-
We have had a bit of rain and the lakes in the White River continue their decline. The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam fell three and one tenth feet to rest at twenty four and nine tenths feet above power pool of 654.00 feet. This is sixteen and one tenth feet below the top of flood pool. Up stream, Table Rock Lake fell five tenths of a foot to rest at one and one tenth feet above power pool or fourteen and nine tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell two tenths of a foot to rest at seven and nine tenths feet above power pool or one and seven tenths feet below the top of flood pool. The pattern on the White is for heavy generation around the clock. Norfork Lake has fallen nine tenths of a foot to rest at thirteen and one tenth feet above power pool of 552.00 feet or fourteen and nine tenths feet below the top of flood pool. The pattern has been to run one generator around the clock. There have been some limited wading opportunities on the Norfork. Boating conditions on the White have been uniformly good.
-
The White River is currently dropping approximately three feet per week and the lake is about twenty five feet above power pool. If the lake were to continue dropping at the same rate it should be at power pool in eight weeks or the middle of December. Conversely the Norfork is currently dropping approximately one foot per week and the lake is about thirteen feet above power pool. If it continues to fall at the same rate it would reach power pool in thirteen weeks or late January. When the lakes fall from flood pool to power pool the control over generation passes from the Corps of Engineers to the South West Power Administration (SWPA). Once in power pool SWPA manages generation based on power needs. Under these conditions we should encounter lower water conditions and some reliable wading.
-
The Catch and release section below Bull Shoals Dam will close to all fishing on November 1, 2008 and will remain closed until February 1, 2009 for the brown trout spawn. The section from the bottom of this Catch and Release section downstream to the wing wall at the State park is seasonal Catch and Release for the same time period.
-
The upper river below Bull Shoals Dam down to Cane Island has not been fishing as well of late. The lower dissolved oxygen combined with higher water temperatures have contributed to the slow fishing there. This is despite the large concentration of good fish there.
-
The Cotter area from the new bridge down to the bottom of Roundhouse Shoals has been fishing a bit better than the upper river. This section has a higher dissolved oxygen level than you may encounter up stream below Bull Shoals Dam. In addition to fishing San Juan worms and midge patterns, be sure and try sow bugs in this area. As this is not catch and release, you can use droppers here. My favorite method is to rig a San Juan worm in the usual way and then attach a foot and a half section of 5X tippet to the bend of the hook and then tie a small nymph to the tippet. My favorite nymphs for this technique are small scuds and sow bugs.
-
Rim Shoals has not been fishing as well as it did last week. The hot fly has been the San Juan worm in hot pink and cerise. Remember that there is some limited safe wading in the vicinity of the second island during high water. Stop by Rim Shoals Trout dock and have them ferry you down there for a nominal fee.
-
Crooked Creek has fished well during the last week. Hot flies have been Clouser minnows and crayfish patterns. The creek is low and clear. The section above the Snow access, as well as the lower creek near the confluence with the White River , have been hot spots.
-
The fishing on the Norfork has been spotty. The flows during the day have been light. The hot flies have been San Juan worms in hot pink and brightly colored eggs. There has been a bit of wading at Quarry Park below the dam along the parking lot for the ramp but with the lower dissolved oxygen the upper river has not fished as well as the lower river.
-
Dry Run Creek is fishing well as always. With the brown trout spawn approaching, some of the browns are beginning to move up in the creek. There are plenty of large trout in the creek already. The hot flies are sow bugs, San Juan worms and egg patterns (peach would be the best color). With school back in session there is hardly anyone there. It is a great time to take your children or grand children there.
-
Practice water safety and always check conditions before you leave home.
-
-
John Berry is a fly fishing guide in Cotter, Arkansas and has fished our local streams for over twenty five years.
www.berrybrothersguides.com
-
Despite a night of rain, the lakes in the White River system have continued their decline. The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam fell two and seven tenths feet to rest at twenty eight feet above power pool of 654.00 feet. This is thirteen feet below the top of flood pool. Up stream, Table Rock Lake fell four tenths of a foot to rest at one and six tenths feet above power pool or fourteen and four tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell five tenths of a foot to rest at eight and one tenth feet above power pool or one and one half feet below the top of flood pool. The pattern on the White is for heavy generation around the clock. Norfork Lake has fallen nine tenths of a foot to rest at fourteen feet above power pool of 552.00 feet or fourteen feet below the top of flood pool. The pattern has been to run one generator most of the day and to turn it off for a couple of hours at night. There have been limited wading opportunities on the Norfork. Boating conditions on the White have been uniformly good.
