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December 30, 2008
- Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood Lake Guide
Service
Happy New Year to all of you
and your families.
The Overall Picture:
Navigation conditions in Little
River are normal.
As of Monday 29 December, Largemouth
Bass are good to fair up to 3 and 4 pounds on Millwood. RatLTraps,
Spinnerbaits, jigs & grubs are the best baits for Bass over
the past several weeks.
Clarity along main lake channel
and Little River same this week with the high wind, increased
current in Little River, and lake wind advisories issued. 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.
As of Monday, 29 December, the
main lake and Little River's water surface temperatures are currently
ranging from approx 49º to 55ºF, depending of course,
on location and time of day. Lake level on Millwood as of Monday
29 December, is approx 4" above normal, and slowly falling,
at 259.52 feet. Normal pool is 259.20 feet.
Reduced current this week, in
Little River at 2,730 CFS as of Monday, 29 December. Main lake
clarity / visibility approx 3-5" away from any remaining
current in Little River. The river clarity is approximately 5-8"
but improving. High wind or thunderstorms can have a drastic
impact and 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.
Millwood State Park has one operational boat ramp and one still
under repair.
Upriver oxbow's clarity continues
to be very good and is ranging approx 3-6 feet visibility. The
tailwater elevation on Monday 29 December was 229.69 feet. Discharge/
Release Rate at the spillway of 2,730 CFS is with 7 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.
USACE has been diligently working
on bank stabilization downstream of the spillway for the past
several weeks. The west bank and rock and rip rap is currently
being repaired from potential erosion issues during the week.
This preventative maintenance is to shore up the west bank's
protection from further potential detriment due to discharge
at the dam and to halt any further damage to the west bank's
protection. The gates are being held during the early part of
each week to allow this work to take place, and then releasing
late in the week to maintain normal lake pool.
The Details:
Largemouth Bass: Not many fishermen
out again this week, with the cold weather early in the week.
Bass from 2 pounds and up to 5 pounds each, remain good to fair
on RatLTraps and slow rolling heavy thumping spinner baits along
the old tree line of Little River's 2nd washout drop, at random
periods throughout the day, mostly in the heat of the afternoon.
The best feeding periods are occuring during the warmest heating
of the day. The most consistent reaction bite during heat of
the day remains on jigs, RatLTraps, heavy thumping white/chart
spinnerbaits with gold Colorado blades, and white or smoke colored
grubs on light wire jig heads. War Eagle Spinnerbaits and Bass
Assassin trick worms and charm worms, around hydrilla, lily pad
stems, and pondweed are still working.
Bass were somewhat sluggish
in Horseshoe and McGuire oxbow lakes upriver this week due to
cold front weather hitting the lake. Best bet around the remaining
vegetation is dead-sticking a Bass Assassin Shad or twitch worm
in white or clear/silver flake or a spinnerbait.
Crankbaits and jigs have begun
to incite a few good keeper size bass over the past couple weeks,
and is improving overall. Best jig colors thus far remain peanut
butter/jelly, pumpkinseed/chartreuse or black/ blue/ & purple.
Pitching jigs and 10" worms to stumps near deep water is
working along Little River and in the main lake. 10" or
12" worms will work for 3-6 lb bass, (from 15" to 22"
size bass) and best colors working over the past few weeks are
Plum, Blue Fleck or Blackberry once the sun gets up and the bass
become more active from the cooler morning water temperatures.
Edges of any remaining lily pads near deep drops in the clearer
water or along Little River, several feet away from the base
of cypress trees and stumps in vegetation or on drop offs to
deeper water, remain best locations this week for a best worm
and/or jig bite. The crankbait like the Bomber Fat Free Shad
in rusty craw color, or the Bandit in brown back and orange belly
crawfish, are taking good keeper size bass from 16-19" in
length.
White Bass: No Report this week.
Crappie: Crappie bite, tapered
off again this week due to the worsened water clarity along Little
River, early this week. The bite was improving on live shiners
and jigs, prior to the high winds and muddying up of the Little
River and main lake structure. Best depth over the past week
is running between 13 to 20 feet, suspended deep over planted
brush piles, along Little River and in front of Mud Lake entrance
to Little River.
Channel Cats: Blues and Channel
Cats remain good this week especially with the increase in river
current, using trotlines, or yo-yos along Little River, and remain
best for 2-5 pounders using Charlie, cut shad, home-made blood
bait, or chicken livers. Yo-yo's hung from cypress trees near
any current in approx 8-9 feet water depth, continue picking
up some decent cats in the 3-6 pound class.
}><(((º> Millwood
Lake & Little River Conditions Report <º)))><{
Navigation conditions in Little
River are normal.
As of Monday, 29 December, the
main lake and Little River's water surface temperatures are currently
ranging from approx 49º to 55ºF, depending of course,
on location and time of day. Lake level on Millwood as of Monday
29 December, is approx 4" above normal, and slowly falling,
at 259.52 feet. Normal pool is 259.20 feet.
Reduced current this week, in
Little River at 2,730 CFS as of Monday, 29 December. Main lake
clarity / visibility approx 3-5" away from any remaining
current in Little River. The river clarity is approximately 5-8"
but improving. High wind or thunderstorms can have a drastic
impact and 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.
Millwood State Park has one operational boat ramp and one still
under repair.
Upriver oxbow's clarity continues
to be very good and is ranging approx 3-6 feet visibility. The
tailwater elevation on Monday 29 December was 229.69 feet. Discharge/
Release Rate at the spillway of 2,730 CFS is with 7 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.
Mike
December 18, 2008
- White River - Submitted by Berry Brothers Guides
- JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 12/17/2008
Though there has been a bit of snow, ice and some
frigid temperatures during the past week, the lakes in the White
River system are finally all below flood pool. The lake level
at Bull Shoals Dam rose three tenths of a foot to rest at one
tenth of a foot below power pool of 654.00 feet. This is forty
one and one tenth feet below the top of flood pool. Up stream,
Table Rock Lake fell one tenth of a foot to rest at five tenths
of a foot below power pool or sixteen and five tenths feet below
the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell one and two tenths feet
to rest at five tenths of a foot below power pool or ten and
one tenth feet below the top of flood pool. The pattern on the
White was for light to heavy generation with at least one period
of no generation each day. Norfork Lake has fallen three tenths
of a foot to rest at three tenths of a foot below power pool
of 552.00 feet or twenty eight and three tenths feet below the
top of flood pool. There has been heavy generation on the Norfork
with periods of no generation every day. Last weekend the White
and Norfork were both off for over forty eight hours. This created
the best wading scenario we have seen all year.
We are at power pool at all of the lakes on the
White River system. Control over generation passed from the Corps
of Engineers to South West Power Administration. When in power
pool, generation is based on electrical demand. With mild weather,
and a slow economy, we could expect reduced flows and an occasional
period of no generation. Most generation would occur during peak
usage hours. This is generally on week day afternoons. We should
experience more wadable water on both rivers.
The Catch and Release section below Bull Shoals
Dam closed to all fishing on November 1, 2008. It will remain
closed until February 1, 2009 for the brown trout spawn. The
section from the bottom of this Catch and Release section downstream
to the wing wall at the State park is seasonal Catch and Release
for the same time period.
With the lower flows on the White, there has been
more challenging boat navigation. Recent low water has revealed
several new hazards on both the Norfork and White. Be extremely
careful particularly on your first trip through recently lowered
water.
The Narrows has been a real hot spot during the
last week. There has been no wading in this section for months
and it is red hot. The hot flies have been Y2Ks, egg patterns,
sowbugs, and olive woolly buggers. When in this section be aware
for rising water. It comes up fast here.
The Catch and Release section at Rim Shoals is
fishing extremely well, particularly in the morning. During the
recent low water it was red hot. The hot flies on this water
level were sowbugs, olive scuds and brown zebra midges with copper
wire and copper beads in size sixteen. Y2Ks and olive woolly
buggers also accounted for a lot of fish. The trail from the
walk in access down stream is a little rough. It was not used
much this summer and could use some clearing. Be careful and
look out for hazards when walking it. On the lower flows, the
fishing was excellent. The hot flies for this water were cerise
San Juan worms, peach eggs and Y2Ks.
Crooked Creek has slowed considerably. The water
temperature has dipped below fifty five degrees and the Smallmouth
have pretty much shut down.
The Norfork has been fishing well. The most productive
times have been on low water. The go to flies have been olive
scuds. Orange egg patterns have also done very well. Once again
several anglers have been walking into McClellan's from the Ackerman
access. Be very careful when doing so. If the water comes out
it is a very long walk out in a rising river. On the higher water,
try San Juan worms in bright colors (hot pink, cerise and red)
with substantial amounts of weight. Concentrate on fishing the
banks and grass beds. If you are not in the Catch and Release
section try a two fly rig with a sowbug or scud as the dropper.
Dry Run Creek is fishing well as always. The hot
flies have been sowbugs, San Juan worms, egg patterns and olive
woolly buggers. Though the weather is cold, this is a great time
to take the kids to Dry Run Creek. You will have it to yourself.
Carry the biggest net that you can lay your hands on as most
trophy fish are lost at the net. Use heavy tippet (at least 4X)
and check your knots carefully and pinch down the barbs. The
fish are huge! Do not forget the camera. You child might catch
the fish of a life time and you will want a photograph to show
grandma.
December 17, 2008
- Greers Ferry Lake - Submitted by Fish Finders
Fish Service -
All the same as last week at present.
December 11, 2008
- White River - Submitted by Berry Brothers Guides
- JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 12/13/2008
Though there has been a minor rain event and a
bit of snow during the past week, the lakes in the White River
system continue their steady decline. The lake level at Bull
Shoals Dam fell four tenths of a foot to rest at four tenths
of a foot below power pool of 654.00 feet. This is forty one
and four tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Up stream,
Table Rock Lake rose nine tenths of a foot to rest at four tenths
of a foot below power pool or sixteen and four tenths feet below
the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell two and seven tenths
feet to rest at seven tenths of a foot above power pool or eight
and nine tenths feet below the top of flood pool. The pattern
on the White was for light generation around the clock. There
were a couple of incidents where there was no generation for
several hours which created some quality wading. Norfork Lake
has fallen two and one tenth feet to rest at power pool of 552.00
feet or twenty eight feet below the top of flood pool. There
has been heavy generation on the Norfork during the day and periods
of no generation at night. Boating conditions on the Norfork
during the day have been good.
We are essentially at or near power pool at all
of the lakes on the White River system (Beaver is just inches
away). When the lakes reach power pool, control over generation
passes from the Corps of Engineers to South West Power Administration.
When in power pool, generation is based on electrical demand.
With mild weather, and a slow economy, we could expect reduced
flows if not an occasional period of no generation. Most generation
would occur during peak usage hours. This is generally on week
day afternoons. We should experience more wadable water on both
rivers.
The Catch and Release section below Bull Shoals
Dam closed to all fishing on November 1, 2008. It will remain
closed until February 1, 2009 for the brown trout spawn. The
section from the bottom of this Catch and Release section downstream
to the wing wall at the State park is seasonal Catch and Release
for the same time period.
With the lower flows on the White, there has been
more challenging boat navigation. Recent low water has revealed
several new hazards on both the Norfork and White. Be extremely
careful particularly on your first trip through recently lowered
water.
The river from Wildcat Shoals down to Roundhouse
has been fishing well in the lower water. The go to flies during
the past week have been scuds, sowbugs and olive woolly buggers.
The trout are literally stacked in this section. With the current
cold conditions, we can expect blue wing olive hatches on sunny
days. These small mayflies can be imitated with small (in size
20, 22) Adams parachutes. This hatch has also been spotted on
the Norfork River .
The Catch and Release section at Rim Shoals is
fishing extremely well, particularly in the morning. During the
recent low water it was red hot. While short lived, there were
reports of several trophy fish caught. The hot flies on this
water were brown zebra midges with copper wire and copper beads
in size sixteen. Y2Ks and olive woolly buggers also accounted
for a lot of fish. On the lower flows the fishing was excellent.
The hot flies for this water were cerise San Juan worms, peach
eggs and Y2Ks.
Crooked Creek has slowed considerably. The water
temperature has dipped below fifty five degrees and the Smallmouth
have pretty much shut down.
The fishing on the Norfork has been a bit spotty.
One day it is excellent and the next day slow. The better fishing
has been in the afternoon and the upper river seems to be fishing
better than the lower river. The go to flies have been micro
San Juan worms in pink and worm brown. Orange egg patterns have
also done very well. In the higher water, you will have to fish
with substantial amounts of weight. Concentrate on fishing the
banks and grass beds. If you are not in the Catch and Release
section try a two fly rig with a sowbug or scud as the dropper.
Dry Run Creek is fishing well as always. The hot
flies have been sowbugs, San Juan worms, egg patterns and olive
woolly buggers. Though the weather is cold, the creek is choked
with fish. Be sure and bundle up the kids before you take them
out. Take a break at lunch and visit a local restaurant to warm
them up. Do not for get the camera. The best time to hang a big
one is now, when there is virtually no pressure on the creek.
On December 20, 2008, there will be an organizational
meeting of the Swallows Nest Fly Tyers call Mark Romero at (870)
431-8955 for details.
December 9, 2008 -
Greers Ferry Lake - Submitted by Fish Finders
Fish Service -
The water level at greers ferry is at 460.42 and
rising
The bass fishing is good a lot of shallow fish
are being caught with crankbaits and jigs pitched around any
wood you can see , the deeper fish can be caught with footballheads
and c-rigged lizards 15-30 feet deep
Walleye are getting staged up to make their run
up river, try the narrows
Crappie are good in pole timber suspended try minnows
and jigs when the sun is shing for the best bite
No-report on bream
No-report on catfish
The whites and hybrids can be caught on humps and
such with in-line spinners ,spoons and swimbaits and even some
topwater action going on and do not forget hair jigs, which work
great this time of year, find the bait and the fish will be close
Tommy Cauley
December 8, 2008 -
Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood Lake Guide
Service
The Overall Picture:
Navigation conditions in Little River are normal.
As of Monday 08 December, Largemouth Bass are good to fair up
to 4 pounds on Millwood. RatLTraps, Spinnerbaits, jigs &
grubs are the best baits for Bass over the past several weeks.
The most aggressive schooling activity has ended. Dead-sticking
a Bass Assassin Shad or twitch worm is still working.
Clarity along main lake channel and Little River improved this
week. 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.
As of Monday, 08 December, the main lake and Little River's water
surface temperatures are currently ranging from approx 52º
to 57ºF, depending of course, on location and time of day.
Lake level on Millwood as of Monday 08 December, is approx 7.75"
above normal, and slowly rising, at 259.84 feet. Normal pool
is 259.20 feet.
Current in Little River is 216 CFS as of Monday, 08 December.
Main lake clarity / visibility approx 7-12" away from any
remaining current in Little River. The river clarity is approximately
12-15" and improving Monday due to reduced wind this week.
High wind or thunderstorms can have a drastic impact and 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. Millwood State
Park has one operational boat ramp and one still under repair.
Upriver oxbow's clarity continues to be very good and is ranging
approx 3-6 feet visibility. The tailwater elevation on Monday
08 December was 224.30 feet. Discharge/ Release Rate at the spillway
of 216 CFS is with 1 tainer gate open at 0.5 feet. Use caution
in navigation on Little River during low light conditions due
to debris, broken vegetation still present floating downstream,
and the increased current.
