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General Reports
Fly Fishing Reports
Septmber 30, 2008
- Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood Lake Guide
Service
The Overall Picture:
Navigation conditions in Little River are cautioned with the
increased current.
As of Monday 29 September, Largemouth Bass are excellent and
randomly schooling in various locations on Millwood. Bass Assassin
Shads, RatLTraps, 10" worms are definitely the go to baits
for Bass over the past couple weeks. The best bite remains early
until the schooling begins. The schooling Bass' activity are
being noted at various locations around Millwood during mid-day
hours.
Clarity along the main lake drastically worsened this week from
heavy stain to muddy, and Little River's clarity is also muddy
from incoming fresh water. Some high density broken, vegetation
and floating mats remain in Little River, due to current in the
river. USACE crews have replaced many damaged and/or missing
river buoys in Little River from the clear cut main lake area,
and up river.
As of Monday, 29 Sept, the main lake and Little River's water
surface temperatures are currently ranging from approx 72º
to 78ºF, depending of course, on location and time of day.
Lake level on Millwood as of Monday 29 Sept is approx 7"
above normal, and slowly falling, at 259.78 feet. Normal pool
is 259.2 feet. Clouds, fresh incoming water in the 4 rivers,
and rain over past 2 weeks have again reduced lake surface temperature.
Current in Little River was 6,699 CFS on Monday, 29 September.
Main lake clarity / visibility approx 3-4" away from current
due to recent high wind, lake chop, and heavy current in Little
River. The river clarity is approximately 2" and muddy
from incoming fresh water. Wind can have a drastic effect on
main lake clarity merely in a matter of hours. Many of the damaged
or missing river buoys have been replaced. All USACE boat ramps
and campgrounds are open, as of Monday.
Upriver oxbow's clarity continues to be very good and is ranging
approx 30-40". The tailwater elevation on Monday 9/29,
was 225.59 feet. Discharge/ Release Rate at the spillway as
of Monday, 6,699 CFS is with 9 tainer gates open at 1 foot &
4 gates at 2 feet, each. Use caution in navigation on Little
River during low light conditions due to debris, broken vegetation
still present floating downstream, and the increased current.
The Details:
Largemouth Bass: Cooler daytime highs in the 70-80 and night
time lows in the 60 range have improved the feeding activity
of most all fish on Millwood! Fall is officially and finally
here! The Bass continue to feed well and very good schooling
activities are being seen in many various locations around the
lake. Chunky Bass from 2-4 pounds are schooling randomly in
Cemetery Slough, Mud, Horseshoe and McGuire oxbow lakes up river,
and fishermen are catching good numbers of schooling fish periodically
during the day. The best schooling activity is during mid day.
Schooling bass seem to take a few hours to get started and best
schooling activities are running between 10am to 2pm. The most
consistent reaction bite during schooling activity is on RatLTraps,
hammered Cordell spoons (hint* use a buck tail feather hook!),
Cordell's Crazy Shads, clear Baby Torpedos, and white or smoke
colored grubs on light wire jig heads.
Bass Assassin Shad jerk baits are the ticket in the vegetation
and remaining lily pads, along with swimming white jigs w/ white
chunk trailers along vegetation edges. Top water action is the
best of course, with the schooling fish during mid-day. Jitterbugs
in white, Spit'n Images, buzzing toads, and buzzbaits are working
at dawn and dusk.
Fat Free Shad crankbaits, Norman Deep Little N's and Cordell
Big O's in shad patterns, are working in and around flooded timber
and laydown timber. Deadsticking Bass Assassin Shads around
vegetation edges, flooded timber stands or Cypress knees well
away from the base of the tree, are good bets and working well
for keeper 16-19" Largemouths. Once the sun gets full up
and directly overhead, switching to 10 and 12" worms on
light wire hooks using 1/8 to 3/16 oz slip sinkers, will produce
in fair numbers, 3-6 lb bass, until the schooling starts, which
over the past few weeks, is running from 11am to 2pm.
Best reaction buzzbait bite is on Siefert's Buzz Baits around
pads and Primrose grass from 1-6 foot depth areas, early in the
morning at daylight and during schooling activities, in Casper's
Shadow, Bleeding Gold Shiner, or Smoke Bomb colors, in the clearer
water of the upriver oxbows. Most early buzz bait fish are ranging
from 15-19" in length.
10-12" Yum worms are still drawing good strikes from 16"
to 20" size keeper bass, and best colors working over the
past few weeks are Peanut Butter 'n Jelly, plum or blue fleck
once the sun gets up and the bass retreat to the high density
grass, stumps, and cover. Edges of lily pads near deep drops
in the clearer water, cypress trees, and stumps are best locations
this week for a better worm bite.
White Bass: White bass were schooling in Mud, Horseshoe and
McGuire Oxbow lakes this week and biting well on hammered spoons,
RatLTraps, 3" smoke or white grubs on jig heads.
Crappie: Crappie bite, still slow this week with the stained
and muddy water clarity along Little River, but beginning to
improve on live shiners and jigs.
Channel Cats: Blues and Channel Cats remain consistent this
week, as last week on trotlines, along the current in Little
River, and remain best for 2-6 pounders using cut shad or chicken
livers. Yo-yo's hung from cypress trees near any current in
approx 9-12 feet water depth, are picking up some decent cats
in the 5-9 pound class.
}><(((º> Millwood Lake &
Little River Conditions Report <º)))><{
Navigation conditions in Little River are cautioned with the
increased current.
Clarity along the main lake drastically worsened this week from
heavy stain to muddy, and Little River's clarity is also muddy
from incoming fresh water. Some high density broken, vegetation
and floating mats remain in Little River, due to current in the
river. USACE crews have replaced many damaged and/or missing
river buoys in Little River from the clear cut main lake area,
and up river.
As of Monday, 29 Sept, the main lake and Little River's water
surface temperatures are currently ranging from approx 72º
to 78ºF, depending of course, on location and time of day.
Lake level on Millwood as of Monday 29 Sept is approx 7"
above normal, and slowly falling, at 259.78 feet. Normal pool
is 259.2 feet. Clouds, fresh incoming water in the 4 rivers,
and rain over past 2 weeks have again reduced lake surface temperature.
Current in Little River was 6,699 CFS on Monday, 29 September.
Main lake clarity / visibility approx 3-4" away from current
due to recent high wind, lake chop, and heavy current in Little
River. The river clarity is approximately 2" and muddy
from incoming fresh water. Wind can have a drastic effect on
main lake clarity merely in a matter of hours. Many of the damaged
or missing river buoys have been replaced. All USACE boat ramps
and campgrounds are open, as of Monday.
Upriver oxbow's clarity continues to be very good and is ranging
approx 30-40". The tailwater elevation on Monday 9/29,
was 225.59 feet. Discharge/ Release Rate at the spillway as
of Monday, 6,699 CFS is with 9 tainer gates open at 1 foot &
4 gates at 2 feet, each. Use caution in navigation on Little
River during low light conditions due to debris, broken vegetation
still present floating downstream, and the increased current.
Mike
September 29, 2008 - Greers
Ferry Lake - Submitted by Fish Finders Fish Service - The lake
level is at 466.06 and falling and the temp ranges from 80 degrees
on the south end to 75 degrees on the north end
The water temp has changed things the warmer water
has been pulled to the south end of the lake due to water releases
and has slowed the hybrids and whites down their but the north
end is still going strong.
The black basses are still good all over the lake
up shallow a variety of baits are working , you can throw spinnerbaits
,topwaters , buzzbaits pitch softplactics or jigs or even small
crankbaits , around the bushes and there are fish in front of
the bushes and on long points also that will bite a c-rig and
or a football head
Crappie are biting in the pole timber and over
brush piles in 15-20 feet of water
Bream are biting crawlers and crickets all over
the lake
Catfish are going good on lines and jugs all over
the lake
Walleye are slow some are as deep as 48 feet and
some in 10 feet on spoons and crawlers
The hybrids and whites are best on the north end
as the water is cooler but with this front should cool back down
and put the fish back on the feed down their , spoons and small
in-line spinners are the best bet right now
Tommy Cauley
September 26, 2008
- White River - Submitted by Berry Brothers Guides
- JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 9/25/2008
We have had a week without rain and the lakes in
the White River system have experienced a slight decline. The
lake level at Bull Shoals Dam rose one and two tenths feet to
rest at thirty one and nine tenths feet above power pool of 654.00
feet. This is nine and one tenths feet below the top of flood
pool. Up stream, Table Rock Lake fell three and six tenths of
a foot to rest at four and nine tenths feet above power pool
or eleven and one tenth feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver
Lake rose one tenth of a foot to rest at nine and one tenth feet
above power pool or five tenths of a foot below the top of flood
pool. The pattern on the White is for heavy generation around
the clock. Norfork Lake has fallen three tenths of a foot to
rest at fifteen and five tenths feet above power pool of 552.00
feet or twelve and five tenths of a foot below the top of flood
pool. The pattern has been to run one or two generators part
of the day and to turn it off at night. There have been some
excellent wading conditions on the Norfork during the last week.
Boating conditions on the White have been uniformly good.
The boat ramp at Quarry Park on the upper Norfork
River is closed while a contractor removes the old pedestrian
bridge across the mouth of Dry Run Creek. While anglers are allowed
to walk in to the area to fish, there is no boat launching allowed
from the ramp until the demolition is completed. The ramp is
scheduled to be back in operation on September 29, 2008. In the
mean time, the only ramp available in the area is at the confluence
of the White and Norfork Rivers . Any one wanting to fish the
upper river will be required to run up stream.
The upper river below Bull Shoals Dam has been
producing well. With the higher flows we have had this week;
anglers have had to return to their conventional high water techniques.
The top technique for this level of water is to fish brightly
colored San Juan worms under a strike indicator. Hot colors have
been red, cerise and hot pink. Other effective flies have been
black zebra midges in size fourteen and egg patterns in peach
and pink. I generally use 4X tippet and set the strike indicator
at one and one half times the depth of the water. Use plenty
of weight and I would also recommend the use of fluorocarbon
tippet. It has a higher specific gravity than water and sinks.
In addition, it has greater resistance to abrasion.
Once again, the section from Wildcat Shoals to
the Narrows was another hot spot. In addition to fishing San
Juan worms and nymphs, anglers have reported success fishing
large streamers on sink tip or full sinking lines. The top flies
have been kiwi muddlers, Jim Mengle's Ozark sculpin and large
woolly buggers (size 6 and 4). Be sure and use really heavy tippets,
at least 3X or even 2X. Here again fluorocarbon tippet would
be the logical choice.
Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River have cleared
and the water levels are nearing a comfortable level for wading.
Crooked Creek in particular has fished well during the last week.
Hot flies have been Clouser minnows and crayfish patterns. Successful
anglers have been fishing early in the morning.
The fishing on the Norfork has remained steady
this past week. The low flows in the morning have enticed quite
a few anglers and most have not been disappointed. The section
at Quarry Park just below Norfork Dam has fished particularly
well. Small black zebra midges size eighteen, scuds in size eighteen,
olive woolly buggers with a bit of flash, and Dan's turkey tail
emergers have been the go to flies. I do not know how long the
low water in the morning will be around, but my suggestion is
to take advantage of it while you can.
Dry Run Creek is clear and very wadable. Effective
flies have been sow bugs, worm brown San Juan worms and olive
woolly buggers. With the pleasant weather we have had lately,
now is a good time to get in some quality fishing with your children
or grand children before the weather turns cold. Be sure to carry
a camera and the biggest net you can find. The fish here are
huge.
September 26, 2008
- Norfork and White River - Submitted
by Mountain
River Fly Shop - NORFORK: The Norfork has provided a
lot of fun for wading fly fishers the past week, but get there
early. The fog makes the drive slower, and the setting a little
more eerie but the fish don't care. Some days the fishing has
been silly. Last week the Journal snuck in for a quick morning's
fishing with a new fly we have been testing. Add some split shot
and fishing the fast water it was almost embarassing, the fish
were so co-operative. I guess it makes up for the tough days
on the Princess.
I was actually so certain it wasn't the fly causing
the ruckus I handed it to a mate, John Wilson, for a more independant
test. Don't worry you will see it soon, but I would have no shame
(and perhaps better results) fishing a gray Davy's Sowbug, or
McLellan's Woven V-Rib Sowbug.
Of course if you are a midge fly fisher, I wouldn't
go past some Camel Midges in size 18. Copper.The fly even prompted
a qery as to which fly the Journal was using, from one of our
regular's Mark, though we offered one, a highly inflated rate
we couldn't get him to replace one of his own beautifully tied
midges on the tippet. Copper beads, dark bodies (black, camel
or chocolate) and copper, black or other darker ribs are worth
having.
Just remember that the water is going to come up
on you eventually _ and we wouldn't be suprised if the Corp opens
up generation a little more though they are making more progress
against the flood waters than on the White. In fact we thought
the honeymoon may have been over on Tuesday when the generation
started at 9.30 _ but then it may also have been the bad karma
which had been working at me all week. Generation started at
midday today.
Keep your cell phone handy and dial it regularly,
on guide trips I call on the half hour, to make sure you have
time to get out.
WHITE RIVER: It appears the trout are starting
to settle somewhat after the bursts of hurricaine induced low
water, then back to 15.000+ cfs. Longer leaders, more weight
and some sowbugs on the point can really make a difference.
Water levels are fluctuating during the day. As
Davy says persevere through the slower spells, and you will get
back into the fish. Davy's Sowbugs, Rainy's Sowbugs and McLellan's
Woven V-Rib Sowbugs are essentials in your box.
September 24, 2008 - Norfork
- Report by Tim Partin 101 Grocery and Bait.09/22/08 Norfork
Lake fishing has been on the slow side with the storms we had
from Ike. But as normal, fishing is beginning to improve every
day. Norfork Lake water temperature is dropping it is now in
the low 70's to high 60's in some areas of the lake. On the Red
Bank side of the lake the thermocline is at 50' and solid. Crappie
fishing is good using minnows fished 20 feet deep around the
brush piles. Bluegill fishing is good using worms and crickets.
Striper fishing has been fair. Cat fishing has been good most
being caught using trot lines and some jugs have also been working
using live bait. Bass fishing has been fair. There are loads
of 8-10 inch bass every where now. The spawn was great this year
it seems like every where you go on Norfork Lake there is hundreds
of little fishes. Walleye fishing has been slow. There have been
a few walleye caught jigging spoons deep. As the water temperatures
drop the lake will begin to turn over and fishing will be a real
challenge for a week or two. After that fishing will be great,
the water will clear up after the turn over and the water and
air temps will be ideal and fish will be all over the lake and
hitting on anything you throw at them. Have Fun GO Fishing.
September 22, 2008 - Greers
Ferry Lake - Submitted by Fish Finders Fish Service - The water
is falling somewhat and is at 467.69 and the temp is around 74-76
degrees
All the black bass species , for the most part
are up around the bushes eating pretty good and the some fish
are still out on main lake points and secondary points and some
are on flats around stumps, eating small crakbaits and spinnerbaits
, topwater lures and frogs and buzzbaits , the deeper fish are
eating texas rigged worms and c-cinkos , as well as football
heads.
Bream are biting on crickets and crawlers
Crappie are over brush piles in 20-25 feet of water
Walleye are scattered with the water coming up
and down .
Catfishing is still good all over the lake using
a variety of baits
The hybrid and white bass are going crazy all over
the lake , its finally time to catch them, use jigging spoons
and small in-line spinners, grubs , as they are chasing small
baits , earily mornings and late evenings are the best , boy
howdies and other topwaters are working also , catching season
has finally arrived.
Tommy Cauley
Septmber 22, 2008
- Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood Lake Guide
Service
The Overall Picture:
Navigation conditions in Little River are cautioned with the
increased current.
As of Monday 22 September, Largemouth Bass are very good and
randomly schooling in various locations on Millwood. Bass Assassin
Shads, buzz baits, and RatLTraps are all working well for Bass.
Largemouth Bass from 2, up to 8 pounds, remain good, w/ best
bite remaining early. Bass are schooling at various locations
around Millwood.
Clarity along the main lake improved this week from muddy to
heavy stain, and Little River's clarity is also stained from
recent high wind and incoming fresh water. Some high density
broken, vegetation and floating mats remain in Little River,
due to current in the river. USACE crews have replaced many damaged
and/or missing river buoys in Little River from the clear cut
main lake area, and up river.
As of Monday, 22 Sept, the main lake and Little River's water
surface temperatures are currently ranging from approx 72º
to 78ºF, depending of course, on location and time of day.
Lake level on Millwood as of Monday 22 Sept is approx 9.5"
above normal, and slowly falling, at 260.0 feet. Normal pool
is 259.2 feet. Clouds, fresh incoming water in the 4 rivers,
and rain over past 2 weeks have again reduced lake surface temperature.
Current in Little River was 13,244 CFS on Monday, 22 September.
Little River's clarity as of Monday, is slightly improved at
approx 5-8" visibility, from rising lake level. Main lake
clarity / visibility approx 3-4" away from current due to
recent high wind, lake chop, and thunderstorms. Wind can have
a drastic effect on main lake clarity merely in a matter of hours.
Many of the damaged or missing river buoys have been replaced.
All USACE boat ramps and campgrounds are open, as of Monday.
Upriver oxbow's clarity continues to be very good and is ranging
approx 30-40". The tailwater elevation on Monday 9/22, was
231.43 feet. Discharge/ Release Rate at the spillway of 13,244
CFS is with 8 tainer gates open at 2 feet each. Use caution in
navigation on Little River during low light conditions due to
debris, broken vegetation still present floating downstream,
and the increased current.
The Details:
Largemouth Bass: Cooler daytime highs in the 70-80 and night
time lows in the 60 range have improved the feeding activity
of most all fish on Millwood! Fall is officially and finally
here! The Bass continue to feed well and very good schooling
activities are being seen in many various locations around the
lake. Chunky Bass from 2-4 pounds are schooling randomly in Cemetery
Slough, Mud, Horseshoe and McGuire oxbow lakes up river, and
fishermen are catching good numbers of schooling fish periodically
during the day. The best schooling activity is during mid day.
Schooling bass seem to take a few hours to get started and best
schooling activities are running between 11am to 3pm. The most
consistent reaction bite is on RatLTraps, Bass Assassin Shad
jerk baits in the vegetation and remaining lily pads, along with
white jigs w/ white chunk trailers, clear Baby Torpedos and Cordell
Crazy Shads. Top water action is the best of course, with the
schooling fish during mid-day. Jitterbugs in white, Spit'n Images
(Threadfin shad pattern), buzzing toads, and buzzbaits are working
at dawn and dusk.
Crankbait bite for bass continues to produce over the past few
weeks. Fat Free Shad cranks, and Cordell Big O's in shad patterns,
are working in and around flooded timber and laydown timber.
Bass Assassin Shads are best for a reaction bite around vegetation,
flooded timber stands. Once the sun gets full up and directly
overhead, switching to 10 and 12" worms will produce in
fair numbers, solid 15-17" bass, although it slows considerably,
until the schooling starts, which over the past few weeks, is
running from 11am to 3pm.
