Last Updated July 23, 2010

White River/Bull Shoals

At the time of this report the lake level was high at approximately 657 and falling slowly to normal pool of 654. Fishing has been fair considering the high temperatures during the day and night time hours. By mid-August that will start to change, however, with daytime average temperatures beginning to fall slowly, very slowly, but falling just the same. Crappie fishing has been slow to fair all summer. Most recently reports show fish caught in the 25- to 40-foot depth range. Some decent size fish are being caught in that mix. The most productive choice of baits have been spoons fished straight down. Night crawler rigs have also proven successful. In that same depth range the walleye and spots have been biting. The walleye seem to like the Reef Runners. White bass and largemouth bass have been biting but there are too few details to report. Try spinnerbaits, soft plastics and cranks for largemouth. Try white curt-tail grubs with a spinner or spoons for white bass. The catfish are always good in most any lake or river system across the Southeast. Use cut bait, shrimp, live or dead shad or night crawlers.

John Berry of Berry Brothers Guide Service (870-435-2169) told us, “During the past week, we have had no rain and hotter temperatures. With the brutally hot temperatures we have been receiving, the best time to fish has been early morning. The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam fell seven tenths of a foot to rest at three and two-tenths feet above power pool of 654.00 feet. This is thirty-seven and eight-tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Up stream, Table Rock Lake fell one-tenth of a foot to rest at two feet above power pool or fourteen feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell two-tenths of a foot to rest at five-tenths of a foot above power pool or nine and one-tenth feet below the top of flood pool. On the White, we have had round the clock generation with heavy generation in the afternoon (during peak power demand). There has been little wading but some great drift fishing conditions. Norfork Lake fell seven-tenths of a foot to rest at three and two-tenths feet above power pool of 552.00 feet or twenty-five and one-tenth feet below the top of flood pool. On the Norfork, we have had some periods of no generation daily which has created some limited wading. The lakes are near power pool and we should receive more wadable water soon.

There were significant changes to trout fishing regulations effective January 1, 2010. The Catch-and-Release section on the Norfork River will be increased from its current size of 1.1 miles to a new total of approximately two miles. The new upper boundary will be the bottom of long hole and the new lower limit will be the Ackerman access. The new regulations will also allow for multiple hook points in catch-and-release sections on the White and Norfork rivers. Up to three treble hooks will be allowed. All hook points must be barbless. Of interest to fly fishers, is that the new regulations will allow the use of droppers, multiple fly rigs and articulated multiple hook streamers.

The lower flows we have received early in the day have been perfect for fishing grasshoppers. These are large wind resistant flies and require shorter leaders (nine feet or less), heavy tippets (at least 4X) and a substantial rod (at least a six weight). Work the bank and heavy structure. Cast the fly so that it splashes down and give it a twitch from time to time to imitate a struggling insect. Work the banks and pay particular attention to structure. This is where the bigger fish will be located. This technique can generate some vicious strikes. Add a dropper fly to the bend of the hook on the grasshopper and increase your hookups. A couple of good flies for this would be a small copper John or a black zebra midge.

On the higher flows we have been receiving later in the day, the key to success has been to fish brightly-colored San Juan worms and egg patterns. The best colors for the San Juan worms have been red, hot fluorescent pink and cerise. The best colors for the eggs have been orange and peach. You must add a substantial amount of weight to the leader to get the fly down and use a large strike indicator to float the rig. Concentrate on working near banks, structure and submerged weed beds.

Rim Shoals has been a hot spot. The hot flies here were tan grasshoppers. Other productive patterns were zebra midges in black with silver bead and silver wire, brown with copper wire and copper bead, red with silver wire and silver bead and disco midges. Olive woolly buggers, pheasant tails and copper Johns also accounted for a lot of fish.

Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River are higher and stained. The water is at a comfortable temperature and the small mouths are active. Try Clouser minnows or crawfish patterns. 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.

On the Norfork, the key to success has been to fish soft hackles and emergers during the midge hatches. The fish have been quite selective and keying in on tiny midges. The hot fly has been Dan’s turkey tail emerger (size 22). On the higher flows we have been receiving on the Norfork later in the afternoon, cerise San Juan worms and peach eggs have been the hot flies.

Dry Run Creek has fished extremely well. The most productive flies are sowbugs and worm brown San Juan worms. Be sure and take a camera. It is important to carry one that has a flash. With the heavy tree cover on the creek there are some times when there is insufficient light to take a good photograph. Remember that the creek is Catch and Release. No bait is allowed and all hooks must be barbless.

The water level on the Spring River is high and it is heavily stained. The aluminum hatch (canoe day trippers) is in full swing. Many boaters on the river have little experience and can be a nuisance or worse a safety hazard. To avoid them, you should fish during the week. Be sure and wear cleated boots and carry a wading staff. There is a lot of bedrock that can get very slick. The hot flies have been olive woolly buggers with a bit of flash, cerise San Juan worms and pheasant tail nymphs.

Remember that the White and Norfork rivers are infected with didymo, an invasive alga. Be sure and 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.

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 25 years.
 

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