Story Published:
Jul 3, 2009 at 10:40 AM CDT
Story Updated:
Jul 3, 2009 at 10:40 AM CDT
Fishing Tip: Consider blade style when
selecting a spinnerbait. Willow leaf blades provide more flash and less
vibration; Colorado blades provide more thump and water displacement. When
fishing clear water, a willow leaf is the best choice. When fishing murky water
or at night, you need to help the fish locate the bait through vibration, so go
with a Colorado blade.
White River Levels are available at:
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/lmrfc/forecast/tributaries/status_white.shtml
White River:
John Berry from Berry
Brothers Guide Service said the pattern on the White was for
around-the-clock generation of varied flows (3,000 CFS to 12,000 CFS) with lower
flows at night and in the morning. The flows have been much heavier in the
afternoon during peak power demand. This created some challenging conditions for
drift fishing and some limited wade fishing. If possible, fish early in the
morning to avoid the heat. The catch-and-release section below Bull Shoals Dam
has been productive. Anglers reported success on midge larva patterns. The most
effective were zebra midges in black with silver wire and silver beads and red
with silver wire and silver beads. The best sizes were 14-16. Copper Johns and
pheasant tails also have been productive. During higher flows, the hot patterns
have been hot pink San Juan worms and eggs. The sulphurs are still in the upper
river. They were sighted from the Dam to the Narrows in numbers but were
thinning a bit in the Rim Shoals to Cotter area. This is our major mayfly hatch
of the year. They are yellow/orange insects. The best way to fish them is with
copper John or pheasant tail nymphs before the hatch begins, when the nymphs are
more active. When the nymphs rise to the surface and begin to emerge, switch to
partridge and orange or pheasant tail soft hackles. When the trout begin keying
in on the adults, switch to sulphur parachute dry flies. The section from White
Hole to Cotter has been very popular for float trips. The preferred technique in
this section is to bang the bank with large streamers. The hot flies have been
Kelly Gallop zoo cougars and other similar oversized streamers. Most anglers use
heavy full sinking or sink tip lines. Rim Shoals has fished particularly well.
The sulphur hatch is still coming off most days, but is diminished.
Sportsman’s
White River Resort (870-453-2424) said fishing has been great
with 2 to 4 generators running around the clock. Fly-fishermen are using woolly
buggers, San Juan worms and copper johns. The boat fishermen are boing very well
with silver and gold Lil’ Cleos. Thomas Spoons in red/gold and rainbow colors
are working as well.
White River (From Buffalo Shoals to Norfork):
Jim Brentlinger at Linger's
Guide Service and Fishing Lodge (870-499-5185) said Rim Shoals
to Crooked Creek continues to be hot. The average size has been much better in
the last two weeks. White River Zig Jigs and Power Bait above and below the
catch-and-release zone have been working exceptionally well. Shipps Ferry to
Norfork will produce fish, but not as many and not as large as upstream. From
the Norfork down to Reds Landing has been slower than usual.
Crooked Creek:
John Berry of Berry
Brothers Guide Service said Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River
have fished extremely well, particularly on Clouser minnows. The water has
reached a much safer level and has cleared substantially.
Bull Shoals Lake:
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s
elevation at 667.92 feet MSL.
Bob Pauletti (870-656-3350) with Bull
Shoals Lake Boat Dock had no report.
Lake Norfork:
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s
elevation at 561.33 feet MSL.
101
Grocery and Bait said the water temperature is in the mid- to
upper 80s. Bluegill fishing is good using crickets, worms and small minnows.
Crappie fishing has been fair fishing around 20-30 deep. Minnows have been the
bait of choice for the crappie. Catfishing has been fair. Walleye fishing has
been fair 20-25 feet deep on night crawlers. Bass fishing has been fair. White
bass fishing has been fair. Striper fishing has been slow. Stripers are still
being caught in the upper part of the lake north of Bidwell Point.
Norfork Tailwater:
John Berry from Berry
Brothers Guide Service said generation on the Norfork has been
limited, which has created some excellent wading. The flows are heavier in the
afternoon, during peak power demand. The river received a lot of pressure last
week. There was great wadable water every morning and a lot of anglers took
advantage of it. The most productive flies have been small black zebra midges,
Norfork beadheads and red micro San Juan worms. On higher water, fish brightly
colored San Juan worms and egg patterns. Olive woolly buggers accounted for
several nice trout. Remember that the water rise happens very fast here. At the
earliest hint of rising water, get out. Dry Run Creek has fished particularly
well. The hot fly has been the sow bug. Use heavy tippet (4X) and work a short
line. This is a great place to escape the heat. The creek is in a tight little
valley with lots of tree cover and deceptively cold water.
Jim Brentlinger at Linger's
Guide Service and Fishing Lodge (870-499-5185) said fishing is
slow, and the fish being caught are small.
Beaver Lake:
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s
elevation at 1,128.21 feet MSL.
JT’s
Crappie Guide Service (479-640-3980) said bass fishing is going
to be best at night for quite some time. Try dark spinnerbaits or 6-inch lizards
worked close to flooded cover along gravel banks. During the day, try a Texas
rigged lizard or a hula grub on a football jig head and work them under shaded
docks or bluff lines. Crappie fishing has been best early and late. Try trolling
the main lake channel south of Hickory creek with small deep-diving crankbaits
in white or firetiger, Also try fishing minnows along bluff lines 20 to 35 feet
deep next to standing timber. White bass have been schooling the main lake flats
early and late and can be caught on a variety of shad-imitating baits. Night
fishing remains good along bluff lines and the Highway 12 Bridge under lights
using minnows or shad.
Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) said the water is 8-10 feet high
and clear. The bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie are biting well on
minnows in the brush and trolled crankbaits in deep water. Bass are biting well
on big crankbaits, Carolina-rigged plastics and top-water lures. Catfishing is
good on live minnows and nightcrawlers.
Beaver Tailwaters:
Zachary Hoyt at Just
Fishing Guides said fishing and boating on the tailwater has
been very active. Hot weather and Cloudless skies usually dictate good morning
and evening fishing. Fish are very picky and can be spooky. For the fly
fisherman, smaller sizes in flies are the choice. Olive sow bugs, pink scuds,
hare’s ear nymphs and copper johns in sizes 18-20 about 6-8 inches under an
indicator in deep sections of the river is your best bet. A soft hackle slowly
stripped or dead drifted will induce a strike as well. With conventional tackle,
Rooster Tails and Power Bait are always very productive. Fish tend to be
schooling with the higher water, so work the channels and shady banks.
Kings River:
Zachary Hoyt at Just
Fishing Guides said some great smallmouth bass have come from
the Kings this spring. Higher water during the spring made for great spawning
and plenty of food. This goes the same for panfish. Tube jigs and finesse worms
have been working well in the deep sections. Riffles and tailouts at the end of
the rapids are great places to catch feeding fish. Shallow-running Rapalas and
crayfish crankbaits excellent choices. Fly anglers will get their fill of bream
on terrestrials such as ants, beetles and hopper patterns. Most fish are off
their spawning beds and will be moving around freely, so keep your eyes open.