Best reaction bite on Siefert's Buzz Baits around pads and Primrose
grass from 1-6 foot depth areas, early in the morning at daylight
and during schooling activities, has been in Casper's Shadow,
Bleeding Gold Shiner, or Smoke Bomb, in the oxbows. Most early
buzz bait fish are ranging from 15-19" in length.
Spinner bait bite has slowed somewhat over the past couple weeks
and not consistent. War Eagle spinnerbaits, in white/chartreuse
or Hot Mouse colors in stained water areas, or Aurora color in
the clearer water of the oxbows, continue working albeit randomly,
for Largemouths in the clearer water back in the oxbows, around
flooded vegetation and cypress trees.
10-12" Yum worms are still drawing good strikes from 14-17"
bass, and best colors working over the past few weeks are Peanut
Butter 'n Jelly, plum or blue fleck once the sun gets up and
the bass retreat to the high density grass and cover. Edges of
lily pads near deep drops in the clearer water, cypress trees
and stumps are best locations this week for a better worm bite.
White Bass: White bass were schooling in Mud, Horseshoe and McGuire
Oxbow lakes this week.
Crappie: Crappie bite, still slow this week with the stained
and muddy water clarity along Little River, but beginning to
improve. Clarity has also improved, over the past week. The most
consistent bite remains on live shiners, smoke Cordell paddletail
grubs on light wire jig heads.
Channel Cats: Blues and Channel Cats remain consistent this week,
as last week on trotlines, along the current in Little River,
and remain best for 3-7 pounders using cut shad or Charlie, chicken
livers. Yo-yo's hung from cypress trees in approx 9-12 feet water
depth, near any current are picking up some decent cats in the
5-9 pound class.
}><(((º> Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions
Report <º)))><{
Navigation conditions in Little River are cautioned with the
increased current.
Clarity along the main lake improved this week from muddy to
heavy stain, and Little River's clarity is also stained from
recent high wind and incoming fresh water. Some high density
broken, vegetation and floating mats remain in Little River,
due to current in the river. USACE crews have replaced many damaged
and/or missing river buoys in Little River from the clear cut
main lake area, and up river.
As of Monday, 22 Sept, the main lake and Little River's water
surface temperatures are currently ranging from approx 72º
to 78ºF, depending of course, on location and time of day.
Lake level on Millwood as of Monday 22 Sept is approx 9.5"
above normal, and slowly falling, at 260.0 feet. Normal pool
is 259.2 feet. Clouds, fresh incoming water in the 4 rivers,
and rain over past 2 weeks have again reduced lake surface temperature.
Current in Little River was 13,244 CFS on Monday, 22 September.
Little River's clarity as of Monday, is slightly improved at
approx 5-8" visibility, from rising lake level. Main lake
clarity / visibility approx 3-4" away from current due to
recent high wind, lake chop, and thunderstorms. Wind can have
a drastic effect on main lake clarity merely in a matter of hours.
Many of the damaged or missing river buoys have been replaced.
All USACE boat ramps and campgrounds are open, as of Monday.
Upriver oxbow's clarity continues to be very good and is ranging
approx 30-40". The tailwater elevation on Monday 9/22, was
231.43 feet. Discharge/ Release Rate at the spillway of 13,244
CFS is with 8 tainer gates open at 2 feet each. Use caution in
navigation on Little River during low light conditions due to
debris, broken vegetation still present floating downstream,
and the increased current.
Mike
September 20, 2008
- Norfork and White River - Submitted
by Mountain
River Fly Shop - It's nice to have fishing buddies who
are thoughtful enough to send you pics of the fish they are catching
while you are miles away from some great low water fishing. Mark
Lavelle, one of our resident funnymen sent over this pic with
the notation that he should have taken more care to clean his
camera lens (well it was shorter and decidedly less polite) but
we cleaned it up some.
Yeh we missed the low water fishing, what with
pre-Denver packing and then trying to escape Ike's clutches,but
we really hope you were here. Some hot dry fly action on the
White and Norfork.
WHITE RIVER: Wish we has been here. Ike may have
dropped trees, dumped a bunch of rain and made things unpleasant
in this neck of the woods, but the low water Ike left fished
very well.
Heard lots of good things about dry flies, Ants
in various sizes and patterns, Stimulators and Rainys Grand Hoppers
all did well. Other fly fishers we heard from was the sowbugs,
like Davy's Sowbug, Clint's Sowbug, and Mclellan's Woven V-Rib
Sowbugs.
As the water has come higher later in the week
worms have come back to the for like Davy's Dynamite Worms and
Rainys Tungsten San Juan's. We have also heard that larger streamers
are pulling fish off the banks.
NORFORK: Still some wading water available in the
AM, how much longer this will last is another question. Get in
while you can. Tailwater Soft Hackles both in Green and Yellow
and Red/Yellow have been working very well.
Look at Zebra Midges, Tungsten WD40s, Davys Sowbug,
McLellan's Woven V-Rib Sowbug and woolly buggers.
September 20, 2008
- White River - Submitted by Berry Brothers Guides
- JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 9/20/2008
Ike blew into town on the heels of Gustav and left
even more rain. All of the lakes on the White River system rose
significantly. The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam rose four and
four tenths feet to rest at thirty and seven tenths feet above
power pool of 654.00 feet. This is ten and three tenths feet
below the top of flood pool. Up stream, Table Rock Lake rose
four and six tenths of a foot to rest at eight and five tenths
feet above power pool or seven and five tenths feet below the
top of flood pool. Beaver Lake rose two feet to rest at nine
feet above power pool or six tenths of a foot below the top of
flood pool. The pattern on the White early in the week was for
no or little generation. Later in the week, there were significant
levels of generation around the clock. Norfork Lake has risen
one and one tenth of a foot to rest at fifteen and eight tenths
feet above power pool of 552.00 feet or twelve and two tenths
of a foot below the top of flood pool. The pattern has been to
run one or two generators part of the day and to turn it off
at night. There have been some excellent wading conditions on
the White and Norfork during the last week.
In the past two weeks, we have had two hurricanes,
Gustav and Ike, pass through the area. Each one has dumped substantial
amounts of rain. In the short run, it has produced some incredible
wading and fishing when the Corps of Engineers curtailed generation
for a significant period of time in order to minimize flooding
down stream. In the long run, this has not only curtailed the
drawing down of the lakes but has also substantially raised the
lake levels on all of the dams on the White River . Under the
current scenario, I do not foresee the lakes being drawn down
to power pool this year. We are going to be fishing from a boat
for a long time.
The upper river below Bull Shoals Dam was red hot.
When we first received the heavy rains associated with Ike there
was a significant amount of run off entering the river which
contained a lot of silt that severely stained the river making
it unfishable except for this area. There are no tributaries
entering the river here and the water coming through the dam
is clear. On the lower water, smaller nymphs like zebra midges,
sowbugs, and scuds have been the go to flies. Green butt soft
hackles were also effective.
Once again, the section from Wildcat Shoals to
the Narrows was another hot spot. The low water produced near
perfect fishing conditions and resulted in some spectacular fishing
on nymphs like the black zebra midge size eighteen and olive
scud size sixteen. Soft hackles like the partridge and orange,
green butt and the hare's ear soft hackle have been killer in
the broken water below the shoals. In deeper water, olive woolly
buggers have been very effective.
Once the water cleared, Rim Shoals really turned
on. There were numerous reports of hundred fish days and trophy
catches in this section. The hot flies here were black zebra
midges size fourteen, olive scuds size sixteen and Y2Ks. In the
deeper runs olive woolly buggers with a bit of flash were killer.
Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River were running
high and muddy rendering them unfishable. The White River below
the confluence of these two streams was high and muddy also.
The fishing on the Norfork was nothing short of
spectacular. The low flows were the catalyst needed to turn this
stream on. The entire river from Quarry Park to its confluence
with the white River was red hot. Small black zebra midges size
eighteen, scuds in size eighteen, olive woolly buggers with a
bit of flash, and Dan's turkey tail emergers were the go to flies.
There have been few anglers on the river but those that went
experienced some of the best fishing in the area for a long time.
Dry Run Creek continued to fish well. During the
heavy rain it got a bit high and off color. It is now gin clear
and very wadable. After a good rain, the best fly to try is the
San Juan worm. I like worm brown and red. Other effective flies
are sow bugs and olive woolly buggers. While there are places
where you can cast from the bank, you can fish more and better
water if your child has a pair of waders. Always carry a camera.
This is where memories are made.
September 15, 2008 - Greers
Ferry Lake - Submitted by Fish Finders Fish Service - The water
level at greers ferry is at 468.25 and rising , the temp is at
77-80 degrees and falling.
The bass fishing is good up shallow as a lot of
the fish have moved up and can be caught on top waters and cranks
and spinnerbaits and floating worms, and c-rigged lizards in
front of the brush, some more can be caught on the main lake
and secondary points on their way in using football heads texas
rigged worms and c-rigged right bite cinko's
The crappie are over brush piles in 14-22 feet
of water and in pole timber at the same depths and can be caught
with jigs tipped with minnows
Walleye are few and far between with the water
coming up have scattered quite a bit and have not been relocated
yet.
The bream have spawned again and are still shallow
and feeding pretty good on crickets and worms
The whites and hybrids are feeding real well in
places ,the problem is finding big fish, they are moving out
of deep water as we speak and should explode in the next couple
of days , the fishing is good thought now using jigging spoons
and small in-line spinners to mimic the small bait they are eating,
small grubs will work also as well as some top water baits, use
your graphs and find the bait and the fish will be close
Catfishing continues to be good all over the lake.
Tommy Cauley
Septmber 15, 2008
- Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood Lake Guide
Service
The Overall Picture:
Navigation conditions in Little River are near cautioned with
the increased current.
As of Monday 15 September, Largemouth Bass are very good and
randomly schooling in various locations on Millwood. Frogs, Wobbleheads,
Bass Assassin Shads, buzz baits, and RatLTraps are all working
well for Bass. Largemouth Bass from 2, up to 8 pounds, remain
good, w/ best bite remaining early. Fall routine schooling patterns
are beginning to emerge.
Clarity along the main lake is muddy this week from Ike's high
winds, and Little River's clarity is heavy stained from rising
influx of incoming water. Some high density broken, vegetation
and floating mats remain in Little River, due to current in the
river. USACE crews have replaced many damaged and/or missing
river buoys in Little River from the clear cut main lake area,
and up river.
As of Monday, 15 Sept, the main lake and Little River's water
surface temperatures are currently ranging from approx 72º
to 80ºF, depending of course, on location and time of day.
Lake level on Millwood as of Monday 15 Sept is approx 6.1"
above normal, and slowly falling, at 259.7 feet. Normal pool
is 259.2 feet. Clouds, fresh incoming water in the 4 rivers,
and rain over past 2 weeks have again reduced lake temperature
by as much as 10ºF. Water's surface temp has dropped again
from last week and is currently ranging from 72º to 80º.
Current in Little River was 4,639 cfs on Monday, 15 September.
Little River's clarity as of Monday, is approx 3-4" visibility,
from rising lake level. Main lake clarity / visibility approx
1-3" away from current due to recent high wind, lake chop,
and thunderstorms. Wind can have a drastic effect on main lake
clarity merely in a matter of hours. Many of the damaged or missing
river buoys have been replaced. All USACE boat ramps and campgrounds
are open, as of Monday.
Upriver oxbow's clarity continues to be very good and is ranging
approx 20-36". The tailwater elevation on Monday 8/15, was
232.91 feet. Discharge/ Release Rate at the spillway of 4,639
CFS is with 12 tainer gates open at 1 foot each. Use caution
in navigation on Little River during low light conditions due
to debris, broken vegetation still present floating downstream,
and the increased current. We expect discharge to increase and
lake rise mid to lake week from all the rain associated with
tropical depression Ike over the past weekend.
The Details:
Largemouth Bass: Cooler daytime highs in the 70-80 and night
time lows in the 60 range have improved the feeding activity
of most all fish on Millwood! Fall is on the way! The Bass continue
to feed well and very good schooling activities are being seen
in many various locations around the lake. Chunky Bass from 2-4
pounds are schooling randomly in Cemetery Slough, Mud, Horseshoe
and McGuire oxbow lakes up river, and fishermen are catching
good numbers of schooling fish periodically during the day. Definite
best big bite is still early and late, but improving during noon
hours, during schooling. Schooling bass seem to take a few hours
to get started and best schooling activities are running between
11am to 3pm, or mid-day. The most consistent reaction bite is
on gold and silver Wobbleheads on sunny days, (gold on cloudy
days), buzz baits (white), Bass Assassin Shad jerk baits in the
vegetation and remaining lily pads, along with white jigs w/
white chunk trailers, and white or chrome RatLTraps. Top water
action is the best right at daylight and dusk, using Jitterbugs
(Frog and Perch colors), Spit'n Images, buzzing toads, and buzzbaits.
Crankbait bite for bass continues to produce over the past few
weeks. Fat Free Shad cranks, and Cordell Big O's in shad patterns,
are working in and around flooded timber and laydown timber.
Bass Assassin Shads are best for a reaction bite around vegetation,
flooded timber stands. Wacky Worms, Salty Rat Tails and trick
worms in watermelon-red, kiwi, or peanut butter & jelly colors,
continue working. Once the sun gets full overhead, switching
to 10 and 12" worms will produce in fair numbers of 15-17"
bass, although it slows considerably, until the schooling starts,
which over the past week is running from 11am to 3pm.
Best reaction bite on Siefert's Buzz Baits around pads and Primrose
grass from 1-6 foot depth areas, early in the morning at daylight
has been in Casper's Shadow, Bleeding Gold Shiner, or Smoke Bomb,
in the stained, but clearer water clarity areas. Most early buzz
bait fish are ranging from 15-19" in length.
War Eagle spinnerbaits, in white/chartreuse or Hot Mouse colors
in stained water areas, or Aurora color in the clearer water
of the oxbows, are still working for Largemouths in the clearer
water back in the oxbows, around flooded vegetation and cypress
trees. 10-12" Yum worms are still drawing good strikes from
14-17" bass, and best colors working over the past few weeks
are Peanut Butter 'n Jelly, blackberry, or redbug once the sun
gets up and the bass retreat to the high density grass and cover.
Edges of lily pads near deep drops in the clearer water, are
best locations this week.
White Bass: White bass were schooling in Mud Lake and in Little
River around Hurricane Creek this week.
Crappie: Crappie bite, still slow this week with the stained
and muddy water clarity along Little River. Clarity has steadily
gone downhill, over the past 2 weeks, and tapered off the Crappie
bite. The most consistent bite remains on live shiners, grubs
on light wire jig heads, and white/chartreuse colored tails.
Channel Cats: Blues and Channel Cats remain consistent this week,
as last week on trotlines, along the current in Little River,
and remain best for 3-7 pounders using cut shad or Charlie, chicken
livers. Yo-yo's hung from cypress trees in approx 12-15 feet
water depth, near any current are picking up some decent 4-8
pound cats.
}><(((º> Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions
Report <º)))><{
Clarity along the main lake is muddy this week from Ike's high
winds, and Little River's clarity is heavy stained from rising
influx of incoming water. Some high density broken, vegetation
and floating mats remain in Little River, due to current in the
river. USACE crews have replaced many damaged and/or missing
river buoys in Little River from the clear cut main lake area,
and up river.
As of Monday, 15 Sept, the main lake and Little River's water
surface temperatures are currently ranging from approx 72º
to 80ºF, depending of course, on location and time of day.
Lake level on Millwood as of Monday 15 Sept is approx 6.1"
above normal, and slowly falling, at 259.7 feet. Normal pool
is 259.2 feet. Clouds, fresh incoming water in the 4 rivers,
and rain over past 2 weeks have again reduced lake temperature
by as much as 10ºF. Water's surface temp has dropped again
from last week and is currently ranging from 72º to 80º.
Current in Little River was 4,639 cfs on Monday, 15 September.
Little River's clarity as of Monday, is approx 3-4" visibility,
from rising lake level. Main lake clarity / visibility approx
1-3" away from current due to recent high wind, lake chop,
and thunderstorms. Wind can have a drastic effect on main lake
clarity merely in a matter of hours. Many of the damaged or missing
river buoys have been replaced. All USACE boat ramps and campgrounds
are open, as of Monday.
Upriver oxbow's clarity continues to be very good and is ranging
approx 20-36". The tailwater elevation on Monday 8/15, was
232.91 feet. Discharge/ Release Rate at the spillway of 4,639
CFS is with 12 tainer gates open at 1 foot each. Use caution
in navigation on Little River during low light conditions due
to debris, broken vegetation still present floating downstream,
and the increased current. We expect discharge to increase and
lake rise mid to lake week from all the rain associated with
tropical depression Ike over the past weekend.
Mike
September 11, 2008
- White River - Submitted by Berry Brothers Guides
- JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 9/11/2008
Gustav blew into town and left a lot of rain. The
White River rose significantly. The lake level at Bull Shoals
Dam rose two and seven tenths feet to rest at twenty seven and
three tenths feet above power pool of 654.00 feet. This is thirteen
and seven tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Up stream,
Table Rock Lake rose two and two tenths of a foot to rest at
three and nine tenths feet above power pool or twelve and one
tenth feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake rose nine
tenths of a foot to rest at seven feet above power pool or two
and six tenths feet below the top of flood pool. The pattern
early in the week was for no or little generation. Later in the
week, there were fairly low levels of generation. Norfork Lake
has risen four tenths of a foot to rest at fourteen and seven
tenths feet above power pool of 552.00 feet or thirteen and three
tenths of a foot below the top of flood pool. The pattern has
been to run one generator during the day and to turn it off at
night. There have been some excellent wading conditions on the
White and Norfork during the last week.
We caught the edge of hurricane Gustav and received
a substantial amount of rain. There was greater rainfall to the
south of us which resulted in flooding down stream. In an attempt
to mitigate the damage, the Corps of Engineers curtailed generation
for a significant period of time. As I write this there is yet
another hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico (Ike), which could have
the same effect on our weather. We will have to wait and see.
The lower water resulted in some of the most spectacular fishing
I have seen in some time. This can only cause higher lake levels
for a longer period of time.
The upper river from Bull Shoals Dam, through the
State Park down to Cane Island Shoals was a real hot spot. On
the lower water, smaller nymphs like zebra midges, sowbugs, and
scuds have been the go to flies. Soft hackles like partridge
and orange and green butts would also be effective. Remember
to down size to 6X tippet for the lower flows. With the lighter
tippets use a fly rod with a sensitive tip and don't forget to
adjust the drag on your reel for the lighter tippets.
The section from Wildcat Shoals to the Narrows
was another hot spot. Not only were there reports of hundred
fish days but there were also several trophy fish landed in the
area. The low levels resulted in some spectacular fishing on
nymphs like the black zebra midge size eighteen and olive scud
size sixteen. Soft hackles like the partridge and orange, green
butt and the hare's ear soft hackle have been killer in the broken
water below the shoals. In deeper water, olive woolly buggers
have been very effective.
