870-435-2169) said Crooked Creek
and the Buffalo River are fishing poorly. With colder
temperatures, the smallmouths are much 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.