USACE has been diligently working on bank stabilization downstream
of the spillway for the past several weeks. The west bank and
rock and rip rap is currently being repaired from potential erosion
issues during the week. This preventative maintenance is to shore
up the west bank's protection from further potential detriment
due to discharge at the dam and to halt any further damage to
the west bank's protection. The gates are being held during the
early part of each week to allow this work to take place, and
then releasing late in the week to maintain normal lake pool.
The Details:
Largemouth Bass: Most Bass schooling activities have ended on
Millwood during the last 2 weeks of cooling temperatures. Bass
from 2 pounds and up to 4 pounds each, remain good to fair on
RatLTraps at random periods throughout the day, mostly in the
heat of the afternoon, in many of the oxbow lakes up river, and
fishermen are finding best feeding periods during the warmest
heating of the day. The most consistent reaction bite during
heat of the day remains on RatLTraps, Bass Assassin shads, and
white or smoke colored grubs on light wire jig heads and War
Eagle Spinnerbaits around hydrilla and pondweed.
War Eagle Spinnerbaits, dead-sticking trick worms, and Bass Assassin
Shad jerk baits are still working around the remaining vegetation
and dying lily pads. Bass were still somewhat aggressive in Horseshoe
and McGuire oxbow lakes upriver this week, but chasing shad deep
in the lily pads for the most part, has ended. Best bet around
the remaining vegetation is dead-sticking a Bass Assassin Shad
or twitch worm in white or clear/silver flake or a spinnerbait.
Jigs have begun to incite a few good keeper size bass over the
past couple weeks, and is improving overall. Best jig colors
thus far have been peanut butter/jelly, pumpkinseed/chartreuse
or black/blue/purple. Pitching jigs and 10" worms to stumps
near deep water is working along Little River and in the main
lake. 10" or 12" worms will work for 3-6 lb bass, from
15" to 22" size keeper bass, and best colors working
over the past few weeks are Peanut Butter 'n Jelly, Plum or Blackberry
once the sun gets up and the bass become more active from the
cooler morning water temperatures. Edges of any remaining lily
pads near deep drops in the clearer water or along Little River,
several feet away from the base of cypress trees and stumps in
vegetation or on drop offs to deeper water, remain best locations
this week for a best worm and/or jig bite.
White Bass: The schools of white bass were found biting aggressive
again between Highway 71 bridge and Cossatot River. Best bet
over the past week for Whites, were Rooster Tails, Little Cleos,
and spoons.
Crappie: Crappie bite, continues improving along with the improved
clarity along Little River, late last week and early this week,
on live shiners and jigs. Best depth over the past week with
the improved water clarity is running between 6-9 suspended feet
deep over planted brush piles, along Little River and in front
of Mud Lake entrance to Little River.
Channel Cats: Blues and Channel Cats remain good this week, using
trotlines, or yo-yos along any remaining current in Little River,
and remain best for 2-5 pounders using Charlie, cut shad, home-made
blood bait, or chicken livers. Yo-yo's hung from cypress trees
near any current in approx 8-9 feet water depth, continue picking
up some decent cats in the 3-6 pound class.
}><(((º> Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions
Report <º)))><{
Navigation conditions in Little River are normal.
Clarity along main lake channel and Little River improved this
week. 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.
As of Monday, 08 December, the main lake and Little River's water
surface temperatures are currently ranging from approx 52º
to 57ºF, depending of course, on location and time of day.
Lake level on Millwood as of Monday 08 December, is approx 7.75"
above normal, and slowly rising, at 259.84 feet. Normal pool
is 259.20 feet.
Current in Little River is 216 CFS as of Monday, 08 December.
Main lake clarity / visibility approx 7-12" away from any
remaining current in Little River. The river clarity is approximately
12-15" and improving Monday due to reduced wind this week.
High wind or thunderstorms can have a drastic impact and 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. Millwood State
Park has one operational boat ramp and one still under repair.
Upriver oxbow's clarity continues to be very good and is ranging
approx 3-6 feet visibility. The tailwater elevation on Monday
08 December was 224.30 feet. Discharge/ Release Rate at the spillway
of 216 CFS is with 1 tainer gate open at 0.5 feet. 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
December 4, 2008 -
White River - Submitted by Berry
Brothers Guides - JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 12/04/2008
Despite a minor rain event during the past week, the lakes in
the White River system continue their speedy decline. The lake
level at Bull Shoals Dam fell three feet to rest at power pool
of 654.00 feet. This is forty one feet below the top of flood
pool. Up stream, Table Rock Lake rose eight tenths of a foot
to rest at one and three tenths of a foot below power pool or
seventeen and three tenths feet below the top of flood pool.
Beaver Lake fell one and five tenths feet to rest at three and
four tenths feet above power pool or six and two tenths feet
below the top of flood pool. The pattern on the White was for
heavy generation around the clock. Now that power pool has been
reached the generation has been ramped down significantly. Norfork
Lake has fallen three and three tenths of a foot to rest at two
and one tenth feet above power pool of 552.00 feet or twenty
five and nine tenths feet below the top of flood pool. There
has been heavy generation on the Norfork around the clock. Boating
conditions on the Norfork has been good.
Now that power pool has been reached and generation
has decreased, there is some quality wading available on the
White. They are drawing down Beaver and it should reach power
pool in one and a half weeks. Table rock is below power pool.
The Norfork is dropping over three feet a week and the lake is
about two feet above power pool. If it continues to fall at the
same rate, it should reach power pool this week. These are my
estimates and are based on no major rain events occurring during
this period.
When the lakes reach power pool, control over generation
passes from the Corps of Engineers to South West Power Administration.
When in power pool generation is based on electrical demand.
With mild weather, and a slow economy, we could expect reduced
flows if not an occasional period of no generation. Most generation
would occur during peak usage hours. This is generally on week
day afternoons.
The Catch and Release section below Bull Shoals
Dam closed to all fishing on November 1, 2008. It will remain
closed until February 1, 2009 for the brown trout spawn. The
section from the bottom of this Catch and Release section downstream
to the wing wall at the State park is seasonal Catch and Release
for the same time period.
With the lower flows on the White, there has been
more challenging boat navigation. All of the rocks we have been
flying over for the last several months are now poking out and
looking for your boat. It is time to put your low water propeller
back on and slow down a bit. Be on the look out for navigation
hazards. Remember that the river will be changed, from the flooding
this spring. This will be the first time we see several spots
that have been under a lot of water since then.
The river from the state park down to White Hole
has been fishing well in the lower water. The go to flies during
the past week have been brightly colored egg patterns. The best
color seems to change every day. Be sure and carry a variety
of colors that include pink, peach and orange. Other productive
flies have been sowbugs, olive scuds and zebra midges. Olive
woolly buggers on sink tip lines are also producing some nice
fish.
The Catch and Release section at Rim Shoals is
also fishing well. The fishing has been better in the morning.
With the current level of generation, there is a significant
amount of wading available. While a significant amount of it
is available by trail even more is accessible by boat. If you
do not have access to a boat, stop by Rim Shoals Trout Dock and
take advantage of their water taxi. For a nominal fee they will
drop you off at one of the spots available and pick you up later
in the day.
Crooked Creek has slowed considerably. The water
temperature has dipped below fifty five degrees and the Smallmouth
have pretty much shut down.
The fishing on the Norfork has been a bit spotty.
One day it is excellent and the next day slow. The better fishing
has been in the afternoon and the upper river seems to be fishing
better than the lower river. The go to flies have been micro
San Juan worms in pink and worm brown. Orange egg patterns have
also done very well. In the higher water, you will have to fish
with substantial amounts of weight. Concentrate on fishing the
banks and grass beds. If you are not in the Catch and Release
section try a two fly rig with a sowbug or scud as the dropper.
Dry Run Creek is fishing well as always. The hot
flies have been sowbugs, San Juan worms, egg patterns and olive
woolly buggers. Take the biggest net that you can lay your hands
on. Most big fish are lost at the net. I have found my long handled
boat net to be the perfect for Dry Run Creek. Don't forget the
camera. Since your youngster will probably catch the biggest
fish of their life, you will want to record that memory. My daughter
and I still cherish the photos we took there many years ago.
December 2, 2008 -
Greers Ferry Lake - Submitted by Fish Finders
Fish Service -
The water level at greers ferry is at 460.19 and
falling
The black basses are still biting well in about
15 feet of water with some also being right on the bank , try
top waters ,crankbaits ,rattletraps , and c-rigged lizards as
well as football heads .
No-report on bream
Crappie are biting in the pole timber about 15
feet deep over 60 feet of water on jigs and minnows
Walleye are scarce but some are being picked up
under the schooling whites and hybrids
No-report on catfish
The whites and hybrids are still going good all
over the lake with some pushing shad up to the surface , watch
out for the birds , and the others can be caught on humps and
points , with spoons and in-line spinners as well as swimbaits
and grubs
Tommy Cauley
December 1, 2008 -
Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood Lake Guide
Service
The Overall Picture:
Navigation conditions in Little River are normal.
As of Monday 01 December, Largemouth Bass are good to fair up
to 4 pounds on Millwood. RatLTraps, Spinnerbaits, jigs &
grubs are the best baits for Bass over the past several weeks.
The most aggressive schooling activity has ended. Dead-sticking
a Bass Assassin Shad or twitch worm is still working.
Clarity along main lake channel and Little River improved this
week. 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.
As of Monday, 01 December, the main lake and Little River's water
surface temperatures are currently ranging from approx 51º
to 58ºF, depending of course, on location and time of day.
Lake level on Millwood as of Monday 01 December, is approx 5"
above normal, and slowly rising, at 259.59 feet. Normal pool
is 259.20 feet.
Current in Little River is 216 CFS as of Monday, 01 December.
Main lake clarity / visibility approx 5-7" away from any
remaining current in Little River. The river clarity is approximately
10-12" and improving Monday due to reduced wind this week.
High wind or thunderstorms can have a drastic impact and 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. Millwood State
Park has one operational boat ramp and one still under repair.
Upriver oxbow's clarity continues to be very good and is ranging
approx 3-5 feet visibility. The tailwater elevation on Monday
01 December was 224.27 feet. Discharge/ Release Rate at the spillway
of 216 CFS is with 1 tainer gate open at 0.5 feet. Use caution
in navigation on Little River during low light conditions due
to debris, broken vegetation still present floating downstream,
and the increased current.
USACE has been diligently working on bank stabilization downstream
of the spillway for the past several weeks. The west bank and
rock and rip rap is currently being repaired from potential erosion
issues during the week. This preventative maintenance is to shore
up the west bank's protection from further potential detriment
due to discharge at the dam and to halt any further damage to
the west bank's protection. The gates are being held during the
early part of each week to allow this work to take place, and
then releasing late in the week to maintain normal lake pool.
The Details:
Largemouth Bass: Most Bass schooling activities have ended on
Millwood during the last 2 weeks of cooling temperatures. Bass
from 2 pounds and up to 4 pounds each, remain good to fair on
RatLTraps at random periods throughout the day, mostly in the
heat of the afternoon, in many of the oxbow lakes up river, and
fishermen are finding best feeding periods during the afternoon.
The most consistent reaction bite during heat of the day remains
on RatLTraps, Bass Assassin shads, and white or smoke colored
grubs on light wire jig heads and War Eagle Spinnerbaits around
hydrilla and pondweed.
Johnson silver spoons with white grub trailer, War Eagle Spinnerbaits,
and Bass Assassin Shad jerk baits are still working around the
remaining vegetation and dying lily pads. Bass were still somewhat
aggressive in Horseshoe and McGuire oxbow lakes upriver this
week, but chasing shad deep in the lily pads for the most part,
has ended. Slow swimming white jigs w/ white chunk trailers along
the edges and pockets of hydrilla or other open holes in remaining
vegetation are still working but best bet around the remaining
vegetation is dead-sticking a Bass Assassin Shad or twitch worm
in white or clear/silver flake or a white or Smokey-Joe colored
RatLTrap.
Jigs have begun to incite a few good keeper size bass over the
past couple weeks, and is improving overall. Best jig colors
thus far have been peanut butter/jelly, pumpkinseed/chartreuse
or black/blue/purple. Pitching jigs and 10" worms to stumps
near deep water is working along Little River and in the main
lake. 10" or 12" worms will work for 3-6 lb bass, ranging
from 16" to 22" size keeper bass, and best colors working
over the past few weeks are Peanut Butter 'n Jelly, Plum or Blackberry
once the sun gets up and the bass retreat to the high density
grass, stumps, and cover. Edges of any remaining lily pads near
deep drops in the clearer water or along Little River, several
feet away from the base of cypress trees and stumps in vegetation
or on drop offs to deeper water, remain best locations this week
for a best worm and/or jig bite.
White Bass: The schools of white bass are very nomadic this time
of year and are constantly moving. No report for any consistency
of White Bass bite.
Crappie: Crappie bite, continues improving along with the improved
clarity along Little River, late last week and early this week,
on live shiners and jigs. Best depth over the past week with
the improved water clarity is running between 9-12 suspended
feet deep over planted brush piles, along Little River.
Channel Cats: Blues and Channel Cats are good this week, using
trotlines, or yo-yos along any remaining current in Little River,
and remain best for 2-6 pounders using cut shad, blood bait and
chicken livers. Yo-yo's hung from cypress trees near any current
in approx 8-9 feet water depth, continue picking up some decent
cats in the 3-6 pound class.
}><(((º> Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions
Report <º)))><{
Navigation conditions in Little River are normal.
Clarity along main lake channel and Little River improved this
week. 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.
As of Monday, 01 December, the main lake and Little River's water
surface temperatures are currently ranging from approx 51º
to 58ºF, depending of course, on location and time of day.
Lake level on Millwood as of Monday 01 December, is approx 5"
above normal, and slowly rising, at 259.59 feet. Normal pool
is 259.20 feet.
Current in Little River is 216 CFS as of Monday, 01 December.
Main lake clarity / visibility approx 5-7" away from any
remaining current in Little River. The river clarity is approximately
10-12" and improving Monday due to reduced wind this week.
High wind or thunderstorms can have a drastic impact and 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. Millwood State
Park has one operational boat ramp and one still under repair.
Upriver oxbow's clarity continues to be very good and is ranging
approx 3-5 feet visibility. The tailwater elevation on Monday
01 December was 224.27 feet. Discharge/ Release Rate at the spillway
of 216 CFS is ith 1 tainer gate open at 0.5 feet. Use caution
in navigation on Little River during low light conditions due
to debris, broken vegetation still present floating downstream,
and the increased current.
USACE has been diligently working on bank stabilization downstream
of the spillway for the past several weeks. The west bank and
rock and rip rap is currently being repaired from potential erosion
issues during the week. This preventative maintenance is to shore
up the west bank's protection from further potential detriment
due to discharge at the dam and to halt any further damage to
the west bank's protection. The gates are being held during the
early part of each week to allow this work to take place, and
then releasing late in the week to maintain normal lake pool.
Be advised hypothermia can set in on a person in as little as
10 minutes in 50º water temperatures or less, if a person
falls into the lake. Wear your Life Jacket!! If you are suddenly
or unexpectedly thrown from your boat, it could be your only
chance of survival. Use caution navigating Little River in low
light conditions, SLOW DOWN, and pass friendly to other boaters!