-
-
The Catch and release section below Bull Shoals Dam will close to all fishing on November 1, 2008 and will remain closed until February 1, 2009 for the brown trout spawn. The section from the bottom of this Catch and Release section downstream to the wing wall at the State park is seasonal Catch and Release for the same time period. Some anglers have reported that the brown trout in the area are starting to “color up” in preparation for the spawn.
-
-
Due to low dissolved oxygen levels (below three parts per million) on the upper sections of the White and Norfork Rivers, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission has suspended stocking in these areas. There will be no stocking for the time being above Cotter on the White and above Roses trout dock on the Norfork. The affected trout will be held at the state trout hatchery until the oxygen levels are acceptable. They will then be stocked in the affected sections.
-
-
The upper river below Bull Shoals Dam down to Cane Island has been producing well despite constant pressure from local anglers and visitors to the state park located in the middle of this section. While a lot of anglers have been doing well banging the bank with big streamers like kiwi muddlers and Jim Mengle’s Ozark sculpin, the top technique for this level of water is to fish brightly colored San Juan worms under a strike indicator. Hot colors have been red, cerise and hot pink. Other effective flies have been black zebra midges in size fourteen and egg patterns in peach and pink.
-
-
One hot spot has been the Cotter area from the new bridge down to the bottom of Roundhouse Shoals. This section does not get as much pressure as you may encounter up stream below Bull Shoals Dam. In addition to fishing San Juan worms and midge patterns, be sure and try sow bugs in this area. As this is not catch and release, you can use droppers here. My favorite method is to rig a San Juan worm in the usual way and then attach a foot and a half section of 5X tippet to the bend of the hook and then tie a small nymph to the tippet. My favorite nymphs for this technique are small scuds, sow bugs or copper johns.
-
-
Rim Shoals has been fishing extremely well. The hot fly has been the San Juan worm in hot pink and cerise. This section has not received as much pressure of late and has been producing some large trout. Remember that there is some limited safe wading in the vicinity of the second island during high water. Stop by Rim Shoals Trout dock and have them ferry you down there for a nominal fee.
-
-
Crooked Creek has fished well during the last week. Hot flies have been Clouser minnows and crayfish patterns. Successful anglers have been fishing early in the morning. This is a great alternative for anglers that are tired of being in the boat and would prefer to wade. The section below the Snow access, as well as the lower creek near the confluence with the White River , have been hot spots.
-
-
The fishing on the Norfork has been good. The flows during the day have been moderate. The hot flies have been San Juan worms in hot pink and brightly colored eggs. There has been a bit of wading at Quarry Park below the dam along the parking lot for the ramp. There are new signs posted around the mouth of Dry Run Creek that severely limit fishing there.
-
-
Dry Run Creek is fishing well as always. With the brown trout spawn approaching, some of the browns are beginning to move up in the creek. There are plenty of large trout in the creek already. The hot flies are sow bugs, San Juan worms and egg patterns (peach would be the best color). Be sure to carry the biggest net you can lay your hands on and bring a camera. This is where memories are made.
-
-
Practice water safety and always check conditions before you leave home.
-
-
John Berry is a fly fishing guide in Cotter, Arkansas and has fished our local streams for over twenty five years.
www.berrybrothersguides.com
Arkansas Fish and Game - http://www.agfc.com/
-
Millwood Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 259.69 feet MSL.
