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Fishing Tip: Looking for more information on the lakes listed? Click the lake’s name in this report. The link will send you to that lake’s profile page on the AGFC’s new website. The page lists the regulations for that body of water and a little background on the fishery.
Arkansas River Levels are available at: http://www.swl-wc.usace.army.mil/WCDS/Reports/Daily/Pao_rvrs.txt
White River Levels are available at: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/lmrfc/?n=whiteriverbasin
Family and Community Fishing Ponds: Catfish stockings have resumed now that cooler weather is available.
Sportsman’s White River Resort (870-453-2424) said the water is clear and two generators are running. Rainbow trout fishing is good on Power Bait Trout Worms. Brown trout are biting well on Rogues and Rapalas.
Randy Oliver at www.randyoliverguide.com (901-832-1903) said low generation made fishing on the bottom with corn, redworms and nightcrawlers in deep holes the way to go. The water was clear, and no large browns were seen moving toward the dam yet.
Guide Davy Wotton said fishing continues to be very good with low and moderate water levels. Bull shoals dam continues to produce way better than average rainbow trout, and larger brown trout are beginning to move into the State Park area. There have been some very good reports of high-number days below Calico, which is always a good bet if water levels are low. Trophy Browns are now also moving into the Norfork River from the confluence. Recent reports are that an 18 lb Rainbow was caught at the Wildcat shoals area, this is indeed a very special fish, not far behind the current river record of 19lb. Fishing has been good dead drifting nymphs, swinging soft hackles, and using dry nymph combinations and streamers. Low water levels will require small midge pupa and emergers, micro dry and at times fish will take soft hackles fished slowly across and downstream. Small sow bugs and scuds are also a good bet. High water flows provide the best drift fishing for all methods. Flies that have done well include shimmer, white tail and prism midges in sizes 14 to 16, sow bugs/scuds, prince nymph, and copper Johns.
Jim Brentlinger at Linger’s Guide Service and Fishing Lodge (870-499-5185) said the lower water levels have made fly fishing a very viable way to catch a lot of fish. Fish every place you can find a "run" or "shoot" made possible by water running around islands, gravel bars or root wads with woolly buggers and let it swing through the area that would naturally hold fish. In between those wading places just cast 90 degrees to the boat and strip it back in. Sinking line works the best. Also try White River Zig Jigs in the same places as they will produce as well.
Just Fishing Guides had no report.
Just Fishing Guides said the river level is 12.75 feet, which is perfect for floating and fishing. With cooler temperatures and autumn approaching, smallmouth are feeding aggressively. Minnow patterns should be your primary choice for fishing. Clouser Minnow, Shenk’s White Streamer, Murdich Minnow and KC’s Slider along with various topwater flies and large hopper patterns are some good patterns to try. (Updated 9/22/2010)
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 653.71 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool - 654 MSL).
Mike Worley’s Guide Service said walleyes are biting on crawler rigs and crankbaits in 30-40 feet on the main lake and creek channel points. Main lake brush piles also are holding fish that will bite on jigging spoons. White bass are biting jigging spoons 30-70 feet deep. Spotted bass are biting split-shotted nightcrawlers 30-70 feet deep. Largemouth bass and smallmouth bass are biting plastics, crankbaits and spinner baits.
Ken Richards at Just Fishing Guides had no report.
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 552.29 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool: Sept.-April - 552 MSL, April-Sept. - 554 MSL).
Randy Oliver at www.randyoliverguide.com (901-832-1903) had no report.
Guide Steve Olomon said water temperature is in the upper 70s. Watch for bass busting shad early and just before dark. Look for fish suspended 30-45 feet deep and work a jigging spoon right above them.
Guide Tom Reynolds of STR Outfitters said stripers are on the move. Guides have seen many fish and baitfish near 6A and near the dam 28 to 45 feet deep. Look at shallow water instead of the deep water pattern we would normally see this time of year.
Norfork Tailwater
Randy Oliver at www.randyoliverguide.com (901-832-1903) said little to no generation during the day made fishing from a boat in the deep holes in front of the Charlie’s Rainbow Trout Dock and Gene’s Trout Fishing Resort to the first shoals the way to go. Fishing pressure was down from the week before and the fish were holding in 3 to 6 feet of water. Rainbows and some brook trout were hitting corn and live meal worms steadily during the day. A few brown trout moved up toward the dam this week.
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 1,116.57 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool - 1,120 MSL).
Bailey’s Beaver Lake Guide Service (479-366-8664) said be on the look out for surface activity from white bass and hybrids. Small stripers also are beginning to look to the surface. Stripers are on the move. They are following bait as it moves back upriver. Most stripers are being caught between 30 and 60 feet deep with some large fish caught near 100 feet deep. The fall pattern shift is beginning and the striper will begin relating to tapering points leading up to flats and/or humps where bait will be located. Night fishing is still good but the morning and afternoon bite is beginning to pick up. Check along bluffs and tree lines! Bombers, Redfins and umbrella rigs fished on down riggers are producing nice stripers when trolled at 1.5- 2.5 miles per hour just above the thermocline. The stripers really get active when they are generating. Live gizzard shad is the go-to for catching a trophy striper. The Roll Off Bluff Area (N36*24.699, W93*50.806) is holding some stripers right now. Also check the Goat Island Area in Rocky Branch (N36*20.562, W93*56.107 and N36*20.881, W93*55.179); The bluff at the escarpment (N36* 19.983, W93* 54.972) and the water intake (N36.326241, W93.893409 and N36.336267, W93.885341). Point 5 is holding large schools of nice stripers (N36*21.162 W93*52.452). Also check the Murdell area (N36*21.773, W93* 52.024). The GPS coordinates are location of striper during my latest outings. Remember the fish will change location from day to day and that the GPS coordinates give you a good starting point. Get out there and use your electronics! For daily Beaver Lake levels and flow data go to Bailey’s Web site and click on the Daily Beaver Lake Level and Flow info link.
JT’s Crappie Guide Service (479-640-3980) said bass have been biting well on slow-rolled spinner and buzzbaits early and late. During the day try a green or brown Carolina-rigged worm or lizard and fish them on main lake flats or over points in main coves 12 to 25 feet deep. Crappie fishing has been excellent on live and artificial baits. Minnow fisherman can find fish around brush piles in 18 to 30 feet of water. The best jig presentation has been to lower the jig to the bottom near the structure and retrieve steadily and slowly. Best jig colors have been black/chartreuse, white, gray and yellow/white. White bass have been starting to school early and late inside of main coves and on main lake flats. Look for the schooling activity and throw a minnow imitator into the school for best results. Catfishing has been best in the evening using liver or stink bait. Highway 12 bridge, Prairie Creek and Monte-NE have all been good. Bluegill have been along bluff lines and docks and can be caught on crickets 2 to 10 feet deep.
Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) said the water is clear and cooling. Bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie are fair on jigs in deep water. Bass are fair on soft-plastics, spoons and top-water lures. No report on catfish.
Just Fishing Guides said with generation starting around 4 to 5 p.m., there has been plenty of low water for wade fisherman. Fishing has been excellent using various scud, sow bug and midge patterns drifted under a strike indicator. The Parker Bend area has been the hot spot recently along with the Cane Break area. Suggested patterns include Fox Squirrel nymph, Humpback Scud (olive, grey and tan), Simple Sow and Zebra midge (Blue dun, olive and red). (Updated 9/22/2010)