White River
(updated 3-2-2023) Cotter Trout Dock (870-435-6525)
said it “feels like spring; warmer weather is here
(for now) and the fishing is strong on our rivers here
in the Arkansas Ozarks.”
Bull Shoals Lake has reached the desired power pool
level, 659.4 feet msl – a decrease in the output from
the dam is anticipated although we are seeing some
higher-than-expected releases. The Army Corps of
Engineers and the Southwestern Power Administration
have been varying outflows fairly significantly over
the past week, from about three units (9,000 cfs) to
over five units (16,000 cfs), so be very careful and
pay attention to the river conditions. Trout can
adjust to water level changes without too much
trouble, although it might take a little time, so be
ready to try several baits.
The brown trout have been biting mid-sized to
oversized sculpins and minnows and will chase a No. 5
or No. 7 Rapala. The gold/black Countdowns have been
very successful on this water level. March sees a
great catch of browns, some even biting on the old
standby of PowerBait and shrimp.
The rainbows are responding really nicely to
one-eighth-ounce jigs, white, olive/ginger, or
olive/black, but several large rainbows have taken
sculpin bait, too. The high water has allowed some fun
streamer fishing with weighted line, white/gray or
black, but wade-able waters might be on the horizon.
“Keep your rain gear handy – springtime in the Ozarks
can be wet – but don't let that stop you from some
all-round great fishing. The trout are calling! Come
out to the White River for some great fishing.”
(updated 3-2-2023) Dave McCulley, owner of Jenkins
Fishing Service in Calico Rock, said both Bull Shoals
and Norfork lakes have reached their conservation pool
level. We are seeing slightly reduced flows out of the
dams resulting in water levels ranging from 7.5 feet
to 9 feet. Once the water stabilized, the fishing has
been very good drift-fishing with silver inline
spinners with orange and white or sunrise Power Eggs
with shrimp. With the upcoming storms, we will watch
to see what happens with the water levels. If the
Buffalo starts to flood, we can expect to see very
high and very muddy water in Calico Rock. If we get
the muddy water, try moving into the creeks where the
trout will be looking for cleaner water and reduced
currents. In the creeks, tie up to the bank and use
corn to catch the rainbows.
(updated 3-2-2023) John Berry of Berry Brothers Guide
Service said that during the past week they had three
rain events combining for a bit over a half-inch of
rain in Cotter, warmer temperatures and heavy winds
(to include wind advisories). The lake level at Bull
Shoals fell 1.1 feet to rest at 0.4 foot above power
pool of 659 feet msl. This is 35.6 feet below the top
of flood pool. Upstream, Table Rock Lake fell 0.3 foot
to rest at 0.7 foot below power pool and 15.3 feet
below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell a foot
to rest at 0.4 foot above power pool or 9.2 feet below
the top of flood pool. The White had no wadable water
and heavy flows. Norfork Lake fell 0.8 foot to rest at
0.1 foot above power pool of 553.75 feet msl and 26.1
feet below the top of flood pool. The Norfork
tailwater had no wadable water.
Streamer season is upon us. The brown trout that have
been spawning for the last three months are now
working their way back downstream. Anglers are now
targeting them by banging the bank with big streamers
on sink tip lines. On the White, the hot spot has been
White Hole. “We have had higher 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,” John
said.
John also said, “Last week I wrote about fly
selection. There is more to write than can be
contained in just one column. What happens when you
fish a stream for the first time and there is no one
around to give you a suggestion? To make things worse,
the guy at the fly shop knows less than you do.
Believe me, I have been there.
“I look around and try to observe what is going on
this stream. Are there any aquatic insects coming off?
Are there any terrestrials insects on the bank about
to fall into the water? Did it rain recently, washing
worms into the stream? I will pick a rock off the
bottom and look for any aquatic insects on it.
“In each of these cases I will take whatever life form
I find and try to match it to a fly in my fly box. I
match them based on size, shape and color. Size is
most important. If you are accustomed to eating
something a particular size, say a hamburger, then you
will most likely eat something that size. Shape means
is it a grasshopper, a worm, a mayfly or something
else? Color is the last consideration. We don’t even
know if trout see color like we do.
“My wife, Lori, was once fishing a stream in
Spearfish, South Dakota, while attending a family
reunion. It was her first time there and she was
struggling. Her brother-in-law, Larry, saw a fly in a
tree and retrieved it. Lori tied it on and caught a
trout. That is excellent observation. If I catch a
trout that has another fly in its mouth, I remove it
and fish with it. If it worked then, it should work
again.
“The best technique I know of is to pump a trout’s
stomach. This is a controversial technique, as many
anglers say you could harm the trout. I have pumped
hundreds of trout over three decades and never lost a
fish. By pumping a trout’s stomach you see what they
actually ate, not what is available. The hard part is
you have to catch a fish before you can pump it. I can
usually scam up one trout.
“The stomach pump is basically like a bulb baster with
a long thin plastic tube. You put the tube in the
water and squeeze the bulb. You slowly reduce the
pressure on the bulb while still holding it, and the
bulb fills with water. You then gently push the tube
down the trout’s throat. Squeeze the bulb expelling
the water into the trout’s stomach. Pull the pump out
of the trout allowing the bulb to fill with the water
and the contents of the stomach. Squeeze the bulb and
catch the stomach contents in your hand. Match the
most prevalent item with the contents of your fly box
(size, shape and color) and you have a fly that
matches what the trout is feeding on.
