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March 30, 2009 - Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood
Lake Guide Service - The Overall Picture:
Navigation conditions in Little River are normal, with increased
current.
As of Monday 30 March, Largemouth Bass are improving and slowly
recovering from multiple cold fronts which shut down the bite
last week and hit again over this past weekend. Surface water
temps had began rising again, almost 10º, from week prior
to last, due to hammering temperature drops and got hit again
this week, with another cold front dropping temps back into the
upper 50's. The best bite is still during the mid-day hours,
and Largemouth Bass ranging from 2-4 pounds are in a slow recovery.
RatLTraps, lizards, War Eagle Spinnerbaits or big worms and jigs
are still the go to baits for Bass over the past 2 weeks.
Clarity along main lake channel and Little River worsened over
the past week due to incoming fresh water, lake wind advisories,
and increased current. The lake was hammered with wind advisories
and the deluge of incoming water again this week. Some high density
broken, vegetation and floating grass mats as well as limbs,
logs and much debris were floating in Little River, due to recent
rapid rise and increased current in the river. Many river buoys
are still missing, although it appears the USACE are working
diligently to replace those missing this week. Millwood rose
over 12" in 2 days from all the recent rain, this week,
and entire main lake was muddy from Yarborough to Cottonshed.
USACE has to wait on near normal pool elevation to replace these
river buoys.
As of Monday, 30 March, the lake level is approx 12" above
normal pool, and slowly rising. The main lake and Little River's
water surface temperatures are currently ranging from approx
55ºF early to 61ºF later, depending of course, on location
and time of day. Lake level on Millwood as of Monday, 30 March,
is at 260.20 feet. Normal conservation pool is 259.20 feet.
Increased current this week from last, at the dam in Little River
of 4,783 CFS as of Monday, 30 March. The recent rain in western
Arkansas and se Oklahoma last week has jumped the lake level
on Millwood's watershed approx 12" in just a few days, and
still rising as of Monday. Main lake visibility approx 3-6"
away from any remaining current in Little River. The river clarity
is approx 4-5". High winds and / or thunder storms will
have a dramatic impact and effect on main lake clarity merely
in a matter of hours. Use caution in Little River until the USACE
can replace many missing river buoys noted in both directions;
upriver and downriver between Yarborough point and White Cliffs,
Yarborough point to Outlaw Trail to mile marker 2; due to high
wind over the past week, as well as further down river along
the main lake.
Upriver oxbow's clarity is fair, stained, but improving and is
ranging approx 2-3 feet visibility away from current in Little
River. The tailwater elevation on Monday 30 March was 232.91
feet and rising. Discharge/ Release Rate at the spillway of 4,783
CFS is with 11 tainer gates open at 1 foot each.
The Details:
Largemouth Bass: Last week marked drastic improvements in Millwood's
Bass activity level with a return of near normal lake level and
reduced current in Little River. Most of the incoming fresh and
muddy water had been flushed through, and the cold, near freezing
temperatures have been replaced with seasonal normals improving
the prespawn Bass bite. This held for about 4 days, then Millwood
was slammed again Friday through Monday with cold fronts that
dropped the temperatures again. Prespawn Black Bass males are
looking at making beds again, and 2 pounds and up to fat females
around 5-7 pounds each, have began to slowly recover, and bite
has been slow this week. Black Bass are still definitely are
in prespawn condition. Numerous male Largemouths are conducting
bedding activities and numerous beds are being seen upriver.
The big Bass bite is still prespawn with the large females staging.
March is a tricky time of year for a consistent bite from day
to day.
The best bite remains by far, during the warmest hours of the
day from 11 am - 3 pm, on slow moving, heavy, 3/4 ounce sizes
RatLTraps and slow-rolling heavy thumping spinner baits in the
stained or muddy water or bulky 10" worms. Slow moving,
loud rattling crankbaits, are working fair in creek channels,
mostly from around noon to 3pm. The most consistent reaction
bite during heat of the day over the past few weeks have been
the 3/4 ounce size Rat-L-Traps in Toledo Gold, Millwood Magic,
or Red Shad colors in more clearer water sections of Millwood,
deflecting off stumps, laydowns, standing timber, and cover.
RatLTraps in Red Chrome are working best on sunny days. Fire
tiger or Red Coach Dog colors in Rat-L-Traps or crankbaits are
work best, where the water is muddy. Chunky males are being observed
making beds for periods of time during the warmest parts of the
day, but the females have not yet fully committed, but are staging,
as of Monday. Water temps, which were improved last week, put
the brakes on when slammed with additional cold fronts and dropped
the temps back down into the mid to upper 50's over the past
few days. The spawn is being broken up and some females were
seen on beds late last week until the last cold front hit last
Friday. Bed making activities will continue to improve, and additional
females should be on the beds late this week, or next week if
the current warming trend continues, however cold and rain is
being called for again mid week this week, which will delay the
warming surface temps again. These bass that are ready to spawn,
may very well end up spawning in deeper water where the temperatures
are less effected by these rapidly occurring cold front passages.
Slow rolling, heavy thumping spinnerbaits in Spot Remover, Hot
Mouse and white/Chartreuse colors are sporadically working, the
clearer water, the better, with keyword being VERY SLOW. Soft
plastic Bass Assassin Shads are beginning to take a few decent
14-18" Largemouths, and trick worms, charms, or Senkos wacky
rigged, around hydrilla, lily pad stems, and pondweed are working
randomly, but slow or "dead-sticking" these baits,
with a light wire hook and no weight will best entice a big fish
bite. Hottest colors for Charm Assassins and trick worms are
the sherbet or merthiolate in the muddy or stained water and
watermelon-red or salt 'n pepper silver phantom in the clearer
water. 5" to 7" Salty Rat Tails, wacky rigged, are
beginning to turn a few good keeper size bass in watermelon red,
smoke/blue, or purple smoke on points with vegetation or dead
lily pad stems remaining, in the back of the oxbows, where water
clarity is markedly better than main lake or river sections of
Millwood. Dead-sticking is the best method and use of the trick
worms or Senkos.
Best jig bite over the past couple weeks, remain Texas Craw,
black/blue or green pumpkin with chartreuse combinations. Pitching/flipping
jigs and bulky, mag-tail rib-worms to stumps and cypress trees
are randomly working. 10" worms are working very good, for
2-5 pound bass, and best colors working over the past few weeks
for large bulky worms are black grape, plum, blue fleck, or peanut
butter & jelly. Edges of any remaining lily pads stems, near
deep verticle drops in the clearer water sections, several feet
away from the base of cypress trees and stumps in vegetation
or on drop offs to deeper water, remain best locations over the
past 2 weeks for best worm and/or jig bite.
White Bass: Whites returned to congregate upriver near the Highway
71 bridge and creek mouths, over the past week, up Little River.
With recent cold fronts hammering Millwood week before last,
the Whites disappeared and moved back to deeper water but are
back on schedule over the past few days. 1/2 oz Rat-L-Traps in
Diamond Dust, Millwood Magic, and chrome/chartreuse back colors,
1/2 oz Rooster Tails or little Georges, in chrome/red or white/chartreuse
colors are beginning to work again. If the warming trend continues,
we expect to see them return to their annual spring run up Little
River near Patterson Shoals, over the next few days to a week.