-
Millwood Lake Guide Service said the water clarity is 3 to 6 inches in the main lake away from current. The surface temperature is 78 to 88 degrees. Current in Little River is 1,168 cubic feet per second. Use caution navigating Little River during low light because debris and broken vegetation are floating downstream and some river markers have broken loose. Largemouth bass are biting well early and late in the day, but the bite gets tough from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Top-water toads, Bass Assassin Shads, 10- to 12-inch worms, swim baits and jerk baits are all working well on the bass during low-light hours. The mayfly hatch is in full swing. Many bass are chasing and feeding on bream that are under willow and cypress trees taking advantage of the mayflies. The best bite is in 2 to 12 feet of water. Chunky bass from 3-5 pounds remain consistent over the past week, but are tough to find and entice after 11am until just before dark. Swimming jigs in white or blue glimmer w/ pearl white chunk or craw trailers around grass and pads are best producers over the past week for a big bite. Not much change in overall patterns over the past couple weeks. White bass are biting well between White Cliffs and Cemetery Slough, in 12 to 16 feet of water along Little River using Little Cleos, Little Georges, Rooster Tails and Rocket Shads in white, red and chrome. The crappie bite improved again with the reduced current and discharge at the dam. The most consistent bite remains on live shiners, smoke grubs on light wire jig heads and Mizmo tubes. Blue and channel catfish continue to hit well on trotlines, and remain best in current in Little River. Bream continue to bite well along the banks on crickets and redworms. Many bream can be caught under a single cypress or willow tree on ultra light or spincast tackle on smoke-colored tubes, jigs and white/chartreuse popping bugs.
Arkansas Fish and Game - http://www.agfc.com/
-
Millwood Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 259.69 feet MSL.
-
Millwood Lake Guide Service said the water clarity is 3 to 6 inches in the main lake away from current. The surface temperature is 78 to 88 degrees. Current in Little River is 1,168 cubic feet per second. Use caution navigating Little River during low light because debris and broken vegetation are floating downstream and some river markers have broken loose. Largemouth bass are biting well early and late in the day, but the bite gets tough from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Top-water toads, Bass Assassin Shads, 10- to 12-inch worms, swim baits and jerk baits are all working well on the bass during low-light hours. The mayfly hatch is in full swing. Many bass are chasing and feeding on bream that are under willow and cypress trees taking advantage of the mayflies. The best bite is in 2 to 12 feet of water. Chunky bass from 3-5 pounds remain consistent over the past week, but are tough to find and entice after 11am until just before dark. Swimming jigs in white or blue glimmer w/ pearl white chunk or craw trailers around grass and pads are best producers over the past week for a big bite. Not much change in overall patterns over the past couple weeks. White bass are biting well between White Cliffs and Cemetery Slough, in 12 to 16 feet of water along Little River using Little Cleos, Little Georges, Rooster Tails and Rocket Shads in white, red and chrome. The crappie bite improved again with the reduced current and discharge at the dam. The most consistent bite remains on live shiners, smoke grubs on light wire jig heads and Mizmo tubes. Blue and channel catfish continue to hit well on trotlines, and remain best in current in Little River. Bream continue to bite well along the banks on crickets and redworms. Many bream can be caught under a single cypress or willow tree on ultra light or spincast tackle on smoke-colored tubes, jigs and white/chartreuse popping bugs.
-
Cossatot River: Davy Ashcraft at Cossatot River State Park (870-385-2201) said USGA states that the water level is 2.12 feet with the surface temperatures ranging from 68 to 72 degrees. The water is beginning to clear up, which will cause problems for some anglers using baits with spinners on them. Bream are biting great on worms and crickets in 3 feet of water. The smallmouth bass are biting very well on green pumpkinseed finesse worms and crawdad crankbaits around structure in pools at 4 to 5 feet of water. Small, dark-colored grubs are doing well, too. Black bass are fair with some being taken on dark-colored finesse worms and grubs fished very slowly around deep structure. Minnow-rigged setups are producing some limits of bass. Catfish are good with some being taken on chunks of hot dogs, live perch baited on trotlines are doing good as well.
-
Lake Columbia: Steve’s Marine (870-234-2222) said water conditions are normal. Bream are fair on crickets and worms. Catfishing is good on shiners and worms.
-
Lake Erling: Steve’s Marine (870-234-2222) said water conditions are normal. Bream are biting well on crickets. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits. Catfishing is good on worms.
-
White Oak Lake: White Oak Lake State Park said the water level is continuing to be stable but the clarity is still poor. The bass are hitting all types of spinnerbaits, especially blue and red. The catfish are biting fairly well on trotlines. Crappie and bream are slow.
-
Lake Greeson: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 547.03 feet MSL.