The top spot during the past week was possibly
Rim Shoals. There were also reports of hundred fish days and
trophy catches in this section. The hot flies here were black
zebra midges size fourteen, olive scuds size sixteen and Y2Ks.
In the deeper runs olive woolly buggers with a bit of flash have
accounted for a lot of fish.
The heavy rains muddied up and raised the water
levels on Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River making fishing
difficult. The White River below the confluence of these two
streams was high and muddy also.
The Norfork is fishing extremely well on the low
water. The hot spot has been Quarry Park just below the dam.
Hot flies have been sowbugs, San Juan worms and zebra midges
(black with silver wire and silver bead and brown with copper
wire and copper beads) all in smaller size eighteen or twenty.
The Ackerman access was also fishing well on the same flies.
Dry Run Creek fished well this week. There have
been few people there. With the end of summer, there are few
campers at Quarry Park . The hot fly remains the sowbug in size
fourteen with the worm brown San Juan worm a close second. I
like to use fluorocarbon tippet here for its greater strength
and abrasion resistance. Don't forget the camera.
September 10, 2008
- Norfork and White River - Submitted
by Mountain
River Fly Shop - How's hundred fish days, a 34Åç
brown and a bunch of 20Åç+ fish sound. That's low
water on the White and Norfork, more moderate flows returning
this weekend?
WHITE RIVER: The White has been nothing short of
sensational the past week. It goes to show the high water we
have had all year has been tremendous for the fish. The trout
are muscled up, hefty and pull like steam trains. But we can
probably expect a gradual return to high water fishing over the
next few days, and then we are in Ike's hands.
Dries really have been the ticket early, try larger
foam ants, Parachute Adams or Parachute Ants 10- 16, presented
to fish working the edges, and over grassbeds, even in a few
inches of water. The 18Åç brown above, was in some
really skinny water.
Scuds, sowbugs and midges have been the mainstay
for most fly fishers. Black and copper Zebras or black and silver
Whitetail and Super Midges have been very good. McLellan's Woven
V-Rib sowbug has claimed its share of fish and of course you
can throw buggers. Try swinging them across riffles as the Journal
did for an hour or so Monday afternoon, after missing a bunch
of fish on a swung soft hackle.
As the water comes back try larger midges over
the grassbeds, the midges have been prolific at time, and then
in higher flows sowbugs, scuds and San Juans.
NORFORK: The windows of wadeable water on Norfork
too are narrowing after a fun week. The fishing on Norfork was
excellent as well though we didn't hear of many fish bigger than
20Åç _ just one 24Åç rainbow (and just
writing that makes us think how good we have it here). But there
were 100+ fish days for several Norfork afficionados.
Zebra Midges in black/copper and olive seemed to
be the fly of choice. We also heard of some good dry fly fishing
with larger hoppers and attractors like Chernobyls fished tight
to the banks.
September 9, 2008 - Norfork
- Report by Tim Partin 101 Grocery and Bait.
09/09/08 Fishing Norfork Lake has been good. It
rained for 2 days this past week and we received about 4 inches.
As a result Norfork Lake level only raised a few inches and the
water temperature has dropped a few more degrees to the low 80's.
Striper fishing is good. White Bass fishing has been fair. Crappie
fishing has been good using minnows fished from 18-20 feet deep.
Bluegill fishing is good using worms and crickets. Walleye fishing
is fair. Cat fishing is fair. Have Fun Go Fishing.
September 9, 2008 - Greers
Ferry Lake - Submitted by Fish Finders Fish Service - The water
level at greers ferry is at 467.35 and is coming up and going
down a few tenths a day as they try and get some water out it
rose 7 feet after the rain.
The bass fishing is good around the bushes as most
fish have moved up and should be good until turnover starts ,
on topwater plugs which include frogs and other assorted baits
as well as spinnerbaits and jigs.
No- report on the walleye
The catfishing continues to be good all over the
lake on assorted catfish baits
Bream fishing is good on crawlers and crickets
Crappie are slow after the rain
The whites and hybrids are real good , but real
small in size right now as the new young of the year are schooling
everywhere but the big fish are eluding us at present but some
colder nights will help soon
Tommy Cauley
Septmber 8, 2008 -
Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood Lake Guide
Service
The Overall Picture:
Navigation conditions in Little River are near cautioned with
the increased current.
As of Monday 08 September, Largemouth Bass are very good and
randomly schooling in various locations on Millwood. Wobbleheads,
Bass Assassin Shads, buzz baits, and RatLTraps are all working
well for Bass. Largemouth Bass from 2, up to 8 pounds, remain
good, w/ best bite remaining early. Fall routine schooling patterns
are beginning to emerge.
Clarity along the main lake and Little River this week is heavy
stained from rising influx of incoming water. Some high density
broken, vegetation and floating mats remain in Little River,
due to recent pool fluctuations and discharge over past many
weeks, and is still present. USACE crews have replaced many damaged
and/or missing river buoys in Little River from the clear cut
main lake area, and up river.
As of Monday, 08 Sept, the main lake and Little River's water
surface temperatures dropped again, and are currently ranging
approx 74º to 80ºF, depending of course, on location
and time of day. Lake level on Millwood as of Monday 08 Sept
is approx 16.1" above normal, and slowly falling, at 260.54
feet. Normal pool is 259.2 feet. Clouds, fresh incoming water
in the 4 rivers, and rain over past 2 weeks have again reduced
lake temperature by as much as 10ºF. Water's surface temp
has dropped again from last week and is currently ranging from
74º to 80º. Current in Little River was 10,864 cfs
on Monday, 08 September. Millwood is approximately 16.1"
above normal and slowly falling, as of Monday. Little River's
clarity as of Monday, is approx 3-4" visibility, from rising
lake level. Main lake clarity / visibility approx 1-3" away
from current due to recent high wind, lake chop, and thunderstorms.
Wind can have a drastic effect on main lake clarity merely in
a matter of hours. Current in Little River and discharge at the
dam is 10,864CFS as of Monday. Many of the damaged or missing
river buoys have already been replaced. All USACE boat ramps
and campgrounds are open, as of Monday. State Park has one boat
ramp still under repair with the other ramp closer to campgrounds,
open.
Upriver oxbow's clarity continues to be very good and is ranging
approx 20-36". The tailwater elevation on Monday 8/8, was
237.81 feet. Discharge/ Release Rate at the spillway of 10,864
CFS is with 11 tainer gates open at 2 feet each and 2 gates open
at 1 foot each. Use caution in navigation on Little River during
low light conditions due to debris, broken vegetation still present
floating downstream, and the increased current.
The Details:
Largemouth Bass: Cooler daytime highs in the 70-80 and night
time lows in the 60 range have improved the feeding activity
of most all fish on Millwood! Fall is on the way! The Bass continue
to feed well and very good schooling activities are being seen
in many various locations around the lake. Chunky Bass from 2-4
pounds are schooling randomly in Mud, Horseshoe and McGuire oxbow
lakes up river, and 2 fishermen caught and released over 50 in
just 20-30 minutes this week. Definite best big bite is still
early and late, but improving during noon hours, during schooling.
Schooling bass seem to take a few hours to get started and best
schooling activities are running between 11am to 3pm, or mid-day.
The most consistent reaction bite is on gold and silver Wobbleheads
(gold on cloudy days), buzz baits (white), Bass Assassin Shads
(salt and pepper silver phantom and baby bass colors), white
jigs w/ white chunk trailers, and Smokey Joe white RatLTraps.
Top water action is the best right at daylight and dusk, using
Jitterbugs (Frog and Perch colors), Spit'n Images, buzzin toads,
and buzzbaits.
Crankbait bite for bass continues to produce over the past few
weeks. Fat Free Shads and Cordell Big O's in shad and crawfish
patterns, are working in and around flooded timber and laydown
timber. Bass Assassin Shads in salt n pepper silver phantom,
are best for a reaction bite around vegetation, flooded timber
stands. Wacky Worms, Salty Rat Tails and trick worms in watermelon-red,
kiwi, or peanut butter & jelly colors, continue working.
Once the sun gets full overhead, switching to 10 and 12"
worms will produce in fair numbers of 15-17" bass, although
it slows considerably, until the schooling starts, which over
the past week is running from 11am to 3pm.
Best reaction bite on Siefert's Buzz Baits around pads and Primrose
grass from 1-6 foot depth areas, early in the morning at daylight
has been in Casper's Shadow, Bleeding Gold Shiner, or Smoke Bomb,
in the stained, but clearer water clarity areas. Most early buzz
bait fish are ranging from 15-19" in length.
War Eagle spinnerbaits, in white/chartruese or Hot Mouse colors
in stained water areas, or Aurora color in the clearer water
of the oxbows, are still working for Largemouths in the clearer
water back in the oxbows, around flooded vegetation and cypress
trees. Rat-L-Traps in Sexy Shad, Smokey Joe, White, Shad Daddy,
and Silver colors seem to remain the hot lipless crank bait bites
again over the past week. The large 10-12" worms are still
drawing good strikes from 14-17" bass, and best colors working
over the past few weeks are Peaunut Butter 'n Jelly, blackberry,
or redbug once the sun gets up and the bass retreat to the high
density grass and cover. Edges of lily pads near deep drops in
the clearer water, are best locations this week.
White Bass: White bass were schooling in Mud Lake and in Little
River around Hurricane Creek this week.
Crappie: Crappie bite, still slow this week with the stained
and muddy water clarity along Little River. Clarity has steadily
gone downhill, over the past 2 weeks, and tapered off the Crappie
bite. The most consistent bite remains on live shiners, grubs
on light wire jig heads, and white/chartruese colored tails.
Channel Cats: Blues and Channel Cats consistent this week on
trotlines, with the current in Little River, and remain best
for 3-7 pounders using cut shad or Charlie, chicken livers. Yo-yo's
hung from cypress trees in approx 12-15 feet water depth, near
any current are picking up some decent 4-8 pound cats.
}><(((º> Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions
Report <º)))><{
Clarity along the main lake and Little River this week is heavy
stained from rising influx of incoming water. Some high density
broken, vegetation and floating mats remain in Little River,
due to recent pool fluctuations and discharge over past many
weeks, and is still present. USACE crews have replaced many damaged
and/or missing river buoys in Little River from the clear cut
main lake area, and up river.
As of Monday, 08 Sept, the main lake and Little River's water
surface temperatures dropped again, and are currently ranging
approx 74º to 80ºF, depending of course, on location
and time of day. Lake level on Millwood as of Monday 08 Sept
is approx 16.1" above normal, and slowly falling, at 260.54
feet. Normal pool is 259.2 feet. Clouds, fresh incoming water
in the 4 rivers, and rain over past 2 weeks have again reduced
lake temperature by as much as 10ºF. Water's surface temp
has dropped again from last week and is currently ranging from
74º to 80º. Current in Little River was 10,864 cfs
on Monday, 08 September. Millwood is approximately 16.1"
above normal and slowly falling, as of Monday. Little River's
clarity as of Monday, is approx 3-4" visibility, from rising
lake level. Main lake clarity / visibility approx 1-3" away
from current due to recent high wind, lake chop, and thunderstorms.
Wind can have a drastic effect on main lake clarity merely in
a matter of hours. Current in Little River and discharge at the
dam is 10,864CFS as of Monday. Many of the damaged or missing
river buoys have already been replaced. All USACE boat ramps
and campgrounds are open, as of Monday. State Park has one boat
ramp still under repair with the other ramp closer to campgrounds,
open.
Upriver oxbow's clarity continues to be very good and is ranging
approx 20-36". The tailwater elevation on Monday 8/8, was
237.81 feet. Discharge/ Release Rate at the spillway of 10,864
CFS is with 11 tainer gates open at 2 feet each and 2 gates open
at 1 foot each. Use caution in navigation on Little River during
low light conditions due to debris, broken vegetation still present
floating downstream, and the increased current.
Mike
September 4, 2008
- White River - Submitted by Berry Brothers Guides
- JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 9/04/2008
Gustav has brought us plenty of rain this week.
The White River continues to fall. The lake level at Bull Shoals
Dam fell two and six tenths feet to rest at twenty four and six
tenths feet above power pool of 654.00 feet. This is sixteen
and four tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Up stream,
Table Rock Lake fell one tenth of a foot to rest at one and seven
tenths feet above power pool or fourteen and three tenths feet
below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell four tenths of
a foot to rest at six and one tenths feet above power pool or
three and five tenths feet below the top of flood pool. The pattern
on the White has been to run all eight generators around the
clock with slightly higher flows in the afternoon. Gustav dumped
a lot of rain on the area and the Corps of Engineers turned off
the generators. Norfork Lake has fallen one foot to rest at fourteen
and three tenths feet above power pool of 552.00 feet or thirteen
and seven tenths of a foot below the top of flood pool. The pattern
has been to run one generator around the clock. The Corps has
also turned off the Norfork, for how long?
As I write this, it is raining and there is no
generation at Bull Shoals or Norfork Dam. The forecast is for
us to receive five or more inches of rain. We have already received
three. There are flash flood warnings in the area. How will this
affect lake levels? I would think that the lake levels will rise
and that it will take longer to get them down to wadable levels.
How long will the lower levels last? It depends on how much flooding
there is down stream. My recommendation is to go fishing now
and enjoy. I would think that the rivers are muddy, so I will
head up stream. The sudden drop in water level has stranded literally
thousands of trout along the banks of the river. Most were small
browns and rainbows. This is unfortunate but a reality of life.
The upper river from Bull Shoals Dam, through the
State Park down to Cane Island Shoals has been a perpetual hot
spot for months and the past week has not been different. On
high water the hot flies remain brightly colored San Juan worms
and egg patterns. The most productive colors have been red, cerise,
hot pink and fire orange. On lower water try black zebra midges,
scuds and sow bugs. Soft hackles like green butts should also
be effective. Remember to down size to 6X tippet for the lower
flows.
The Narrows has remained hot during the past week.
On high water, the key to success has been to fish a brightly
colored San Juan worm with a nymph on a dropper. The most popular
nymphs have been zebra midges, trout crack, sowbugs, scuds, and
bead head hares ears. On lower water try the same nymphs in size
eighteen. Olive woolly buggers have been killer in slightly deeper
water.
Another hot spot has been the Rim Shoals Catch
and Release section. I have done well with brightly colored San
Juan worms, the hot colors have been cerise, hot pink and red.
I have noted several anglers take advantage of Gary Flipin's
water taxi to deliver them to the bottom of the second island
for some wade fishing and pick them up later. Check by Rim Shoals
Trout Dock to take advantage of the service.
The Norfork is fishing a bit better this week particularly
on the low water. The hot spot has been Quarry Park just below
the dam. Hot flies have been sowbugs, San Juan worms and zebra
midges (black with silver wire and silver bead and brown with
copper wire and copper beads) all in smaller sizes (eighteen
or twenty). On higher flows, the same midges in size fourteen
have been effective in this area.
Dry Run Creek continues to receive little pressure.
School is back in session. No one is there during the week. The
weekends are seeing more traffic. The hot fly is a gray sowbug
size fourteen and small worm brown San Juan worms. Be sure and
take your camera. This is the place to capture the memory of
a life time. I would suggest that you make sure that the camera
has a flash. The creek has a lot of tree cover and there are
low light conditions.
September 4, 2008 - Norfork
- Norfork Lake Fishing Report by Tim Partin 101 Grocery
and Bait.
09/02/08 Norfork lake water temperature is in the
low to mid 80's. Water clarity is good. The Norfork Lake level
is around 566 mean sea level. That is about 14 feet above normal
level. Fishing has been good. Striper fishing is fair. Most are
being caught around the dam. Walleye fishing is fair. Crappie
fishing is very good now. Fish for crappie about 15-20 ft deep
around the shore line using minnows. Bluegill fishing is good
also. White bass fishing is slow. Cat fishing is fair. Large
and Smallmouth Bass fishing is fair. With the rain we have had
this week and cooler weather, the water temperature should begin
to cool down more and the fishing will begin to kick in. Have
Fun Go Fishing.
Greg Weinmann
Hand Cove Resort and RV Park
8885 Hand Cove Road
Elizabeth, AR 72531
870-488-5367
September 3, 2008 - Greers
Ferry Lake - Submitted by Fish Finders Fish Service -The water
level at greers ferry is at 461-68 and is on the rise and cooling
down at the same time.
This will set off the hybrids and whites for sure
the cold rain, after it settles a few days it will be on, we
caught lots of small fish last week 1 every drop but they were
this years youg whites and stocked hybrids , the water had warmed
back up after the last cold front , but the rain had driven the
shad down where they needed to be , so after this all the big
fish will show up now and where that will be will be anyones
guess, try a lot of the traditional places and look for shad
of course and try spoons and in-line buck-shot spinners as well
as rinky dinks and swim baits.
The bass fishing is good around the bushes , and
some can still be caught out deeper on the main lake points and
secondary points with football heads and c-riggs as well as texas
rigged worms, spinnerbaits , rattle traps and small cranks working
up shallow and always keep a top water tied on
Catfish are biting well all over the lake
The walleye are hit and miss right now.
The crappie are biting in the pole timber , suspended
in about 15 feet of water in creek bends and over brush piles
on the main lake, with jigs tipped with minnows.
No report on bream
Tommy Cauley
Septmber 1, 2008 -
Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood Lake Guide
Service
The Overall Picture:
Navigation conditions in Little River are near normal.
As of Monday 01 September, Largemouth Bass are excellent and
schooling in various locations on Millwood. Clouds and rain over
past 2 weeks have reduced lake temperature by as much as 8ºF.
Current in Little River was unavailable at the USACE office on
Monday, Labor Day Holiday. Millwood is still approx 8.3"
above normal and slowly rising, as of Monday. Water's surface
temps consistent from last week from 75º to 80º. Wobbleheads,
Bass Assassin Shads, buzz baits, and RatLTraps are all working
well for Bass.
Largemouth Bass from 2, up to 8 pounds, remain good, w/ best
bite remaining early. Fall routine schooling patterns are beginning
to emerge. The high wind, rough chop water, thunderstorms and
rain drastically worsened water clarity along the main lake and
Little River this week. Main lake's clarity approx 2-3".
Some high density broken, vegetation and floating mats remain
in Little River, due to recent pool fluctuations and discharge
over past many weeks, and is still present. USACE crews have
replaced many damaged and/or missing river buoys in Little River
from the clear cut main lake area, and up river.
As of Monday, 01 Sept, the main lake and Little River's water
surface temperatures dropped again, and are currently ranging
approx 77º to 82ºF, depending of course, on location
and time of day. Lake level on Millwood as of Monday 01 Sept
is approx 8.3" above normal, and slowly rising, at 259.89
feet. Normal pool is 259.2 feet. Little River's clarity as of
Monday, is approx 8-9" visibility, which will change by
Thursday with all this high wind, lake chop and thunderstorms.
Main lake clarity / visibility approx 1-3" away from current
due to recent high wind, lake chop, and thunderstorms. Wind can
have a drastic effect on main lake clarity merely in a matter
of hours. Current in Little River and discharge at the dam is
1,591CFS as of Monday. Many river buoys have already been replaced.
All USACE boat ramps and campgrounds are open, as of Monday.
