White River
(updated 8-24-2023) Cotter Trout Dock (870-435-6525)
said, “We're finally getting those Arkansas summertime
temps we've avoided so far — from blissful to blazing
hot. But our early morning hours on the river are
still blessed with a little bit of chill that
counteracts the afternoon heat. Water releases from
the Bull Shoals Dam, the famous tailwaters of the
White River, have been steady throughout each day for
the last week: minimum flow during the morning
followed by higher generation (up to four units or
12,000 cfs) in the afternoon.”
Bull Shoals Lake is below seasonal power pool of 661
feet msl elevation, currently sitting at 659.70 feet
msl as of midweek.
The rainbow catch has been phenomenal. Bring in some
healthy, brightly colored trout using spinners with
gold blades and olive/brown skirts, or try your
favorite Rooster Tail with a rainbow body and a bright
pink tail. An eighth-ounce jig with white, white-gray
or orange-black skirts bobbed in the center channel
will attract a few, or rig a line with some
garlic-flavored yellow or pink PowerBait and shrimp to
keep you busy reeling. Float your bait just above the
bottom — in the clear water of the White you can
easily see the river bed. It's best to keep it in or
near the river channel during low-water generation.
The browns are continuing to respond best to sculpins
for now, but the best bet is to keep your options open
and carry an array of baits, from shad to lures, to
pique their curiosity. If you're casting flies, the
ruby Midge, as well as red/silver or black/silver,
were a constant success; Copper Johns made a splash
last week, too.
“Visit Cotter and find out why we're called Trout
Capital USA. Hope to see you at the river!”
(updated 8-31-2023) Dave McCulley, owner of Jenkins
Fishing Service in Calico Rock, said these cooler days
have been nice — at least upper 80s/low 90s feels a
lot better than 100-plus. With the lower temperatures,
electrical demand has been reduced resulting in less
generation from Bull Shoals Dam. We continue to see
low water in the morning, but this week the low water
has been 3 feet instead of 5 feet and high water late
in the morning has been 6 feet instead of 8 feet. With
the lower water, be more aware of submerged rocks and
gravel bars. Fishing continues to be good using
Uncommon Bait UV Orange and/or UV Firefly-colored eggs
with shrimp. “We have seen a little more success using
silver inline spinner with the eggs and shrimp, but
just eggs and shrimp have worked well. Many people are
reporting success using red wiggler worms or corn.
Rapala Countdowns in rainbow trout, silver or brown
trout colors work well when the water is lower.
Additionally quarter-ounce spoons in gold work well on
the shallow gravel bars.
“With Labor Day weekend expect more people on the
river. Be watchful and courteous to each other when
fishing. If someone is drift-fishing a hole, move a
couple of hundred yards further up the river before
you start your drift. That gives plenty of room
between boats and allows the person who arrived first
the first opportunity to drift the hole. When running
up or down the river, slow down as you pass boats that
are drift-fishing. Additionally, there will be many
people in kayaks on the river.
“Enjoy the long weekend and good luck fishing.”
(updated 8-31-2023) John Berry, angler and retired
guide/owner Berry Brothers Guide Service at Cotter,
said that during the past week they had no rain,
cooler temperatures and moderate winds. The lake level
at Bull Shoals fell a foot to rest at 2.3 feet below
power pool of 661 feet msl. This is 36.3 feet below
the top of flood pool. Upstream, Table Rock Lake
remained steady at 3.6 feet below power pool and 17.6
feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake rose 0.2
foot to rest at 5.2 feet below power pool and 13.8
feet below the top of flood pool. The White has had
wadable water every day with heavy flows in the
afternoon during peak power demand. Norfork Lake fell
1.6 feet to rest at 2.1 feet below power pool of
555.75 feet msl and 26.4 feet below the top of flood
pool. The Norfork Tailwater had wadable water. All of
the lakes are below the top of power pool. Expect
wadable water in the coming days with heavy flows in
the afternoon during peak power demand. On the
Norfork, all turbines are inoperable for the
foreseeable future. Minimum release is being made
through the siphon at continuous flows of 185 cfs and
additional flows are made through the flood gates.