As always, careful watch for any random floaters and debris in
Little River's current, and wearing your PFD and kill switch
is a requirement!!
Mike
November 28, 2008
- White River - Submitted by Berry Brothers Guides
- JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 11/27/2008
Though there has been a minor rain event during the past week,
the lakes in the White River system continue their speedy decline.
The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam fell four feet to rest at three
feet above power pool of 654.00 feet. This is thirty eight feet
below the top of flood pool. Up stream, Table Rock Lake fell
four tenths of a foot to rest at two and one tenths of a foot
below power pool or eighteen and one tenth feet below the top
of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell five tenths of a foot to rest
at four and nine tenths feet above power pool or four and seven
tenths feet below the top of flood pool. The pattern on the White
is for heavy generation around the clock. Norfork Lake has fallen
two and one tenth of a foot to rest at five and four tenths feet
above power pool of 552.00 feet or twenty two and six tenths
feet below the top of flood pool. There has been heavy generation
on the Norfork around the clock. Boating conditions on the White
and Norfork have been uniformly good.
The generation on the White river has slowed a
bit to allow for more generation on the Norfork. The White River
is currently dropping approximately four feet per week and the
lake is about three feet above power pool. If the lake were to
continue dropping at the same rate, it should be at power pool
this week. The Norfork is dropping almost three feet a week and
the lake is about five and a half feet above power pool. If it
continues to fall at the same rate, it should reach power pool
in two weeks or early December. These are my estimates and are
based on no major rain events occurring during this period.
When the lakes reach power pool, control over generation
passes from the Corps of Engineers to South West Power Administration.
When in power pool generation is based on electrical demand.
With mild weather, and a slow economy, we could expect reduced
flows if not an occasional period of no generation. Most generation
would occur during peak usage hours. This is generally on week
day afternoons.
The Catch and Release section below Bull Shoals
Dam closed to all fishing on November 1, 2008. It will remain
closed until February 1, 2009 for the brown trout spawn. The
section from the bottom of this Catch and Release section downstream
to the wing wall at the State park is seasonal Catch and Release
for the same time period.
The fishing on the White River has been a generally
good. Dissolved oxygen levels have improved the bite significantly.
The river is stained from the breakdown of organic material and
the water is still a bit warm for this time of year. With the
Norfork back on line and running at the maximum, the generation
on the White has been ramped down significantly. The fishing
on the lower flows has been good.
The river from the state park down to White Hole
has been a bit of the hot spot. The go to flies during the past
week have been brightly colored San Juan worms. The best color
seems to change every day. Be sure and carry a variety of colors
that include hot fluorescent pink, cerise, red, and fluorescent
orange. I have had a bit of success lately with worm brown. I
would recommend double fly rigs in this section with sowbugs,
zebra midges and scuds used as droppers. This could greatly increase
the chances of a good hook up.
The Catch and Release section at Rim Shoals has
fished a bit better but not as well as the upper river. The fishing
has been better in the morning. The hot flies for this area have
been hot pink or cerise San Juan worms. With the lower flows,
it is once again possible to wade below the second island. If
you do not have access to a boat, stop by Rim Shoals Trout Dock
and take advantage of their water taxi. For a nominal fee they
will drop you off at the island and pick you up later in the
day.
Crooked Creek has slowed considerably. The water
temperature has dipped below fifty five degrees and the Smallmouth
have pretty much shut down.
The low wadable water on the Norfork is now a distant
memory as they are generating at a high level. The fishing is
still good. The go to flies have been San Juan worms in pink,
worm brown and red. Orange egg patterns have also done very well.
In the higher water, you will have to fish with substantial amounts
of weight. Concentrate on fishing the banks and grass beds. If
you are not in the Catch and Release section try a two fly rig
with a sowbug or scud as the dropper.
Dry Run Creek is still fishing well. During the
past week I heard reports of several very large rainbows being
caught. The hot flies have been sowbugs, San Juan worms, egg
patterns and olive woolly buggers. Be sure and use larger tippet
here than you would normally use, as the fish are significantly
larger on average than any where else that I know of. I generally
use 4X.
November 26, 2008 - Greers
Ferry Lake - Submitted by Fish Finders Fish Service -
The water level at greers ferry is at 460.18 and
has been on the rise.
The black bass fishing has been great with it taking
close to 18 lbs. to win the local tornaments , all the species
can be caught with c-rigged everything and football heads , topwater
baits ,spinnerbaits as well as crankbaits , the topwater frog
bits is also good if is is tough they can be caught with a drop
shot and jighead cinko.
The catfishing is still good all over the lake
Crappie fishing is good in the pole timber on jigs
and minnows
No report on bream
No report on walleye although some are being caught
under the hybrids and whites.
The white bass and hybrids are going better than
they have all fall with even with some schooling action going
on, lots of birds on the lake now eating shad the fish are pushing
up , but the bigger fish are biting real well and should continue
until it gets real cold , try spoons . in-line spinners and just
about anything you drop in front of them .
Tommy Cauley
November 24, 2008
- Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood Lake Guide
Service
The Overall Picture:
Happy Thanksgiving to each and all of you and your families!
Navigation conditions in Little River are normal.
As of Monday 24 November, Largemouth Bass are good up to 5 pounds
and still randomly schooling in various locations on Millwood.
RatLTraps, Spinnerbaits, jigs & 10" worms are the best
baits for Bass over the past several weeks. The most aggressive
schooling activity has shifted until noon and through mid afternoon.
Although the top water bite has subsided, during the heat of
the afternoon, an occasional blow up on a top water soft plastic
jerk bait or clear Baby Torpedo is not completely out of the
question...
Clarity along main lake channel and Little River improved this
week. 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.
As of Monday, 24 November, the main lake and Little River's water
surface temperatures are currently ranging from approx 52º
to 60ºF, depending of course, on location and time of day.
Lake level on Millwood as of Monday 24 November, is approx 2"
above normal, and slowly rising, at 259.36 feet. Normal pool
is 259.20 feet.
Current in Little River is 388 CFS as of Monday, 24 November.
Main lake clarity / visibility approx 5-7" away from any
remaining current in Little River. The river clarity is approximately
10-12" and improving Monday due to reduced wind this week.
High wind or thunderstorms can have a drastic impact and 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. Millwood State
Park has one operational boat ramp and one still under repair.
Upriver oxbow's clarity continues to be very good and is ranging
approx 3-5 feet visibility. The tailwater elevation on Monday
24 November was 224.91 feet. Discharge/ Release Rate at the spillway
of 388 CFS is with 1 tainer gate open at 1 foot. Use caution
in navigation on Little River during low light conditions due
to debris, broken vegetation still present floating downstream,
and the increased current.
USACE has been diligently working on bank stabilization downstream
of the spillway for the past several weeks. The west bank and
rock and rip rap is currently being repaired from potential erosion
issues during the week. This preventative maintenance is to shore
up the west bank's protection from further potential detriment
due to discharge at the dam and to halt any further damage to
the west bank's protection. The gates are being held during the
early part of each week to allow this work to take place, and
then releasing late in the week to maintain normal lake pool.
The Details:
Largemouth Bass: Most Bass continue to feed very good with the
reduction of photoperiod and surface temperatures over the past
couple weeks. Sub-surface schooling activities are being seen
in many various locations around the lake. Chunky Bass from 2
pounds and up to 6 pounds each, continue to bite excellent on
RatLTraps at random periods throughout the day, mostly in the
heat of the afternoon, in many of the oxbow lakes up river, and
fishermen are catching good numbers of schooling fish periodically,
best during the afternoon. The best sub surface schooling activity
is during mid day, to mid afternoon hours. Schooling bass seem
to take a few hours to get started and best schooling activities
are running between 12pm to 4pm. The most consistent reaction
bite during sub-surface schooling activity is on RatLTraps, Bass
Assassin shads, and white or smoke colored grubs on light wire
jig heads.
Johnson silver spoons with white grub trailer, War Eagle Spinnerbaits,
and Bass Assassin Shad jerk baits are the go to baits when the
schooling of these bass move into the vegetation and remaining
lily pads. Bass were still very aggressive in Horseshoe and McGuire
oxbow lakes upriver this week, chasing shad deep in the lily
pads. Swimming white jigs w/ white chunk trailers along the edges
and pockets of hydrilla or other open holes in remaining vegetation
are still working but best bet is a Bass Assassin Shad in white
or clear/silver flake or a white or Smokey-Joe colored RatLTrap.
Dead-sticking Bass Assassin twitch worms are also working around
stumps and vegetation.
Jigs have begun to incite a few good keeper size bass over the
past couple weeks, and is improving overall. Best jig colors
thus far have been peanut butter/jelly, brown/orange, and black/blue/purple.
Pitching jigs to stumps near deep water is working along Little
River and in the main lake. 10" or 12" worms will produce
in fair numbers, 3-6 lb bass, until the schooling starts, which
over the past week, has shifted again over the past week with
cooler temps, to later in the day and is running from approx
12pm to 4pm. Yum and Berkley Power worms are still drawing good
strikes from 16" to 22" size keeper bass, and best
colors working over the past few weeks are Peanut Butter 'n Jelly,
Plum or Blackberry 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, several feet away from
the base of cypress trees (hint* cypress knees), and stumps in
vegetation or on drop offs to deeper water, remain best locations
this week for a best worm and/or jig bite.
White Bass: White bass were biting fair this week again. Several
schools have been biting well on spoons, Rocket Shads, RatLTraps,
and grubs and continue schooling along Little River between Highway
71 bridge and the mouth of the Cossatot River, in Hurricane Creek,
and in Little River between Pugh Slough and McIntosh Bend and
Snake Creek. These schools of white bass are very nomadic this
time of year and are constantly moving.
Crappie: Crappie bite, continues improving along with the improved
clarity along Little River, late last week and early this week,
on live shiners and jigs. Best depth over the past week with
the improved water clarity is running between 7-8 suspended feet
deep over planted brush piles, or chasing shad in the remaining
lily pads along the Little River, close to deep water.
Channel Cats: Blues and Channel Cats remain consistent and excellent
again this week, using trotlines, or yo-yos along any remaining
current in Little River, and remain best for 2-6 pounders using
cut shad, blood bait and chicken livers. Yo-yo's hung from cypress
trees near any current in approx 9-12 feet water depth, continue
picking up some decent cats in the 3-6 pound class.
}><(((º> Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions
Report <º)))><{
Navigation conditions in Little River are normal.
Clarity along main lake channel and Little River improved this
week. 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.
As of Monday, 24 November, the main lake and Little River's water
surface temperatures are currently ranging from approx 52º
to 60ºF, depending of course, on location and time of day.
Lake level on Millwood as of Monday 24 November, is approx 2"
above normal, and slowly rising, at 259.36 feet. Normal pool
is 259.20 feet.
Current in Little River is 388 CFS as of Monday, 24 November.
Main lake clarity / visibility approx 5-7" away from any
remaining current in Little River. The river clarity is approximately
10-12" and improving Monday due to reduced wind this week.
High wind or thunderstorms can have a drastic impact and 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. Millwood State
Park has one operational boat ramp and one still under repair.
Upriver oxbow's clarity continues to be very good and is ranging
approx 3-5 feet visibility. The tailwater elevation on Monday
24 November was 224.91 feet. Discharge/ Release Rate at the spillway
of 388 CFS is with 1 tainer gate open at 1 foot. 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
November 20, 2008
- White River - Submitted by Berry Brothers Guides
- JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 11/22/2008
Though there has been a minor rain event during
the past week, the lakes in the White River system continue their
decline. The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam fell four and six
tenths feet to rest at seven feet above power pool of 654.00
feet. This is thirty four feet below the top of flood pool. Up
stream, Table Rock Lake fell five tenths of a foot to rest at
one and seven tenths of a foot below power pool or seventeen
and seven tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake
fell six tenths of a foot to rest at five and four tenths of
a foot above power pool or four and two tenths feet below the
top of flood pool. The pattern on the White is for very heavy
generation around the clock. Norfork Lake has fallen one tenth
of a foot to rest at seven and five tenths feet above power pool
of 552.00 feet or twenty and five tenths feet below the top of
flood pool. There has been no generation on the Norfork. Boating
conditions on the White have been uniformly good. Wading conditions
on the upper Norfork have been excellent. With high generation
on the White, the Norfork is backed up to the Ackerman access
making the lower Norfork un wadable. The boating there is good.
The White River is currently dropping approximately
four and a half feet per week and the lake is about seven feet
above power pool. If the lake were to continue dropping at the
same rate, it should be at power pool in less than two weeks
or early December. Currently the Norfork has suspended generation.
It should restart soon. When generation stopped, the Norfork
was dropping a foot and a half a week and the lake is about seven
and one half feet above power pool. If it continues to fall at
the same rate, it should reach power pool in five weeks or late
December. These are my estimates and are based on no major rain
events occurring during this period.
There has been no generation on the Norfork River
for the past week to accommodate a test of an oxygen injection
system. This system is designed to overcome the negative effects
of periods of low dissolved oxygen, like the one we are now experiencing.
The test began on November 13, 2008 and is scheduled to conclude
on November 22, 2008. There will be wadable water during the
test.
The Catch and Release section below Bull Shoals
Dam closed to all fishing on November 1, 2008. It will remain
closed until February 1, 2009 for the brown trout spawn. The
section from the bottom of this Catch and Release section downstream
to the wing wall at the State park is seasonal Catch and Release
for the same time period.
The dissolved oxygen levels on the white River
below Bull Shoals Dam have returned to normal (6 parts per million)
and the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission has resumed stocking
trout on the upper twenty four miles of the river (above Rim
Shoals). The fish that were not stocked in the previous weeks
were held at the state trout hatchery and will now be released
in the upper White.
The fishing on the White River has been a generally
good. Dissolved oxygen levels have improved the bite significantly.
With the Norfork not running water, they have increased the generation
level on the White from six generators to seven.
The state park area has been a bit of a hot spot.
The go to flies during the past week have been orange San Juan
worms and orange scuds (size eighteen). This is quite a bit smaller
than usual. Egg patterns have also been accounting for some nice
trout.
The Catch and Release section at Rim Shoals has
fished a bit better than the upper river. The fishing has been
better in the morning. The hot flies for this area have been
hot pink San Juan worms and brightly colored egg patterns. For
a change of pace, try banging the bank with large streamers on
a sink tip or full sinking line. Hot patterns have been white
zonkers, kiwi muddlers and Mengle's Ozark sculpin.
Crooked Creek has slowed considerably. The water
temperature has dipped below fifty five degrees and the Smallmouth
have pretty much shut down.
The Norfork has fished much better during the last
week. The low wadable water has definitely been a welcome change
from the never ending high water. The oxygen injection system
has helped make the trout more comfortable and willing to feed.
The hot flies have been sowbugs, olive scuds, hot pink San Juan
worms, and orange eggs.
Dry Run Creek is still fishing well. It is also
receiving the benefits of the oxygen injection system also. There
is a test running for the same period in the National Fish Hatchery.
All of the oxygenated water from the Hatchery will end up in
the creek. The lower temperatures have cut down on visitors during
the past week. Those that showed up were not disappointed. The
hot flies have been sowbugs, San Juan worms, eggs and woolly
buggers.
November 20, 2008
- Norfork and White River - Submitted
by Mountain
River Fly Shop - Get yourself some low water fishing
on Norfork while it lasts and fishing on the White comes back
with higher DO levels.