Crappie: Almost totally shut down with the increase of current
and muddy water in Little River. The oxbows were giving up a
few random Crappie on live shiners where the clarity was much
better than the River, and water temps were warmer, but the cold
fronts shut down the bite even there, early this week. The bite
should improve in consistency on Blakemore Roadrunners in McGuire
and Horseshoe oxbows if the surface temps climb late this week.
Crappie are also still prespawn condition.
Channel Cats: Channel Cats are still feeding very well in and
current along Little River, on trot lines and yo-yos hung under
cypress trees with cut bait, Charlie and chicken livers.
}><(((º> Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions
Report <º)))><{
Navigation conditions in Little River are normal, increased current.
Clarity along main lake channel and Little River worsened over
the past week due to incoming fresh water, lake wind advisories,
and increased current. The lake was hammered with wind advisories
and the deluge of incoming water again this week. Some high density
broken, vegetation and floating grass mats as well as limbs,
logs and much debris were floating in Little River, due to recent
rapid rise and increased current in the river. Many river buoys
are still missing, although it appears the USACE are working
diligently to replace those missing this week. Millwood rose
over 12" in 2 days from all the recent rain, this week,
and entire main lake was muddy from Yarborough to Cottonshed.
USACE has to wait on near normal pool elevation to replace these
river buoys.
As of Monday, 30 March, the lake level is approx 12" above
normal pool, and slowly rising. The main lake and Little River's
water surface temperatures are currently ranging from approx
55ºF early to 61ºF later, depending of course, on location
and time of day. Lake level on Millwood as of Monday, 30 March,
is at 260.20 feet. Normal conservation pool is 259.20 feet.
Increased current this week from last, at the dam in Little River
of 4,783 CFS as of Monday, 30 March. The recent rain in western
Arkansas and se Oklahoma last week has jumped the lake level
on Millwood's watershed approx 12" in just a few days, and
still rising as of Monday. Main lake visibility approx 3-6"
away from any remaining current in Little River. The river clarity
is approx 4-5". High winds and / or thunder storms will
have a dramatic impact and effect on main lake clarity merely
in a matter of hours. Use caution in Little River until the USACE
can replace many missing river buoys noted in both directions;
upriver and downriver between Yarborough point and White Cliffs,
Yarborough point to Outlaw Trail to mile marker 2; due to high
wind over the past week, as well as further down river along
the main lake.
Upriver oxbow's clarity is fair, stained, but improving and is
ranging approx 2-3 feet visibility away from current in Little
River. The tailwater elevation on Monday 30 March was 232.91
feet and rising. Discharge/ Release Rate at the spillway of 4,783
CFS is with 11 tainer gates open at 1 foot each.
Mike
March 26, 2009 - White River - Submitted by Berry
Brothers Guides - JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 3/26/2009
Over the past week, we have had some warmer spring
like temperatures. We also had a significant rain event with
some particularly heavy winds (complete with lake wind advisories).
The lakes in the White River system have all risen and all are
currently slightly above power pool. The lake level at Bull Shoals
Dam rose one and two tenths of a foot to rest at one tenth of
a foot above power pool of 654.00 feet. This is forty seven and
nine tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Up stream, Table
Rock Lake rose three tenths of a foot to rest at two tenths of
a foot above power pool or fifteen and eight tenths feet below
the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake rose eight tenths of a foot
to rest at six tenths of a foot above power pool or nine feet
below the top of flood pool. The pattern on the White was for
no generation until very recently, when we got some moderate
water. Wading has been excellent. Norfork Lake has risen three
tenths of a foot to rest at two tenths of a foot above power
pool of 552.00 feet or twenty seven and eight tenths feet below
the top of flood pool. There has been limited generation on the
Norfork with several days of no generation. This has created
some excellent wading.
Remember that there is a new size limit on Brown
trout. All browns less than twenty four inches must be released
immediately no matter where they are caught on the White and
Norfork Rivers . Only one brown trout may be kept in the daily
limit of five trout.
The big story this past week has been the long
awaited arrival of the rhyacophilia caddis, our major hatch of
the year. They have an insect green body and are a righteous
size fourteen at the beginning of the hatch. As the hatch progresses,
they will get smaller, down to size sixteen and then eighteen.
For this hatch, I carry green elk hair caddis in those sizes.
The best fishing can be before the hatch starts, when the caddis
larvae get more active. The best nymph for this is the pulsating
caddis in size fourteen. When they rise to the surface and begin
emerging, switch to the green butt soft hackle. When the trout
begin keying in on the adults, switch to the elk hair caddis.
We have had some spectacular hatches with incredible top water
action during the past week.
The upper river from the Bull Shoals Dam Catch
and Release area down stream to Rim Shoals has been red hot.
The low water made for perfect wading and the caddis hatch switched
the fishing into high gear. If there is no hatch coming off,
try go to patterns like zebra midges, San Juan worms and egg
patterns.
Since the trout are accustomed to looking up during
the hatch, they have become top oriented. As a result, soft hackles
like the green butt, partridge and green and the partridge and
orange can be very effective, even when there is no hatch occurring.
Remember when fishing in the Bull Shoals Dam Catch
and Release area and the State Park to be on the look out for
Redds. They appear as clean depressions in the gravel. Disturbing
them could destroy the wild brown trout eggs recently deposited
there. We do not want to eliminate the next generation of wild
brown trout.
Crooked Creek fished well earlier in the week as
water temperatures climbed to fifty eight degrees. However, our
recent rain event muddied up the creek and it will take a few
days to clear.
With low water on the White, crowding has been
much less of a problem. However, the trout have not had time
to recover from the incredibly heavy pressure. The better fishing
has been on the lower river just below the Ackerman Access. The
fish seem to be running a bit larger there. Be very careful when
wading below the access, because when the water comes up, you
must wade back against the current. Move out as soon as you detect
rising water. Over the years, I have seen more anglers get in
trouble there than any other spot in the area. Another hot spot
has been Quarry Park below Norfork dam.
The Catch and Release section has been particularly
crowded. Several anglers have been walking up to McClellan's.
Be very careful! This is a long walk and, if the water comes
up, it is a dangerous wade out in rising water. It would be much
safer to launch a personal watercraft at the dam; float down
to McClellan's and exit at the confluence. Rose's Trout Dock
will arrange a shuttle for a nominal fee.
Dry Run Creek, as always, has fished particularly
well during the past week. During the last week, we had some
nice warm days that were perfect for an outing and many attendees
at Sowbug took advantage of the great fishing there. Hot flies
during the past week have been sowbugs, worm brown San Juan worms
and egg patterns. While you are there, take a tour of the adjacent
National Trout Hatchery. Be sure and remove your waders before
entering to prevent the transfer of aquatic diseases.