State Park has one boat ramp still under repair with the other
ramp closer to campgrounds, open.
Upriver oxbow's clarity continues to be very good and is ranging
approx 18-24" which will also change with the recent thunderstorm
activity and runoff. The tailwater elevation was unavailable
on Monday, 01 Sept. Discharge/ Release Rate at the spillway of
1,591 CFS is with 6 tainer gates open at 1 foot each. Use caution
in navigation on Little River during low light conditions due
to debris and broken vegetation still present and floating downstream
in the increased current.
The Details:
Largemouth Bass: Almost 3 weeks of rain, cloud cover, cooler
daytime highs in the 70-80 range have improved the feeding activity
of most all fish on Millwood! Fall has to be just around the
corner, folks!! The Bass continue to feed well and very good
schooling activities are being seen in many various locations
around the lake, and over the past few weeks and have been caught
and released, up to 9.5 pounds each. Chunky Bass from 2-4 pounds
are schooling and 2 fishermen caught and released over 20 in
just 15-20 minutes this week. Definite est bite is still early
and late, but improving during noon hours, during schooling.
The most consistent reaction bite is on gold and silver Wobbleheads
(gold on cloudy days), buzz baits (white), Bass Assassin Shads
(alewife), white jigs w/ white chunk trailers, and Smokey Joe
white RatLTraps. Top water action is the best right at daylight
and dusk, using Jitterbugs (Frog and Perch colors), Spit'n Images,
buzzin toads, and buzzbaits.
Crankbait bite for bass continues to produce over the past week
or so. Fat Free Shads and Cordell Big O's in shad and crawfish
patterns, are working in and around flooded timber and laydown
timber. Bass Assassin Shads in salt n pepper silver phantom,
or alewife colors are best for a reaction bite around vegetation,
flooded timber stands. Wacky Worms, Salty Rat Tails and trick
worms in watermelon-red, kiwi, or peanut butter & jelly colors,
continue working. Once the sun gets full overhead, switching
to 10 and 12" worms will produce in fair numbers of 15-17"
bass, although it slows considerably, until the schooling starts,
which over the past week is running from 11am to 3pm.
Siefert's Buzz Baits continue to draw good bites around pads
and Primrose grass from 1-6 foot depth areas, early in the morning
at daylight. Best reaction bite on buzz baits over the last week
has been in Casper's Shadow, Bleeding Gold Shiner, and Smoke
Bomb, in the stained, but clearer water clarity areas. Most early
buzz bait fish are ranging from 15-19" in length.
War Eagle spinnerbaits, in white/chartruese or Hot Mouse colors
in stained water areas, or Aurora color in the clearer water
of the oxbows, are still working for Largemouths in the clearer
water back in the oxbows, around flooded vegetation and cypress
trees. Rat-L-Traps in Sexy Shad, Smokey Joe, White, Shad Daddy,
and Silver colors seem to remain the hot lipless crank bait bites
again over the past week. The large 10-12" worms are still
drawing good strikes from 14-17" bass, and best colors working
over the past few weeks are Peaunut Butter 'n Jelly, blackberry,
or redbug once the sun gets up and the bass retreat to the high
density grass and cover. Edges of lily pads near deep drops in
the clearer water, are best locations this week.
White Bass: White bass were schooling in Mud Lake this week.
Crappie: Crappie bite, slowed slightly, this week with the stained
water clarity along Little River. Clarity has steadily gone downhill,
over the past 2 weeks, and tapered off the Crappie bite. The
most consistent bite remains on live shiners, grubs on light
wire jig heads, and white/chartruese colored tails.
Channel Cats: Blues and Channel Cats consistent this week on
trotlines, with the current in Little River, and remain best
for 3-7 pounders using cut shad or Charlie, chicken livers. Yo-yo's
hung from cypress trees in approx 12-15 feet water depth, near
any current are picking up some decent 4-8 pound cats.
Bream: Continue to bite well again along the banks on crickets
and red worms around docks and cypress trees at Yarborough Landing,
Jack's Isle, and Millwood State Park.
}><(((º> Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions
Report <º)))><{
As of Monday, 01 Sept, the main lake and Little River's water
surface temperatures dropped again, and are currently ranging
approx 77º to 82ºF, depending of course, on location
and time of day. Lake level on Millwood as of Monday 01 Sept
is approx 8.3" above normal, and slowly rising, at 259.89
feet. Normal pool is 259.2 feet. Little River's clarity as of
Monday, is approx 8-9" visibility, which will change by
Thursday with all this high wind, lake chop and thunderstorms.
Main lake clarity / visibility approx 1-3" away from current
due to recent high wind, lake chop, and thunderstorms. Wind can
have a drastic effect on main lake clarity merely in a matter
of hours. Current in Little River and discharge at the dam is
1,591CFS as of Monday. Many river buoys have already been replaced.
All USACE boat ramps and campgrounds are open, as of Monday.
State Park has one boat ramp still under repair with the other
ramp closer to campgrounds, open.
Upriver oxbow's clarity continues to be very good and is ranging
approx 18-24" which will also change with the recent thunderstorm
activity and runoff. The tailwater elevation was unavailable
on Monday, 01 Sept. Discharge/ Release Rate at the spillway of
1,591 CFS is with 6 tainer gates open at 1 foot each. Use caution
in navigation on Little River during low light conditions due
to debris and broken vegetation still present and floating downstream
in the increased current.
Mike
August 28, 2008 -
White River - Submitted by Berry
Brothers Guides - JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 8/28/2008
In spite of a minor rain event, the reservoir levels
on the White River continue to fall. The lake level at Bull Shoals
Dam fell two feet to rest at twenty seven and two tenths feet
above power pool of 654.00 feet. This is thirteen and eight tenths
feet below the top of flood pool. Up stream, Table Rock Lake
fell seven tenths of a foot to rest at one and eight tenths feet
above power pool or fourteen and two tenths feet below the top
of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell three tenths of a foot to rest
at six and five tenths feet above power pool or three and one
tenth feet below the top of flood pool. The pattern on the White
has been to run all eight generators around the clock with slightly
higher flows in the afternoon. While these flows made for excellent
boating, there have been few safe wading opportunities on the
White. Norfork Lake has fallen eight tenths of a foot to rest
at fifteen and three tenths feet above power pool of 552.00 feet
or eleven and nine tenths of a foot below the top of flood pool.
The pattern has been to run one generator around the clock. There
have been no wading opportunities and limited boating opportunities.
The water flows on the White and Norfork have both
been significantly reduced during the past few days. It has been
several months since the floods we had this spring, and we have
not made significant progress in lower the lake levels at Bull
Shoals and Norfork Dams. It seems like we could make more progress
if we ran more water as we were a few weeks ago. If we are going
to run lower water levels, why not turn off the dams for a few
hours? When you do run water, do so at a higher level. Coordinate
generation on the two dams so that the same amount of water is
sent down stream. By doing this we could have some wadable water.
Throw us a bone guys!
The upper river from Bull Shoals Dam, through the
State Park down to Cane Island Shoals has been a perpetual hot
spot for months and the past week has not been different. Some
anglers, while reporting great fishing, say that the constant
fishing pressure has made the fish more selective. The hot flies
remain brightly colored San Juan worms and egg patterns. If you
are not doing well with one color, do not hesitate to change
to a different color or pattern. The most productive colors have
been red, cerise, hot pink and fire orange.
The section from the Narrows down to Wildcat Shoals
has remained hot during the past week particularly the section
around the Narrows . The key to success has been to fish a brightly
colored San Juan worm with a nymph on a dropper. The most popular
nymphs have been zebra midges, trout crack, sowbugs, scuds, and
bead head hares ears.
Another hot spot has been the Rim Shoals Catch
and Release section. In addition to the brightly colored San
Juan worms and egg patterns, the hot technique has been to bang
the bank with big streamers on sink tip or full sinking lines.
Effective streamers have been kiwi muddlers, Jim Mengle's Ozark
Sculpin, wool head sculpins and woolly buggers. Vary your retrieve
to determine the most productive speed. With the lower flows
we have had this week; several anglers took advantage of Gary
Flipin's water taxi. For a nominal fee Gary will ferry you to
the bottom of the second island and pick you up when you are
ready to go.
The Norfork has had lower flows this week also.
They were too high to wade and too low for easy navigation. The
Norfork is more difficult, in general, to navigate than the White.
Great care should be taken when running up or down stream. There
are several spots that can be treacherous.
Dry Run Creek has received little pressure in the
past week. School is back in session and no one is there during
the week. The weekends are seeing a bit more traffic. The hot
fly is a gray sowbug size fourteen. There is a sizable population
of them on the creek. Other productive flies are small San Juan
worms in worm brown and olive woolly buggers. While guiding some
youngsters on the creek a couple of weeks ago, I ran into Dave
and Emily Whitlock. They were working on the plans to enhance
fishing there. This is a project of the Friends of the Norfork
Fish Hatchery and will make a great fishery even better.
August 21, 2008 -
Norfork and White River - Submitted
by Mountain
River Fly Shop -
WHITE RIVER: There are a bunch of nice browns,
and some fat rainbows in the 16-19Åç class up and
down the White. These fish have been very catchable. They aren't
White River monsters, but are carrying plenty of heft, pull some
string and fight tough to the boat.
You will connect to some of the better fish if
you work at it too, but it can be a little tough at time differentiating
between the big browns and a stump on the bottom.
Depth and weight is key, balancing the two to get
your fly close to the bottom but not being dragged along it where
it can't be found and not sailing along midwater. We can give
you some guidance in the store, but when the water is fluctuating
like the graph below shows, success is a matter or trial and
error and adjustments.
Don't just tie on a San Juan Worm or Dynamite Worm
and stick with the one color all day. Changing conditions can
mean the color of choice fluctuating throughout the day, and
as the water level changes.
Essential are red, brown (including shades like
tan in the Dynamite Worm) pink, cerise, orange and maroon. I'm
running a little longer tippet in recent weeks to make sure the
fly is up off the bottom. Try two flies outside the trophy zones.
Eggas have been a popular choice in front of a
worm, but a bright worm can be an attractor in its own right
with a more neutral fly following, like a Clint's Sunday Special,
or more imitative scud or sowbug patterns.
Streamers are still doing well, but darker days,
courtesy of this unseasonal August rain, have been best.
Try Whitlock's Near Nuff Sculpin, Kiwi Muddler's
Bunny Leeches, John Barr's Slumpbuster and Meat Whistle, and
Autumn Splendor's. Big olive, black and brown buggers are also
worth trying.
NORFORK: Hard time getting reports off Norfork,
but it certainly means there hasn't been too much traffic on
the Princess. But with the high waters, eggs and worms are a
good combination.
August 21, 2008 -
White River - Submitted by Berry
Brothers Guides - JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 8/21/2008
In spite of a major rain event, the reservoir levels
on the White River continue to fall, albeit slowly. The lake
level at Bull Shoals Dam fell one and eight tenths of a foot
to rest at twenty nine and two tenths feet above power pool of
654.00 feet. This is eleven and eight tenths feet below the top
of flood pool. Up stream, Table Rock Lake fell seven tenths of
a foot to rest at two and five tenths feet above power pool or
thirteen and five tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver
Lake fell five tenths of a foot to rest at six and eight tenths
feet above power pool or two and eight tenths feet below the
top of flood pool. The pattern on the White has been to run all
eight generators around the clock with slightly higher flows
in the afternoon. While these flows made for excellent boating,
there have been few safe wading opportunities on the White. Norfork
Lake has fallen one and four tenths of a foot to rest at sixteen
and one tenths feet above power pool of 552.00 feet or eleven
and nine tenths of a foot below the top of flood pool. The pattern
has been to run two generators with occasional brief periods
of no generation at night. This made for some limited wading
conditions at night.
We have had some unseasonably cool temperatures
this past week. On several occasions the cool temperatures have
combined with high humidity to produce a dense fog on the river.
In certain instances it lasted most of the day and severely limited
visibility. If you encounter conditions like these, be sure and
slow down and keep a look out for other boaters and navigational
hazards.
During the heavy rain we received during the past
week, the river got muddy from run-off coming in from side creeks
and other tributaries. This adversely impacted fishing and washed
a lot of trash that on occasion created navigation hazards. When
this occurs, the best strategy is to move upstream until you
encounter clear water. Sometimes this will necessitate going
all the way to the dam.
The upper river from Bull Shoals Dam, through the
State Park down to Cane Island Shoals has been a perpetual hot
spot for months. The better fishing is in the morning when the
water flows are generally a bit lower. The hot tactic for this
area has been to bang the banks with streamers fished with sink
tip or full sinking lines. Some guides recommend a fast retrieve
while others suggest a slow one. The best bet is to vary your
retrieve until you figure out what the trout want. Sculpin and
baitfish patterns are the ticket for this technique. Fishing
brightly colored San Juan worms under a strike indicator has
also accounted for a lot of good fish.
The section from the Narrows down to Wildcat Shoals
has been red hot during the past week. Anglers have reported
success on a variety of nymphs. The key to success has been to
fish a brightly colored San Juan worm with a nymph on a dropper.
The color of choice for the worm has been hot pink. The most
popular nymphs have been zebra midges, trout crack, sowbugs,
scuds, and bead head hares ears. Remember if you move into a
Catch and Release section it is illegal to fish droppers there.
Another hot spot has been the Rim Shoals Catch
and Release section. The hot technique for this section has been
to fish brightly colored San Juan worms on long leaders (twelve
to fifteen feet) with a large strike indicator and a lot of lead.
The top producing colors have been red, cerise and hot pink.
The Norfork is still not fishing as well as the
White has recently. There has just been too much boat traffic.
There has been some night fishing wading opportunities this past
week. Be very careful and be ready to react to rising water.
On high water the best strategy has been to fish brightly colored
San Juan worms and egg patterns.
Dry Run Creek has looked abandoned. Kids are back
in school and there is very little traffic there particularly
during the week. Poaching continues to be a problem with adults
frequently seen fishing there. If you see any illegal activity,
call the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission's poaching hotline
1 800-482-9262. If your cell phone cannot get a signal down on
the creek (I know mine cannot), go over to the adjacent Federal
trout hatchery and they will gladly let you use their land line.
August 19, 2008 - Greers
Ferry Lake - Submitted by Fish Finders Fish Service -
The water level at greers ferry lake is at 461.27
and falling a little , the water temp has fell about 7 degrees
The bass fishing is good now most of the fish have
moved shallow and can be caught with spinnerbaits, topwaters
crankbaits ,traps etc., or with jigs or soft plastics , when
they won't chase anything , the bite should stay good all fall.
The catfishing is good also all over the lake ,
all species are biting a variety of baits on flats close to deep
water
Some walleye are being caught on spoons and crank
baits and dragged night crawlers in 27-34 feet of water.
Bream have just finished spawning , and are still
shallow , try crickets and night crawlers.
Also crappie fishing is pretty good in the standing
timber in 15-20 feet of water and on brush piles in 20-25 feet
of water on jigs with minnows or roadrunners.
White bass and the hybrids are roaming and suspended
and busting some , in different places all the time catch them
one day and gone the next, they are not holding on any structure
to speak of this rain and cooler weather should push the shad
down and the bite be on though spoons etc.
Tommy Cauley
August 18, 2008 -
Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood Lake Guide
Service
The Overall Picture:
Navigation conditions in Little River are near normal.
As of Monday 18 August, the dog days of summer are here, and
Largemouth Bass remain best early and late or lowest light and
heat. The bass activity and bite continues to improve from 2pm-6pm
as long as the clouds and rain persist, and keeps the heat at
bay. Increased current in Little River from last week. Millwood
is 6" above normal and slowly rising, as of Monday. Water's
surface temps fell considerably from last week. Top Water Toads
and plugs, Bass Assassin Shads, 10-12" worms, and swim baits,
all continue working well for Bass.
Largemouth Bass from 2, up to 8 pounds, remain good, w/ best
bite remaining early. Typical routine summer patterns. Mayfly
hatch is over. The high wind, rough chop water, thunderstorms
and rain drastically worsened water clarity along the main lake
and also in Little River again this week. Main lake's clarity
approx 2-5". Some high density broken, vegetation and floating
mats remain in Little River, due to recent pool fluctuations
and discharge over past many weeks, and is still present. USACE
crews have replaced many damaged and/or missing river buoys in
Little River from the clear cut main lake area, and up river.
As of Monday, 18 August, the main lake and Little River's water
surface temperatures dropped, currently range approx 77º
to 82ºF, depending of course, on location and time of day.
Lake level on Millwood as of Monday 18 August, is approx 6"
above normal, and slowly rising, at 259.70 feet. Normal pool
is 259.2 feet. Little River's clarity as of Monday, is approx
5-8" visibility. Main lake clarity / visibility approx 2-5"
away from current due to recent high wind, lake chop, and thunderstorms.
Wind can have a drastic effect on main lake clarity merely in
a matter of hours. Current in Little River and discharge at the
dam is 3,194 CFS as of Monday. Many river buoys have already
been replaced. All USACE boat ramps and campgrounds are open,
as of Monday. State Park has one boat ramp still under repair
with the other ramp closer to campgrounds, open.
Upriver oxbow's clarity continues to be very good and is ranging
approx 15-18". The tailwater elevation was unavailable,
on Monday, 18 Aug. Discharge/ Release Rate at the spillway of
3,194 CFS is with 8 tainer gates open at 1 foot each. Use caution
in navigation on Little River during low light conditions due
to debris and broken vegetation still present and floating downstream
in the increased current.
The Details:
Largemouth Bass: What a difference 2 weeks of rain, cloud cover,
and wind can have during the dog days of summer in sw Arkansas!
Fall has to be just around the corner, folks!! The Bass continue
to bite very good, definitely the best during early and late
hours, over the past few weeks and have been caught and released,
up to 9.5 pounds each. Chunky Bass from 3-5 pounds remain consistent
over the past week early and late, improving during noon hours,
but overall are slow until just before dark. Most consistent
reaction bite is on Toads, Bass Assassin Shads, white jigs w/
white chunk trailers, and 10 or 12" worms. Top water action
is the best right at daylight and dusk, using Jitterbugs (Frog
and Perch colors), Spit'n Images, buzzin toads, and buzzbaits.
Crankbait bite for bass has improved again, over the past week
or so. Fat Free Shads and Cordell Big O's are working in various
shad colors and patterns like silver cream, or citrus around
flooded timber and laydown timber. Bass Assassin Shads in blue
glimmer or baby bass are best colors for a reaction bite in heavy
lily pad stands. Wacky Worms, Salty Rat Tails and trick worms
in watermelon-red, kiwi, or peanut butter & jelly colors,
continue working. Not a lot of change in overall Largemouth bite
patterns, over the past couple weeks, full blown summer routines
with best bite most agressive shallow early, then switching to
10 and 12" worms once the sun gets high and the heat bears
down.
Siefert's Buzz Baits continue to draw good bites around pads
and Primrose grass from 1-6 foot depth areas. Best reaction bite
on buzz baits for last week has been in Black Shadow, Bleeding
Avocado, or Cole Slaw, in the clearest water you can find. Most
early buzz bait fish are ranging from 15-19" in length.