-
Darryl Morris at Family Fishing Trips said the surface temperature is 85 degrees. The dog days of summer are upon us, but the fish are still biting. Anglers are consistently catching crappie, bream, bass and catfish on hardwood and bamboo brush piles with minnows. Fish 14 to 16 feet deep in 24 to 30 feet of water.
-
Lakeside Grocery said the water is murky and at normal level with a surface temperature at 88 degrees. Bream are biting well in 3 to 8 feet of water on crickets. Crappie are fair around brush on minnows. Bass are biting well in the evenings on top-water lures, jigs and spinnerbaits. Catfish are fair on noodles and trotlines with bream. Stripers are good early in the morning on spoons and top-water lures.
-
DeGray Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 407.43 feet MSL.
-
DeGray One Stop (501-865-3511) said the water is high and all species are slow.
Arkansas Fish and Game - http://www.agfc.com/
-
Moro Bay: Moro Bay State Park said the river is only a fraction above summer normal, (65.8 ft above sea level) and it’s not moving up or down very quickly. Fishing has slowed down a bit, but bream are still being caught in the bay from the beginning of the cypress trees to the mouth of the creek. Crickets and worms fished at a depth of about 5 foot are working best. Several good catfish have also been caught in the main river channel on bream and shad. A few bass have been caught in the bay while trolling with white spinnerbaits and red-shad plastic worms. Very few reports of crappie have come in. A crappie fisherman would most likely do best in the bay fishing fairly deep and moving around to find scattered fish.
Arkansas Fish and Game - http://www.agfc.com/
-
Lake Monticello: Greg Gulledge with Basshunters Custom Crankbaits said the bass continue to bite on 10-inch worms in the 12- to 20-foot range. Bass are schooling in the afternoons. Standard schooling baits are working, such as Rat-L-Traps and Baby Kill Gill topwaters. A few fish are hitting Spro frogs when the conditions are right. Night fishing is still producing some nice bass in the 8- to 9-pound range.
-
Lake Chicot: Bass Tracker Marine (870-265-5374) said the water is clear and low. Bream are the best thing going on crickets.
-
Grand Lake: Bass Tracker Marine (870-265-5374) said all species are slow.
Arkansas Fish and Game - http://www.agfc.com/
-
Lake Charles: Lake Charles State Park (870-878-6595) said the water level is normal. Bream are the best thing going now on jigs and crickets, with some catches on worms. Crappie are biting but they are slow on minnows and crappie candy. Bass are biting on spinners and crankbaits and catfish are doing well on carp minnows.
-
Crown Lake:Boxhound Marina (870-670-4496) said water conditions are normal with a surface temperature at 83 degrees. Bream are excellent on crickets and worms. Bass are biting well on top-water lures early in the morning and in deep water on minnows. Catfishing is excellent on worms and stink bait.
-
Lake Frierson: Lake Frierson State Park said water conditions are normal. Bream fishing is excellent on worms. Catfishing is good on worms and chicken liver.
Arkansas Fish and Game - http://www.agfc.com/
-
Beaver Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 1,128.48 feet MSL.
-
JT’s Crappie Guide Service (479-640-3980) said bass have been biting well on Carolina rigs fished on main lake points and humps. Best colors have been watermelon/red and pumpkin seed. Spinnerbaits fished along flooded trees have also been effective. Crappie have once again been biting well in the mid-lake area on Shineee Hineee jigs. Docks, timber, bluffs and floating debris in the backs of deep coves have worked best. The fish have been suspended just off the bottom. White bass and walleye have been picked up at night around Horseshoe Bend along the bluffs. Set out lights and drop minnows down 10 to 30 feet deep. Stripers have been biting around Point Four by trolling umbrella rigs 20 to 30 feet deep. Bluegill have been taking worms and crickets under docks and around rocks. Catfish have been biting well under the 12 bridge from shore using worms or liver.
-
Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) said the water is stained and 8 foot high. Bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie are fair in 15 to 20 feet of water on tube jigs. Bass are biting well on jigs and deep-diving crankbaits. White bass are biting well in the mid-lake area.
-
Lake Fayetteville: Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock (479-444-3476) said water conditions are normal with a surface temperature in the high 70s. Bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie are fair in 12 to 15 feet of water on minnows. Bass are biting well on plastic worms. Catfish are fair on minnows and chicken liver.