March 25, 2009 - Norfork
- Submitted by 101 Grocery and Bait - 03/24/09 Norfork
Lake level is around 552' msl and the surface water temp. ranges
from the upper 40 degrees to 50 degrees. Striped bass fishing
is fair late in the day using rogues fished shallow, the night
bite is on. Crappie fishing has been good fishing the brush piles
in 20 30 feet of water using minnows or your favorite soft
bait on a small jig with a slow presentation. As the water begins
to warm up more this week the bite should become outstanding
for all the species. Walleye fishing is fair using rogues and
live bait. Large mouth, Small mouth and Kentucky bass fishing
is good. There has been a lot of bass caught and a lot of them
have been keeper size with big bellies. All the fish seem to
be feasting on the shad. White bass fishing is good using an
array of inline spinner bait and beetle type spinner baits along
with small crank baits. Blue gills are also being caught now.
As the warmer weather sets in, fishing on Norfork Lake is going
to be some of the greatest fishing around. Thank you all for
the phone calls last week and I should explain myself a little
better on the live fish bait rule for Norfork Lake. You can buy
your live bait from the local bait shops and you can also catch
your own bait from Norfork Lake.If you will be needing a resort
and or a fishing guide now is the time to get them reserved as
they are beginning to fill up and you do not want to miss out
on some of the greatest fishing around. Have Fun Go Fishin.
Greg Weinmann
Hand Cove Resort and RV Park
8885 Hand Cove Road
March 24, 2009 - Greers Ferry Lake - Submitted by Fish Finders
Fish Service -
The water level at greers ferry is at 461.32 this
morning . but looks like it will be rising with the expected
rain and the temps are 52-60 degrees.
The white bass and hybrid bass are on and off again
and who knows what is going on with them some think they have
spawned and some think they have not we will see in the next
week or so , you can still catch some up the river but not a
bunch and they are not grouped up in the lake either, they are
scattered everwhere and being caught with roadrunners , grubs
, in-line spinners and jerkbaits .
The big cizor-tail shad are spawing up the rivers
at present if they tells you anything.
The bass bite is off some what as they are on the
move , jerkbaits,crankbaits,spinnerbaits,footballheadsand c-rigs
are accounting for a lot of fish as is swimbaits.
The walleye in the lake are biting and will improve
after this rain.
Crappie are biting in the buckbrush , with a lot
of limits being caught, and some are still in the pole timber
being caught on grubs and minnows.
Catfishing is good for blues on trotlines baited
on points .
Tommy Cauley
March 23, 2009 - Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood
Lake Guide Service - The Overall Picture:
Navigation conditions in Little River have returned to normal
from recent caution, due to excessive debris from recent rapid
rise.
As of Monday 23 March, Largemouth Bass are improving and slowly
recovering from multiple cold fronts which shut down the bite
2 weeks ago. Surface water temps have began rising again, almost
10º, from week prior to last, after the influx of rapid
rising water and hammering temperature drops. The best bite is
still during the mid-day hours, and Largemouth Bass ranging from
3 to 6 pounds began a slow recovery mid- week last week, with
the improved daytime highs. RatLTraps, lizards, War Eagle Spinnerbaits
or big worms and jigs are still the go to baits for Bass over
the past week.
Clarity along main lake channel and Little River improved over
the past week. Week prior, the lake was hammered with wind advisories
and the deluge of incoming water down all rivers. Some high density
broken, vegetation and floating grass mats as well as limbs,
logs and much debris were floating in Little River, due to recent
rapid rise and increased current in the river. Many river buoys
are still missing, although it appears the USACE are working
diligently to replace those missing this week. Millwood rose
over 20" in 3 days from all the recent rain, and entire
main lake was muddy from Yarborough to Cottonshed. USACE has
to wait on near normal pool elevation to replace these river
buoys.
As of Monday, 23 March, the lake level is approx 3" above
normal pool, and slowly falling. The main lake and Little River's
water surface temperatures are currently ranging from approx
55ºF early to 61ºF later, depending of course, on location
and time of day. Lake level on Millwood as of Monday, 23 February,
is at 259.46 feet. Normal conservation pool is 259.20 feet.
Drastically decreased current this week from last, at the dam
in Little River of 1,000 CFS as of Monday, 23 March. The recent
rain in western Arkansas and se Oklahoma last week has almost
entirely flushed through the Millwood watershed. Main lake visibility
approx 4-8" away from any remaining current in Little River.
The river clarity is approx 5-10". High winds and / or thunderstorms
will have a dramatic impact and effect on main lake clarity merely
in a matter of hours. Use caution in Little River until the USACE
can replace many missing river buoys noted in both directions;
upriver and downriver between Yarborough point and White Cliffs,
Yarborough point to Outlaw Trail to mile marker 2; due to high
wind over the past week, as well as further down river along
the main lake.
Upriver oxbow's clarity is fair, stained, but improving and is
ranging approx 2-3 feet visibility away from current in Little
River. The tailwater elevation on Monday 23 March was 231.48
feet. Discharge/ Release Rate at the spillway of 1,000 CFS is
with 10 tainer gates open at 1 foot each.
The Details:
Largemouth Bass: Last week marked drastic improvements in Millwood's
Bass activity level with a return of near normal lake level and
reduced current in Little River. Most of the incoming fresh and
muddy water has been flushed through, and the cold, near freezing
temperatures have been replaced with seasonal normals improving
the prespawn Bass bite. Prespawn Black Bass from 2 pounds and
up to 10 pounds each, have began to slowly recover, and are good.
Black Bass are still definitely are in prespawn condition. Numerous
male Largemouths are conducting bedding activities and numerous
beds are being seen upriver. The big Bass bite is still prespawn
with the large females staging. Early March can be a tricky time
of year for a consistent bite from day to day.
The best bite remains by far, during the warmest hours of the
day from 11 am - 3 pm, on slow moving, heavy, 3/4 ounce sizes
RatLTraps and slow-rolling heavy thumping spinner baits in the
stained or muddy water. Slow moving, loud rattling crankbaits,
are working fair in creek channels, mostly from around noon to
3pm. The most consistent reaction bite during heat of the day
over the past week was 3/4 ounce size Rat-L-Traps in Toledo Gold,
Millwood Magic, or Red Shad colors in more clearer water sections
of Millwood, deflecting off stumps, laydowns, standing timber,
and cover. RatLTraps in Red Chrome are working best on sunny
days. Fire tiger or Red Coach Dog colors in Rat-L-Traps or crankbaits
are work best, where the water is muddy. Chunky males are being
observed making beds for periods of time during the warmest parts
of the day, but the females have not yet fully committed, but
are staging to move onto the beds as of Monday. Water temps were
improved over the past week, and has put the spawn back on schedule.
Bed making activities will continue to improve, and females should
be on the beds this week, or early next week if the current warming
trend continues.
Slow rolling, heavy thumping spinnerbaits in Spot Remover, Hot
Mouse and white/Chartreuse colors are sporadically working, the
clearer water, the better, with keyword being VERY SLOW. Soft
plastic Bass Assassin Shads are beginning to take a few decent
14-18" Largemouths, and trick worms, charms, or Senkos wacky
rigged, around hydrilla, lily pad stems, and pondweed are working
randomly, but slow or "dead-sticking" these baits,
with a light wire hook and no weight will best entice a big fish
bite. Hottest colors for Charm Assassins and trick worms are
the sherbet or merthiolate in the muddy or stained water and
watermelon-red or salt 'n pepper silver phantom in the clearer
water. 5" to 7" Salty Rat Tails, wacky rigged, are
beginning to turn a few good keeper size bass in watermelon red,
smoke/blue, or purple smoke on points with vegetation or dead
lily pad stems remaining, in the back of the oxbows, where water
clarity is markedly better than main lake or river sections of
Millwood.