He says, “On the White, the hot spot has been Rim
Shoals. We have had 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 Pheasant
Tail (size 14) with a ruby midge dropper (size 18).
John also said, “When I first started guiding 30 years
ago I did all of my fishing and guiding by wading. It
seems like we had a lot more wadable water back then.
This was back before minimum flow and the wading was
much easier and safer. I was still living in Tennessee
then and did not have a boat, unless you consider an
aluminum canoe a river boat.
“When I moved here and began guiding full time, the
first thing I acquired was a river boat. The boat of
choice at the time was a 33-inch-wide Shawnee. All of
them were green and that was basically the only boat
available. The most popular motor was a 9-point,
9-horsepower, two cycle pull-start outboard.
“My first boat was a secondhand Shawnee ($1,000 for
boat motor and trailer). It was so narrow it was like
handling a canoe. It had spider chairs, and if my
clients moved them toward the side of the boat it
severely affected the balance of the boat. It had a
15-hp Mercury two-cycle pull-start and it was all I
needed. I had some work done on it to repair a few
dings and make it look better. I used it for five
years and sold it for what I paid for it.
“My next boat was a used 48-inch Shawnee (I paid
$3,500 for boat motor and trailer). The extra width
made it much more stable and more comfortable to fish
from. I moved the 15-hp Mercury to my new boat. I
fished it for seven years and sold it without the
motor at a slight loss.
“About this time the hot boat on the river was a drift
boat. Just about all of the guides got one to fish low
water and streamer fish. There are still a few drift
boats around but they are limited to a one-way trip as
they are propelled by oars. This requires a shuttle,
although some of the drift boats have a small
outboard. There are not as many around now.
“When I sold my 48-inch Shawnee, I bought a used
60-inch Supreme, which was the deluxe boat at the time
(I paid $4,500 for boat motor and trailer). It was
wide, stable and comfortable. It came with a 15-hp
four-cycle Honda engine with electric start. I thought
I was really special.
“Then minimum flow came in and the lower flows were
much higher. The hot new boat is a large river boat,
with a huge jet motor that could easily navigate low
water. The boats were about the same size as my new
boat but had 40- to 60-hp engines (they cost around
$18,000 without a motor). The problem is that they are
very loud. Many of the guides running them wear
hearing protection. They also produce a huge wake,
which I think is causing severe bank erosion. The
wakes are also a nuisance when you are fishing and one
of these boats blows by. Some guides are considerate
and slow down as they pass. Others blow by without a
thought for your safety or comfort.
“I kept my Supreme when I retired and use it for my
wife, Lori, and I to fish on our own. As I fish on the
river and hear the howl of a big jet boat approaching,
I remember a simpler day.
Bull Shoals Lake
For the Army Corps of Engineers’ real-time outflow
report from Bull Shoals Dam, visit the Corps’ Little
Rock office website.
(updated 8-31-2023) Del Colvin at Bull Shoals Lake
Boat Dock said Wednesday that the lake level is almost
at normal pool level, sitting 658 feet msl. “We needed
that rain,” he noted. The water temperature cooled
some to about 86 degrees. Bass fishing has been fair.
“It’s junk fishing season. The shad are starting the
transition moving into the creeks. Graph time pays
off. The bass are schooled up. If you can get out
early there’s a good morning window. I have even been
focusing on the large creeks. They are holding fish
toward the main lake and also halfway back into the
creeks. There’s definitely a lot of fish still
suspended off the swings and ledges and points,
especially when they are generating water.
“If you’re planning to fish stained water in the back
20 feet or less, make sure the conditions are right
after a rain, wind, clouds, etc. Target swings and
brush piles with jigs and the big worm. You can also
catch them on a Chatterbait, buzzbait or Plopper on
the nasty rock transitions, bushes and on the flats.
Fish areas with shad. Pick up a Jewel Jig Bass Whacker
in green pumpkin orange, a big red worm or a green
pumpkin shaky head in piles. When it’s hot, sunny and
clear and flat water, try a drop-shot deeper, like
25-45 feet. This has been my go-to bait matched with a
Robo Worm. You're gonna have to cat-and-mouse ’em most
days. Tater Shad, Scuba Spoon in shad colors will also
work on the deeper suspenders. Most action will happen
if you are around the shad. Graph time pays off.