“One observation that I have made over the years is
that they are feeding on smaller food items than we
thought.”
Bull Shoals Lake
As of Thursday, the Army Corps of Engineers reported
the lake’s elevation at 659.28 feet msl (normal
conservation pool: 659.00 feet msl; top flood
elevation is 695.00 feet msl). By midday Thursday the
flow was 10,688 cfs and has ranged from 9,420 to
almost 16,000 over the past two days; tailwater
elevation was 455.90 feet. The reported lake elevation
at Table Rock Lake was 915.45 feet msl (normal
conservation pool: 915.00 feet msl; top flood
elevation is 931.0 feet msl).
(updated 3-2-2023) Del Colvin at Bull Shoals Lake Boat
Dock said Bull Shoals Lake level is 659 feet msl lake
level. The Army Corps of Engineers has been pushing
water through. Water temp is 49 degrees, give or take.
We have had dirty water, temps in the mid-50s. The
warm rain and wind helped, but temperature and
conditions over the next month will dictate your game
plan and success. The shad are spread out everywhere,
from main lake to backs of the creeks. Look for bigger
spreads shallower than 60 feet; gulls and loons can
help show the way. If you can find a wad, that’s where
the big girls have been hanging, usually above the
shad from 10-30 feet. Tater Shad Swimbait and the ice
jig when there’s not a lot of action, or dead stick on
the bait.
While some warmer creeks have a wave of fish up, they
are mostly bucks. Windy, dirty cloudy, warm water
calls for a crank, square bill, Rock Crawler or Wiggle
Wart. Sunny and flat, try slow-dragging a Jewel Jig or
a green pumpkin shaky head slow banging on the rocks
ledges in 5-15 feet.
The fish are in transition. The shad bite video gaming
isn’t over, but it’s been nice to hit the bank and
catch them somewhat regularly. Fish are already
staging early prespawn areas in the creeks. The
crankbait bite is hit or miss. The crawdads are
becoming active. This should improve with warm days,
dirty water while wind, wind, wind and clouds will
help. Parallel steeper ledges 45-degree banks and
transition banks, cover water. Use Rock Crawler reds
on the steeper, clearer water; try a Wiggle Wart on
mid-; and a Chick Magnet on the flat side in the
stain. A jerkbait on breezy-day bluff ends over
steeper swings and points with shad nearby will fool a
few. I’m not a rig guy but they are setting up for
that.
The smallmouth are definitely grouping up if you can
find them. They are in roaming mode. A 2.8 McMinnow is
on deck. Flat, clear and sunny the drop-shot is a
player in 30-45 feet. You’ll have keep moving to find
them but when you do there’s usually a few. White bass
have started popping and walleyes will be up soon.
There’s a full moon early this month. 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 midday Thursday, the Army Corps of Engineers
reported the lake’s elevation at 553.64 feet msl,
which is down almost 3 feet from this time last week
(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 3,056 cfs, a fairly steady number for the past two
days.
(updated 2-23-2023) Steven “Scuba Steve” Street at
Blackburn’s Resort said the lake level is 553.71 feet
msl and is right at the top of the power pool of
553.73 feet. The Army Corps of Engineers is very
reluctant to drop it below that level. The White River
at Newport is 16.39 feet and dropping. “Everyone is
very concerned about the upcoming heavy rain and
severe weather. I am way past predictions but just
report what is actually happening.”
The surface water temperature is 50 degrees on the
main lake and a few degrees warmer back in the creeks.
The water cleared a little on both the main lake and
creeks Wednesday with the reduced generation but you
can see your lure down only 3-4 feet. Fishing has not
been the best, but a few nice fish of several species
have been caught every day. Every time things get
better, another cold front comes through and slows
everything. Go to the windblown creeks about halfway
back and look for shad in 35-45 feet of water and drop
a spoon on them. “You can catch about anything. I
caught a few nice crappie in the 13- to 14-inch range
after sunset (Tuesday) evening on a grub and minnow,
but not very many.
“This rain and cooler weather will change everything
and you have to be out there every day to stay on top
of things. It is a typical early March.”
For a daily fishing report and lake condition go to
www.blackburnsresort.com and click on Scuba Steve's
Blog.
(updated 3-2-2023) Lou Gabric at Hummingbird Hideaway
Resort had no new reports. However, 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 3-2-2023) John Berry of Berry Brothers Guide
Service in Cotter (870-435-2169) said Norfork Lake
fell 0.8 foot to rest at 0.1 foot above power pool of
553.75 feet msl and 26.1 feet below the top of flood
pool. There has been no wadable water on the Norfork
tailwater. 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-head 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 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 a bit better. Weekends can
get a quite crowded, and remember that school spring
break is coming later this month, so that week will be
busy too.
The hot flies at Dry Run Creek 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 3-2-2023) John Berry of Berry Brothers Guide
Service in Cotter (870-435-2169) said Crooked Creek
and the Buffalo River are fishing poorly. With warmer
temperatures, the smallmouths should be active soon.
The most effective fly here usually is 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.