NORFORK: All the excitement has been on the Princess
of Tailwaters. Lots of smaller "stockers" eating flies
with abandon, and then some healthier resident fish, and a couple
of hawgs.
Definately worth carrying some egg patterns, San
Juan's (#14 brown, red). Take some Tailwater Soft Hackles, Jim's
Midge Emerger and Anna Ks for the rising fish which are really
going on the chew from around 9am when the sun starts hitting
the water.
Zebras in Black and Copper, Black and Silver, and
Olive are very good, Olive WD40s are good and of course the Davy
Wotton Super Midges are always reliable.
WHITE RIVER: Streamer fishing continues to provide
the highlights on the White, with Clint reporting in several
nice 20Åç+ fish last weekend. Deep drifted eggs
and worms continue to be reliable. The river isn't seeing a lot
of traffic, which makes it a good time to fish.
The lake level is now 7Åå above power
pool and dropping fast, around 8Åç a day, bringing
us close to normal power pool for the first time since spring.
Exactly what will happen when power pool is reached is in the
lap of the SouthWest Power, the Corp and the weather gods.
We are hoping to see some mildish winter weather,
to hopefully open up some wading windows during the day. Peak
power demand during winter hits is in the Morning and evening.
Norfork also 7Åå from power pool is more likely to
see wadeable winter water.
We keep getting asked if there will be low water
for Thanksgiving. Well if it was our decision yes, but I'm not
going to bet anything valuable on low water. As we mentioned
before far more likely is low water for the Christmas- New Year
break. It will be a fun week.
November 18, 2008 - Norfork
- Report by Tim Partin 101 Grocery and Bait.- 11/18/08 Norfork
Lake level is around 559' and the water temperature is in the
50 degree range. Crappie fishing is good using minnows on a small
jig or just a plain hook and a small split shot sinker. Bluegill
fishing is good using worms and crickets. Striper fishing has
been slow. White bass fishing is fair. Bass fishing is good using
crank baits, spinner baits, stick baits and of course live shiners
and worms. Cat fishing is slow. Walleye fishing is fair, some
are being caught at night using stick baits along the points
and shallow banks. Have Fun Go Fishin'.
November 17, 2008
- Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood Lake Guide
Service
The Overall Picture:
Navigation conditions in Little River are normal, with increased
current.
As of Monday 17 November, Largemouth Bass up to 4 & 6 pounds
each remain excellent and still randomly schooling in various
locations on Millwood. Bass Assassin Shads, RatLTraps, Spinnerbaits
& 10" worms are definitely the go to baits for Bass
for the past several weeks. The most aggressive schooling activity
has shifted until noon and through mid afternoon. Although the
top water bite has subsided, during the heat of the afternoon,
an occasional blow up on a top water soft plastic jerk bait or
clear Baby Torpedo is not completely out of the question...
Clarity along main lake channel and Little River improved this
week. 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.
As of Monday, 17 November, the main lake and Little River's water
surface temperatures are currently ranging from approx 55º
to 63ºF, depending of course, on location and time of day.
Lake level on Millwood as of Monday 17 November, is approx less
than 1" above normal, and slowly falling, at 259.27 feet.
Normal pool is 259.20 feet.
Current in Little River is 3,152 CFS as of Monday, 17 November.
Main lake clarity / visibility approx 3-5" away from any
remaining current in Little River. The river clarity is approximately
7-9" and improving Monday due to reduced wind this week.
High wind or thunderstorms can have a drastic impact and 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. Millwood State
Park has one operational boat ramp and one still under repair.
Upriver oxbow's clarity continues to be very good and is ranging
approx 3-5 feet visibility. The tailwater elevation on Monday
17 November was 230.03. Discharge/ Release Rate at the spillway
of 3,152 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, broken vegetation still present floating downstream,
and the increased current.
USACE has been diligently working on bank stabilization downstream
of the spillway for the past several weeks. The west bank and
rock and rip rap is currently being repaired from potential erosion
issues during the week. This preventative maintenance is to shore
up the west bank's protection from further potential detriment
due to discharge at the dam and to halt any further damage to
the west bank's protection. The gates are being held during the
early part of each week to allow this work to take place, and
then releasing late in the week to maintain normal lake pool.
The Details:
Largemouth Bass: Cooler daytime highs in the 50s and night time
lows in the mid 30s continue to cool the surface temperature
and delaying the most aggressive feeding activity until later
in the mid day hours. The Bass continue to feed well and very
good, sub-surface schooling activities are being seen in many
various locations around the lake. Chunky Bass from 2 pounds
and up to 6 pounds each, continue to bite excellent on RatLTraps
at random periods throughout the day in many of the oxbow lakes
up river, and fishermen are catching good numbers of schooling
fish periodically, best during the afternoon warmth. The best
sub surface schooling activity is during mid day, to mid afternoon
hours. Schooling bass seem to take a few hours to get started
and best schooling activities are running between 12pm to 4pm.
The most consistent reaction bite during sub-surface schooling
activity is on RatLTraps, Bass Assassin shads, and white or smoke
colored grubs on light wire jig heads.
Johnson silver spoons with white grub trailer, War Eagle Spinnerbaits,
and Bass Assassin Shad jerk baits are the go to baits when the
schooling of these bass move into the vegetation and remaining
lily pads. Bass were still very agressive in Horseshoe and McGuire
oxbow lakes upriver this week, chasing shad deep in the lily
pads. Swimming white jigs w/ white chunk trailers along the edges
and pockets of hydrilla or other open holes in remaining vegetation
are still working but best bet is a Bass Assassin Shad in white
or clear/silver flake or a white or smokey joe colored RatLTrap.
Dead-sticking Bass Assassin twitch worms are also working around
stumps and vegetation.
Jigs have begun to incite a few good keeper size bass over the
past couple weeks, but overall jig bite is still slow. Best jig
colors thus far have been peanut butter / jelly, brown/orange,
and black/blue/purple. 10" or 12" worms will produce
in fair numbers, 3-6 lb bass, until the schooling starts, which
over the past week, has shifted again over the past week with
cooler temps, to later in the day and is running from approx
12pm to 4pm. Yum and Berkley worms are still drawing good strikes
from 16" to 22" 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, several feet away from the base of cypress
trees (hint* cypress knees), and stumps in vegetation or on drop
offs to deeper water, remain best locations this week for a better
worm bite.
White Bass: White bass were roaming this week again, however,
several schools have been biting well on spoons, Rocket Shads,
RatLTraps, and grubs and continue schooling along Little River
between Highway 71 bridge and the mouth of the Cossatot River.
These schools of white bass are very nomadic this time of year
and constantly moving.
Crappie: Crappie bite, continues improving along with the improved
clarity along Little River, late last week and early this week,
on live shiners and jigs. Best depth over the past week with
the improved water clarity is running between 10-15 feet deep
over planted brush piles.
Channel Cats: Blues and Channel Cats remain consistent and excellent
again this week, using trotlines, or yo-yos along the heavy current
in Little River, and remain best for 2-6 pounders using cut shad,
blood bait and chicken livers. Yo-yo's hung from cypress trees
near any current in approx 9-12 feet water depth, continue picking
up some decent cats in the 5-8 pound class.
}><(((º> Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions
Report <º)))><{
Navigation conditions in Little River are normal, with increased
current.
Clarity along main lake channel and Little River improved this
week. 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.
As of Monday, 17 November, the main lake and Little River's water
surface temperatures are currently ranging from approx 55º
to 63ºF, depending of course, on location and time of day.
Lake level on Millwood as of Monday 17 November, is approx less
than 1" above normal, and slowly falling, at 259.27 feet.
Normal pool is 259.20 feet.
Current in Little River is 3,152 CFS as of Monday, 17 November.
Main lake clarity / visibility approx 3-5" away from any
remaining current in Little River. The river clarity is approximately
7-9" and improving Monday due to reduced wind this week.
High wind or thunderstorms can have a drastic impact and 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. Millwood State
Park has one operational boat ramp and one still under repair.
Upriver oxbow's clarity continues to be very good and is ranging
approx 3-5 feet visibility. The tailwater elevation on Monday
17 November was 230.03. Discharge/ Release Rate at the spillway
of 3,152 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, broken vegetation still present floating downstream,
and the increased current.
USACE has been diligently working on bank stabilization downstream
of the spillway for the past several weeks. The west bank and
rock and rip rap is currently being repaired from potential erosion
issues during the week. This preventative maintenance is to shore
up the west bank's protection from further potential detriment
due to discharge at the dam and to halt any further damage to
the west bank's protection. The gates are being held during the
early part of each week to allow this work to take place, and
then releasing late in the week to maintain normal lake pool.
Mike
November 13, 2008
- White River - Submitted by Berry Brothers Guides
- JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 11/15/2008
There has been a significant rain event during
the past week. Despite this the lakes in the White River system
continue their decline. The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam fell
three and nine tenths feet to rest at eleven and six tenths feet
above power pool of 654.00 feet. This is twenty nine and four
tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Up stream, Table Rock
Lake fell three tenths of a foot to rest at one and two tenths
of a foot below power pool or seventeen and two tenths feet below
the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell five tenths of a foot
to rest at six feet above power pool or three and six tenths
feet below the top of flood pool. The pattern on the White is
for heavy generation around the clock. Norfork Lake has fallen
one and five tenths of a foot to rest at seven and four tenths
feet above power pool of 552.00 feet or twenty and six tenths
feet below the top of flood pool. The pattern has been to run
one or two generators around the clock. Boating conditions on
the White and Norfork have been uniformly good. There has been
no safe wading.
The White River is currently dropping almost four
feet per week and the lake is about twelve feet above power pool.
If the lake were to continue dropping at the same rate it should
be at power pool in approximately three weeks or early December.
Conversely the Norfork is currently dropping a foot and a half
a week and the lake is about seven and one half feet above power
pool. If it continues to fall at the same rate it should reach
power pool in five weeks or mid December. These are my estimates
and are based on no major rain events occurring during this period.
It should be noted that the funnel effect is starting
to be a factor. As the lakes draw down there have a smaller surface
area and are falling at a faster rate despite generation remaining
fairly constant.
The Catch and Release section below Bull Shoals
Dam closed to all fishing on November 1, 2008 and will remain
closed until February 1, 2009 for the brown trout spawn. The
section from the bottom of this Catch and Release section downstream
to the wing wall at the State park is seasonal Catch and Release
for the same time period.
The fishing on the White River has been a bit better
during the past week. The dissolved oxygen levels in the upper
river have improved a bit and the colder weather has eased the
water temperatures.
The section from the Narrows to Wildcat Shoals
is still fishing well. The most productive method has been to
fish brightly colored San Juan worms below indicators, with a
lot of lead. For a change of pace, try fishing a dropper like
an orange egg, sow bug or zebra midge below the San Juan worm.
Banging the bank with large streamers on a sink tip or full sinking
line is still the most effective method to move big fish. Hot
patterns have been white zonkers, kiwi muddlers and Mengle's
Ozark sculpin.
The Catch and Release section at Rim Shoals has
at times fished a bit better than the upper river. The fishing
has been spotty. The better fishing has been in the morning.
The hot flies for this area have been hot pink San Juan worms
and brightly colored egg patterns.
Crooked Creek has slowed considerably. The water
temperature has dipped below fifty five degrees and the Smallmouth
have pretty much shut down. The recent rain stained the water
and raised the water level a bit.
The Norfork has fished much better during the last
week. It is suffering through even lower dissolved oxygen levels
than the White. The upper river is fishing particularly poorly.
The lower sections (from the long hole down) have fished well.
The hot flies have been hot pink San Juan worms and orange eggs.
Concentrate on fast riffles where the dissolved oxygen may be
a bit higher.
Dry Run Creek is absolutely red hot. The creek
is absolutely choked with large fish that have moved into it
to take advantage of the higher dissolved oxygen levels and cleaner
water. With the cooler temperatures, there has been very little
pressure on it. Now is the best time of year to visit. The hot
flies are worm brown San Juan worms, egg patterns (peach is the
go to color) and sow bugs.
While you are there take a few minutes to visit
the National Fish Hatchery. They offer a fascinating tour. Be
sure and remove your waders before you enter the hatchery. This
is to prevent the spread of aquatic diseases.
November 13, 2008
- Norfork and White River - Submitted
by Mountain
River Fly Shop -
STOP PRESS: Low Water on Norfork Tailwater for
9 days.
Dissolved oxygen levels are climbing on the White
and Norfork and the fishing is on the up.
WHITE RIVER: DO levels topped six for the first
time in several weeks and from all reports we have been getting
into the store the fishing is on the improve. The cooler weather
will help as well
Marc Poulos and Clint Wilkinson both have reported
better quality and quantity fishing than they have had for a
while. Clint today was saying the brown were a lot more aggressive
in chasing down streamers.
White Zonkers are still a good bet, Circus Peanuts
and Conrad Sculpins if you fancy throwing something big, and
Tungsten Slumpbusters and Bunny Leeches are also working well.
Drifting the standard egg and worm rig remains
hot. Hot Pink San Juans or Dynamite worms probably head the list,
Clin's Sunday specials and Davy's Sowbugs are also doing well.
NORFORK:
LOW WATER UPDATE: Low water is back on Norfork
and its time to dig out your low water fly boxes, your 6x tipper
and your waders Midges (#16-#20) will be very good. Camel Midges,
Olive zebras, Black and Silver & Black and Copper Zebras,
Ruby Midges, Davy's Super Midges and White Tails will all do
very well. The Journal also has a personal thing for Olive WD40s
on Norfork.
Don't forget your Sowbug and Scud imitations. Trout
Crack, Davy's Sowbugs, McLellan's Woven V-Rib Sowbug for the
former. For Scuds use McLellan's Hunchback Scuds and Clint's
Scud.
We will also expect Soft Hackles to be very good.
Tailwater Soft Hackles in Green/Yellow and Copper Brown/Copper
were killer last time we had low water. Jim's Midge Emerger,
and the Anna K series always score.
For dry fly and emerger addicts can we suggest
the Parachute Adams (we have them down to a 24), Morgan's Para
Midge, Sprout's or Clint's Midge Emerger.
HIGH WATER: While the DO has climbed over 3ppm
we have heard of some good fishing to be had in the lower half
of the tailwater where the natural reoxygenation of the river
by the riffles can take effect.
Eggs and worms are fishing well, but also try midges,
scuds and sowbugs trailing the brighter attractor.
November 12, 2008 - Norfork
- Report by Tim Partin 101 Grocery and Bait.- 11/10/08 Fishing
Norfork Lake this past week has been a little on the slow side.
Water Level is around 559' and the water temperature in the low
to mid 60 degrees. White bass fishing is fair using inline spinners.
Striper fishing is slow. Crappie fishing slow. Bluegill fishing
is good using crickets and worms fished from 10-20 feet deep.
Cat fishing has been slow. Walleye fishing slow. Bass fishing
has been fair. As the water temperature cools down fishing will
turn on again so be ready. It will happen any day. If you're
not in the woods hunting, now is a good time to give your boat,
rods, and reels a good going over so you are ready for the colder
weather ahead. Have Fun Go Fishing.