“Them danged walleyes are eating the drop-shot again
in the deeper points and piles. Look around 32-40 feet
depth. There’s always a pleasant surprise bass
fishing. Lots of running and gunning piles. Here
today, gone tomorrow. Have a fun safe Labor Day!”
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
For the Army Corps of Engineers’ real-time outflow
report from Norfork Dam, visit the Corps’ Little Rock
office website.
(updated 8-31-2023) Steven “Scuba Steve” Street at
Blackburn’s Resort said the lake level he came in at
dark last evening. The Army Corps of Engineers closed
the sluice gates and both generators are still
inoperable. The White River at Newport is 5.11 feet
and about ready to dry up. The wade anglers on the
rivers are liking this low water. The surface water
temperature is 88 degrees and dropping with the cooler
temperatures. The thermocline is at 32 feet and very
pronounced. There is a mudline from 23-30 feet with
reduced visibility but not too bad. Several fish of
different species are at 23-30 feet, including
Kentucky bass with a few largemouth, a few smaller
walleye, a lot of bluegill and a few smaller crappie.
Drop a small spoon in and around the main lake brush
to catch about anything. Bait fish are everywhere.
Some fish are being caught trolling live bait and
weights clipped in front of crankbaits but they are
burning a lot of gas. Several larger fish remain in
open water on shad, and a spoon is your best bet. Look
at different depths of water but focus on 32-35 down.
Fishing overall is just fair, Steve said. Visit
blackburnsresort.com and click on Scuba Steve's blog
for a daily report.
(updated 8-24-2023) Lou Gabric at Hummingbird Hideaway
Resort said, “A couple of our guests had a great day,
or should I say night, and early morning fishing on
Norfork Lake this week. Jimmy and Wayne are night owls
and had the first fish boated by 3:30 a.m. They were
trolling deep-diving 5-inch crankbaits in dark colors.
They got their baits down to 30 feet and were trolling
in 30-45 feet of water. Quite a few big white bass and
15- to 16-inch spotted bass are being caught by
vertical jigging a three-quarter-ounce spoon. The
whites and spots are being found on main lake rounded
points feeding on the bottom.”
Walleye are still being caught in 32-35 feet of water,
either by vertical jigging a spoon or Tater Shad, or
by trolling Flicker Minnows. Get your baits down on
the bottom for the walleye, whites and spotted bass.
The striped bass are suspended from about 30 feet down
to the bottom.
“I got my mount back from Summer's Taxidermy and
Wildlife Studio yesterday. They did a fantastic job on
this fish. I caught this 30-pound, 41.5-inch striped
bass on March 22 by jigging a white Tater Shad.”
The lake temp was on the rise and was about 88
degrees. The lake level is falling about 3 inches per
day and currently sits at 554.9 feet msl.
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 8-31-2023) John Berry of Berry Brothers Guide
Service in Cotter (870-435-2169) said Norfork Lake
fell 1.6 feet to rest at 2.1 feet below power pool of
555.75 feet msl and 26.4 feet below the top of flood
pool. The Norfork Tailwater had wadable water. All of
the lakes are below the top of power pool. Expect
wadable water in the coming days with heavy flows in
the afternoon during peak power demand. On the
Norfork, all turbines are inoperable for the
foreseeable future. Minimum release is being made
through the siphon at continuous flows of 185 cfs and
additional flows are made through the flood gates.
The most productive flies on the Norfork 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 cerise San Juan Worm and a
ruby midge. The fishing is better in the morning and
late afternoon and tapers off midday.
Dry Run Creek has fished a bit better despite a lot of
fishing pressure. School is back in session and
weekdays are not as crowded. The hot flies have been
Wowbugs, 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 8-31-2023) John Berry of Berry Brothers Guide
Service in Cotter (870-435-2169) said Crooked Creek
and the Buffalo River are fishing well but are quite
low. With warmer 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.