War Eagle spinnerbaits, in Firecracker, Hot Mouse, or Aurora
colors, are still working for 15" to 19" sized Largemouths
around flooded vegetation and cypress trees, close to deep water.
Rat-L-Traps in Sexy Shad, Shad Daddy, and Silver colors seem
to remain the hot lipless crank bait bites again over the past
week. The large 10-12" worms remain finding 14-17"
bass, and best colors working over the past few weeks are Peaunut
Butter 'n Jelly, black-grape, plum or redbug once the sun gets
up and the bass retreat to the high density grass and cover.
White Bass: No report this week.
Crappie: Crappie bite, diminished this week with the reduction
in water clarity. Little River clarity not as good as the past
2 weeks, and the increased stain, over the past 2 weeks has slowed
the Crappie bite. The most consistent bite remains on live shiners,
grubs on light wire jig heads, and white with chartreuse, hair
jigs.
Channel Cats: Blues and Channel Cats improved this week on trotlines,
with the increase of current in Little River, and remains best
for 3-7 pounders using cut shad or Charlie, chicken livers. Yo-yo's
hung from cypress trees in approx 8-10 feet water depth, near
any current are picking up some decent 2-4 pound cats.
Bream: Continue to bite well again along the banks on crickets
and red worms around docks and cypress trees at Yarborough Landing,
Jack's Isle, and Millwood State Park.
}><(((º> Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions
Report <º)))><{
Navigation conditions in Little River are near normal.
As of Monday, 18 August, the main lake and Little River's water
surface temperatures dropped, currently range approx 77º
to 82ºF, depending of course, on location and time of day.
Lake level on Millwood as of Monday 18 August, is approx 6"
above normal, and slowly rising, at 259.70 feet. Normal pool
is 259.2 feet. Little River's clarity as of Monday, is approx
5-8" visibility. Main lake clarity / visibility approx 2-5"
away from current due to recent high wind, lake chop, and thunderstorms.
Wind can have a drastic effect on main lake clarity merely in
a matter of hours. Current in Little River and discharge at the
dam is 3,194 CFS as of Monday. Many river buoys have already
been replaced. All USACE boat ramps and campgrounds are open,
as of Monday. State Park has one boat ramp still under repair
with the other ramp closer to campgrounds, open.
Upriver oxbow's clarity continues to be very good and is ranging
approx 15-18". The tailwater elevation was unavailable,
on Monday, 18 Aug. Discharge/ Release Rate at the spillway of
3,194 CFS is with 8 tainer gates open at 1 foot each. Use caution
in navigation on Little River during low light conditions due
to debris and broken vegetation still present and floating downstream
in the increased current.
Mike
August 14, 2008 -
White River - Submitted by Berry
Brothers Guides - JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 8/14/2008
We have had a week with a substantial rain event
and much cooler temperatures. The reservoir levels on the White
River continue to fall. The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam fell
one and seven tenths of a foot to rest at thirty one feet above
power pool of 654.00 feet. This is ten feet below the top of
flood pool. Up stream, Table Rock Lake fell one and eight tenths
of a foot to rest at three and two tenths feet above power pool
or twelve and eight tenths feet below the top of flood pool.
Beaver Lake remained steady at seven and three tenths feet above
power pool or two and three tenths feet below the top of flood
pool. The pattern on the White has been to run all eight generators
around the clock with high flows both day and night. While these
flows made for excellent boating, there have been few safe wading
opportunities on the White. Norfork Lake has fallen one and eight
tenths of a foot to rest at seventeen and five tenths feet above
power pool of 552.00 feet or ten and one half of a foot below
the top of flood pool. The pattern has been to run two generators
with occasional brief periods of no generation at night. This
made for some limited wading conditions at night.
The cooler temperatures have certainly made for
some pleasant fishing conditions and a welcome change from the
horrendous heat of the previous week.
The upper river from Bull Shoals Dam, through the
State Park down to Cane Island Shoals has been a perpetual hot
spot for months. The better fishing is in the morning when the
water flows are generally a bit lower. The hot tactic for this
area has been to bang the banks with streamers fished with sink
tip or full sinking lines. Some guides recommend a fast retrieve
while others suggest a slow one. The best bet is to vary your
retrieve until you figure out what the trout want. Sculpin and
baitfish patterns are the ticket for this technique. My favorite
has been Jim Mengle's Ozark Sculpin.
Another hot spot has been the Rim Shoals Catch
and Release section. The hot technique for this section has been
to fish brightly colored San Juan worms on long leaders (twelve
to fifteen feet) with a large strike indicator and a lot of lead.
This is a tricky rig to cast. Make sure that you have removed
all slack from the line before you begin your cast and open up
your loop to keep the line from becoming tangled. Keep your back
cast high to avoid hitting your self in the head. With the amounts
of lead being used this could really hurt (this is the voice
of experience). The top producing colors have been red, cerise
and hot pink.
The Buffalo Shoals section has been yet another
hot spot. There is a lot of incredible structure in this area
and it holds a lot of fish. The top producing flies have been
sowbugs, scuds and brightly colored San Juan worms.
The Norfork is not fishing as well as it has recently.
It is experiencing increased boat traffic. They are still catching
warm water species there. In fact, there was a very large Striped
Bass caught near the mouth of Dry Run Creek today. It is important
that when these warm water species are caught that they be removed.
These fish are predators and could have a negative impact on
the fishing on the Norfork.
This past week has been a great week to take a
youngster to Dry Run Creek. There were fewer people fishing there
and the temperatures were much milder. When you do take a child
there, remember that they get to fish not you. They need to cast,
hook and fight the fish. You need to limit your participation
to coaching, netting and taking photographs. Of course it is
alright to rig the rod and untangle knots. Just make sure that
you are not the one fishing. The hot flies this past week have
been San Juan worms (red and brown), sowbugs and olive woolly
buggers. Be sure to take the biggest net that you can find and
make sure to bring the camera. Remember that the creek is over
grown with large trees and you frequently will need a flash with
your camera because of the low light conditions. This is a very
special place.
August 14, 2008 -
Norfork and White River - Submitted
by Mountain
River Fly Shop -
Try some big streamers, or big San Juan's on the
White.
WHITE RIVER: After all our tips this week what
else would you expect us to suggest for some entertainment on
the White but pull out the heavy rods, and the big flies. Deep
drifted San Juan Worms or Dynamite Worms probably is the way
to clean up on the White at the moment, working the grass beds
and the islands.
But if like us you want a change then read through
our streamer tips and get a bud to drive the boat. Pick up Whitlock's
Near Nuff Sculpin, Kiwi Muddler's Bunny Leeches, John Barr's
Slumpbuster and Meat Whistle, and Autumn Splendor's. Big olive,
black and brown buggers are also worth trying.
We are still waiting the hopper fishing to light
up. But we are starting to see risers in side channels and some
lookers at least. It worn't be long
August 11, 2008 -
Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood Lake Guide
Service
The Overall Picture:
Navigation conditions in Little River are near normal.
As of Monday 11 August, what a relief the past week's rain has
brought! Largemouth Bass remain best early and late or lowest
light and heat. The bass activity and bite improved from 2pm-6pm.
Increased current in Little River from last week. Millwood is
5.2" above normal and slowly rising, as of Monday. Water's
surface temps fell considerably from last week. Top Water Toads
and plugs, Bass Assassin Shads, 10-12" worms, and swim baits,
all continue working well for Bass.
Largemouth Bass from 2, up to 8 pounds, are very good, w/ best
bite remaining early. Typical routine summer patterns. Mayfly
hatch is over. The high wind, rough chop water, thunderstorms
and rain drastically worsened water clarity along the main lake
and also in Little River this week. Main lake's clarity approx
2-5". Some high density broken, vegetation and floating
mats remain in Little River, due to recent pool fluctuations
and discharge over past many weeks, and is still present. USACE
crews have replaced many damaged and/or missing river buoys in
Little River from the clear cut main lake area, and up river.
As of Monday, 11 August, the main lake and Little River's water
surface temperatures dropped, currently range approx 84º
to 87ºF, depending of course, on location and time of day.
Lake level on Millwood as of Monday 11 August, is approx 5.2"
above normal, and slowly rising, at 259.63 feet. Normal pool
is 259.2 feet. Little River's clarity as of Monday, is approx
5-8" visibility. Main lake clarity / visibility approx 2-5"
away from current due to recent high wind, lake chop and thunderstorms.
Wind can have a drastic effect on main lake clarity in a matter
of hours. Current in Little River and discharge at the dam is
780 CFS as of Monday. Many river buoys have already been replaced.
All USACE boat ramps and campgrounds are open, as of Monday.
State Park has one boat ramp still under repair with the other
ramp closer to campgrounds, open.
Upriver oxbow's clarity continues to be very good and is ranging
approx 15-18". The tailwater elevation was 226.37 on Monday,
11 Aug. Discharge/ Release Rate at the spillway of 780 CFS is
with 2 tainer gates open at 1 foot each. Use caution in navigation
on Little River during low light conditions due to debris and
broken vegetation still present and floating downstream in the
increased current.
The Details:
Largemouth Bass: What a difference that 1 week of rain and cloud
cover can have during the dog days of summer in sw Arkansas!
Fall has to be just around the corner, folks!! The Bass continue
to bite very good, definitely the best during early and late
hours, over the past few weeks and have been caught and released,
up to 9.5 pounds each. The mayfly hatch has ended, yet bream
remain active and feeding under willow and cypress trees on the
remaining mayfly population and still are making good bass magnets.
Chunky Bass from 3-5 pounds remain consistent over the past week
early and late, but are slow to entice a bite after noon, until
just before dark. Most consistent reaction bite is on Toads,
Bass Assassin Shads, white jigs w/ white chunk trailers, and
10 or 12" worms. Top water action is the best right at daylight
and dusk, using Jitterbugs (Frog and Perch colors), Spit'n Images,
buzzin toads, and buzzbaits.
Crankbait bite for bass has improved again, over the past week
or so. Fat Free Shads are working in various shad colors and
patterns (try white or citrus). Bass Assassin Shads in white,
blue glimmer or baby bass are best colors for a reaction bite
in heavy lily pad stands. Wacky Worms and Salty Rat Tails in
watermelon-red, kiwi, or peanut butter & jelly colors, continue
working. Not a lot of change in overall Largemouth bite patterns,
over the past couple weeks, full blown summer routines with best
bite most agressive shallow early, then deep with cranks or 10-12"
worms once the sun gets high and the heat bears down.
Siefert's Buzz Baits continue to draw good bites around pads
and Primrose grass from 1-6 foot depth areas. Best reaction bite
on buzz baits for last week has been in Tangerine Firecracker,
Black Shadow, or Blue Christmas Tree, in the clearest water you
can find. Most early buzz bait fish are ranging from 15-19"
in length.
War Eagle spinnerbaits, in Firecracker, Hot Mouse, Aurora or
smoke colors, are still working for 15" to 19" sized
Largemouths around flooded vegetation and cypress trees, close
to deep water. Rat-L-Traps in Sexy Shad, Shad Daddy, and Spring
Bream colors seem to remain the hot lipless crank bait bites
again over the past week. Best colors over the past week for
large 10-12" worms remain Peaunut Butter 'n Jelly, black-grape,
plum or redbug once the sun gets up and the bass retreat to the
shade of lily pads over deep water.
White Bass: White Bass remain nomadic and sporadic. The White
bite is full on or full off, between Cemetary Slough and Highway
71 Bridge, along Little River using Little Cleos, Little Georges,
Rooster tails and Rocket Shads in colors of white, red, and chromes.
Best depth zones for trolling are running 9-14' . Times best
last week are ranging between 10-3pm.
Crappie: Crappie bite, fair to good this past week in Little
River with the improved water color and clarity, from last week.
The most consistent bite remains on live shiners, grubs on light
wire jig heads, and white with chartreuse, hair jigs.
Channel Cats: Blues and Channel Cats continue to hit well on
trotlines, and remains best in current in Little River. 3-7 pounders
are very common and are biting good to very good, using cut shad
or Charlie, chicken hearts and livers. Yo-yo's hung from cypress
trees in approx 8-10 feet water depth, near any current are picking
up some decent 2-4 pound cats.
Bream: Continue to bite well again along the banks on crickets
and red worms around docks and cypress trees. With the mayfly
hatch dwindling down, bream and redears can still be caught under
a single cypress or willow tree on ultra light or spin cast tackle
on smoke colored tubes, jigs, crickets, red worms, and also on
white and chartruese colored popping bugs.
}><(((º> Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions
Report <º)))><{
Navigation conditions in Little River are near normal.
As of Monday, 11 August, the main lake and Little River's water
surface temperatures dropped, currently range approx 84º
to 87ºF, depending of course, on location and time of day.
Lake level on Millwood as of Monday 11 August, is approx 5.2"
above normal, and slowly rising, at 259.63 feet. Normal pool
is 259.2 feet. Little River's clarity as of Monday, is approx
5-8" visibility. Main lake clarity / visibility approx 2-5"
away from current due to recent high wind, lake chop and thunderstorms.
Wind can have a drastic effect on main lake clarity in a matter
of hours. Current in Little River and discharge at the dam is
780 CFS as of Monday. Many river buoys have already been replaced.
All USACE boat ramps and campgrounds are open, as of Monday.
State Park has one boat ramp still under repair with the other
ramp closer to campgrounds, open.
Upriver oxbow's clarity continues to be very good and is ranging
approx 15-18". The tailwater elevation was 226.37 on Monday,
11 Aug. Discharge/ Release Rate at the spillway of 780 CFS is
with 2 tainer gates open at 1 foot each. Use caution in navigation
on Little River during low light conditions due to debris and
broken vegetation still present and floating downstream in the
increased current.
Mike
August 7, 2008 - Norfork and White River - Submitted by
Mountain
River Fly Shop -
Streamers and worms on the White, while we wait
for the 'hoppers. Norfork generation still high.
WHITE RIVER: Everyone is waiting on the 'hopper
"hatch" to see if it will match the dry fly action
of last summer, despite the high water conditions. But while
we have the odd report of success, from up and down the White,
most reports are still unfavorable. The Journal hit grassy banks
from White Hole to Cotter, while teaching Bec some Supreme river
boat handling in Wednesday's heat. With some wind around it seemed
time to try. But assorted hoppers remained unmolested, though
we did pick up fish over some shallow grassbeds on the dropper
fly, variously a size 14 Cadion Midge and Lightning Bugs. We
can be hope, and its nice to be staring at something other than
a hung of flourescent foam. Alongside hoppers we would also include
some black crickets (size 14 to 10) which are in abundance this
year.
This past Sunday we were floating below Rim Shoals,
and through the haze of dragonflies (which are everywhere) we
did see one very nice trout rising close to the bank, to what
we presumed was a hopper, or some other terrestrial. But as we
mentioned above streamers performed the best on the day.
In the morning it was a large woolly bugger variant
of chocolate brown and yellow of Tom's own devising. In the afternoon
and Conehead Kiwi Muddler in Olive was simply hammered even in
the bright conditions.
Of course the mainstay food source remains drowned
worms. One fish on Wednesday coughed up dozens of smallish worms,
after devouring our midge. San Juans and Dynamite Worms, often
fished behind an attractor egg pattern remain a first choice
option. But sometimes bigger midges will outperform the worm.
NORFORK: Low water periods continue to come between
midnight and dawn, as the heat continues. But with lower temperatures
today only one unit was generating on the 'Fork. At this sort
of level there is some decent wading off gravel bars and the
various islands down stream. Unfortunately you need a boat to
get to them.
But if you have access to a canoe, a pontoon or
a drift boat, this can be a fun day on Norfork.
August 6, 2008 - Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood
Lake Guide Service
The Overall Picture:
Navigation conditions in Little River are near normal.
As of Monday 4 August, it's hot outside people, and Largemouth
Bass remain best early and late or lowest light and heat. Tough
bite from 2pm-6pm. Same current in Little River as last week.
Millwood is normal level and slowly rising, as of Monday. Water's
surface temps consistent w/ last week. Top Water Toads and plugs,
Bass Assassin Shads, 10-12" worms, and swim baits, all continue
working well for Bass.
Largemouth Bass from 2, up to 8 pounds, are very good, w/ best
bite remaining early. Typical routine summer patterns. Mayfly
hatch is ending. The water clarity along the main lake and also
in Little River improved this week. Main lake's clarity, better.
Some high density broken, vegetation and floating mats remain
in Little River, due to recent pool fluctuations and discharge
over past many weeks, and is still present. USACE crews have
replaced many damaged and/or missing river buoys in Little River
from the clear cut main lake area, and up river.
As of Monday, 4 August, the main lake and Little River's water
surface temp range approx 89º to 93ºF, depending of
course, on location and time of day. Lake level on Millwood as
of Monday 04 August, is near normal, at only 3.2" above
normal, and slowly rising, at 259.47 feet. Normal pool is 259.2
feet. Little River's clarity as of Monday, is approx 15-18"
visibility. Main lake clarity / visibility approx 18-20"
away from current on calm days. Wind can have a drastic effect
on main lake clarity in a matter of hours. Current in Little
River and discharge at the dam is 171 CFS as of Monday. Many
river buoys have already been replaced. All USACE boat ramps
and campgrounds are open, as of Monday. State Park has one boat
ramp still under repair with the other ramp closer to campgrounds,
open.
Upriver oxbow's clarity continues to be very good and is ranging
approx 20-36". The tailwater elevation was 225.38 on Monday,
4 Aug. Discharge/ Release Rate at the spillway of 171 CFS is
with 1 tainer gate open at at 0.4 foot. Use caution in navigation
on Little River during low light conditions due to debris and
broken vegetation still present and floating downstream in the
increased current.
The Details:
Largemouth Bass: Its very hot out there, but the Bass continue
to bite very good, definitely the best during early and late
hours, over the past few weeks and have been caught and released,
up to 9.5 pounds each. The mayfly hatch is ending, yet bream
remain active and feeding under willow and cypress trees on the
remaining mayfly population and still are making good bass magnets.
Chunky Bass from 3-5 pounds remain consistent over the past week,
but are tough to find and entice a bite after noon, until just
before dark. Most consistent reaction bite is on Toads, Bass
Assassin Shads, white jigs w/ white chunk trailers, and 10 or
12" worms. Top water action is the best right at daylight
and dusk, using Jitterbugs (Frog and Perch colors), Spit'n Images,
buzzin toads, and buzzbaits.
Crankbait bite for bass has turned on over the past week or so.
Fat Free Shads are working in various shad colors and patterns
(try white or citrus). Bass Assassin Shads in white, blue glimmer
or baby bass are best colors for a reaction bite in heavy lily
pad stands. Wacky Worms and Salty Rat Tails in watermelon-red,
kiwi, or peanut butter & jelly colors, continue working.
Not a lot of change in overall Largemouth bite patterns, over
the past couple weeks, full blown summer routines with best bite
most agressive shallow early, then deep with cranks or 10-12"
worms once the sun gets high and the heat bears down.