-
Lake Sequoyah: Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock (479-444-3475) said the water is clear and about 6 inches above normal level. Bream are biting well around tree tops on crickets and worms. Crappie fishing is good in 4 to 10 feet of water on minnows, jigs and Road Runners. Bass are biting well around any structure on spinnerbaits, plastic worms and plugs. Catfish are fair in the main channel about 20 feet deep on liver, shad and cut bait.
-
Sugarloaf Lake: Midland Minimart (479-639-9467) had no report.
Arkansas Fish and Game - http://www.agfc.com/
-
Beaver Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 1,128.48 feet MSL.
-
JT’s Crappie Guide Service (479-640-3980) said bass have been biting well on Carolina rigs fished on main lake points and humps. Best colors have been watermelon/red and pumpkin seed. Spinnerbaits fished along flooded trees have also been effective. Crappie have once again been biting well in the mid-lake area on Shineee Hineee jigs. Docks, timber, bluffs and floating debris in the backs of deep coves have worked best. The fish have been suspended just off the bottom. White bass and walleye have been picked up at night around Horseshoe Bend along the bluffs. Set out lights and drop minnows down 10 to 30 feet deep. Stripers have been biting around Point Four by trolling umbrella rigs 20 to 30 feet deep. Bluegill have been taking worms and crickets under docks and around rocks. Catfish have been biting well under the 12 bridge from shore using worms or liver.
-
Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) said the water is stained and 8 foot high. Bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie are fair in 15 to 20 feet of water on tube jigs. Bass are biting well on jigs and deep-diving crankbaits. White bass are biting well in the mid-lake area.
Arkansas Fish and Game - http://www.agfc.com/
-
White River: John Berry of Berry Brothers Guides said the water flows on the White have been consistently high. Overall, the fishing has been excellent on the White River. It has at times been spectacular, particularly at the Catch-and-release section at Bull Shoals Dam and the adjacent state park. The hot flies have been San Juan worms (in tan, orange and red), and brightly colored marabou jigs. Jigs have the added advantage of riding hook point up which makes them virtually weedless. Another hot spot was Rim Shoals. Here again the most action was encountered using brightly colored San Juan worms and eggs. Those fishing just outside the catch-and-release sections had good results by using black zebra midges and copper johns as droppers. The best fishing has occurred in the Red Bud area. The hot fly there has been brightly colored marabou jigs.
-
Sportsman’s White River Resort said the water is very high with eight generators still constantly running. Trout fishing has been very good. Jigs and countdown Rapalas seem to be working well. Power Bait and pink or red 3-inch Power Worms are also working. Fly-anglers seem to be having luck on Glo Eggs and San Juan worms.
-
Bull Shoals Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 692.02 feet MSL.
-
Lake Norfork: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 575.25 feet MSL.
-
101 Grocery and Bait said the surface water temperature is in the low to mid 80s. Bream fishing is great using crickets, redworms and nightcrawlers. Striper fishing is good using live bait (small shiners or shad). The stripers are also hitting artificial baits fished around 20-30 feet deep. White bass fishing is fair. Try using small in-line spinners. Walleye fishing has been good. Smallmouth bass fishing has been good. Largemouth bass fishing is fair. Catfishing is good. Crappie fishing is slow. They are out there but finding them can be a challenge.
-
Cranfield Junction Bait and Tackle (870-492-5141) said all fishing has been slow.
-
Norfork Tailwater:John Berry of Berry Brothers Guides said the Norfork has been spectacular on low water. Anglers reported great success with black zebra nymphs, olive scuds, and black Norfork bead heads all in size 18. Other good flies were olive woolly buggers, partridge and orange soft hackles, and worm brown San Juan worms. The top producer was the green butt soft hackle. There have been some sparse sulphur hatches in mid morning and this was the key to success. In the afternoon, on higher water, fishing slows a bit. Use conventional high-water techniques, and if you are not fishing a catch-and-release area consider using a dropper tied to the lead flies. Dry Run Creek has been a local hot spot. This is a great place for you to while away the summer with your children or grand children. It is also a great place to beat the heat.
Next Page »