Best jig bite over the past couple weeks, remain Texas Craw,
black/blue or green pumpkin with chartreuse combinations. Pitching/flipping
jigs and bulky, mag-tail rib-worms to stumps are periodically
working and 10" worms are working very good, for 3 to 8
pound bass, and best colors working over the past few weeks for
large bulky worms are black grape, plum, blue fleck, or peanut
butter & jelly. Edges of any remaining lily pads stems, near
deep verticle drops in the clearer water sections, several feet
away from the base of cypress trees and stumps in vegetation
or on drop offs to deeper water, remain best locations over the
past 2 weeks for best worm and/or jig bite.
White Bass: Whites returned to congregate upriver near the Highway
71 bridge and creek mouths, over the past week, up Little River.
With recent cold fronts hammering Millwood week before last,
the Whites disappeared and moved back to deeper water but are
back on schedule over the past few days. 1/2 oz Rat-L-Traps in
Diamond Dust, Millwood Magic, and chrome/chartreuse back colors,
1/2 oz Rooster Tails or little Georges, in chrome/red or white/chartreuse
colors are beginning to work again. If the warming trend continues,
we expect to see them return to their annual spring run up Little
River near Patterson Shoals, over the next few days to a week.
Crappie: Improved over last week with the improvement to the
water clarity and reduced current in Little River. The oxbows
were giving up a few random Crappie on live shiners where the
clarity was much better than the River, and water temps were
warmer, and the Crappie bite is improving in consistency on Blakemore
Roadrunners in McGuire and Horseshoe oxbows.
Channel Cats: Channel Cats are still feeding very well in and
current along Little River, on trot lines and yo-yos hung under
cypress trees with cut bait, homemade blood bait, hot dogs, and
Charlie.
}><(((º> Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions
Report <º)))><{
Navigation conditions in Little River have returned to normal
from recent caution, due to excessive debris from recent rapid
rise.
Clarity along main lake channel and Little River improved over
the past week. Week prior, the lake was hammered with wind advisories
and the deluge of incoming water down all rivers. Some high density
broken, vegetation and floating grass mats as well as limbs,
logs and much debris were floating in Little River, due to recent
rapid rise and increased current in the river. Many river buoys
are still missing, although it appears the USACE are working
diligently to replace those missing this week. Millwood rose
over 20" in 3 days from all the recent rain, and entire
main lake was muddy from Yarborough to Cottonshed. USACE has
to wait on near normal pool elevation to replace these river
buoys.
As of Monday, 23 March, the lake level is approx 3" above
normal pool, and slowly falling. The main lake and Little River's
water surface temperatures are currently ranging from approx
56ºF early to 61ºF later, depending of course, on location
and time of day. Lake level on Millwood as of Monday, 23 February,
is at 259.46 feet. Normal conservation pool is 259.20 feet.
Drastically decreased current this week from last, at the dam
in Little River of 1,000 CFS as of Monday, 23 March. The recent
rain in western Arkansas and se Oklahoma last week has almost
entirely flushed through the Millwood watershed. Main lake visibility
approx 4-8" away from any remaining current in Little River.
The river clarity is approx 5-10". High winds and / or thunderstorms
will have a dramatic impact and effect on main lake clarity merely
in a matter of hours. Use caution in Little River until the USACE
can replace many missing river buoys noted in both directions;
upriver and downriver between Yarborough point and White Cliffs,
Yarborough point to Outlaw Trail to mile marker 2; due to high
wind over the past week, as well as further down river along
the main lake.
Upriver oxbow's clarity is fair, stained, but improving and is
ranging approx 2-3 feet visibility away from current in Little
River. The tailwater elevation on Monday 23 March was 231.48
feet. Discharge/ Release Rate at the spillway of 1,000 CFS is
with 10 tainer gates open at 1 foot each.
Mike
March 19, 2009 - White River - Submitted by Berry
Brothers Guides - JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 3/19/2009
Over the past week, we have had some warmer spring
like temperatures and gentler winds. The lakes in the White River
system have fallen slightly and all are currently below power
pool. The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam fell nine tenths of a
foot to rest at one and two tenths feet below power pool of 654.00
feet. This is forty two and two tenths feet below the top of
flood pool. Up stream, Table Rock Lake remained steady at one
tenth of a foot below power pool or sixteen and one tenth feet
below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake remained steady at two
tenths of a foot below power pool or nine and eight tenths feet
below the top of flood pool. The pattern on the White was for
low levels of generation around the clock with a spike of heavy
generation during the day. Norfork Lake has fallen one tenth
of a foot to rest at one tenth of a foot below power pool of
552.00 feet or twenty eight feet and one tenth feet below the
top of flood pool. There has been limited generation on the Norfork
with several days of no generation. This has created some excellent
wading. With the current lake levels, I would expect wadable
water on both rivers.
Remember that there is a new size limit on Brown
trout. All browns less than twenty four inches must be released
immediately no matter where they are caught on the White and
Norfork Rivers . Only one brown trout may be kept in the daily
limit of five trout.
The upper river from the Bull Shoals Dam Catch
and Release area down stream to Cain Island has been a real hot
spot. The lower flows were perfect for drift fishing. Effective
patterns were zebra midges, San Juan worms and egg patterns.
When you are fishing in this area, please be careful and do not
drag chains or walk through the redds. Disturbing them could
destroy the wild brown trout eggs recently deposited there. We
do not want to eliminate the next generation of wild brown trout.
Rim Shoals has been quite a hot spot. On the lower
flows, anglers have been doing well with black zebra midges in
size fourteen. On higher flows the go to flies have been brightly
colored San Juan worms (hot pink, cerise and red) and orange
patterns. The most productive pattern for me has been the Y2K
in yellow and orange. Remember that, if they are running water
on the White and you want to wade, there is a water taxi service
at Rim Shoals Trout Dock. They will ferry you to wadable water
and pick you up for a nominal fee.
It is that time of year, when we begin having our
major insect hatches. The first is our rhyancophilia caddis.
They have an insect green body and are a righteous size fourteen
at the beginning of the hatch. As it goes on, they will get progressively
smaller, down to size sixteen and then eighteen. For this hatch
I carry green elk hair caddis in those sizes. The best fishing
can be before the hatch starts when the caddis larvae get more
active. The best nymph for this is the pulsating caddis in size
fourteen. When they rise to the surface and begin emerging, switch
to the green butt soft hackle. When the trout begin keying in
on the adults, switch to the elk hair caddis. I have observed
these insects on both the White and Norfork Rivers in the last
week and they are becoming more prolific. I have noticed a few
risers that have begun keying on the hatch.