Siefert's Buzz Baits continue to draw good bites around pads
and Primrose grass from 1-6 foot depth areas. Best reaction bite
on buzz baits for last week has been in Tangerine Firecracker,
Bleedin' Avocado, or Pearl Ghost Shad, in the clearest water
you can find. Most early buzz bait fish are ranging from 15-19"
in length.
War Eagle spinnerbaits, in Firecracker, Hot Mouse, Aurora or
smoke colors, are still working for 15" to 19" sized
Largemouths around flooded vegetation and cypress trees, close
to deep water. Rat-L-Traps in Sexy Shad, Shad Daddy, and Spring
Bream colors seem to remain the hot lipless crank bait bites
again over the past week. Best colors over the past week for
large 10-12" worms remain Peaunut Butter 'n Jelly, black-grape,
plum or redbug once the sun gets up and the bass retreat to the
shade of lily pads over deep water.
White Bass: White Bass remain nomadic and sporadic. The White
bite is full on or full off, between Cemetary Slough and Highway
71 Bridge, along Little River using Little Cleos, Little Georges,
Rooster tails and Rocket Shads in colors of white, red, and chromes.
Best depth zones for trolling are running 12-18' . Times best
last week are ranging between 8-11am.
Crappie: Crappie bite, fair to good this past week in Little
River with the improved water color and clarity, from last week.
The most consistent bite remains on live shiners, grubs on light
wire jig heads, and white with chartreuse, hair jigs.
Channel Cats: Blues and Channel Cats continue to hit well on
trotlines, and remains best in current in Little River. 3-7 pounders
are very common and are biting good to very good, using cut shad
or Charlie, chicken hearts and livers. Yo-yo's hung from cypress
trees in approx 8-10 feet water depth, near any current are picking
up some decent 2-4 pound cats.
Bream: Continue to bite well again along the banks on crickets
and red worms around docks and cypress trees. With the mayfly
hatch dwindling down, bream and redears can still be caught under
a single cypress or willow tree on ultra light or spin cast tackle
on smoke colored tubes, jigs, crickets, red worms, and also on
white and chartruese colored popping bugs.
}><(((º> Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions
Report <º)))><{
Navigation conditions in Little River are near normal.
As of Monday, 4 August, the main lake and Little River's water
surface temp range approx 89º to 93ºF, depending of
course, on location and time of day. Lake level on Millwood as
of Monday 04 August, is near normal, at only 3.2" above
normal, and slowly rising, at 259.47 feet. Normal pool is 259.2
feet. Little River's clarity as of Monday, is approx 15-18"
visibility. Main lake clarity / visibility approx 18-20"
away from current on calm days. Wind can have a drastic effect
on main lake clarity in a matter of hours. Current in Little
River and discharge at the dam is 171 CFS as of Monday. Many
river buoys have already been replaced. All USACE boat ramps
and campgrounds are open, as of Monday. State Park has one boat
ramp still under repair with the other ramp closer to campgrounds,
open.
Upriver oxbow's clarity continues to be very good and is ranging
approx 20-36". The tailwater elevation was 225.38 on Monday,
4 Aug. Discharge/ Release Rate at the spillway of 171 CFS is
with 1 tainer gate open at at 0.4 foot. Use caution in navigation
on Little River during low light conditions due to debris and
broken vegetation still present and floating downstream in the
increased current.
Mike
August 6, 2008 - White River - Submitted by Berry
Brothers Guides - JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 8/06/2008
We have had a week with no rain and soaring temperatures.
The reservoir levels on the White River continue to fall. The
lake level at Bull Shoals Dam fell one and four tenths of a foot
to rest at thirty two and seven tenths feet above power pool
of 654.00 feet. This is eight and three tenths feet below the
top of flood pool. Up stream, Table Rock Lake fell one and eight
tenths of a foot to rest at five feet above power pool or eleven
feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell five tenths
of a foot to settle at seven and three tenths feet above power
pool or two and three tenths feet below the top of flood pool.
The pattern on the White has been to run all eight generators
around the clock with high flows both day and night. While these
flows made for excellent boating, there have been few safe wading
opportunities on the White. Norfork Lake has fallen one and three
tenths of a foot to rest at nineteen and three tenths feet above
power pool of 552.00 feet or eight and seven tenths of a foot
below the top of flood pool. The pattern has been to run two
generators with occasional brief periods of no generation at
night. This made for some limited wading conditions at night.
The story during the past week has been the heat.
With temperatures soaring into the high nineties and hundreds,
the best fishing was early in the morning. It was just too hot
at mid day to stay out there. There is no shade in a river boat.
The late afternoons were bearable and no where near as productive
as the mornings. For those willing to bear the heat, the fishing
has been excellent, particularly in the mornings.
The upper river from Bull Shoals Dam, through the
State Park down to Cane Island Shoals has been a real hot spot.
The better fishing is in the morning when it is much cooler the
water flows are generally a bit lower than in the afternoon.
Most are caught on midge or worm patterns fished under an indicator
with a lot of weight to get it down to the bottom. Hot flies
have been black zebra midges with silver wire and silver bead,
San Juan worms in bright colors (cerise, hot pink and red). Many
anglers were reporting success fishing sowbugs.
There have been several reports of larger fish
being caught on streamers. Cast to the bank and vary your retrieve
to figure out whether they want it fast or slow. Also work weed
beds, drop offs and other structure. The hot new pattern has
been Jim Mengle's Ozark Sculpin. This is a fly combining a copper
cone head nose, deer hair head, pheasant feather body and rabbit
strip tail. You need to fish it on a sink tip or full sinking
line to get it down to the bottom. Jim gave me one the other
day and I cannot wait to try it.
The section from Wildcat Shoals to Cotter is producing
well. There is still quite a bit of pressure here. The hot flies
are trout crack, sow bugs, and zebra midges and of course brightly
colored San Juan worms.
Another hot spot has been the Rim Shoals Catch
and Release section. It has received a bit more pressure lately
but it is no where near crowded except at lunch when a lot of
guides pull in for lunch. With the shaded picnic tables and porta
potties this is a great place to beat the heat for a few minutes.
The Norfork is not fishing as well as it has recently
probably from increased boat traffic. Many people think that
with only two generators it is easier to fish and navigate than
the White River with eight generators. The reverse is true. The
Norfork is much narrower and there are some channels around islands
that are fairly tricky to negotiate. The White is very broad
and there is generally plenty of room to navigate around obstacles
and avoid other boaters.
Dry Run Creek is still producing some really big
fish. This has been the most comfortable place to fish in the
twin Lakes area. The narrow valley and heavy tree cover help
keep the temperatures on the creek several degrees cooler than
any where else around. Wet wading in the creek has been the ticket
to beating the heat. The hot flies have been sowbugs and San
Juan worms.
August 4, 2008 - Greers
Ferry Lake - Submitted by Fish Finders Fish Service -
The lake level at greers ferry is at 461.50 at
present and still falling .
The bass are finally getting set up good on brush
piles and points and can be caught pretty well on texas rigged
worms , in grasshopper and crabapple color and also c-rigged
right bite green pumpkin and watermelon candy lizards , along
with the right bite football heads in 25-45 feet of water.
The walleye are slow at present, try dragging a
crawler on a bottom bouncer or jig head in 25-35 feet of water
Catfishing is good all over the lake on all types
of catfish bait and , crawlers minnows and all.
Crappie fishing is on again and off again in creek
bends and and other swings , fishing jigs tipped with minnows
in 15 -20 feet of water over 60 feet of water in the pole timber
The whites and hybrids can be caught in 35-70 feet
of water on in-line spinners rinky dinks , whipper snappers and
sworming hornets , and also hair jigs., you have to stay over
them and just keep your bait wet.
Tommy Cauley
July 31, 2008 - White River - Submitted by Berry
Brothers Guides - JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 7/31/2008
We have had another week with very little rain
and the reservoir levels on the White River have fallen quite
a bit for the second week in a row. The lake level at Bull Shoals
Dam fell one and four tenths of a foot to rest at thirty five
and five tenths feet above power pool of 654.00 feet. This is
six and nine tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Up stream,
Table Rock Lake fell two and two tenths of a foot to rest at
six and eight tenths feet above power pool or nine and two tenths
feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell five tenths
of a foot to settle at seven and eight tenths feet above power
pool or one and eight tenths feet below the top of flood pool.
The pattern on the White has been to run all eight generators
around the clock with high flows both day and night. While these
flows made for excellent boating, there have been few safe wading
opportunities on the White. Norfork Lake has fallen one and nine
tenths of a foot to rest at twenty and six tenths feet above
power pool of 552.00 feet or seven and four tenths of a foot
below the top of flood pool. The pattern has been to run two
generators with occasional brief periods of no generation at
night. This made for some limited wading conditions at night.
If you choose to fish at night be very careful and always be
on the lookout for rising water. On the higher water, boating
conditions have been excellent.
I reported several weeks ago about anglers having
trouble with fuels containing ethanol. I noticed that there are
now several service stations in the twin lakes area advertising
that their fuels do not contain ethanol.
Overall, the fishing has been excellent on the
White River . The perpetual hot spot has been the Catch and Release
section at Bull Shoals Dam and the adjacent state park. The better
fishing is in the morning when the flows are a bit lower than
in the afternoon. Most are caught on midge or worm patterns fished
under an indicator with a lot of weight to get it down to the
bottom. Hot flies have been black zebra midges with silver wire
and silver bead, San Juan worms in bright colors (cerise, hot
pink and red). Many anglers were reporting success fishing sowbugs.
The section from Wildcat Shoals to Cotter is still
hot. This section has received a bit more pressure of late and
some serious poaching has been noted. At least one group was
seen harvesting three limits of trout. Please report any illegal
activity to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. The hot line
to report poaching is 1 800 482-5262. Trout have been taken on
a variety of flies including scuds, sowbugs and trout crack.
The more traditional high water flies like San Juan worms and
egg patterns are also effective. The streamer fishing has been
particularly good. Try woolly buggers, sculpin patterns and kiwi
muddlers on a sink tip or full sinking line for the bigger fish.
Cast to the bank and vary your retrieve to figure out whether
they want it fast or slow. Also work weed beds, drop offs and
other structure.
Another hot spot has been the Rim Shoals Catch
and Release section. It has received little pressure of late.
Hot flies in this area have been olive woolly buggers and sowbugs.
San Juan worms are the ticket to float fishing in the area. I
have had the most success with cerise and hot pink worms.
The Norfork is receiving quite a bit of pressure
from boat traffic. If you go there use conventional high water
techniques. The flies of choice will be San Juan worms in bright
colors and various midge patterns. The boat ramp at Quarry Park
is open for business. This makes shuttling canoes, kayaks and
drift boats much easier now.
Dry Run Creek is still producing some really big
fish. The hot fly this week has been the sowbug in size fourteen
and red San Juan worms fished with a strike indicator. Concentrate
on fast deep water and use at least 4X tippets preferably fluorocarbon
which has greater abrasion resistance. Most fish are lost at
the net. Carry the biggest net you can find and always carry
a camera.
Crooked Creek is fishing well. Streamers fished
on sink tip lines have been the ticket. Look for rock ledges
and other cover. Use heavier leaders and tippet to turn over
these larger flies. Early morning and late afternoon are to best
times to land a trophy. Keep moving and cover as much water as
you can.
July 30, 2008 - Norfork and White River - Submitted by
Mountain
River Fly Shop -
Streamers have been doing extremely well on the
White but you have to be a night owl to wade on Norfork.
WHITE RIVER: All this talk of spaghetti and meatballs
fishing gets a little mundane. So our ears perked up at an email
from regular customer Jeff Hearn who fished from Wildcat to Ranchette
last weekend, especially when he mentioned 27Åç
male brown. That wasn't fly caught but was revived and released.
Jeff was fishing heavily-weighted olive, black
or "Bow River" buggers on a floating line, and landed
about 20 fish, but had many many more fish chasing or short striking
the flies. We are lining him up with a fast sinking flyline to
try and improve the hit-rate.
W have definately been hearing good things, even
during the middle of the day on streamers. You might not catch
as many as on the difted eggs and worms but its a lot of fun
and the action is visual. Work your flies close to the banks,
over grassbeds and drop-offs.
On the other side of the path the section from
Cotter to Wildcat has been fishing very well with eggs and worms.
Run a red, orange or flame egg in front of a San Juan Worm or
Dynamite Worm. Sowbugs have been working well in the Dam area
as well.
NORFORK: Night owls might be able to find some
low water on Nofork after midnight, but even that was scare over
the past week as generation was stepped up to bring down the
lake level.
July 29, 2008 - Greers
Ferry Lake - Submitted by Fish Finders Fish Service -
The water level at greers ferry lake is at 463.33
and that is only 2.3 feet above normal pool at present and still
falling.
The hybrids and white bass fishing continues to
be good and bad you just have to stay on the move with the bait
fish with your electronics and keep your bait wet and you can
catch some everyday and as everyday passes it will continue to
get better.
The bass fishing is about the same and should improve
some after they quit pulling so much water in a few days , fish
the main lake points and little secondary points off of them
with football heads and big texas rigged worms as well as c-rigged
lizards are your best bets as well as big spooks earily and late
on the same places
The bream fishing is fair around docks and such
on crickets and worms
The crappie fishing is so, so off the channel bends
suspended in trees 15-20 feet deep over 60-70 feet of water using
jigs tipped with minnows
The walleye are slow
The catfishing is good all over the lake , even
on artifical bait, so try liver, cut bait and live bait for all
3 species
Tommy Cauley
July 28, 2008 - Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood
Lake Guide Service
The Overall Picture:
Navigation conditions in Little River are near normal.
As of Monday 28 July, Largemouth Bass remain best early and late
or lowest light and heat. Tough bite from 12pm-6pm. Decreased
current in Little River from last week. Millwood is normal level
and falling, as of Monday. Water's surface temps consistent w/
last week. Top Water Toads and plugs, Bass Assassin Shads, 10-12"
worms, and swim baits, all continue working well for Bass.
Largemouth Bass from 2, up to 8 pounds, are very good, w/ best
bite remaining early. Typical routine summer patterns. Mayfly
hatch is ending. The water clarity along the main lake and also
in Little River improved this week. Main lake's clarity, better.
Some high density broken, vegetation and floating mats remain
in Little River, due to recent pool fluctuations and discharge
over past many weeks, and is still present. USACE crews have
replaced many damaged and/or missing river buoys in Little River
from the clear cut main lake area, and up river.
As of Monday, 28 July, the main lake and Little River's water
surface temp range approx 85º to 91ºF, depending of
course, on location and time of day. Lake level on Millwood as
of Monday 28 July, is near normal, at only 1/2" high, and
falling, at 259.24 feet. Normal pool is 259.2 feet. Little River's
clarity as of Monday, is approx 15-18" visibility. Main
lake clarity / visibility approx 10-12" away from current
on a calm day. Wind can have a drastic effect on main lake clarity
in a matter of hours. Current in Little River and discharge at
the dam is 171 CFS as of Monday. Many river buoys have already
been replaced. All USACE boat ramps and campgrounds are open,
as of Monday. State Park has one boat ramp still under repair
with the other ramp closer to campgrounds, open.
Upriver oxbow's clarity continues to be very good and is ranging
approx 20-36". The tailwater elevation was unavailable on
Monday, 28 July. Discharge/ Release Rate at the spillway of 171
CFS is with 1 tainer gate open at at 0.4 foot. Use caution in
navigation on Little River during low light conditions due to
debris and broken vegetation still present and floating downstream
in the increased current.
The Details:
Largemouth Bass: Bass continue to bite very good, definitely
the best during early and late hours, over the past few weeks
and have been caught and released, up to 9.5 pounds each. The
mayfly hatch is beginning to end, yet bream remain active and
feeding under willow and cypress trees on the remaining mayfly
population and still are making good bass magnets. Chunky Bass
from 3-5 pounds remain consistent over the past week, but are
tough to find and entice a bite after noon, until just before
dark. Most consistent reaction bite is on Toads, Bass Assassin
Shads, white jigs w/ white chunk trailers, and 10 or 12"
worms. Top water action is the best right at daylight and dusk,
using Jitterbugs (Frog and Perch colors), Spit'n Images, buzzin
toads, and buzzbaits.
Swimming bleeding white pearl or blue glimmer jigs w/ pearl white
chunk or craw trailers through grass and pads continue to take
some nice bass for the past few weeks. Bass Assassin Shads in
Gizzard shad and alewife-white are best colors for a reaction
bite in heavy lily pad stands. Trick Worms or Wacky Worms and
Salty Rat Tails in peanut butter & jelly or Christmas tree
colors, continue working. Not a lot of change in overall Largemouth
bite patterns, over the past couple weeks, full blown summer
routines.
Early and late, find shallow flats with cypress, stumps and grass
or pads, next to deep water drops and creek channel swings, and
you are in the correct zone. Swim baits like the magic shad are
working near deep drop zones in the river and creek channels,
close to most any grass.
Siefert's Buzz Baits continue to draw good bites around pads
and grass from 1-6 foot depth areas. Best reaction bite on buzz
baits for last week has been in Tangerine Firecracker, Bleedin'
Avocado, or Pearl Ghost Shad, in the clearest water you can find.
Buzz bait fish are ranging from 14-18" in length.
War Eagle spinnerbaits, in Firecracker, Hot Mouse, Aurora or
smoke colors, are still working for 15" to 19" sized
Largemouths around flooded vegetation and cypress trees, close
to deep water. Rat-L-Traps in Sexy Shad, Bleeding White Striper,
and Spring Bream colors seem to remain the hot lipless crank
bait bites again over the past week. Best colors over the past
week for large 10-12" worms remain Peaunut Butter Jelly,
Mardi Gras, or Redbug once the sun gets up and the bass retreat
to the shade of lily pads over deep water.
White Bass: White Bass remain nomadic and sporadic. The White
bite is full on or full off, between White Cliffs and Cemetary
Slough, along Little River using Little Cleos, Little Georges,
Rooster tails and Rocket Shads in colors of white, red, and chromes.
Best depth zones run 12-18' . Times best last week continue from
10am-12 noon.
Crappie: Crappie bite, slightly improved again, this past week
in Little River with the better water color and clarity, than
last week. The most consistent bite remains on live shiners,
smoke grubs on light wire jig heads, and Mizmo tubes.
Channel Cats: Blues and Channel Cats continue to hit well on
trotlines, and remains best in current in Little River. 2-6 pounders
are very good to excellent, using cut shad or Charlie, cottonseed
mill cake and chicken hearts and livers. Yo-yo's hung from cypress
trees in approx 8-10 feet water depth, near any current are picking
up some decent 2-4 pound cats.
Bream: Continue to bite well again along the banks on crickets
and red worms around docks and cypress trees. With the mayfly
hatch dwindling down, bream and redears can still be caught under
a single cypress or willow tree on ultra light or spin cast tackle
on smoke colored tubes, jigs, crickets, red worms, and also on
white and chartruese colored popping bugs.
}><(((º> Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions
Report <º)))><{
Navigation conditions in Little River are near normal.
