Last Updated January 4, 2012

Arkansas

Greers Ferry
Cody Smith told us, “Happy New Year! January is always one of our coldest months here on the reservoir. This means very little traffic on the water with good cause. Water surface temperatures will remain in the mid- to upper-40s with average temperatures occurring during the month. However, if we get a really cold snap surface temperatures will plunge into the 30s and ice will be seen in some of the pockets, creek arms and tributaries limiting access in some cases.
During November and December we saw copious amounts of rainfall in and around the watershed. Lake levels soared from 456-feet up to 469-feet in just two weeks with two really heavy downpours. The Corp. of Engineers will be attempting to lower lake levels as soon as possible with Spring rains coming in a couple of months. The higher lake levels will provide another great year of spawning for most all of our species. That is Great news!
January can be one of the best months for taking an absolute giant in a variety of species. This time of year I like to focus on the north end of the lake. Locating and finding schools of fish with your graph and electronics is really key this time of year. I like to search for deeper shad and/or game fish that are really grouped up in the 15- to 45-foot zone. During this month it's too cold to be running and gunning, find a school of fish and work on them thoroughly with a variety of methods. I prefer a _- to 1-ounce jigging spoon in white or chrome or a drop-shot minnow paired with a 3/16- to æ-ounce weight 8- to 15-inches below. I will watch my offering on the electronics and see if I can make them react to the spoon first. If not, I switch to the live bait rig. My clients and I have caught lot's of really good fish utilizing this method, you just never know what the next drop is going to produce.
Well, the Greers Ferry Walleye run will be beginning towards the end of this month and really picking up steam as we get into February and March. I like to follow the cold/colder water line. Generally you will find most of our eyes staying with this line. There will be two distinct water temperatures in most of our creek arms and tributaries formed by warm/cold water rain runoff and inflow. Most of our game fish and especially our walleyes will relate to this in someway. Live bait and minnow imitation lures will be best when presented in a very slow fashion this month.
Once again I would like to thank each and everyone of you who read my forecast and follow the reports. Check out www.fishgreersferry.com for up to date reports and pictures of recent trips. Also click Like on Facebook and follow Fish Greers Ferry their. I enjoy engaging with other outdoors men and women who share a passion for this great sport we call fishing. I wish all of you the best year in the outdoors and look forward to fishing with each and everyone of you! BOOK YOUR SPRING TRIP NOW FOR BEST DATES. Good Fishin`! Cody S. Smith (501-691-5701, www.fishgreersferry.com.

Norfork
At the time of this report the lake level was approximately 551-feet. The water temp was in the upper-50s. Fishing has been scattered but fish have been biting when you find them. Find the baitfish and you find the fish. The go-to baits have been the trusty crank baits, spinner baits and jigs around structure Jigging spoons should produce fish when in the 30- 50-foot depth range. Some anglers say the smaller worms (4-inch) work great on the drop-shot rig. Stripers are hitting spoons and big stick baits in the mouths of creeks. January should be the same with similar weather conditions. If winter precipitation moves in, fish deeper and tighter to cover and slow down your retrieve speed if you venture out on to the lake.

