White
River: John Berry from Berry
Brothers Guide Service said generation has
been around the clock, providing no wadable water.
The lack of fluctuation has allowed for reliable fishing
from a drift boat. Use brightly colored San Juan worms
(red, hot fluorescent pink and cerise) and egg patterns
(red, pink and orange). Other effective patterns have
been scuds, sow bugs, copper johns and various midge
patterns. You will need a 14 foot leader combined with
a lot of lead (at least an AAA split shot placed 18
inches from the fly). Use at least 4X tippet and a
large strike indicator to float this rig. Another effective
strategy is to fish streamers. Concentrate on banging
the bank or any heavy structure where fish might escape
the current. Your best bet would be to use large articulated
streamers like the zoo cougar on heavy sink tip line.
This strategy targets big fish, but is a lot of work.
When we have high flows like this, trout will seek
the comfort provided by feeder creeks to escape the
heavy currents. Look in the lower stretches of Jenkins
Creek or Crooked Creek to locate trout. The brutally
cold temperatures and high levels of generation we
have been experiencing are the perfect conditions for
creating a shad kill. Threadfin shad are drawn through
the dam turbines and create a feeding frenzy in the
river below. Be on the lookout for gulls feeding on
the shad below the dam. The most effective flies will
be white shad patterns. Be sure and have both floating
and sinking versions.
Sportsman’s
White River Resort (870-453-2424) said seven generators
are running and the current is swift. Trout are biting
well on white jigs and stickbaits in the current. Some
nice brown trout have been caught lately.
Zachary Hoyt atJust
Fishing Guides said heavy generation all week has
made fishing from a boat the best option. Drifting
heavily-weighted nymphs under a large indicator and
stripping streamers with a fast sinking line two of
the better options. The best flies to try include:
egg patterns(orange, pink or peach), humpback scuds,
sow bugs, copper johns, zebra midges, zoo cougars,
woolly buggers, slump busters, Arkansas beadheads,
Davy's shad and zonkers. Look for shad to start coming
through and fish a white streamer, either under an
indicator or with varying retrieved with a floating
or fast sinking line. For safety during extremely high
water, always wear your PFD and maintain control of
your boat at all times.
White
River (From Shipp’s Ferry to Red’s
Landing): Jim Brentlinger at Linger's
Guide Service and Fishing Lodge (870-499-5185)
said there have been no opportunities to launch a boat
with all the ice lately, but the ice is clearing and
access is easier.
Buffalo
River: Zachary Hoyt at Just
Fishing Guides said water levels are very good
in the middle section for fishing. Water temperatures
are in the low 40s. Lures fished slowly on the bottom
should pick up some smallmouth. Water flows are just
a tad high for fly-fishing in the mid- and lower sections.
Crooked
Creek: Zachary Hoyt at Just
Fishing Guides said water levels are a little high
for fly-fishing, but spin-fishing should be good. Water
temps are in the low 40s and the slightly warmer and
sunny days will make the fish more active. Soft plastics
and jigs fished slowly on the bottom should pick up
some good fish.
Bull
Shoals Lake: As
of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports
the lake’s elevation at 654.79 feet MSL (Normal
conservation pool – 654 MSL).
Lake
Norfork: As
of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports
the lake’s elevation at 552.84 feet MSL (Normal
conservation pool: Sept.-April – 552 MSL, April-Sept. – 554
MSL).
101
Grocery and Bait said cold weather has kept
some anglers off the water, but fishing has been good
for those who have managed to get out. Live bait and
jigging spoons are catching fish well. The surface
water temp is in the mid-30s depending on the area
of the lake you are in.
Norfork
Tailwater: John Berry from Berry
Brothers Guide Service said generation has
been around the clock, with no wadable water. Brightly
colored San Juan worms (red, cerise and hot fluorescent
pink) and egg patterns (peach and orange) have been
the go-to flies. Long leader tippet combinations and
heavy weight have been the secret to success. Work
the banks and submerged weed beds. Be on the lookout
for a shad kill. Dry Run Creek has fished well. The
hot fly has been a sow bug in size 14. Worm brown San
Juan worms and egg patterns also have done well. The
weather has improved a bit and now is the perfect time
to take your youngster to Dry Run.
Zachary
Hoyt at Just
Fishing Guides said
heavy generation this week has made fishing challenging.
High-water techniques from a boat are the only
option. Drifting nymphs under a large indicator
or fishing streamers with a fast sink-tip or full
sinking line are two of the better techniques.
Keep an eye out for shad to start coming through
the generators and fish white streamers, either
under an indicator or with various retrieves on a floating
or fast sinking line. For safety, always wear your
life jacket during high water and maintain control
of your boat at all times.