As of Monday, 28 July, the main lake and Little River's water
surface temp range approx 85º to 91ºF, depending of
course, on location and time of day. Lake level on Millwood as
of Monday 28 July, is near normal, at only 1/2" high, and
falling, at 259.24 feet. Normal pool is 259.2 feet. Little River's
clarity as of Monday, is approx 15-18" visibility. Main
lake clarity / visibility approx 10-12" away from current
on a calm day. Wind can have a drastic effect on main lake clarity
in a matter of hours. Current in Little River and discharge at
the dam is 171 CFS as of Monday. Many river buoys have already
been replaced. All USACE boat ramps and campgrounds are open,
as of Monday. State Park has one boat ramp still under repair
with the other ramp closer to campgrounds, open.
Upriver oxbow's clarity continues to be very good and is ranging
approx 20-36". The tailwater elevation was unavailable on
Monday, 28 July. Discharge/ Release Rate at the spillway of 171
CFS is with 1 tainer gate open at at 0.4 foot. Use caution in
navigation on Little River during low light conditions due to
debris and broken vegetation still present and floating downstream
in the increased current.
Mike
July 24, 2008 - White River - Submitted by Berry
Brothers Guides - JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 7/24/2008
We have had very little rain and the reservoir
levels on the White River have fallen quite a bit for a change.
The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam fell one and four tenths of
a foot to rest at thirty five and five tenths feet above power
pool of 654.00 feet. This is five and five tenths feet below
the top of flood pool. Up stream, Table Rock Lake fell two and
two tenths of a foot to rest at nine feet above power pool or
seven feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell three
tenths of a foot to settle at eight and three tenths feet above
power pool or one and three tenths feet below the top of flood
pool. The pattern on the White has been to run all eight generators
around the clock with high flows both day and night. While these
flows made for excellent boating, there have been few safe wading
opportunities on the White. Norfork Lake has fallen nine tenths
of a foot to rest at twenty two and five tenths feet above power
pool of 552.00 feet or five and five tenths of a foot below the
top of flood pool. The pattern has been to run two generators
with brief periods of no generation at night. This made for some
limited wading conditions at night. If you choose to fish at
night be very careful and always be on the lookout for rising
water. On the higher water, boating conditions have been excellent.
Overall, the fishing has been excellent on the
White River and numerous hot spots were noted. The perpetual
hot spot has been the Catch and Release section at Bull Shoals
Dam and the adjacent state park. While this area gets quite a
bit of fishing pressure, it has consistently been producing some
nice fish. The better fishing is in the morning when the flows
are a bit lower than in the afternoon. Most are caught on midge
or worm patterns fished under an indicator with a lot of weight
to get it down to the bottom. Hot flies have been black zebra
midges with silver wire and silver bead, San Juan worms in bright
colors (cerise, hot pink and red), and egg patterns.
The section from Wildcat Shoals to Cotter has been
very productive. This section has received less pressure of late
and the fishing is more relaxed than further up stream. Trout
have been taken on a variety of flies including scuds, sowbugs
and trout crack. The more traditional high water flies like San
Juan worms and egg patterns are also effective. This is a great
area to do some streamer fishing. Try woolly buggers, sculpin
patterns and kiwi muddlers on a sink tip line for the bigger
fish. This is a lot of work but the rewards can be great.
Another hot spot has been the Rim Shoals Catch
and Release section. It too has received little pressure of late.
Anglers fishing there have reported some great fishing and some
big trout. This is one place where there is some limited wading.
Gary Flippin at Rim Shoals trout Dock can take you to the bottom
of the second island and pick you up with his water taxi service.
Hot flies in this area have been olive woolly buggers and sowbugs.
San Juan worms are the ticket to float fishing in the area. I
have had the most success with cerise and hot pink worms.
The great low water we have had recently on the
Norfork seems to have come to an end. The Norfork is receiving
quite a bit of pressure from boat traffic. If you go there use
conventional high water techniques. The flies of choice will
be San Juan worms in bright colors and various midge patterns.
Dry Run Creek is still producing some really big
fish. The hot fly this week has been the sowbug in size fourteen
fished with a strike indicator. There have been instances where
people have been observed fishing with bait. Bait of any kind
is illegal. Help protect this jewel form poaching. Please report
any illegal activity to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.
The hot line to report poaching is 1 800 482-5262
Crooked Creek has cleared and the water levels
are great for wading or canoeing. It is fishing well. Streamers
fished on sink tip lines have been the ticket. Look for rock
ledges and other cover. For a change of pace, you should try
fishing hoppers. Dave's hoppers and Rainey's hoppers are great
choices. Keep moving and cover a lot of water.
July 23, 2008 - Norfork and White River - Submitted by
Mountain
River Fly Shop -
The White River continues to fish well on high
water, though the hot spots shift from week to week, while the
early morning wading windows on Norfork appear to have ended.
WHITE RIVER: Generation continues on the White
but its nice to see some progress being made on drawing down
the lake. Tuesday night at midnight Bull Shoals fell under 590
ft above sea level for the first time in months. To put it in
perspective there is 36Åå to go till we reach the
top of power pool, but when you have been within a few feet of
the top of the lake, any gap is nice and the trend down continues.
Guides and their clients are revelling in the conditions.
We keep getting reports of "fat and sassy" browns and
rainbows being caught, with the average fish size increasing
every month. And these fish are fighting with some strength,
after being toned up in the White River treadmill.
San Juans and Dynamite Worms, with or without an
attractor egg leading the way, has been the fly of choice for
most. Bigger scuds and sowbugs have had their followers and have
caught some nice fish. The Midge bite has been up and down but
White Tail Super Midges, Cadion Midges and Clint's Tungsten Black
Midge have caught fish.
The streamer brigade are doing well, one of our
mates Ken Richards telling us on a day out on big black woollies,
on a bright sunny day no less, whacking trout through the middle
of the river.
NORFORK: Well if you got in on the Norfork party you had a lot
of fun but the party appears to be over in the short term anyway.
As of Monday generation has been starting at 6am, which means
getting up REALLY early or going boat fishing.
July 22, 2008 - Greers
Ferry Lake - Submitted by Fish Finders Fish Service -
the water level is at 466.45 and still falling
and should be normal by august 1st if nothing happens.
the bass fishing continues to be tough with all the water being
pulled , you have to be in the right place at the right time
when they are feeding , so you really have to have a milk run
of alot of points that have fish and be on the one they are feeding
on , try tex. rigged worms and footballheads as well as some
spinnerbaits and swim baits up shallow and top water plugs and
frogs are catching some also
crappie are biting in tops on channel bends in 15-20 feet of
water over 60 feet on jigs tipped with minnows
the bream just got done with another great spawn
catfishing is great all over the lake and can just about be caught
on a bare hook
the walleye are still hit and miss until the water
gets stable
some whites and hybrids are still schooling try the water in-take
at heber springs this week and just keep your eye out for bait
and fish on your graph and keep your bait wet and things will
beging to happen.
Tommy Cauley
July 21, 2008 - Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood
Lake Guide Service
The Overall Picture:
Navigation conditions in Little River are near normal.
As of Monday 21 July, Largemouth Bass remain best early and late
or lowest light and heat. Tough bite from 11am-4pm. Decreased
current in Little River from last week. Millwood is 1.68"
above normal and falling, as of Monday. Water's surface temps
consistent w/ last week. Top Water Toads and plugs, Bass Assassin
Shads, 10-12" worms, and swim baits, all continue working
well for Bass.
Largemouth Bass from 2, up to 8 pounds, are very good, w/ best
bite remaining early. Typical routine summer patterns. The mayfly
hatch tapering off. The water clarity along the main lake and
also in Little River improved this week. Main lake better. Some
high density broken, vegetation and floating mats remain in Little
River, due to recent pool fluctuations and discharge over past
many weeks, and is still present. USACE crews are working diligently
to replace damaged and/or missing river buoys in Little River
from the clear cut main lake area, and up river.
As of Monday, 21 July, the main lake and Little River's water
surface temp range approx 84º to 89ºF, depending of
course, on location and time of day. Lake level on Millwood as
of Monday 21 July, is approx 1.68 inches above normal, and falling,
at 259.34 feet. Normal pool is 259.2 feet. Little River's clarity
as of Monday, is approx 10-12" visibility. Main lake clarity
/ visibility approx 10-15" away from current. Current in
Little River and discharge at the dam is 214 CFS as of Monday.
Many river buoys have already been replaced. All USACE boat ramps
and campgrounds are open, as of Monday.
Upriver oxbow's clarity continues to be very good and is ranging
approx 12-24". The tailwater elevation was unavailable on
Monday, 21 July. Discharge/ Release Rate at the spillway of 214
CFS is with 1 tainer gate open at at 0.5 foot. Use caution in
navigation on Little River during low light conditions due to
debris and broken vegetation still present and floating downstream
in the increased current.
The Details:
Largemouth Bass: Bass continue to bite very good, definitely
the best during early and late hours, over the past few weeks
and have been caught and released, up to 9.5 pounds each. The
mayfly hatch is beginning to taper off, yet bream remain active
and feeding under willow and cypress trees which are feeding
on the mayfly population and still are making good bass magnets.
Chunky Bass from 3-5 pounds remain consistent over the past week,
but are tough to find and entice a bite after 11am until just
before dark. Most consistent reaction bite is on Toads, Bass
Assassin Shads, white jigs w/ white chunk trailers, and 10 or
12" worms. Top water action is the best right at daylight,
using Jitterbugs (Frog and Perch colors), Spit'n Image, buzzin
toads, and buzzbaits.
Swimming bleeding white pearl or blue glimmer jigs w/ pearl white
chunk or craw trailers through grass and pads continue to take
some nice bass for the past few weeks. Bass Assassin Shads in
Gizzard shad and alewife-white are best colors for a reaction
bite in heavy lily pad stands. Trick Worms or Wacky Worms and
Salty Rat Tails in peanut butter & jelly or Christmas tree
colors, continue working. Not a lot of change in overall Largemouth
bite patterns, over the past couple weeks, full blown summer
routines.
Early and late, find shallow flats with cypress, stumps and grass
or pads, next to deep water drops and creek channel swings, and
you are in the correct zone. Swim baits like the magic shad are
working near deep drop zones in the river and creek channels,
close to most any grass.
Siefert's Buzz Baits continue to draw good bites around pads
and grass from 1-6 foot depth areas. Best reaction bite on buzz
baits for last week has been in Tangerine Firecracker, Purple
Smoke or Bubblegum-orange colors, in the clearest water you can
find. Buzz bait fish are ranging from 14-18" in length.
War Eagle spinnerbaits, in Firecracker, Hot Mouse, Aurora or
smoke colors, are still working for 15" to 19" sized
Largemouths around flooded vegetation and cypress trees, close
to deep water. Rat-L-Traps in Sexy Shad, Bleeding White Striper,
and Spring Bream colors seem to remain the hot lipless crank
bait bites again over the past week. Best colors over the past
week for large 10-12" worms remain peaunut butter n' jelly,
camo, or electric plum once the sun gets up and the bass nose
down.
White Bass: White Bass remain nomadic and sporadic. The White
bite is full on or full off, between White Cliffs and Cemetary
Slough, along Little River using Little Cleos, Little Georges,
Rooster tails and Rocket Shads in colors of white, red, and chromes.
Best depth zones run 12-18' . Times best last week continue from
10am-12 noon.
Crappie: Crappie bite, slightly improved again, this past week
in Little River with the better water color and clarity, than
last week. The most consistent bite remains on live shiners,
smoke grubs on light wire jig heads, and Mizmo tubes.
Channel Cats: Blues and Channel Cats continue to hit well on
trotlines, and remains best in current in Little River. 2-6 pounders
are very good to excellent, using cut shad or Charlie, cottonseed
mill cake and chicken hearts and livers. Yo-yo's hung from cypress
trees in approx 8-10 feet water depth, near any current are picking
up some decent 2-4 pound cats.
Bream: Continue to bite well again along the banks on crickets
and red worms around docks and cypress trees. With the mayfly
hatch dwindling down, bream and redears can still be caught under
a single cypress or willow tree on ultra light or spin cast tackle
on smoke colored tubes, jigs, crickets, red worms, and also on
white and chartruese colored popping bugs.
}><(((º> Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions
Report <º)))><{
Navigation conditions in Little River are near normal.
As of Monday, 21 July, the main lake and Little River's water
surface temp range approx 84º to 89ºF, depending of
course, on location and time of day. Lake level on Millwood as
of Monday 21 July, is approx 1.68 inches above normal, and falling,
at 259.34 feet. Normal pool is 259.2 feet. Little River's clarity
as of Monday, is approx 10-12" visibility. Main lake clarity
/ visibility approx 10-15" away from current. Current in
Little River and discharge at the dam is 214 CFS as of Monday.
Many river buoys have already been replaced. All USACE boat ramps
and campgrounds are open, as of Monday.
Upriver oxbow's clarity continues to be very good and is ranging
approx 12-24". The tailwater elevation was unavailable on
Monday, 21 July. Discharge/ Release Rate at the spillway of 214
CFS is with 1 tainer gate open at at 0.5 foot. Use caution in
navigation on Little River during low light conditions due to
debris and broken vegetation still present and floating downstream
in the increased current.
Mike
July 17, 2008 - White River - Submitted by Berry
Brothers Guides - JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 7/17/2008
Despite yet another rain event, the reservoir levels
on the White River have fallen a bit. The lake level at Bull
Shoals Dam fell seven tenths of a foot to rest at thirty six
and nine tenths feet above power pool of 654.00 feet. This is
four and one tenth feet below the top of flood pool. Up stream,
Table Rock Lake fell five tenths of a foot to rest at eleven
and two tenths of a foot above power pool or four and eight tenths
feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell two tenths
of a foot to settle at eight and six tenths feet above power
pool or one foot below the top of flood pool. The pattern on
the White has been to run all eight generators around the clock
with high flows both day and night. While these flows made for
excellent boating, there have been few safe wading opportunities
on the White. Norfork Lake has risen one tenth of a foot to rest
at twenty three and four tenths feet above power pool of 552.00
feet or four and six tenths of a foot below the top of flood
pool. The pattern has been to run two generators with substantial
periods of no generation at night and during the morning. This
made for some excellent wading conditions. On the higher water,
boating conditions have been excellent.
We are now four months past our initial spring
floods and we have made little if any progress on reducing the
lake levels on the White River . They are basically four feet
or less from the top of flood pool on all of the White River
Reservoirs. A four inch rain could easily put us back in the
flood gates. This has been caused by the heavy rain fall we have
received and down stream flooding that prevents the Corps of
Engineers from drawing down the reservoirs more aggressively.
With the current generation and lake levels, I do not foresee
any reliable wading conditions until mid fall.
With an unprecedented high water year, local guides
and anglers have honed their high water skills. Not only have
they developed new flies for the occasion but have concentrated
on classic techniques for success in these conditions and created
new ones.
Overall, the fishing has been very good on the
White River . The perpetual hot spot has been the Catch and Release
section at Bull Shoals Dam and the adjacent state park. While
the recording for Bull Shoals Dam will say that they have eight
units on, there can be a substantial amount of variation in the
water levels. The trick to success is to key onto rising water
and to stay with it as long as you can. This may result in a
long drift down stream and a run back to your launch point. The
most successful technique during the past week has been to drift
nymphs over weed beds. The hot flies have been black zebra midges,
olive scuds and San Juan worms. The larger fish have been caught
on streamers cast against the bank with sink tip lines. Some
guides recommend a slow retrieve while others suggest a very
fast one. Vary yours to see what works best for you. Good patterns
for this technique are sculpins, kiwi muddlers and big woolly
buggers.
The Norfork has been fishing well in the morning
on low water. The problem is with the constant high generation
on the White this is the only place to wade and it can get pretty
crowded, particularly on the weekends. The hot spots have been
Quarry Park just below Norfork Dam and the Ackerman access. One
way to avoid the crowds has been to float down from Quarry Park
to McClellan's. It is a rough pull in a river boat or a nice
ride in a personal pontoon. Some anglers have been walking up
from the Ackerman access. This is a dangerous proposition. I
picked up an angler in my river boat who was stranded on a rapidly
disappearing island last week. Anglers reported success with
black zebra nymphs and olive Norfork bead heads both in size
eighteen. Other good flies were olive woolly buggers, green butt
soft hackles and Dan's turkey tail emerger. In the afternoon,
on higher water, fishing slows quite a bit. Use conventional
high water techniques.
Dry Run Creek is still producing some really big
fish. This is also a great place to escape the heat. It is always
fifteen to twenty degrees cooler than on the river. Remember
to have the kids fish short lines. There is precious little casting
room with the over hanging trees. The hot fly this week has been
the sowbug in size fourteen fished with a strike indicator.
Crooked Creek has cleared a bit and is fishing
well. Streamers fished on sink tip lines have been the ticket.
Look for rock ledges and other cover. Keep moving and cover a
lot of water.
July 16, 2008 - Norfork and White River - Submitted by
Mountain
River Fly Shop -WHITE RIVER: Fishing continues to be
very good on the White, particularly if you can catch rising
water and stay with it. The Journal was yarning with Marc Poulos
this morning and it rammed home how being in the right place
at the right time helps. Marc's clients last week hooked and
landed 7 browns the majority over 20" as they stayed on
a hot bite all day. It sounds easier than it is with the water
level bouncing around. Sometimes it seems like you are waiting
all day for the consistent rise.
Definitely helps to have a guide to maximize your
fishing experience.
Larger midge patterns are well worth fishing. Fish
Davy's Whitetail Super Midge, Clint's Tungsten Black Midge, Mountain
River Midges in 14s and even 12s.
Run then in tandem with San Juans, Dynamite Worms
or Eggs.
Don't forget bigger Sowbugs and Scud patterns too,
ask about our custom ties from Davy and Clint, plus McClellan's
Hunchback Scud, and some of the other commercial patterns.
Big streamers continue to work well. Fish them
slowly over the brass bedd, drop offs and close to the banks.
Again fish them slowly. Tungsten Slumpbusters, Whitlocks Near
Nuff Sculpin, Carp Sculpins, and the like. Try them on a type
4 or type 6 sinking line.
NORFORK: Back to low flows in the AM on Norfork
and the best fishing is early in the day. Starting to hear some
reports of some better fish, including one deep 22" rainbow
yesterday to a fly fisher from Alabama, who dropped by the store.
Midges are doing very well. Try your favorite selection
of Zebra Midges, including standard black/silver, olive, our
Camel Midge, and the Davy Wotton Super Midges. We have also had
good reports on Trout Crack, WD40s, Rainbow Warriors and of course
smaller San Juans.
Don't forget your scuds and sowbugs.
July 15, 2008 - Greers Ferry Lake -
Submitted by Fish
Finders Fish Service -The lake level is at 469.04 and
still falling we are 8.01 from normal now and everyone had thought
we would never see normal again and may not but it is looking
better than it did.
Their was a tournament over the weekend and it
took 15 lbs to win , but it did fall off after that , the bass
fishing has been pretty tough over all as all the night tournament
weights are really down which kind of tells me a lot of fish
are still shallow at this time and are suspended and a crank
bait will probably work the best as maybe even a spinner bait
and try those as well as a worm , football head and a c-rig out
deeper
Some crappie are coming in coming out of the pole
timber suspended 15-20 feet deep over 60 feet and also some are
hanging around the buck brush up shallow as well ,try minnows
and jigs tipped with minnows for best results.