November 11, 2008 - Greers
Ferry Lake - Submitted by Fish Finders Fish Service -
The water level is still falling at greers and
is at 460.00 and that is a little under 1 foot below pool
A lot of the black bass species are right out in
front of the bushes and and eating gitizts , spinnerbaits , crankbaits
, c-rigged lizards and grubs,and whacky rigged cinkos others
out deeper can be caught with football heads ,spoons and c-rigged
lizards in 20-25 feet
Crappie are still biting in brush piles and pole
timber , and in creek bends in 15-20 feet of water on grubs and
minnows
The walleye are scattered in 27 feet and biting
crawlers and underneath hybrids and white bass in 45-50 feet
on spoons
No report on bream
Catfish are biting all over the lake on jugs real
well on live and prepared bait
The whites and hybrids are going good in 32-45
feet of water if you have some wind , with spoons and small in-line
spinners
Tommy Cauley
November 10, 2008
- Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood Lake Guide
Service
The Overall Picture:
Navigation conditions in Little River are normal.
As of Monday 10 November, Largemouth Bass up to 4 & 6 pounds
each remain excellent and still randomly schooling in various
locations on Millwood. Bass Assassin Shads, RatLTraps, Spinnerbaits
& 10" worms are definitely the go to baits for Bass
for the past several weeks. The most aggressive schooling activity
has shifted until noon and through mid afternoon. Although the
top water bite has subsided, during the heat of the afternoon,
an occasional blow up on a top water soft plastic jerk bait or
clear Baby Torpedo is not completely out of the equation...
Clarity along main lake channel and Little River improved this
week. 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.
As of Monday, 10 November, the main lake and Little River's water
surface temperatures are currently ranging from approx 61º
to 69ºF, depending of course, on location and time of day.
Lake level on Millwood as of Monday 10 November, is approx 2.8"
above normal, and slowly falling, at 259.43 feet. Normal pool
is 259.2 feet.
Current in Little River is 193 CFS as of Monday, 10 November.
Main lake clarity / visibility approx 5-8" away from any
remaining current in Little River. The river clarity is approximately
10-12" and improving Monday due to reduced wind this week.
High wind or thunderstorms can have a drastic impact and 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. Millwood State
Park has one operational boat ramp and one still under repair.
Upriver oxbow's clarity continues to be very good and is ranging
approx 3-5 feet visibility. The tailwater elevation on Monday
10 November was 224.33. Discharge/ Release Rate at the spillway
of 193 CFS is with 1 tainer gate open at 1/2 foot. Use caution
in navigation on Little River during low light conditions due
to debris, broken vegetation still present floating downstream,
and the increased current.
USACE has been diligently working on bank stabilization downstream
of the spillway for the past several weeks. The west bank and
rock and rip rap is currently being repaired from potential erosion
issues during the week. This preventative maintenance is to shore
up the west bank's protection from further potential detriment
due to discharge at the dam and to halt any further damage to
the west bank's protection. The gates are being held during the
early part of each week to allow this work to take place, and
then releasing late in the week to maintain normal lake pool.
The Details:
Largemouth Bass: Cooler daytime highs in the 50s and night time
lows in the mid 40s continue to improve the feeding activity
of most all fish on Millwood! The Bass continue to feed well
and very good, sub-surface schooling activities are being seen
in many various locations around the lake. Chunky Bass from 2
pounds and up to 6 pounds each, continue to bite excellent on
RatLTraps at random periods throughout the day in many of the
oxbow lakes up river, and fishermen are catching good numbers
of schooling fish periodically, best during the afternoon warmth.
The best schooling activity is during mid day, to mid afternoon
hours. Schooling bass seem to take a few hours to get started
and best schooling activities are running between 12pm to 3pm.
The most consistent reaction bite during sub-surface schooling
activity is on RatLTraps, Cordell spoons (hint* use a buck tail
feather hook!), and white or smoke colored grubs on light wire
jig heads.
Johnson silver spoons with white grub trailer, War Eagle Spinnerbaits,
and Bass Assassin Shad jerk baits are the go to baits when the
schooling of these bass move into the vegetation and remaining
lily pads. Bass were schooling in Horseshoe and McGuire oxbow
lakes upriver this week, chasing shad deep in the lily pads.
Swimming white jigs w/ white chunk trailers along the edges and
pockets of hydrilla or other open holes in remaining vegetation
are still working but best bet is a Bass Assassin Shad in white
or clear/silver flake or a white or smokey joe colored RatLTrap.
Dead-sticking Bass Assassin twitch worms are also working around
stumps and vegetation.
10 or 12" worms will produce in fair numbers, 3-6 lb bass,
until the schooling starts, which over the past week, has shifted
again over the past week with cooler temps, to later in the day
and is running from approximately 12pm to 3pm. Yum and Berkley
worms are still drawing good strikes from 16" to 22"
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,
away from the base of cypress trees (hint* cypress knees), and
stumps in vegetation or on drop offs to deeper water, remain
best locations this week for a better worm bite.
White Bass: White bass remain schooling along with the Largemouth
Bass this week, in Mud, Horseshoe and McGuire Oxbow lakes this
week and biting well on hammered spoons, chrome RatLTraps, and
3" size smoke or white grubs on light jig heads. Several
schools have been biting well on spoons, Rocket Shads, RatLTraps,
and grubs and continue schooling along Little River between Highway
71 bridge and the mouth of the Cossatot River. These schools
of white bass are very nomadic this time of year and constantly
moving.
Crappie: Crappie bite, continues improving along with the improved
clarity along Little River, late last week and early this week,
on live shiners and jigs. Best depth over the past week with
the improved water clarity is running between 9-10 feet deep
over planted brush piles.
Channel Cats: Blues and Channel Cats remain consistent and excellent
again this week, using trotlines, or yo-yos along the current
in Little River, and remain best for 2-6 pounders using cut shad,
blood bait and chicken livers. Yo-yo's hung from cypress trees
near any current in approx 9-12 feet water depth, continue picking
up some decent cats in the 5-8 pound class.
}><(((º> Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions
Report <º)))><{
Navigation conditions in Little River are normal.
Clarity along main lake channel and Little River improved this
week. 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.
As of Monday, 10 November, the main lake and Little River's water
surface temperatures are currently ranging from approx 61º
to 69ºF, depending of course, on location and time of day.
Lake level on Millwood as of Monday 10 November, is approx 2.8"
above normal, and slowly falling, at 259.43 feet. Normal pool
is 259.2 feet.
Current in Little River is 193 CFS as of Monday, 10 November.
Main lake clarity / visibility approx 5-8" away from any
remaining current in Little River. The river clarity is approximately
10-12" and improving Monday due to reduced wind this week.
High wind or thunderstorms can have a drastic impact and 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. Millwood State
Park has one operational boat ramp and one still under repair.
Upriver oxbow's clarity continues to be very good and is ranging
approx 3-5 feet visibility. The tailwater elevation on Monday
10 November was 224.33. Discharge/ Release Rate at the spillway
of 193 CFS is with 1 tainer gate open at 1/2 foot. 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
November 6, 2008 -
White River - Submitted by Berry
Brothers Guides - JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 11/08/2008
There have been two minor rain events during the
past week. The lakes in the White River system continue their
decline. The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam fell three and four
tenths feet to rest at fifteen and five tenths feet above power
pool of 654.00 feet. This is twenty five and five tenths feet
below the top of flood pool. Up stream, Table Rock Lake fell
nine tenths of a foot to rest at nine tenths of a foot below
power pool or sixteen and nine tenths feet below the top of flood
pool. Beaver Lake fell five 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 is for
heavy generation around the clock. Norfork Lake has fallen one
and six tenths of a foot to rest at eight and nine tenths feet
above power pool of 552.00 feet or nineteen and one tenth feet
below the top of flood pool. The pattern has been to run one
generator around the clock. Boating conditions on the White and
Norfork have been uniformly good. There has been no safe wading.
The White River is currently dropping a bit over
three feet per week and the lake is about fifteen feet above
power pool. If the lake were to continue dropping at the same
rate it should be at power pool in approximately five weeks or
the middle of December. Conversely the Norfork is currently dropping
a bit over a foot a week and the lake is about nine feet above
power pool. If it continues to fall at the same rate it should
reach power pool in seven weeks or late December. These are my
estimates and are based on no major rain events occurring during
this period.
The Catch and Release section below Bull Shoals
Dam closed to all fishing on November 1, 2008 and will remain
closed until February 1, 2009 for the brown trout spawn. The
section from the bottom of this Catch and Release section downstream
to the wing wall at the State park is seasonal Catch and Release
for the same time period.
The fishing on the White River has been a really
slow during the past week. The dissolved oxygen levels in the
upper river has dropped to two parts per million (the state standard
is six parts per million). This is a caused by a natural phenomenon,
the breakdown of organic matter in the lake, and occurs every
year. The lake turnover is in full swing and the river is heavily
stained. This year we also have slightly higher than normal water
temperatures that may also be affecting the trout feeding patterns.
These conditions have had the greatest effect on the upper river
from Bull Shoals down to White Hole.
The section from the Narrows to Wildcat has fished
relatively well lately. The most productive method has been to
fish brightly colored San Juan worms below indicators, with a
lot of lead. The technique that has been producing the best fish
has been to bang the bank with large streamers on sink tip or
full sinking lines. This is a lot of work but the results can
be fantastic. Try kiwi muddlers, Mengle's Ozark sculpins and
white zonkers.
The section from Cotter to the bottom of Rim Shoals
has at times fished a bit better than the upper river. The fishing
has been spotty. One day it is good the next it is poor. The
hot flies for this area have been hot pink San Juan worms and
brightly colored egg patterns.
Crooked Creek continues to fish well. Hot flies
have been Clouser minnows and crayfish patterns. The creek is
low and clear. This is the place to go if you just have to wade.
Watch the water temperature. Once it drops below sixty five degrees
the bite will slow. The section from Pyatt to Snow has been fishing
particularly well.
The Norfork has fished a bit better during the
last week. It is suffering through even lower dissolved oxygen
levels than the White. The upper river is fishing particularly
poorly. The lower sections (from the long hole down) have fished
reasonably well. The hot flies have been hot pink San Juan worms
and orange eggs. Concentrate on fast riffles where the dissolved
oxygen may be a bit higher.
Dry Run Creek is at prime. It is absolutely choked
with large fish that have moved into it to take advantage of
the higher dissolved oxygen levels and cleaner water. There are
few anglers there and this is the best time of year to fish it.
Grab your kids or grand children and show the time of their lives.
The hot flies have been worm brown San Juan worms and small orange
eggs. Carry a camera and the biggest net you can lay your hands
on.
November 4, 2008 - Norfork
- Report by Tim Partin 101 Grocery and Bait.- 11/04/08 Norfork
Lake level is just over 561 feet and the water temperature is
in the upper 60's. Bluegill fishing is good using worms and crickets.
Crappie fishing is fair. White Bass fishing has been good with
the best time to fish around sunset. Striper fishing is slow.
Walleye fishing is fair using night crawlers. Cat fishing has
been slow. Bass fishing ( Kentucky's,Small Mouth and Large Mouth
Bass) has been good near and on the brush piles. Have Fun Go
Fishin'.
November 3, 2008 -
Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood Lake Guide
Service
The Overall Picture:
Navigation conditions in Little River are normal.
As of Monday 03 November, Largemouth Bass up to 4 & 6 pounds
each remain excellent and still randomly schooling in various
locations on Millwood. Bass Assassin Shads, RatLTraps, Spinnerbaits
& 10" worms are definitely the go to baits for Bass
for the past several weeks. The most aggressive schooling activity
has shifted until noon and through mid afternoon. Although the
top water bite has subsided, during the heat of the afternoon,
an occasional blow up on a top water soft plastic jerk bait or
clear Baby Torpedo is not completely out of the equation...
Clarity along main lake channel and Little River improved this
week. 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.
As of Monday, 03 November, the main lake and Little River's water
surface temperatures are currently ranging from approx 64º
to 71ºF, depending of course, on location and time of day.
Lake level on Millwood as of Monday 03 November, is approx 2.4"
above normal, and slowly falling, at 259.40 feet. Normal pool
is 259.2 feet.
Current in Little River is 387 CFS as of Monday, 03 November.
Main lake clarity / visibility approx 3-5" away from any
remaining current in Little River. The river clarity is approximately
7-10" and improving Monday due to reduced wind this week.
High wind or thunderstorms can have a drastic impact and 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. Millwood State
Park has one operational boat ramp and one still under repair.
Upriver oxbow's clarity continues to be very good and is ranging
approx 30-40". The tailwater elevation on Monday 03 November
was unavailable. Discharge/ Release Rate at the spillway of 387
CFS is with 1 tainer gate open at 1 foot. Use caution in navigation
on Little River during low light conditions due to debris, broken
vegetation still present floating downstream, and the increased
current.
USACE has been diligently working on bank stabilization downstream
of the spillway for the past several weeks. The west bank and
rock and rip rap is currently being repaired from potential erosion
issues during the week. This preventative maintenance is to shore
up the west bank's protection from further potential detriment
due to discharge at the dam and to halt any further damage to
the west bank's protection. The gates are being held during the
early part of each week to allow this work to take place, and
then releasing late in the week to maintain normal lake pool.
The Details:
Largemouth Bass: Cooler daytime highs in the 60s and night time
lows in the mid 40s continue to improve the feeding activity
of most all fish on Millwood! The Bass continue to feed well
and very good, sub-surface schooling activities are being seen
in many various locations around the lake. Chunky Bass from 2
pounds and up to 6 pounds each, are excellent on RatLTraps at
random periods throughout the day in many of the 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, to mid afternoon hours. Schooling bass seem
to take a few hours to get started and best schooling activities
are running between 12pm to 3pm. The most consistent reaction
bite during sub-surface schooling activity is on RatLTraps, Cordell
spoons (hint* use a buck tail feather hook!), and white or smoke
colored grubs on light wire jig heads.
Johnson silver spoons, War Eagle Spinnerbaits, and Bass Assassin
Shad jerk baits are the go to baits when the schooling of these
bass move into the vegetation and remaining lily pads. Bass were
schooling in Horseshoe and McGuire oxbow lakes upriver this week,
chasing shad deep in the lily pads. Swimming white jigs w/ white
chunk trailers along the edges and pockets of hydrilla or other
open holes in remaining vegetation are still working but best
bet is a Bass Assassin Shad in white or clear/silver flake or
a white or smokey joe colored RatLTrap.
10 or 12" worms will produce in fair numbers, 3-6 lb bass,
until the schooling starts, which over the past week, has shifted
again over the past week with cooler temps, to later in the day
and is running from approximately 12pm to 3pm. Yum and Berkley
worms are still drawing good strikes from 16" to 22"
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,
away from the base of cypress trees (hint* cypress knees), and
stumps in vegetation or on drop offs to deeper water, remain
best locations this week for a better worm bite.
White Bass: White bass remain schooling along with the Largemouth
Bass this week, in Mud, Horseshoe and McGuire Oxbow lakes this
week and biting well on hammered spoons, chrome RatLTraps, and
3" size smoke or white grubs on light jig heads. Several
schools have been biting well on spoons, Rocket Shads, RatLTraps,
and grubs and continue schooling along Little River between Highway
71 bridge and the mouth of the Cossatot River. These schools
of white bass are very nomadic this time of year and constantly
moving.