Red River
For current water levels, call the Greers Ferry Powerhouse at (501) 362-5150. Since the level changes daily, call before heading out. With each generator that kicks on, expect the water level to rise roughly four-feet, which will make wading difficult and dangerous. Rainbows will bite Power Bait, wax worms and night crawlers while browns will bite standard flies (woolly buggers, sow bugs and red asses, etc.).
John Berry told us, “We have recently had a couple of rain events, slightly warmer temperatures and windy conditions. The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam rose five-tenths of a foot to rest at three-tenths of a foot above power pool of 654-feet. This is forty- and seven-tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Upstream, Table Rock Lake remained steady at two tenths of a foot above power pool or fifteen- and eight-tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake rose four-tenths of a foot to rest at four-tenths of a foot above power pool or nine-feet below the top of flood pool. On the White, we have had erratic generation with some wadable water. Norfork Lake rose two-tenths of a foot to rest at power pool of 552-feet or twenty-eight feet below the top of flood pool. On the Norfork, we have had little generation with substantial wadable water. The heavy rain we received in November and the past two weeks has raised the lake levels a bit. However they all remain close to power pool and should provide wadable water.
The Catch and Release section below Bull Shoals Dam will close from November 1, 2011 to January 31, 2012 to accommodate the brown trout spawn. The State Park from the bottom of the Catch and Release section down to the wing wall will be seasonal brown trout Catch and Release for the same period.
The dissolved oxygen level has risen above the state minimum standard of six parts per million on the White and Norfork Rivers.
The big event this week was the return of high water on the White. There were several days where we had generation in excess of 15,000 cubic feet per second. The best technique for this type of water is to fish brightly colored San Juan worms (cerise, hot fluorescent pink and red) and egg patterns (orange and peach). The trick is to get the flies down. To sink these flies you must use big split shot (AAA or larger) and long leader/tippet combinations (ten- to twelve-feet). To help detect takes use a brightly colored strike indicator near the top of the leader. One way to increase strikes is to use a small nymph as a dropper below the worm or egg.
Another technique that has been particularly effective on the higher water has been to bang the bank with big streamers. Effective patterns have been Zoo Cougars, Sex Dungeons and Butt Monkeys. The key to success has been to use a heavy sink tip (250 grain or heavier). To deliver these heavy flies on heavy sink tip lines, you must use at least an eight-weight rod. This is hard work but can produce some excellent trout.
The best place to fish was the section from Wildcat Shoals down to Cotter. On the higher flows we have been receiving, the hot flies were pink San Juan worms with copper Johns and black zebra midges in size fourteen or sixteen as droppers. Y2Ks and beadhead hare’s ears were also responsible for some nice fish.
Rim Shoals has been particularly hot. The hot flies have been red zebra midges on low water. On higher water, San Juan worms with Y2K droppers have been the key to success. Remember that Rim Shoals Trout Dock runs a water taxi and will ferry you to wadable water for a nominal fee.
Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River are high and stained. Several anglers have reported success with Clouser minnows. The water temperature is dropping and is near the point where the Smallmouth will become less active. 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.
The Norfork has fished well. On lower water the hot flies have been red zebra midges (size 18 and smaller), Dan’s turkey tail emerger, hot pink worms and chamois worms. Soft hackles like the partridge and orange or the green butt have accounted for a lot of fish. The new trout habitat project in the Catch and Release section has had a positive effect on the fishing there. On higher flows, the best technique has been to drift brightly colored San Juan worms (red, hot fluorescent pink and cerise) and egg patterns (pink and orange).

Dry Run Creek has fished well. The hot flies have been sow bugs and various colored San Juan worms (worm brown, red, hot fluorescent pink and cerise). Small orange or peach eggs have been very effective. The browns are stacked in the creek like a cord of wood. Dry Run Creek has received little pressure this week. Now is the time to fish there, if you want to enjoy a bit of solitude on stream. Now is the perfect time to land a big one.
The water level on the Spring River is high and stained. This is a great place to wade fish. Canoe season is over and we have much less traffic on stream. Be sure to wear cleated boots and carry a wading staff. There is a lot of bedrock that can get very slick. The hot spot has been Dam Three Access. The hot flies have been olive woolly buggers with a bit of flash, cerise and hot pink San Juan worms and Y2Ks.
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. John can be reached at (870) 435-2169 or www.berrybrothersguides.com.

Northwest Arkansas
Horseshoe Lake near Hughes is THE place for wintertime fishing. In recent years catfish have been on a mid winter “tear”. Anglers have been targeting the mid-lake region and fishing with cut bait and night crawlers at the 10 to 12 foot depths. Other choices would be fishing the docks and piers with minnows or jigs for crappie and the dead grass and pad stems for bass. The Spring River mouth on the Black River is the region’s top walleye destination and jigs tipped with night crawlers is the favored technique. See this month’s “Hidden Place” for some tips on the walleye fishery on that River. The lakes on Crowley’s Ridge are all known for good cold weather fishing as they are shielded from the wind where an angler can be comfortable. They are all close to pool.

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