Catfishing is good all over the lake and are biting
just about anything you desire to try
Walleye are still hit and miss you can catch them
one day and they have disappeared the next , these fronts are
playing havoc on them, try dragging crawlers anywhere from 17-28
feet of water or trolling a crankbait with line weights in the
same rocky flat drop areas
The white and hybrid bass have been hit or miss
also catch them good in the mornings and by the afternoons they
are gone to another area , the bite has been better in the mornings
, small soft plastics about 1 12 long and real small in-line
spinners are working the best right now , spoons and big top
waters are working on the big fish if you can find them , just
keep and eye on your electronics stay over them and keep your
bait wet and you will end up catching some if you keep the patience
and no other boats run in on ya , good luck.
Tommy Cauley
July 14, 2008 - Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood
Lake Guide Service
This is a good shot of the pig this weekend.........she
was hanging off the end of the golden rule measuring board...
a little over 22" in length....scale was acting funky i
got to get a new 9v battery........ prolly more acurate between
7 and 8 lbs if i had to guess.......she was stout and sassy,
thats for sure....... big ole bug- eyed sweet thang.... waitin
on ya, JD..........i put her back for you when u get back from
deployment.....
This guy has been back to fish with me for many,
many, years. He loves fishin Millwood.... he's actually a really
good fisherman... not sure if u have seen this one.... back from
a couple months ago, prolly late March or i am thinking early
April..... heck of a nice guy....
July 11, 2008 - Norfork and White River - Submitted by
Mountain
River Fly Shop -
WHITE RIVER: As we mentioned last week midge patterns,
in larger sizes are coming into play on the White. Davy Wotton's
White Tail's Clint's Black Tungsten Midge and Mountain River
Midges have all been scoring fish. For once the Journal was smart
enough to follow his own advice in adapting favorite low water
midges into high water patterns. A big silver bead, a 12 hook
was the start for our Rainbow Warrior on steroids which we put
on Robert's rod on Monday for a trial run. Lance Egan's rainbow
warrior is a flashy little bright sun day midge. It worked well
enough in the big size too when the worm bite slowed.
Worms were good early and later in the day as a
pop-up storm rolled in, barely dampening our shirts. Red, pink
and brown worms are doing particularly well, we have restocked
the Davy Wotton Dynamite Worms are running out last weekend.
Also look at scaling up the size of your scud and sowbug patterns,
we will be at the vice this weekend.
NORFORK: Low water morning and fat and feisty fish
are the order of the day at Norfork. We have been hearing tales
all week of fish a cast sessions up and down the river.
Robert, our client we mentioned above managed a
20" fish on Satyurday first cast but the majority of fish
are well conditioned trout in the mid-teens.
Olive or brown midges are fishing well in 18s or
20 _ a big change from the monsters being fished on the White
and of course its great to get out and wade.
July 10, 2008 - White
River - Submitted by Berry
Brothers Guides - JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 7/10/2008
Though we have had two significant rain events
in the last week, the reservoir levels on the White River have
fallen a bit. The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam fell three tenths
of a foot to rest at thirty seven and six tenths feet above power
pool of 654.00 feet. This is three and four tenths feet below
the top of flood pool. Up stream, Table Rock Lake fell eight
tenths of a foot to rest at eleven and seven tenths of a foot
above power pool or four and three tenths feet below the top
of flood pool. Beaver Lake rose eight tenths of a foot to settle
at eight and eight tenths feet above power pool or eight tenths
of a foot below the top of flood pool. The pattern on the White
has been to run all eight generators around the clock with high
flows both day and night. While these flows made for excellent
boating, there have been few safe wading opportunities on the
White. Norfork Lake has risen one tenths of a foot to rest at
twenty three and three tenths feet above power pool of 552.00
feet or four and seven tenths of a foot below the top of flood
pool. The pattern has been to run two generators with substantial
periods of no generation at night and during the morning. This
made for some excellent wading conditions. On the higher water,
boating conditions have been excellent.
The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission boat launching
ramp in Quarry Park at the base of Norfork dam has been repaired
and is open for business. The adjacent parking lot was destroyed
during the flooding this spring. It has been closed since then.
This is the only public boat ramp on the Norfork River and its
closure required that anyone wanting to use a boat on the Norfork
to launch at the ramp at the confluence of the White and Norfork
Rivers and then motor up. This makes it much more convenient
for those wanting to boat on the upper river. I have noted that
a lot of non boating anglers are parking in the boat launch parking
lot. These spaces should be reserved for boating anglers, which
require much more space to accommodate their trailers. There
is plenty of parking available in the park.
Overall, the fishing has been excellent on the
White River , particularly in the Catch and Release section at
Bull Shoals Dam and the adjacent state park. The hot flies have
been San Juan worms (in tan, orange and red), and brightly colored
marabou jigs. Jigs have the added advantage of riding hook point
up which makes them virtually weed less. Other hot flies have
been midge larva patterns (like black zebra midges) in larger
sizes such as fourteens and brightly colored egg patterns. The
better fishing is early morning.
Anglers that are bored with fishing San Juan worms
are opting to fish large streamers against the bank. This does
not produce a lot of fish but it has resulted in some large trout,
particularly browns. Other anglers are fishing large dry flies,
particularly grass hoppers and ants against the bank. This requires
good casting skills but can add a new exciting dimension to fishing
high water.
The recent heavy rains have raised the water levels
on the Buffalo River and Crooked Creek. This has muddied the
river below these tributaries and made these areas much more
difficult to fish.
The Norfork has been exceptional in the morning
on low water. The hot spots have been Quarry Park just below
Norfork Dam and the Ackerman access. Anglers reported great success
with black zebra nymphs and olive Norfork bead heads both in
size eighteen. Other good flies were olive woolly buggers, partridge
and orange soft hackles, Dan's turkey tail emerger and copper
johns in size fourteen. In the afternoon, on higher water, fishing
slows quite a bit. Use conventional high water techniques and
if you are not fishing in the Catch and Release area consider
using a dropper tied to the lead fly. Black zebra midges and
copper johns are great flies for this purpose. They should be
fairly large (size fourteen).
Dry Run Creek has fished well. Summer vacation
is in full swing and more families are taking advantage of this
unique fishery. If one spot becomes crowded, just move to another
one. There are fish all up and down the creek. The most productive
fly is still the sowbug in size fourteen. The most productive
technique is high sticking. There is very limited room to cast.
Be sure and use at least 4X tippet and carry a big net. Mash
down those barbs, it is the law!
Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River muddied up
during the recent rains and are not fishing well.
John Berry is a fly fishing guide in Cotter, Arkansas
and has fished our local streams for over twenty five years.
July 8, 2008 - Greers
Ferry Lake - Submitted by Fish Finders Fish Service -The lake level
is at 471.62 and falling it is 10.59 above normal pool now and
should be normal around the 1st of aug.
The hybrids and whites continue to be good early
mornings and late afternoons as well as sometimes during the
middle of the day they are pretty picky right now as they are
chasing real small bait, you will just have to slow down and
throw small baits and if they are not on top takes a while to
get them down , any small shad imitator will work.
Bream fishing is pretty good around structure or
if you have a place baited , with some big ones coming in on
worms and crickets.
Catfishing is good, a 9 lb. blue was even caught
last week on artificial bait , that's how well they are eating.
No-report on crappie, but I am sure they are biting
somewhere on the lake, try pole timber close to channels swings
around 15-20 deep over 60 feet using minnows and small jigs.
Walleye are biting pretty well when it is cloudy
the best and some are following the whites and hybrids around
already.
The bass are still scattered all over the water
column and from shallow to deep try top waters early mornings
and late afternoons and texas rigged, and c-rigged worms and
lizards , as well as crankbaits for the suspended fish.
Tommy Cauley
July 7, 2008 - Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood
Lake Guide Service
The Overall Picture:
Navigation conditions in Little River are near normal.
As of Monday 07 July, Largemouth Bass remain best early and late
or lowest light and heat. Tough bite from 11am-4pm. Slightly
increased current in Little River from last week. Millwood is
4.3" above normal, as of Monday. Water's surface temps consistent
w/ last week. Top Water Toads and plugs, Bass Assassin Shads,
10-12" worms, and swim baits, all continue working well
for Bass.
Largemouth Bass from 2, up to 7 pounds, are good, w/ best bite
early. Typical routine summer patterns. The mayfly hatch is still
active. The water clarity along the main lake and also in Little
River improved this week. Main lake better. Some high density
broken, vegetation and floating mats remain in Little River,
due to recent pool fluctuations and discharge over past many
weeks, and is still present. USACE crews are working diligently
to replace damaged and/or missing river buoys in Little River
from the clear cut main lake area, and up river.
As of Monday, 07 July, the main lake and Little River's water
surface temp range approx 78º to 88ºF, depending of
course, on location and time of day. Lake level on Millwood as
of Monday 07 July, is approx 4.3 inches above normal, and falling,
at 259.56 feet. Normal pool is 259.2 feet. Little River's clarity
as of Monday, is approx 6-10" visibility. Main lake clarity
/ visibility 6-8" away from current. Current in Little River
and discharge at the dam is 1,754 CFS as of Monday. Many river
buoys have already been replaced.
All USACE boat ramps and campgrounds are open, as of Monday.
Upriver oxbow's clarity continues to be very good and is ranging
approx 12-24". The tailwater elevation was 228.05 on Monday,
07 July. Discharge/ Release Rate at the spillway of 1,754 CFS
is with 4 tainer gates open at at 1 foot each. Use caution in
navigation on Little River during low light conditions due to
debris and broken vegetation still present and floating downstream
in the increased current.
The Details:
Largemouth Bass: Bass continue to bite very good, definitely
the best during early and late hours, over the past few weeks
and have been caught and released, up to 7.5 pounds each, in
2-12 foot depth areas. The mayfly hatch continues and bream feeding
under willow and cypress trees which are feeding on the mayfly
population are making good bass magnets. Chunky Bass from 3-5
pounds remain consistent over the past week, but are tough to
find and entice a bite after 11am until just before dark. Most
consistent reaction bite is on Toads, Bass Assassin Shads, white
jigs w/ white chunk trailers, and 10 or 12" worms. Top water
action is the best right at daylight, on Jitterbugs (Frog and
Perch colors), Zara Spook Jrs, and buzzbaits.
Swimming jigs in white or blue glimmer w/ pearl white chunk or
craw trailers through grass and pads continue to take some nice
bass for the past few weeks. Bass Assassin Shads in Gizzard shad
and white are best colors for a reaction bite in heavy lily pad
stands. Trick Worms or Wacky Worms and Salty Rat Tails in watermelon-red
flake, continue working. Not a lot of change in overall Largemouth
bite patterns, over the past couple weeks, full blown summer
routines. Early and late, find shallow flats with cypress, stumps
and grass or pads, next to deep water drops and creek channel
swings, and you are in the correct zone. Swim baits like the
magic shad are working near deep drop zones in the river and
creek channels, close to most any grass.
Siefert's Buzz Baits continue to draw good bites around pads
and grass from 1-6 foot depth areas. Best reaction bite on buzz
baits for last week has been in Hot Firecracker, Chartruese-Chameleon,
or Purple Smoke colors, in the clearest water you can find. Buzz
bait fish are ranging from 14-18" in length.
War Eagle spinnerbaits, in Hot Mouse, Aurora or white colors,
are still working for 15" to 19" sized Largemouths
around flooded vegetation and cypress trees, close to deep water.
Rat-L-Traps in Sexy Shad, Bleeding White Striper, and Spring
Bream colors seem to remain the hot lipless crank bait bites
again over the past week. 10 and 12" worms in blue fleck,
red shad, and plum or electric blue colors are working once the
sun gets up and the bass nose down.
White Bass: White Bass bite is full on or full off, between White
Cliffs and Cemetary Slough, along Little River using Little Cleos,
Little Georges, Rooster tails and Rocket Shads in colors of white,
red, and chromes. Best depth zones run 12-16' . Times best last
week were from 10am-12 noon.
Crappie: Crappie bite, slightly improved again, this past week
in Little River with the better water color and clarity, than
last week. The most consistent bite remains on live shiners,
smoke grubs on light wire jig heads, and Mizmo tubes.
Channel Cats: Blues and Channel Cats continue to hit well on
trotlines, and remains best in current in Little River. 2-6 pounders
are very good to excellent, using cut shad or Charlie, cottonseed
mill cake and chicken hearts and livers. Yo-yo's hung from cypress
trees in approx 8-10 feet water depth, near any current are picking
up some decent 2-4 pound cats.
Bream: Continue to bite well again along the banks on crickets
and red worms around docks and cypress trees. With the mayfly
hatch in full swing, numbers of mason bream and redears can be
caught under a single cypress or willow tree on ultra light or
spin cast tackle on smoke colored tubes, jigs and also on white
and chartruese colored popping bugs.
}><(((º> Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions
Report <º)))><{
Navigation conditions in Little River are near normal.
As of Monday, 07 July, the main lake and Little River's water
surface temp range approx 78º to 88ºF, depending of
course, on location and time of day. Lake level on Millwood as
of Monday 07 July, is approx 4.3 inches above normal, and falling,
at 259.56 feet. Normal pool is 259.2 feet. Little River's clarity
as of Monday, is approx 6-10" visibility. Main lake clarity
/ visibility 6-8" away from current. Current in Little River
and discharge at the dam is 1,754 CFS as of Monday. Many river
buoys have already been replaced.
All USACE boat ramps and campgrounds are open, as of Monday.
Upriver oxbow's clarity continues to be very good and is ranging
approx 12-24". The tailwater elevation was 228.05 on Monday,
07 July. Discharge/ Release Rate at the spillway of 1,754 CFS
is with 4 tainer gates open at at 1 foot each. Use caution in
navigation on Little River during low light conditions due to
debris and broken vegetation still present and floating downstream
in the increased current.
Mike
July 3, 2008 - White River - Submitted by Berry
Brothers Guides - JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 7/03/2008
We have had yet another significant rain event
and overall the reservoir levels on the White River have risen
a bit. The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam rose five tenths of
a foot to rest at thirty seven and nine tenths feet above power
pool of 654.00 feet. This is three and one tenth feet below the
top of flood pool. Up stream, Table Rock Lake rose one and four
tenths of a foot to rest at twelve and five tenths of a foot
above power pool or three and five tenths feet below the top
of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell two tenths of a foot to settle
at eight feet above power pool or one and six tenths of a foot
below the top of flood pool. The pattern on the White has been
to run all eight generators around the clock with high flows
both day and night. While these flows made for excellent boating,
there have been few safe wading opportunities on the White. Norfork
Lake has fallen four tenths of a foot to rest at twenty three
and two tenths feet above power pool of 552.00 feet or four and
eight tenths of a foot below the top of flood pool. The pattern
has been to run one or two generators with substantial periods
of no generation at night and occasionally during the morning.
This made for some limited wading conditions. On the higher water,
boating conditions have been excellent. It should be noted that
three and a half months after the beginning of our spring floods,
little progress has been made in reducing the lake levels.
Overall, the fishing has been excellent on the
White River , particularly at the Catch and Release section at
Bull Shoals Dam and the adjacent state park. The hot flies have
been San Juan worms (in tan, orange and red), and brightly colored
marabou jigs. Jigs have the added advantage of riding hook point
up which makes them virtually weed less. Other hot flies have
been midge larva patterns (like black zebra midges) in larger
sizes such as fourteens. The better fishing has definitely been
in the morning. The bite seems to slow midday and picks up again
in late afternoon.
Another hot spot was Rim Shoals. Here again the
most action was encountered using brightly colored San Juan worms
and eggs. There have been some promising reports of anglers having
success wading at the second island below the walk-in access.
The have been utilizing Gary Flipin's water taxi. For a nominal
fee Gary will ferry you down there in a river boat and pick you
up when you are ready to go. For details you should check at
Rim Shoals Trout Dock.
The Norfork has been fishing well in the morning
on low water. Anglers reported great success with black zebra
nymphs, olive scuds, and black Norfork bead heads all in size
eighteen. Other good flies were olive woolly buggers, partridge
and orange soft hackles, and Dan's turkey tail emerger. The top
producer was the green butt soft hackle. There have been some
sparse sulphur and midge hatches in mid morning and this was
the key to success. In the afternoon, on higher water, fishing
slows quite a bit. Use conventional high water techniques and
if you are not fishing in the Catch and Release area consider
using a dropper tied to the lead fly. Black zebra midges and
copper johns are great flies for this purpose. They should be
fairly large (size fourteen).
Dry Run Creek has fished well. I have been pleasantly
surprised by quality of fishing of late. I had expected it to
be much more crowded during the summer. The top producer is still
the sowbug followed closely by the San Juan worm. My favorite
San Juan worm is a small one in worm brown. Do not be afraid
to try some thing completely different. The other day my client
took two nice rainbows on a size eight Chernobyl ant. I was also
pleased to see a wildlife enforcement officer. When I talked
to him, he said that he tried to tour the creek daily.
Crooked Creek has cleared up and is fishing well.
The best way to fish it is by canoe so that you can access spots
a bit further from the access that do not receive as much fishing
pressure. My favorite section is the float from Kelly Slab to
the park in Yellville. There are a lot of nice deep pools and
some very interesting structure to work. I find a nine foot six
weight with a sink tip line to be the best way to fish it. The
top flies have been brown woolly buggers, crawfish, and Clouser
minnows.
John Berry is a fly fishing guide in Cotter, Arkansas
and has fished our local streams for over twenty five years.
July 1, 2008 - Greers
Ferry Lake - Submitted by Fish Finders Fish Service -The lake is
on a steady fall and the level is at 472.72 at present
The hybrid and white bass fishing continues to
be good and it looks like an earily fall is on the way , which
with the low air temps should keep water temp low and the fish
biting all the way into September and with the great shad spawn
we had should make for an un-forgetful fall to say the least,
right now bait is the key again , find the bait and the fish
will be close at some point in the day or even night, try top
water baits jigging spoons , in-line spinners whipper snappers
or the sort and even hair jigs.
The bream fishing is pretty fair on crawlers and
crickets around docks brush piles and underwater shore brush.
No report on bream at this time
Catfishing is great from 1 foot of water out to
25 feet using an assortment of baits and catching them on limb
lines , rod and reels and also on jugs and trotlines
Walleye are their one day and gone the next if
you can stay with them they can be caught with crawlers and line
weights on crankbaits on the edges of rocks on drops in about
13-23 feet of water right now
Bass fishing is hit or miss , with the cooler nights
and days they do not know weather to stay shallow or go deep
or stay in-between , you will just have to peck around until
you find the way you like to catch them and their will be some
areas that hold them the way you like to catch them, just keep
your bait wet is the key, try buzzbaits, right bite frogs , or
rightbite cinko's c-rigged or texas rigged worms , or you can
flip and pitch baits to the brush.
Tommy Cauley
tth
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