Crooked Creek is still not fishing well. The water
is low and clear but still a bit cold for the smallmouth to be
active. As the weather warms and the water temperature reaches
fifty five degrees we can expect the smallmouth action to improve.
With round the clock generation on the White and
lots of anglers in town for the Sowbug Roundup, the Norfork has
been packed. If you plan on fishing there be sure and take your
own rock so that you will have a place to stand. The better fishing
has been on the lower river just below the Ackerman Access. The
fish seem to be running a bit larger there. Another hot spot
has been Quarry Park below Norfork dam. The Catch and Release
section has been particularly crowded. Several anglers have been
walking up to McClellan's. Be very careful! This is a long walk
and, if the water comes up, it is a dangerous wade out in rising
water. It would be much safer to launch a personal watercraft
at the dam; float down to McClellan's and exit at the confluence.
Rose's Trout Dock will arrange a shuttle for a nominal fee.
Dry Run Creek, as always, has fished particularly
well during the past week. We had some nice warm days that were
perfect for an outing. There have been a few more young anglers
on the creek particularly on the weekends. Hot flies during the
past week have been sowbugs, worm brown San Juan worms and egg
patterns. While there are several places to fish from the bank,
it is more productive to outfit your youngster with waders or
hip boots in order to access more of the creek.
March 17, 2009 - Greers Ferry Lake - Submitted by Fish Finders
Fish Service - The water level at greers ferry is at
461.40 and falling ifn they generate if not will rise some and
the temps range fron 60 to 47 degrees.
The walleye action has slowed up the rivers but
gotten good in the main lake dragging minnows on a jig head on
rocky points and flats .
The whites and hybrids are goog if you can pinpoint
them, some have spawned and some are trying and others are still
getting ready to spawn, try grubs in-lines spinners and hair
jigs.
No-report on catfish or bream
The crappie are eating it up suspended in the pole
timber and some are moving to the bank in the brush and biting
all over the lake, spring has sprung.
Bass fishing is good all over the lake , with an
80 boat tournament and had 53 limits , the jerkbaits ,crankbaits,spinnerbaits
,jigs and jighead worms are working all over the lake.
Tommy Cauley
March 16, 2009 - Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood
Lake Guide Service - The Overall Picture:
Navigation conditions in Little River are cautioned due to missing
river buoys & debris from recent rapid rise.
As of Monday 16 March, Largemouth Bass are fair, and slowly improving
from cold front shut down over the last week. Surface water temps
which had been ranging in the low 60's took a beating last week
with all the cold nights and deluge of rain and dropped almost
10º, which trashed the bite and activity levels of bass
and crappie. The best is still during the mid-day hours, and
Largemouth Bass ranging from 3 to 6 pounds began a slow recovery
early this week, with the improved daytime highs. RatLTraps,
lizards, War Eagle Spinnerbaits are still the best baits for
Bass over the past several weeks.
Clarity along main lake channel and Little River worsened again
over the past week with the lake wind advisories and the deluge
of incoming water down all rivers. Some high density broken,
vegetation and floating grass mats as well as limbs, logs and
much debris are floating in Little River, due to recent rapid
rise and increased current in the river. Many river buoys are
still missing, although it appears the USACE are working diligently
to replace those missing. Millwood rose over 20" in 3 days
from all the recent rain, and entire main lake is muddy from
Yarborough to Cottonshed.
As of Monday, 16 March, the lake level is 21" above normal
pool, and rapidly rising. The main lake and Little River's water
surface temperatures are currently ranging from approx 54º
to 57ºF, depending of course, on location and time of day.
Lake level on Millwood as of Monday, 16 February, is at 260.91
feet. Normal conservation pool is 259.20 feet.
Drastically increased current this week from last, at the dam
in Little River of 15,497 CFS as of Monday, 16 March. The recent
rain in western Arkansas and se Oklahoma last week is just now
reaching Millwood watershed. Main lake visibility approx 3-4"
away from any remaining current in Little River. The river clarity
is approx 2-3". High winds and / or thunderstorms will have
a dramatic impact and effect on main lake clarity merely in a
matter of hours. Use caution in Little River due to flood debris,
grass mats, limbs, logs, and trees. There are many missing river
buoys noted in both directions; upriver and downriver between
Yarborough point and White Cliffs, Yarborough point to Outlaw
Trail to mile marker 2; due to high wind over the past week,
as well as further down river along the main lake.
Upriver oxbow's clarity is fair to good, but stained, and is
ranging approx 2-3 feet visibility away from current in Little
River. The tailwater elevation on Monday 16 March was 238.53
feet. Discharge/ Release Rate at the spillway of 15,497 CFS is
with 10 tainer gates open at 3 feet each, and 3 gates open at
2 feet each. All gates are open.
The Details:
Largemouth Bass: Last week smashed Millwood with deluge of fresh
water and cold near freezing temperatures and shut down the bite
and the activity level of bass. Prespawn Black Bass from 2 pounds
and up to 5 pounds each, have began to slowly recover, and are
improving fair to good. Black Bass are still definitely are in
prespawn condition, thinking about bedding activities between
cold fronts pushing them back to deeper waters. Bite which had
improved prior to last week was totally shut down, late last
week with the cold fresh incoming deluge of rain and near freezing
temperatures, pushing the fish back out for a few more days.
Early March can be a tricky time of year for a consistent bite
from day to day.
The best bite remains by far, during the warmest hours of the
day from 11 am - 3 pm, on slow moving, heavy, 3/4 ounce sizes
RatLTraps and slow-rolling heavy thumping spinner baits in the
increasingly stained and muddy water. Slow moving, loud rattling
crankbaits, are working fair in creek channels, mostly from around
noon to 3pm. The most consistent reaction bite during heat of
the day over the past week was 3/4 ounce size Rat-L-Traps in
Toledo Gold, Millwood Magic, or Red Shad colors deflecting off
stumps, laydowns, standing timber, and cover. RatLTraps in Red
Chrome are best on sunny days. Fire tiger or Red Coach Dog colors
in Rat-L-Traps or crankbaits are work best, where the water is
muddy. Chunky males are being seen in bedding areas for short
periods during the warmest parts of the day, but the females
have not moved up yet. Water temps were slammed again, and has
put off the spawn a few more days. Bed making activities will
improve late this week and early next week if the current warming
trend continues.
Slow rolling, heavy thumping spinnerbaits in Spot Remover, Hot
Mouse and white/Chartreuse colors are sporadically working, the
clearer water, the better, with keyword being VERY SLOW. Bass
Assassin shads are beginning to take a few decent 14-18"
Largemouths, and trick worms, charms, or Senkos wacky rigged,
around hydrilla, lily pad stems, and pondweed are working randomly,
but slow or "dead-sticking" these baits, with a light
wire hook and no weight will work best. Hottest colors for Charm
Assassins and trick worms are the sherbet or merthiolate in the
muddy or stained water and watermelon-red or salt 'n pepper silver
phantom in the clearer water. 5" to 7" Salty Rat Tails,
wacky rigged, are beginning to turn a few good keeper size bass
in watermelon red, smoke/blue, or purple smoke on points with
vegetation or dead lily pad stems remaining, in the back of the
oxbows, where water clarity is markedly better than main lake
or river sections of Millwood.