Crappie: Crappie bite, continues improving along with the improved
clarity along Little River, late last week and early this week,
on live shiners and jigs. Best depth over the past week with
the improved water clarity is running between 9-10 feet deep
over planted brush piles.
Channel Cats: Blues and Channel Cats remain consistent and excellent
again this week, using trotlines, or yo-yos along the current
in Little River, and remain best for 2-6 pounders using cut shad,
blood bait and chicken livers. Yo-yo's hung from cypress trees
near any current in approx 9-12 feet water depth, continue picking
up some decent cats in the 5-8 pound class.
}><(((º> Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions
Report <º)))><{
Navigation conditions in Little River are normal.
Clarity along main lake channel and Little River improved this
week. 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.
As of Monday, 03 November, the main lake and Little River's water
surface temperatures are currently ranging from approx 64º
to 71ºF, depending of course, on location and time of day.
Lake level on Millwood as of Monday 03 November, is approx 2.4"
above normal, and slowly falling, at 259.40 feet. Normal pool
is 259.2 feet.
Current in Little River is 387 CFS as of Monday, 03 November.
Main lake clarity / visibility approx 3-5" away from any
remaining current in Little River. The river clarity is approximately
7-10" and improving Monday due to reduced wind this week.
High wind or thunderstorms can have a drastic impact and 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. Millwood State
Park has one operational boat ramp and one still under repair.
Upriver oxbow's clarity continues to be very good and is ranging
approx 30-40". The tailwater elevation on Monday 03 November
was unavailable. Discharge/ Release Rate at the spillway of 387
CFS is with 1 tainer gate open at 1 foot. Use caution in navigation
on Little River during low light conditions due to debris, broken
vegetation still present floating downstream, and the increased
current.
USACE has been diligently working on bank stabilization downstream
of the spillway for the past several weeks. The west bank and
rock and rip rap is currently being repaired from potential erosion
issues during the week. This preventative maintenance is to shore
up the west bank's protection from further potential detriment
due to discharge at the dam and to halt any further damage to
the west bank's protection. The gates are being held during the
early part of each week to allow this work to take place, and
then releasing late in the week to maintain normal lake pool.
Mike
October 30, 2008 - Norfork
- Report by Tim Partin 101 Grocery and Bait.- 0/28/08 Norfork
Lake level is just over 562' and looking good with surface water
temperatures in the low 70's. Fishing has been good for large
mouth, small mouth bass, and Kentucky bass using a variety of
tackle from spinner bait and jigs to crank baits. The bass are
being caught in the coves and along the bluffs. Crappie fishing
has been good for some and spotty for others. Fishing around
the shore line out to about 20' from the waters edge using minnows
has worked the best. Watch for the blue brush pile signs, these
are hotspots. Bluegill fishing is great using worms and a small
split shot sinker. White bass fishing has slowed for the time
being. Striper fishing has been sporadic. Walleye fishing has
been slow. Have Fun, Go Fishin'.
October 30, 2008 -
White River - Submitted by Berry
Brothers Guides - JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 10/30/2008
There has been no rain during the past week and
the lakes in the White River system continue their decline. The
lake level at Bull Shoals Dam fell three and two tenths feet
to rest at eighteen and nine tenths feet above power pool of
654.00 feet. This is twenty two and one tenths feet below the
top of flood pool. Up stream, Table Rock Lake fell three tenths
of a foot to rest at power pool or sixteen feet below the top
of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell five 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 on the White is for heavy
generation around the clock. Norfork Lake has fallen one and
three tenths of a foot to rest at ten and five tenths feet above
power pool of 552.00 feet or seventeen and five tenths feet below
the top of flood pool. The pattern has been to run one generator
around the clock. Boating conditions on the White and Norfork
have been uniformly good. There has been no safe wading.
The White River is currently dropping a bit over
three feet per week and the lake is about nineteen feet above
power pool. If the lake were to continue dropping at the same
rate it should be at power pool in approximately six weeks or
the middle of December. Conversely the Norfork is currently dropping
a bit over a foot a week and the lake is about ten feet above
power pool. If it continues to fall at the same rate it should
reach power pool in eight weeks or late December. These are my
estimates and are based on no major rain events occurring during
this period.
The Catch and Release section below Bull Shoals
Dam will close to all fishing on November 1, 2008 and will remain
closed until February 1, 2009 for the brown trout spawn. The
section from the bottom of this Catch and Release section downstream
to the wing wall at the State park is seasonal Catch and Release
for the same time period.
The fishing on the White River has been a really
slow during the past week. The dissolved oxygen levels in the
upper river has dropped to two parts per million (the state standard
is six parts per million). This is a caused by a natural phenomenon,
the breakdown of organic matter in the lake, and occurs every
year. The lake turnover is in full swing and the river is heavily
stained. This year we also have slightly higher than normal water
temperatures that may also be affecting the trout feeding patterns.
These conditions have had the greatest effect on the upper river
from Bull Shoals down to White Hole.
The section from Cotter to the bottom of Rim Shoals
has fished a bit better than the upper river. This area has a
slightly higher dissolved oxygen level than you may encounter
up stream below Bull Shoals. The hot flies for this area have
been hot pink San Juan worms and brightly colored egg patterns.
Crooked Creek continues to fish well. Hot flies
have been Clouser minnows and crayfish patterns. The creek is
low and clear. The section from Kelly Slab down to Yellville
Park as well as the lower section near the confluence with the
White River have been fishing particularly well.
The Norfork has fished poorly the last week. It
is suffering through even lower dissolved oxygen levels than
the White. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission has suspended
stocking operations for the time being. Once dissolved oxygen
levels have returned to normal they will continue their stocking
program. If you do fish the Norfork, concentrate on fast riffles
where the dissolved oxygen may be a bit higher. Do not over play
fish. Land them quickly and revive them carefully.
Dry Run Creek is fishing well as always. A lot
of brown trout have moved up in the creek and it is absolutely
choked with fish. There were plenty of large trout in the creek
already. The dissolved oxygen level is much higher here than
the Norfork and the trout are more comfortable here. The hot
flies as always are sow bugs, San Juan worms (worm brown has
been the hot color) and egg patterns (peach). There have been
few anglers here and it is the perfect time to introduce the
young anglers out there to trout fishing.
October 28, 2008 - Greers
Ferry Lake - Submitted by Fish Finders Fish Service -
The water level at greers ferry lake is at 460.51
and falling and some of the temp is below 70 degrees
Some of the bass are out in front of the bushes
and biting a lot of different baits and some are on long points
biting football heads and c-riged senkos and lizards and some
are in the creek mouths biting football heads and drop shots
Some hybrids are coming up and for the most part
are biting better vertical along with the whites and some times
bass and walleye are mixed in, anywhere from 25 feet to 52 feet
of water
Catfish are still biting all over the lake on jugs
baited with live bait to livers
Walleye are scattered but are biting crawlers some
on jigheads around 28-52 feet of water
No report on bream or crappie
Tommy Cauley
October 28, 2008 -
Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood Lake Guide
Service
The Overall Picture:
Navigation conditions in Little River are normal.
As of Monday 27 October, Largemouth Bass up to 5 & 6 pounds
each remain excellent and still randomly schooling in various
locations on Millwood. Bass Assassin Shads, RatLTraps, Spinnerbaits
& 10" worms are definitely the go to baits for Bass
for the past several weeks. The most aggressive schooling activity
has shifted until noon and through mid afternoon.
Clarity along main lake channel and Little River worsened this
week due to the 20-30 mph winds on the main lake on Monday and
Tuesday. 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.
As of Monday, 27 October, the main lake and Little River's water
surface temperatures are currently ranging from approx 64º
to 70ºF, depending of course, on location and time of day.
Lake level on Millwood as of Monday 27 October, is approx 3"
above normal, and slowly falling, at 259.50 feet. Normal pool
is 259.2 feet. Low ambient daytime high temperatures, fresh incoming
water and rain over past 2 weeks have again reduced lake surface
temperature.
Current in Little River is 1,169 CFS as of Monday, 27 October.
Main lake clarity / visibility approx 2-3" away from current
due to recent high wind, lake chop, and heavy current in Little
River. The river clarity is approximately 5-7" and muddied
up Monday & Tuesday with the 20-30 mph wind. High wind or
thunderstorms can have a drastic impact and 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. Millwood State Park has one operational
boat ramp and one still under repair.
Upriver oxbow's clarity continues to be very good and is ranging
approx 30-40". The tailwater elevation on Monday 27 Oct,
was 229.3 feet. Discharge/ Release Rate at the spillway of 1,169
CFS is with 3 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.
USACE has been diligently working on bank stabilization downstream
of the spillway for the past several weeks. The west bank and
rock and rip rap is currently being repaired from potential erosion
issues during the week. This preventative maintenance is to shore
up the west bank's protection from further potential detriment
due to discharge at the dam and to halt any further damage to
the west bank's protection. The gates are being held during the
early part of each week to allow this work to take place, and
then releasing late in the week to maintain normal lake pool.
The Details:
Largemouth Bass: Cooler daytime highs in the 60s and night time
lows in the mid 40s continue to improve the feeding activity
of most all fish on Millwood! 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 pounds and up to
6 pounds each, are excellent on RatLTraps at random periods throughout
the day in many of the 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, to mid afternoon
hours. Schooling bass seem to take a few hours to get started
and best schooling activities are running between 12pm to 3pm.
The most consistent reaction bite during schooling activity is
on RatLTraps, Cordell spoons (hint* use a buck tail feather hook!),
and white or smoke colored grubs on light wire jig heads.
Johnson silver spoons, War Eagle Spinnerbaits, and Bass Assassin
Shad jerk baits are the go to baits when the schooling of these
bass move into the vegetation and remaining lily pads. Bass were
schooling in Horseshoe Lake upriver, deep in the lily pads. Swimming
white jigs w/ white chunk trailers along the edges and pockets
of hydrilla or other open holes in remaining vegetation are still
working.
Once the sun gets full up and directly overhead, switching to
10 or 12" worms on light wire hooks, will produce in fair
numbers, 3-6 lb bass, until the schooling starts, which over
the past week, has shifted again over the past week with cooler
temps, to later in the day and is running from approximately
12pm to 3pm.
10-12" Yum and Berkley worms are still drawing good strikes
from 16" to 22" 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 in vegetation,
remain best locations this week for a better worm bite.
White Bass: White bass remain schooling along with the Largemouth
Bass this week, in Mud, Horseshoe and McGuire Oxbow lakes this
week and biting well on hammered spoons, chrome RatLTraps, and
3" size smoke or white grubs on light jig heads. Several
schools have been biting well on spoons, Rocket Shads, RatLTraps,
and grubs along Little River between Highway 71 bridge and the
mouth of the Cossatot River, and constantly moving.
Crappie: Crappie bite, continues improving along with the improved
clarity along Little River, late last week and early this week,
on live shiners and jigs. Best depth over the past week with
the improved water clarity is running between 11-12 feet deep
over planted brush piles.
Channel Cats: Blues and Channel Cats remain consistent again
this week, using trotlines, or yo-yos along the current in Little
River, and remain best for 2-6 pounders using cut shad, blood
bait and chicken livers. Yo-yo's hung from cypress trees near
any current in approx 9-12 feet water depth, continue picking
up some decent cats in the 5-8 pound class.
}><(((º> Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions
Report <º)))><{
Navigation conditions in Little River are normal.
As of Monday, 27 October, the main lake and Little River's water
surface temperatures are currently ranging from approx 64º
to 70ºF, depending of course, on location and time of day.
Lake level on Millwood as of Monday 27 October, is approx 3"
above normal, and slowly falling, at 259.50 feet. Normal pool
is 259.2 feet. Low ambient daytime high temperatures, fresh incoming
water and rain over past 2 weeks have again reduced lake surface
temperature.
Current in Little River is 1,169 CFS as of Monday, 27 October.
Main lake clarity / visibility approx 2-3" away from current
due to recent high wind, lake chop, and heavy current in Little
River. The river clarity is approximately 5-7" and muddied
up Monday & Tuesday with the 20-30 mph wind. High wind or
thunderstorms can have a drastic impact and 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. Millwood State Park has one operational
boat ramp and one still under repair.
Upriver oxbow's clarity continues to be very good and is ranging
approx 30-40". The tailwater elevation on Monday 27 Oct,
was 229.3 feet. Discharge/ Release Rate at the spillway of 1,169
CFS is with 3 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.
USACE has been diligently working on bank stabilization downstream
of the spillway for the past several weeks. The west bank and
rock and rip rap is currently being repaired from potential erosion
issues during the week. This preventative maintenance is to shore
up the west bank's protection from further potential detriment
due to discharge at the dam and to halt any further damage to
the west bank's protection. The gates are being held during the
early part of each week to allow this work to take place, and
then releasing late in the week to maintain normal lake pool.
Mike
October 22, 2008 - Norfork
- Report by Tim Partin 101 Grocery and Bait.- 10/21/08 Fishing
has been good. Norfork Lake water level is around 564 and the
water temperature is in the low 70's.Bass fishing has been good
using top water baits and spinner baits. Striper fishing has
been fair. Crappie fishing has been fair. Cat fishing has been
good. Bluegill fishing is good. White Bass fishing is good. Walleye
fishing has been on the slow side. The fish are all over the
lake there is a lot of bait fish every where. The spawn this
year was great as can been seen with all the small fish we have
been catching ourselves. I was using a suspending rogue this
pass weekend and caught bass 5-6 inches long looked like I had
two lures on when I reeled my line in. Live bait has been catching
most of the fish. You got to get out there and fish. It is great.
The weather is good and the fish are ready. Have Fun Go Fishin'.
October 21, 2008 - Greers
Ferry Lake - Submitted by Fish Finders Fish Service -
The water level at greers ferry is at 462.01 and
the temp is 70-72 degrees
The D.O. in the lake is between 3.9 and 8.0 and
that is the reason that the fish are lethargic at this time the
way I understand it.
The hybrids and whites are day to day now, some
days catching 25-30 and some days as high as 150 but those are
fewer, try the north end of the lake , with small in-line spinners
and spoons fished vertical between 25-54 feet of water on point
tips
Most of the black basses are deep also , try football
heads and c-rigged cinkos and lizards.
The crappie are still biting some what in the pole
timber suspended in 15-20 feet of water over 60-80 feet
Some walleye are biting crawlers in 40 feet
Catfishing is still good all over the lake on jugs
Tommy Cauley
October 21, 2008 -
Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood Lake Guide
Service
The Overall Picture:
Navigation conditions in Little River are normal.
As of Monday 20 October, Largemouth Bass remain excellent and
still schooling in various locations on Millwood. Bass Assassin
Shads, RatLTraps, Spinnerbaits & 10" worms are definitely
the go to baits for Bass over the past couple weeks. The best
schooling activity is shifting to later morning and through mid
afternoon.
Clarity along main lake channel and Little River is improving.
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.
As of Monday, 20 October, the main lake and Little River's water
surface temperatures are currently ranging from approx 67º
to 72ºF, depending of course, on location and time of day.
Lake level on Millwood as of Monday 20 October, is approx 4"
above normal, and slowly falling, at 259.55 feet. Normal pool
is 259.2 feet. Low ambient daytime high temperatures, fresh incoming
water and rain over past 2 weeks have again reduced lake surface
temperature.
Current in Little River is 4,349 CFS as of Monday, 20 October.