Best jig colors thus far over the past couple weeks, remain Texas
Craw, black/blue or green pumpkin with chartreuse combinations.
Pitching/flipping jigs and bulky, mag-tail rib-worms to stumps
are periodically working and 10" worms are working fair,
for 3 to 4 pound bass, and best colors working over the past
few weeks for large bulky worms are black grape, plum, blue fleck,
or peanut butter & jelly. Edges of any remaining lily pads
stems, and coontail moss, near deep drops in the clearer water
of the oxbows, several feet away from the base of cypress trees
and stumps in vegetation or on drop offs to deeper water, remain
best locations over the past 2 weeks for best worm and/or jig
bite.
White Bass: Whites, were beginning to congregate upriver near
the Highway 71 bridge and creek mouths, over the past 2-3 weeks,
up Little River. With recent cold fronts hammering Millwood,
the Whites disappeared and moved back to deeper water. 1/2 oz
Rat-L-Traps in Diamond Dust, Millwood Magic, and chrome/chartreuse
back colors, 1/2 oz Rooster Tails in chrome/red or white/chartreuse
colors were working prior to the cold front and increase current
and muddy water. If the warming trend continues, we expect to
see them return to their annual spring run up Little River over
the next week.
Crappie: Completely shut off with the deluge of incoming water
down Little River and muddy conditions. The oxbows were giving
up a few random Crappie on live shiners where the clarity was
much better than the River, and water temps were warmer, but
the bites were far and few between in terms of consistency.
Channel Cats: Channel Cats are still feeding very well in the
increased current, on trot lines and yo-yos hung under cypress
trees with cut bait and Charlie.
}><(((º> Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions
Report <º)))><{
Navigation conditions in Little River are cautioned due to missing
river buoys & debris from recent rapid rise.
Clarity along main lake channel and Little River worsened again
over the past week with the lake wind advisories and the deluge
of incoming water down all rivers. Some high density broken,
vegetation and floating grass mats as well as limbs, logs and
much debris are floating in Little River, due to recent rapid
rise and increased current in the river. Many river buoys are
still missing, although it appears the USACE are working diligently
to replace those missing. Millwood rose over 20" in 3 days
from all the recent rain, and entire main lake is muddy from
Yarborough to Cottonshed.
As of Monday, 16 March, the lake level is 21" above normal
pool, and rapidly rising. The main lake and Little River's water
surface temperatures are currently ranging from approx 54º
to 57ºF, depending of course, on location and time of day.
Lake level on Millwood as of Monday, 16 February, is at 260.91
feet. Normal conservation pool is 259.20 feet.
Drastically increased current this week from last, at the dam
in Little River of 15,497 CFS as of Monday, 16 March. The recent
rain in western Arkansas and se Oklahoma last week is just now
reaching Millwood watershed. Main lake visibility approx 3-4"
away from any remaining current in Little River. The river clarity
is approx 2-3". High winds and / or thunderstorms will have
a dramatic impact and effect on main lake clarity merely in a
matter of hours. Use caution in Little River due to flood debris,
grass mats, limbs, logs, and trees. There are many missing river
buoys noted in both directions; upriver and downriver between
Yarborough point and White Cliffs, Yarborough point to Outlaw
Trail to mile marker 2; due to high wind over the past week,
as well as further down river along the main lake.
Upriver oxbow's clarity is fair to good, but stained, and is
ranging approx 2-3 feet visibility away from current in Little
River. The tailwater elevation on Monday 16 March was 238.53
feet. Discharge/ Release Rate at the spillway of 15,497 CFS is
with 10 tainer gates open at 3 feet each, and 3 gates open at
2 feet each. All gates are open.
Mike
March 12, 2009 - White River - Submitted by Berry
Brothers Guides - JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 3/12/2009
Over the past week, we have had some very heavy
winds and some warmer then colder temperatures. The lakes in
the White River system have fallen slightly and all are currently
at or below power pool. The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam remained
steady at three tenths of a foot below power pool of 654.00 feet.
This is forty one and three tenths feet below the top of flood
pool. Up stream, Table Rock Lake fell one tenth of a foot to
rest one tenth of a foot below power pool or sixteen and one
tenth feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell two
tenths of a foot to rest at two tenths of a foot below power
pool or nine and six tenths feet below the top of flood pool.
The pattern on the White was for low levels of generation around
the clock with a couple of high level spikes during the day.
There was no generation last weekend. This created some spectacular
wading. Norfork Lake has risen one tenth of a foot to rest at
power pool of 552.00 feet or twenty eight feet below the top
of flood pool. There has been limited generation on the Norfork
with several windows of no generation and there was no generation
last weekend. This has created some excellent wading. With the
current lake levels, I would predict wadable water in the near
future on both rivers.
Remember that there is a new size limit on Brown
trout. All browns less than twenty four inches must be released
immediately no matter where they are caught on the White and
Norfork Rivers . Only one brown trout may be kept in the daily
limit of five trout.
Next week we have our major fly tying event of
the year in Mountain Home Arkansas , The Sowbug Roundup. Anglers
from all over the United States and some from Europe will be
traveling here to demonstrate their favorite patterns. More anglers
will be coming in to observe them. All of these people will want
to go fishing while they are here. I will be presenting a couple
of seminars and my wife, Lori, will also present a couple. I
will be tying my brother's signature pattern, Dan's turkey tail
emerger. Stop by and let me tie one for you.
This year's shad kill is basically over. The upper
river from the Bull Shoals Dam Catch and Release area down stream
to Cain Island has been a real hot spot. The lower flows were
perfect for drift fishing and, with the trout still keying in
on shad patterns, the bite was on. Other effective patterns were
zebra midges and San Juan worms. When you are fishing in this
area, please be careful and do not drag chains or walk through
the redds. Disturbing them could destroy the wild brown trout
eggs recently deposited there. We do not want to eliminate the
next generation of wild brown trout. In addition, dragging chains
in high water is dangerous. If the chain grabs the bottom, it
could easily swamp the boat.
Wild cat Shoals has been fishing particularly well.
Woolly buggers (in olive) and fifty sixers have been go to flies
and partridge and orange soft hackles have also been productive.
The best fishing has been on lower water, when wading was excellent.
It is that time of year, when we begin having our
major insect hatches. The first is our rhyancophilia caddis.
They have an insect green body and are a righteous size fourteen
at the beginning of the hatch. As it goes on, they will get progressively
smaller, down to size sixteen and then eighteen. For this hatch
I carry green elk hair caddis in those sizes. The best fishing
can be before the hatch starts when the caddis larvae get more
active. The best nymph for this is the pulsating caddis in size
fourteen. When they rise to the surface and begin emerging, switch
to the green butt soft hackle. When the trout begin keying in
on the adults, switch to the elk hair caddis. I have observed
these insects on both the White and Norfork Rivers in the last
week, but not in abundance.
Crooked Creek is still not fishing well. The water
is low and clear but still a bit cold for the smallmouth to be
active. As the weather warms and the water temperature reaches
fifty five degrees we can expect the smallmouth action to improve.
With the hot action centered on the upper White
River , the fishing pressure has been much lighter on the Norfork
of late. That coupled with lower flows and reliable wadable water
has created some greatly improved fishing. The better fishing
has been on the lower river below the Ackerman Access. The fish
seem to be running a bit larger there. Another hot spot has been
Quarry Park below Norfork dam. There have been some spectacular
midge hatches on sunny days. The best fly for this hatch has
been Dan's turkey tail emerger is size eighteen through twenty
two.
Dry Run Creek has fished particularly well during
the past week. We had some nice warm days that were perfect for
youngsters. There has been surprisingly light traffic of late
but I would expect more young anglers with spring break coming
up. Hot flies during the past week have been sowbugs. Use at
least 4X tippet and fluorocarbon would be desirable due to its
abrasion resistance. Do not forget to take a camera.
John Berry
March 11, 2009 - Norfork - Submitted by 101 Grocery and Bait - Norfork Lake Fishing
Report by Tim Partin.
03/09/09 This past week has been just a small sample
of the fishing season to come on Norfork Lake. It was beautiful.
Air temperatures ranged from the 60 to 70 degrees. Water temperature
is in the upper 40 to lower 50 degrees. Lake level is around
552 msl or normal level. Crappie fishing is good using minnows
or you favorite lure. White bass fishing is very good. Walleye
fishing is fair, most are being caught using stick baits at night.
Bass fishing has been good. The large mouth and Kentucky Bass
are everywhere it seems. Cat fishing is slow. Striper fishing
is slow. FYI, it is ILLEGAL to bring live bait fish from another
body of water to Norfork Lake. Remember also to wash your boats
and disinfect your live wells and bilge before putting in on
Norfork Lake. Have Fun Go Fishin.
March 10, 2009 - Greers Ferry Lake - Submitted by Fish Finders
Fish Service - The water level at greers ferry is at
461.40 and rising some what, the temps range from 60 in the rivers
to 48 in the lake .
The spawn of the walleye is off for some reason
and the whites are spawning ahead of them at present up the rivers
the walleye are their but are just not active for some reason
and have not spawned , according to anglers ,myself and the game
and fish commission , they say we need an influx of water to
help them get finished up , I believe that the best bite will
be after they get out of the river and back in the lake and set
biting on points flats and such.
No report on bream or catfish
Crappie are still biting pretty good in the pole
timber in creek bends in the rivers and main lake points and
secondary points leading into creeks and spawing areas getting
ready to spawn.
The hybrids and white bass are are running up the
rivers and some are spawing and some are on the way up and some
are still in the main lake they are scattered out all over the
mouths of rivers and into the creeks and rivers , and can be
caught on grubs , inline spinners and roostertails fished real
slow and the night bite is good also.
The bass fishing continues to be good with the
fish anywhere from 6 inches of water to 40 feet of water and
can be caught just about anyway a person like to fish---------just
got to cover water and fins them.
Tommy Cauley
March 9, 2009 - Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood
Lake Guide Service - The Overall Picture:
Navigation conditions in Little River are cautioned due to missing
river buoys.
As of Monday 09 March, Largemouth Bass are fair to good, over
the past week, with warmer water temps, which will most likely
diminish later this week with slamming cold fronts and 3-6"
rain predicted. Best still, during the mid-day hours, up to 4
and 6 pounds, when the bite is markedly improved. RatLTraps,
lizards, War Eagle Spinnerbaits are the best baits for Bass over
the past several weeks.
Clarity along main lake channel and Little River worsened over
the past week with the lake wind advisories which have been issued
over the past 2 days. Some high density broken, vegetation and
floating grass mats remain in Little River, due to current in
the river. Many river buoys are still missing, although it appears
the USACE are working diligently to replace those missing.
As of Monday, 09 March, the lake level is 3.4" above normal
pool, and slowly rising. The main lake and Little River's water
surface temperatures are currently ranging from approx 49º
to 54ºF, depending of course, on location and time of day.
Lake level on Millwood as of Monday, 09 February, is at 259.48
feet. Normal conservation pool is 259.20 feet.
Consistent current this week from last, at the dam in Little
River of 774 CFS as of Monday, 09 March. If the rain being called
for on Tues-Friday arrives, this will most likely change mid
week. Main lake visibility approx 5-7" away from any remaining
current in Little River. The river clarity is approx 5-6".
High winds and / or thunderstorms will have a dramatic impact
and effect on main lake clarity merely in a matter of hours.
Use caution in Little River as there are many missing river buoys
noted in both directions; upriver and downriver between Yarborough
point and White Cliffs, Yarborough point to Outlaw Trail to mile
marker 2; due to high wind over the past week, as well as further
down river along the main lake. 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 away from current in Little River.
The tailwater elevation on Monday 09 March was 225.90 feet. Discharge/
Release Rate at the spillway of 774 CFS is with 2 tainer gates
open at 1 foot each. Open gates are gates # 1 and # 13. Use caution
in navigation on Little River during low light conditions due
to debris, broken vegetation still present floating downstream,
and the missing river buoys.
The Details:
Largemouth Bass: The past 2-3 weeks we are finding more fishermen
out with the warmer weather, and the level of bass activity heating
up, between cold fronts, of course. Prespawn Black Bass from
3 pounds and up to 8 pounds each are improving between cold fronts,
and are fair to good. Black Bass are definitely are in prespawn
condition, thinking about bedding activities between cold fronts
pushing them back to deeper water between fronts. Bite improved
again, early last week with aggression, then cold fronts slammed
Millwood and pushed the fish back out and shut down the bite
for a few days. Early March can be a tricky time of year for
a consistent bite from day to day.
The best bite remains by far, during the warmest hours of the
day from 11 am - 3 pm, on slow moving, heavy, 3/4 to 1 ounce
sizes RatLTraps and slow-rolling heavy thumping spinner baits
in the increasingly stained and muddy water. Loud rattling crankbaits,
are working in creek channels, mostly from around noon to 3pm.
The most consistent reaction bite during heat of the day over
the past week was 3/4 to 1 ounce size Rat-L-Traps in Toledo Gold,
Millwood Magic, or Red Shad colors deflecting off stumps, laydowns,
standing timber, and cover. RatLTraps in Red Chrome are best
on sunny days, and are beginning to catch some nice Bass in the
3 to 8 pound range, full of roe. Fire tiger or Red Coach Dog
colors in Rat-L-Traps or crankbaits are work best, if the water
is heavier stained clarity or muddy. Chunky males are being seen
in bedding areas, and the 4 pound and above size females caught
over the past week have bloody tails. Water temps are not quite
where they need to be for consistent bedding activities, but
if the cold fronts will slow down, the water temps should be
really close for bedding fish in the next week or two.
Slow rolling, heavy thumping spinnerbaits in Spot Remover or
Aurora colors in the clearer water are working, the keyword being
VERY SLOW. Bass Assassin trick worms, charms, or Senkos wacky
rigged, around hydrilla, lily pad stems, and pondweed are working
randomly, and "dead-sticking" these baits, with a light
wire hook and no weight or a very light 1/32oz belly weighted
hook work best. Hottest colors for Charm Assassins and trick
worms are the sherbet or merthiolate in the muddy or stained
water and watermelon-red or salt 'n pepper silver phantom in
the clearer water. 5" to 7" Salty Rat Tails, wacky
rigged, are beginning to turn a few good keeper size bass in
watermelon red, smoke/blue, or purple smoke on points with vegetation
or dead lily pad stems remaining.