Main lake clarity / visibility approx 7-10" away from current
due to recent high wind, lake chop, and heavy current in Little
River. The river clarity is approximately 8-12" and continues
to improve. Wind or thunderstorms can have a drastic impact and
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. Millwood
State Park has one operational boat ramp and one still under
repair.
Upriver oxbow's clarity continues to be very good and is ranging
approx 30-40". The tailwater elevation on Monday 20 Oct,
was 231.96 feet. Discharge/ Release Rate at the spillway of 4,349
CFS is with 11 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.
USACE has been diligently working on bank stabilization downstream
of the spillway for the past several weeks. The west bank and
rock and rip rap is currently being repaired from potential erosion
issues during the week. This preventative maintenance is to shore
up the west bank's protection from further potential detriment
due to discharge at the dam and to halt any further damage to
the west bank's protection. The gates are being held during the
early part of each week to allow this work to take place, and
then releasing late in the week to maintain normal lake pool.
The Details:
Largemouth Bass: Cooler daytime highs in the 70s and night time
lows in the mid 50s continue to improve the feeding activity
of most all fish on Millwood! Fall is 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 2-6
pounds remain schooling randomly during the day in many of the
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 hours. 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
during schooling activity is on RatLTraps, hammered Cordell spoons
(hint* use a buck tail feather hook!), and white or smoke colored
grubs on light wire jig heads.
Johnson silver spoons, War Eagle Spinnerbaits, and Bass Assassin
Shad jerk baits are the go to baits when the schooling of these
bass move into the vegetation and remaining lily pads. Bass were
schooling in Horseshoe Lake upriver, deep in the lily pads. Swimming
white jigs w/ white chunk trailers along the edges and pockets
of hydrilla or other open holes in remaining vegetation are still
working. Early in the morning slowly worked Jitterbugs in white
colors, around edges of pads, Spit'n Images, buzzing toads, and
buzzbaits are still working.
Once the sun gets full up and directly overhead, switching to
10 or 12" worms on light wire hooks, will produce in fair
numbers, 3-6 lb bass, until the schooling starts, which over
the past week, has shifted to slightly later in the morning and
is running from approximately 11am to 3pm.
10-12" Yum and Berkley worms are still drawing good strikes
from 16" to 22" 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 in vegetation,
remain best locations this week for a better worm bite. More
5-7 pound bass were caught and released this week in Bee Lake
area using spinnerbaits in the grass.
White Bass: White bass remain schooling along with the Largemouth
Bass this week, in Mud, Horseshoe and McGuire Oxbow lakes this
week and biting well on hammered spoons, chrome RatLTraps, and
3" size smoke or white grubs on light jig heads. Several
schools have been biting well on spoons and grubs along Little
River between Mud Lake and Hurricane Creek, and are very nomadic
and constantly moving this week.
Crappie: Crappie bite, continues improving along with the improved
clarity along Little River, late last week and early this week,
on live shiners and jigs. Best depth over the past week with
the improved water clarity is running between 11-12 feet deep
over planted brush piles.
Channel Cats: Blues and Channel Cats remain consistent again
this week, using trotlines, or yo-yos along the current in Little
River, and remain best for 2-6 pounders using cut shad, blood
bait and chicken livers. Yo-yo's hung from cypress trees near
any current in approx 9-12 feet water depth, continue picking
up some decent cats in the 5-8 pound class.
}><(((º> Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions
Report <º)))><{
Navigation conditions in Little River are normal.
Clarity along main lake channel and Little River is improving.
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.
As of Monday, 20 October, the main lake and Little River's water
surface temperatures are currently ranging from approx 67º
to 72ºF, depending of course, on location and time of day.
Lake level on Millwood as of Monday 20 October, is approx 4"
above normal, and slowly falling, at 259.55 feet. Normal pool
is 259.2 feet. Low ambient daytime high temperatures, fresh incoming
water and rain over past 2 weeks have again reduced lake surface
temperature.
Current in Little River is 4,349 CFS as of Monday, 20 October.
Main lake clarity / visibility approx 7-10" away from current
due to recent high wind, lake chop, and heavy current in Little
River. The river clarity is approximately 8-12" and continues
to improve. Wind or thunderstorms can have a drastic impact and
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. Millwood
State Park has one operational boat ramp and one still under
repair.
Upriver oxbow's clarity continues to be very good and is ranging
approx 30-40". The tailwater elevation on Monday 20 Oct,
was 231.96 feet. Discharge/ Release Rate at the spillway of 4,349
CFS is with 11 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.
USACE has been diligently working on bank stabilization downstream
of the spillway for the past several weeks. The west bank and
rock and rip rap is currently being repaired from potential erosion
issues during the week. This preventative maintenance is to shore
up the west bank's protection from further potential detriment
due to discharge at the dam and to halt any further damage to
the west bank's protection. The gates are being held during the
early part of each week to allow this work to take place, and
then releasing late in the week to maintain normal lake pool.
Mike
October 16, 2008 -
Norfork and White River - Submitted
by Mountain
River Fly Shop -
The White is fishing best downstream of Wildcat
Shoal, while the Norfork is fishing well.
WHITE RIVER: It is that time of year again with
the dissolved oxygen levels declining and the water temperature
rising, which had led to AGFC stopping stocking above Cotter.
A number of guides have been fishing the Bull Shoals area for
some good results, and no apparent harm to the fish, which still
pull strongly. But it looks as if the better fishing will occur
further downstream in the next few weeks, if this high generation
pattern of over 16,000 cfs continues. Click here for Temperature
and DO readings.
Sowbugs and worms continue to work well in the
Upper River, but the fish feeding cycles have been swinging with
the DO levels. Oxygen levels will increased as the surface is
broken, through riffles, shoals and the like. These sorts of
structures will hold fish who move after the higher oxygen levels.
Downstream eggs and worms continue to prevail,
whether they are Dynamite worms, regular San Juan's, or our new
Garden Hackle. Chad Johnson has been doing well with Copper Johns
trailed behind a San Juan.
Streamers continue to do well, wieht higher oxygen
levels along the banks. Tan Near Nuff Sculpins or Rainy's Carp
Sculpins and Conehead Autumn Splendors are doign well. But bigger
flies like the Circus Peanut, Zoo Cougars and Jim's Ozark Sculpin
have all been fish catchers
October 16, 2008 -
White River - Submitted by Berry
Brothers Guides - JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 10/16/2008
We have had a bit of rain and the lakes in the
White River continue their decline. The lake level at Bull Shoals
Dam fell three and one tenth feet to rest at twenty four and
nine tenths feet above power pool of 654.00 feet. This is sixteen
and one tenth feet below the top of flood pool. Up stream, Table
Rock Lake fell five tenths of a foot to rest at one and one tenth
feet above power pool or fourteen and nine tenths feet below
the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell two tenths of a foot
to rest at seven and nine tenths feet above power pool or one
and seven tenths feet below the top of flood pool. The pattern
on the White is for heavy generation around the clock. Norfork
Lake has fallen nine tenths of a foot to rest at thirteen and
one tenth feet above power pool of 552.00 feet or fourteen and
nine tenths feet below the top of flood pool. The pattern has
been to run one generator around the clock. There have been some
limited wading opportunities on the Norfork. Boating conditions
on the White have been uniformly good.
The White River is currently dropping approximately
three feet per week and the lake is about twenty five feet above
power pool. If the lake were to continue dropping at the same
rate it should be at power pool in eight weeks or the middle
of December. Conversely the Norfork is currently dropping approximately
one foot per week and the lake is about thirteen feet above power
pool. If it continues to fall at the same rate it would reach
power pool in thirteen weeks or late January. When the lakes
fall from flood pool to power pool the control over generation
passes from the Corps of Engineers to the South West Power Administration
(SWPA). Once in power pool SWPA manages generation based on power
needs. Under these conditions we should encounter lower water
conditions and some reliable wading.
The Catch and release section below Bull Shoals
Dam will close to all fishing on November 1, 2008 and will remain
closed until February 1, 2009 for the brown trout spawn. The
section from the bottom of this Catch and Release section downstream
to the wing wall at the State park is seasonal Catch and Release
for the same time period.
The upper river below Bull Shoals Dam down to Cane
Island has not been fishing as well of late. The lower dissolved
oxygen combined with higher water temperatures have contributed
to the slow fishing there. This is despite the large concentration
of good fish there.
The Cotter area from the new bridge down to the
bottom of Roundhouse Shoals has been fishing a bit better than
the upper river. This section has a higher dissolved oxygen level
than you may encounter up stream below Bull Shoals Dam. In addition
to fishing San Juan worms and midge patterns, be sure and try
sow bugs in this area. As this is not catch and release, you
can use droppers here. My favorite method is to rig a San Juan
worm in the usual way and then attach a foot and a half section
of 5X tippet to the bend of the hook and then tie a small nymph
to the tippet. My favorite nymphs for this technique are small
scuds and sow bugs.
Rim Shoals has not been fishing as well as it did
last week. The hot fly has been the San Juan worm in hot pink
and cerise. Remember that there is some limited safe wading in
the vicinity of the second island during high water. Stop by
Rim Shoals Trout dock and have them ferry you down there for
a nominal fee.
Crooked Creek has fished well during the last week.
Hot flies have been Clouser minnows and crayfish patterns. The
creek is low and clear. The section above the Snow access, as
well as the lower creek near the confluence with the White River
, have been hot spots.
The fishing on the Norfork has been spotty. The
flows during the day have been light. The hot flies have been
San Juan worms in hot pink and brightly colored eggs. There has
been a bit of wading at Quarry Park below the dam along the parking
lot for the ramp but with the lower dissolved oxygen the upper
river has not fished as well as the lower river.
Dry Run Creek is fishing well as always. With the
brown trout spawn approaching, some of the browns are beginning
to move up in the creek. There are plenty of large trout in the
creek already. The hot flies are sow bugs, San Juan worms and
egg patterns (peach would be the best color). With school back
in session there is hardly anyone there. It is a great time to
take your children or grand children there.
October 14, 2008 - Greers
Ferry Lake - Submitted by Fish Finders Fish Service -
The water level is at 463.18 and falling and the
temp is 70-75 degrees
The hybrids and whites moved a little deeper yesterday
with the cloud cover ofr some reason and were caught in 52 feet
, but have heard reports of big fish busting on top on the lake
some where , some bigger fish are showing up more frequent now
and more people are catching them than before , watch for schooling
fish and watch your electronics .
The bass are moving out a little more as the lake
drops and , so try in front of the bushes with crak baits and
topwaters and c-rigs and jigs, this will put them on the flats
more , and the deeper fish on points can still be caught with
football heads and c-riged lizards.
The crappie are still biting in the pole timber
in 60 feet of water suspended in 15-20 feet
No report on bream
The walleye are still scattered at present and
biting some what in 25-48 feet of water
The catfishing is great all over the lake on jugs
, with a lot of folks catching their limits everyday.
Tommy Cauley
October 13, 2008 -
Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood Lake Guide
Service
The Overall Picture:
Navigation conditions in Little River are normal.
As of Monday 13 October, Largemouth Bass remain excellent and
still 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 schooling activity
remains mid to late morning and through mid afternoon.
Clarity along main lake channel and Little River is improving.
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.
As of Monday, 13 October, the main lake and Little River's water
surface temperatures are currently ranging from approx 67º
to 74ºF, depending of course, on location and time of day.
Lake level on Millwood was not updated on Monday 13 October,
and as of Friday 10 October is approx 7" above normal, and
slowly falling, at 259.80 feet. Normal pool is 259.2 feet. Low
ambient daytime high temperatures, fresh incoming water and rain
over past 2 weeks have again reduced lake surface temperature.
Current in Little River was 3,392 CFS as of Friday, 10 October.
Main lake clarity / visibility approx 7-10" away from current
due to recent high wind, lake chop, and heavy current in Little
River. The river clarity is approximately 6-8" and is improving.
Wind or thunderstorms can have a drastic impact and 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. Millwood State Park has
one operational boat ramp and one still under repair.
Upriver oxbow's clarity continues to be very good and is ranging
approx 30-40". The tailwater elevation on Friday 10 Oct,
was 234.56 feet. Discharge/ Release Rate at the spillway as of
Friday, of 3,392 CFS is with 8 tainer gates open at 1 foot, each
and 1 gate open at 1/2 foot. Use caution in navigation on Little
River during low light conditions due to debris, broken vegetation
still present floating downstream, and the increased current.
USACE has been diligently working on bank stabilization downstream
of the spillway for the past several weeks. The west bank and
rock and rip rap is currently being repaired from potential erosion
issues during the week. This preventative maintenance is to shore
up the west bank's protection from further potential detriment
due to discharge at the dam and to halt any further damage to
the west bank's protection. The gates are being held during the
early part of each week to allow this work to take place, and
then releasing late in the week to maintain normal lake pool.
The Details:
Largemouth Bass: Cooler daytime highs in the 70s and night time
lows in the upper 50s continue to improve the feeding activity
of most all fish on Millwood! Fall is 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 remain schooling randomly during the day
in many of the 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 hours. 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 during schooling activity is on RatLTraps, hammered Cordell
spoons (hint* use a buck tail feather hook!), and white or smoke
colored grubs on light wire jig heads.
Johnson silver spoons and Bass Assassin Shad jerk baits are the
go to baits when the schooling of these bass move into the vegetation
and remaining lily pads. Bass were schooling in Horseshoe Lake
upriver, deep in the lily pads. Swimming white jigs w/ white
chunk trailers along the edges and pockets of hydrilla or other
open holes in remaining vegetation are still working. Early in
the morning slowly worked Jitterbugs in white colors, around
edges of pads, Spit'n Images, buzzing toads, and buzzbaits are
still working.
Once the sun gets full up and directly overhead, switching to
10 or 12" worms on light wire hooks, will produce in fair
numbers, 3-6 lb bass, until the schooling starts, which over
the past week, has shifted to slightly later in the morning and
is running from approximately 11am to 3pm.
10-12" Yum and Berkley 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 remain best locations
this week for a better worm bite. Nice bass were caught and released
this week around Jack's Isle in the 7-8 pound class using black/purple
jigs on stumps and cypress knees away from the base of the tree,
between the boat dock and the creek to Clear Lake.
White Bass: White bass remain schooling along with the Largemouth
Bass this week, in Mud, Horseshoe and McGuire Oxbow lakes this
week and biting well on hammered spoons, chrome RatLTraps, and
3" size smoke or white grubs on light jig heads. Several
schools have been biting well on spoons and grubs along Little
River between Mud Lake and Hurricane Creek, and are very nomadic
and constantly moving this week.
Crappie: Crappie bite, improving along with the improved clarity
along Little River, late last week and early this week, on live
shiners and jigs. Best depth over the past week with the improved
water clarity is running between 9-11 feet deep over planted
brush piles.
Channel Cats: Blues and Channel Cats remain consistent again
this week, using trotlines, or yo-yos along the current in Little
River, and remain best for 2-6 pounders using cut shad, blood
bait and 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 4-7 pound class.
}><(((º> Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions
Report <º)))><{
Navigation conditions in Little River are normal.
Clarity along main lake channel and Little River is improving.
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.
As of Monday, 13 October, the main lake and Little River's water
surface temperatures are currently ranging from approx 67º
to 74ºF, depending of course, on location and time of day.
Lake level on Millwood was not updated on Monday 13 October,
and as of Friday 10 October is approx 7" above normal, and
slowly falling, at 259.80 feet. Normal pool is 259.2 feet. Low
ambient daytime high temperatures, fresh incoming water and rain
over past 2 weeks have again reduced lake surface temperature.
Current in Little River was 3,392 CFS as of Friday, 10 October.
Main lake clarity / visibility approx 7-10" away from current
due to recent high wind, lake chop, and heavy current in Little
River. The river clarity is approximately 6-8" and is improving.
Wind or thunderstorms can have a drastic impact and 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. Millwood State Park has
one operational boat ramp and one still under repair.
Upriver oxbow's clarity continues to be very good and is ranging
approx 30-40". The tailwater elevation on Friday 10 Oct,
was 234.56 feet. Discharge/ Release Rate at the spillway as of
Friday, of 3,392 CFS is with 8 tainer gates open at 1 foot, each
and 1 gate open at 1/2 foot. Use caution in navigation on Little
River during low light conditions due to debris, broken vegetation
still present floating downstream, and the increased current.
USACE has been diligently working on bank stabilization downstream
of the spillway for the past several weeks. The west bank and
rock and rip rap is currently being repaired from potential erosion
issues during the week. This preventative maintenance is to shore
up the west bank's protection from further potential detriment
due to discharge at the dam and to halt any further damage to
the west bank's protection. The gates are being held during the
early part of each week to allow this work to take place, and
then releasing late in the week to maintain normal lake pool.
Mike
October 9, 2008 -
White River - Submitted by Berry
Brothers Guides - JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 10/09/2008
Despite a night of rain, the lakes in the White
River system have continued their decline. The lake level at
Bull Shoals Dam fell two and seven tenths feet to rest at twenty
eight feet above power pool of 654.00 feet. This is thirteen
feet below the top of flood pool. Up stream, Table Rock Lake
fell four tenths of a foot to rest at one and six tenths feet
above power pool or fourteen and four tenths feet below the top
of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell five tenths of a foot to rest
at eight and one tenth feet above power pool or one and one half
feet below the top of flood pool. The pattern on the White is
for heavy generation around the clock. Norfork Lake has fallen
nine tenths of a foot to rest at fourteen feet above power pool
of 552.00 feet or fourteen feet below the top of flood pool.
The pattern has been to run one generator most of the day and
to turn it off for a couple of hours at night. There have been
limited wading opportunities on the Norfork. Boating conditions
on the White have been uniformly good.
The Catch and release section below Bull Shoals
Dam will close to all fishing on November 1, 2008 and will remain
closed until February 1, 2009 for the brown trout spawn. The
section from the bottom of this Catch and Release section downstream
to the wing wall at the State park is seasonal Catch and Release
for the same time period. Some anglers have reported that the
brown trout in the area are starting to "color up"
in preparation for the spawn.
Due to low dissolved oxygen levels (below three
parts per million) on the upper sections of the White and Norfork
Rivers, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission has suspended stocking
in these areas. There will be no stocking for the time being
above Cotter on the White and above Roses trout dock on the Norfork.
The affected trout will be held at the state trout hatchery until
the oxygen levels are acceptable. They will then be stocked in
the affected sections.
The upper river below Bull Shoals Dam down to Cane
Island has been producing well despite constant pressure from
local anglers and visitors to the state park located in the middle
of this section. While a lot of anglers have been doing well
banging the bank with big streamers like kiwi muddlers and Jim
Mengle's Ozark sculpin, 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.
One hot spot has been the Cotter area from the
new bridge down to the bottom of Roundhouse Shoals. This section
does not get as much pressure as you may encounter up stream
below Bull Shoals Dam. In addition to fishing San Juan worms
and midge patterns, be sure and try sow bugs in this area. As
this is not catch and release, you can use droppers here. My
favorite method is to rig a San Juan worm in the usual way and
then attach a foot and a half section of 5X tippet to the bend
of the hook and then tie a small nymph to the tippet. My favorite
nymphs for this technique are small scuds, sow bugs or copper
johns.
Rim Shoals has been fishing extremely well. The
hot fly has been the San Juan worm in hot pink and cerise. This
section has not received as much pressure of late and has been
producing some large trout. Remember that there is some limited
safe wading in the vicinity of the second island during high
water. Stop by Rim Shoals Trout dock and have them ferry you
down there for a nominal fee.
Crooked Creek 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. This is a great
alternative for anglers that are tired of being in the boat and
would prefer to wade. The section below the Snow access, as well
as the lower creek near the confluence with the White River ,
have been hot spots.
The fishing on the Norfork has been good. The flows
during the day have been moderate. The hot flies have been San
Juan worms in hot pink and brightly colored eggs. There has been
a bit of wading at Quarry Park below the dam along the parking
lot for the ramp. There are new signs posted around the mouth
of Dry Run Creek that severely limit fishing there.
Dry Run Creek is fishing well as always. With the
brown trout spawn approaching, some of the browns are beginning
to move up in the creek. There are plenty of large trout in the
creek already. The hot flies are sow bugs, San Juan worms and
egg patterns (peach would be the best color). Be sure to carry
the biggest net you can lay your hands on and bring a camera.
This is where memories are made.
October 7, 2008 - Norfork
- Report by Tim Partin 101 Grocery and Bait.- 10/07/08 Fishing
Norfork Lake has been good this past weekend. With the lake level
around 566' above mean sea level. That is about 12' above normal
pool and with the water temps in the low 70's-upper 60's. The
lake seems to have turned in some areas and is turning in others.
The Large Mouth and Small mouth bass fishing has been good and
getting better. There has been a lot of short bass and some good
keepers too. According to the folks at Hand Cove Resort their
guests have been doing very well bass fishing using crank baits,
and Cat fishing with trot lines, jugs and yoyo's using shiners
for bait. The Striped Bass are beginning to move up the lake
and are being caught using shiners fishing around 30 feet deep.
We had a 21lb striper come in this weekend, good job guys. White
bass fishing is good on the Red Bank side of the lake. Bluegill
fishing is good using crickets and worms. Crappie fishing is
fair using minnows fished around 30 ft deep. Have Fun GO Fishn.
October 7, 2008 -
Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood Lake Guide
Service
The Overall Picture:
Navigation conditions in Little River are normal.
As of Tuesday 07 October, Largemouth Bass remain excellent and
still 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 schooling activity
remains mid to late morning and through mid afternoon.
Clarity along the main lake had began clearing before this week's
copious rainfall and thunderstorms, and Little River's clarity
also was improving. 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 Tuesday, 07 October, the main lake and Little River's water
surface temperatures are currently ranging from approx 70º
to 77ºF, depending of course, on location and time of day.
Lake level on Millwood as of Tuesday 07 October is approx 8"
above normal, and slowly falling, at 259.88 feet. Normal pool
is 259.2 feet. Low ambient daytime high temperatures, fresh incoming
water and rain over past 2 weeks have again reduced lake surface
temperature.
Current in Little River was 384 CFS on Tuesday, 07 October. Main
lake clarity / visibility approx 3-5" away from current
due to recent high wind, lake chop, and heavy current in Little
River. The river clarity is approximately 4-6" and was improving
prior to this week's rainfall. Wind or thunderstorms can have
a drastic impact and 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. Millwood State Park has one operational boat ramp
and one still under repair.
Upriver oxbow's clarity continues to be very good and is ranging
approx 30-40". The tailwater elevation on Tuesday 10/07,
was 228.27 feet. Discharge/ Release Rate at the spillway as of
Tuesday, 384 CFS is with 1 tainer gate open at 1/2 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.
USACE has been diligently working on bank stabilization downstream
of the spillway for the past several weeks. The west bank and
rock and rip rap is currently being repaired from potential erosion
issues during the week. This preventative maintenance is to shore
up the west bank's protection from further potential detriment
due to discharge at the dam and to halt any further damage to
the west bank's protection. The gates are being held during the
early part of each week to allow this work to take place, and
then releasing late in the week to maintain normal lake pool.
The Details:
Largemouth Bass: Cooler daytime highs in the 70s and night time
lows in the upper 50s continue to improve the feeding activity
of most all fish on Millwood! Fall is 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 during the day in
many of the 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 hours. Schooling bass
seem to take a few hours to get started and best schooling activities
are running between 10am to 3pm. 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 go to baits in the vegetation
and remaining lily pads. Along any live vegetation lines of hydrilla
or lilly pads, try swimming white jigs w/ white chunk trailers
along the 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 and Salty
Rat Tails, Senkos, etc, and the vegetation edges, 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 or 12"
worms on light wire hooks, will produce in fair numbers, 3-6
lb bass, until the schooling starts, which over the past few
weeks, is running from 10am to 3pm.
Best reaction buzzbait bite is on Siefert's Buzz Baits in Casper's
Shadow, Bleeding Gold Shiner, or Smoke Bomb colors, around Primrose
grass from 1-6 foot depth areas, early in the morning at daylight.
During schooling activities, in the clearer water of the upriver
oxbows one can entice a buzz bait reaction strike. 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 remain schooling along with the Largemouth
Bass this week, in Mud, Horseshoe and McGuire Oxbow lakes this
week and biting well on hammered spoons, chrome RatLTraps, and
3" size smoke or white grubs on light jig heads.
Crappie: Crappie bite, had began improving along with the improved
clarity along Little River, prior to this week's rain and thunderstorms,
on live shiners and jigs.
Channel Cats: Blues and Channel Cats remain consistent again
this week, using trotlines, or yo-yos 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
4-7 pound class.
}><(((º> Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions
Report <º)))><{
Navigation conditions in Little River are normal.
Clarity along the main lake had began clearing before this week's
copious rainfall and thunderstorms, and Little River's clarity
also was improving. 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 Tuesday, 07 October, the main lake and Little River's water
surface temperatures are currently ranging from approx 70º
to 77ºF, depending of course, on location and time of day.
Lake level on Millwood as of Tuesday 07 October is approx 8"
above normal, and slowly falling, at 259.88 feet. Normal pool
is 259.2 feet. Low ambient daytime high temperatures, fresh incoming
water and rain over past 2 weeks have again reduced lake surface
temperature.
Current in Little River was 384 CFS on Tuesday, 07 October. Main
lake clarity / visibility approx 3-5" away from current
due to recent high wind, lake chop, and heavy current in Little
River. The river clarity is approximately 4-6" and was improving
prior to this week's rainfall. Wind or thunderstorms can have
a drastic impact and 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. Millwood State Park has one operational boat ramp
and one still under repair.
Upriver oxbow's clarity continues to be very good and is ranging
approx 30-40". The tailwater elevation on Tuesday 10/07,
was 228.27 feet. Discharge/ Release Rate at the spillway as of
Tuesday, 384 CFS is with 1 tainer gate open at 1/2 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.
USACE has been diligently working on bank stabilization downstream
of the spillway for the past several weeks. The west bank and
rock and rip rap is currently being repaired from potential erosion
issues during the week. This preventative maintenance is to shore
up the west bank's protection from further potential detriment
due to discharge at the dam and to halt any further damage to
the west bank's protection. The gates are being held during the
early part of each week to allow this work to take place, and
then releasing late in the week to maintain normal lake pool.
Mike
October 7, 2008 - Greers
Ferry Lake - Submitted by Fish Finders Fish Service - The lake
level at greers ferry is at 464.31 and rising we had 31/2 inches
last nite and the temp is around 70 degrees
The bass fishing is good one day and not so good
the next , with the water coming back up some spinnerbait and
topwater fish should be able to be caught around the bushes and
the deeper fish can be caught on points and the sides of the
points using c-rigged lizards and football heads
The whites and hybrids continue to bite the spoons
and big in-line spinners anywhere from 35-48 feet of water with
some schooling activity every now and then and with the cold
rain should trigger the schooling bite .
Crappie continue to be caught in the pole timber
on minnows and jigs 15-20 feet deep over 40-60 feet of water
The walleye are still few and far in-between ,
but some are coming in under the hybrids and white bass as well
as the black basses
Catfishing is also going great as the jug fisherman
seem to be doing the best right now with live bait
Bream are still shallow and can be caught with
crickets and crawlers .
Tommy Cauley
October 2, 2008 -
White River - Submitted by Berry
Brothers Guides - JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 10/02/2008
We have had another week without rain and the lakes
in the White River system have continued their decline. The lake
level at Bull Shoals Dam fell one and two 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 fell two and nine tenths of a foot
to rest at two feet above power pool or fourteen feet below the
top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell five tenths of a foot to
rest at eight and six tenths feet above power pool or one foot
below the top of flood pool. The pattern on the White is for
heavy generation around the clock. Norfork Lake has fallen six
tenths of a foot to rest at fourteen and nine tenths feet above
power pool of 552.00 feet or thirteen and one tenth of a foot
below the top of flood pool. The pattern has been to run one
generator most of the day and to turn it off for a couple of
hours at night. There were some good wading conditions earlier
in the week on the Norfork. Boating conditions on the White have
been uniformly good.
The boat ramp at Quarry Park on the upper Norfork
River is open for business again. It was closed for a week while
a contractor removed the old pedestrian bridge across the mouth
of Dry Run Creek.
The Southern Council of the Federation of Fly Fishers
is currently having their annual conclave here. As a result,
there will be more pressure on our rivers and streams this week.
The upper river below Bull Shoals Dam down to Cane
Island has been producing well. This section has been a perpetual
hot spot. 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. This section gets a substantial amount of
pressure because of the good fishing and the state park located
in the middle of it.
One hot spot has been the section of water between
the new bridge and the rail road bridge in Cotter. This section
does not get as much pressure as the usual hot spots and is a
great place to fish some different water without the crowds you
may encounter up stream below Bull Shoals Dam. 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.
Rim Shoals has been fishing extremely well. The
hot fly has been the San Juan worm in hot pink. This section
has not received as much pressure of late and has been producing
some large trout. Remember that there is some limited safe wading
in the vicinity of the second island during high water. Stop
by Rim Shoals Trout dock and have them ferry you down there for
a nominal fee. It is a great place to fish woolly buggers.
Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River are running
clear and the water levels are optimal 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. This is a great alternative
for anglers that are tired of being in the boat and would prefer
to wade. My wife, Lori, landed a fifteen inch rainbow on the
creek near Yellville this week. How did it get there?
The fishing on the Norfork has changed quite a
bit during the past week. Earlier in the week on low water the
fishing was excellent. The hot flies were olive scuds and black
zebra midges both in size eighteen. The section at Quarry Park
just below Norfork Dam has fished particularly well. Olive woolly
buggers with a bit of flash, and Dan's turkey tail emergers have
been the go to flies.
Dry Run Creek is fishing well as always. Be aware
that on Saturday the Southern Council will hold their Youth Conclave
here. There will be an absolute herd of eager young anglers here.
It may serve you well to wait until Sunday to take your young
fly fisher there.
October 1, 2008 - Norfork
- Report by Tim Partin 101 Grocery and Bait.- 09/30/08 Norfork
Lake level is around 567 that is about 13 feet above normal summer
pool. The water temperature ranges from upper 60's to the lower
70 degrees. Kentucky bass fishing has been quite good. Bluegill
fishing remains very good. Crappie fishing is fair but getting
better. Cat fishing is good using trot lines. Striper fishing
is slow. White bass fishing is fair. Large mouth bass and small
mouth bass fishing is fair. Have fun Go Fishin'.
tth
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