Best jig colors thus far over the past couple weeks, remain Texas
Craw, black/blue or green pumpkin with chartreuse combinations.
Pitching/flipping jigs and bulky, mag-tail rib-worms to stumps
or cypress tree knees, near deep water is working along Little
River and in the main lake. 7" to 10" worms are working
fair, for 3 to 4 pound bass, and up to a 7 or 8 lb bass on occasion,
(from 15" to 20" size bass) and best colors working
over the past few weeks for large bulky worms are black grape,
plum, blue fleck, or peanut butter & jelly. Edges of any
remaining lily pads stems, and coontail moss, near deep drops
in the clearer water of the oxbows, 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 over the
past 2 weeks for best worm and/or jig bite.
White Bass: Whites continue biting well with total abandon between
cold fronts, over the past 2-3 weeks, up Little River. Whites
were best on 1/2 or 3/4 oz Rat-L-Traps in Diamond Dust, Millwood
Magic, and Red Craw colors, 1/2 oz Rooster Tails in chrome/red
or white/chartreuse colors. Numbers of White Bass up to 30 or
40, an hour are not uncommon. Further up Little River around
Highway 71 bridge and Cossatot River Inflow Ditch, Whites are
beginning to be seen, in the creek mouth junctions with the River.
Crappie: Few more Crappie fishermen were out again, early this
week with the warming trend in weather. Crappie are beginning
to bunch up and bite again with the clearer water this week.
Best bet over the past week, continued on Blakemore Roadrunners,
or Rocket Shads, in white and chartreuse colors in the heavier
stained water clarity areas of creeks with current, around cypress
trees, or in planted brush piles on Tiny Tubes or 2" Bass
Assassin Shads in Electric Chicken colors and live minnows. Start
around cypress trees in any major creek, and watch your electronics
for bait fish or stacked Crappie around the deeper drop depths.
Channel Cats: Channel Cats and Blues continue to bite fairly
well, and have ben caught over the past couple weeks, on trot
lines and yo-yo's, along Little River. Blues, mud cats, and channel
cats in the 8-12 pound range are biting good on cut shad, chicken
livers and Charlie, are working near any current along Little
River.
}><(((º> Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions
Report <º)))><{
Navigation conditions in Little River are cautioned due to missing
river buoys.
Clarity along main lake channel and Little River worsened over
the past week with the lake wind advisories which have been issued
over the past 2 days. Some high density broken, vegetation and
floating grass mats remain in Little River, due to current in
the river. Many river buoys are still missing, although it appears
the USACE are working diligently to replace those missing.
As of Monday, 09 March, the lake level is 3.4" above normal
pool, and slowly rising. The main lake and Little River's water
surface temperatures are currently ranging from approx 49º
to 54ºF, depending of course, on location and time of day.
Lake level on Millwood as of Monday, 09 February, is at 259.48
feet. Normal conservation pool is 259.20 feet.
Consistent current this week from last, at the dam in Little
River of 774 CFS as of Monday, 09 March. If the rain being called
for on Tues-Friday arrives, this will most likely change mid
week. Main lake visibility approx 5-7" away from any remaining
current in Little River. The river clarity is approx 5-6".
High winds and / or thunderstorms will have a dramatic impact
and effect on main lake clarity merely in a matter of hours.
Use caution in Little River as there are many missing river buoys
noted in both directions; upriver and downriver between Yarborough
point and White Cliffs, Yarborough point to Outlaw Trail to mile
marker 2; due to high wind over the past week, as well as further
down river along the main lake. 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 away from current in Little River.
The tailwater elevation on Monday 09 March was 225.90 feet. Discharge/
Release Rate at the spillway of 774 CFS is with 2 tainer gates
open at 1 foot each. Open gates are gates # 1 and # 13. Use caution
in navigation on Little River during low light conditions due
to debris, broken vegetation still present floating downstream,
and the missing river buoys.
Mike
March 5, 2009 - White River - Submitted by Berry
Brothers Guides - JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 3/05/2009
Over the past week, we have had a light snow, some
very heavy winds and some cold and then warm temperatures. All
of the lakes in the White River system have continued their fall
and are currently at or below power pool. The lake level at Bull
Shoals Dam fell eight tenths of a foot to rest at three tenths
of a foot below power pool of 654.00 feet. This is forty one
and three tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Up stream,
Table Rock Lake fell four 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 power pool or nine and four
tenths feet below the top of flood pool. The pattern on the White
was for low levels of generation around the clock with a couple
of high level spikes during the day. Norfork Lake has fallen
eight tenths of a foot to rest at one tenth of a foot below power
pool of 552.00 feet or twenty eight and one tenth feet below
the top of flood pool. There has been limited generation on the
Norfork with several windows of no generation that has created
some excellent wading. With the current lake levels and possible
mild weather, I would predict wadable water in the near future
on both rivers.
Remember that there is a new slot limit on Brown
trout. All browns less than twenty four inches must be released
immediately no matter where they are caught on the White and
Norfork Rivers . Only one brown trout may be kept in the daily
limit of five trout.
This year's shad kill is basically over. The lower
levels of generation and higher temperatures have conspired to
end it. Trout are still hitting shad patterns. The most effective
flies have been white marabou jigs and white bead head woolly
buggers. For fishing this area during high levels of generation,
I generally use long 4X tippets (a twelve foot leader tippet
combination). Use plenty of lead to get the fly down and a big
strike indicator to float it all. When fishing floating shad
patterns use stout tippet (4X) to cast these heavy flies. There
have been reliable reports of excellent fishing on shad patterns
from Bull Shoals down to Rim Shoals.
The upper river from the Bull Shoals Dam Catch
and Release area down stream to Cain Island has been a real hot
spot. The lower flows were perfect for drift fishing and, with
the trout still keying in on shad patterns, the bite was on.
Other effective patterns were zebra midges and San Juan worms.
When you are fishing in this area, please be careful
and do not drag chains through the redds. Disturbing them could
destroy the wild brown trout eggs recently deposited there. We
do not want to eliminate the next generation of wild brown trout.
In addition, dragging chains in high water is dangerous. If the
chain grabs the bottom, it could easily swamp the boat.
The big story this past week has been the spectacular
streamer fishing. Several anglers have been drifting in the upper
river from Bull Shoals down to Cotter. They were banging the
bank with huge streamers (sculpin and bait fish patterns five
to seven inches long). They were using eight weight fly rods
with three hundred grain sink tip lines. This technique resulted
in several trophy browns.
Crooked Creek is still not fishing well. The water
is low and clear but still a bit cold for the smallmouth to be
active. As the weather warms and the water temperature reaches
fifty five degrees we can expect the smallmouth action to improve.
With the hot action centered on the upper White
River , the fishing pressure has been much lighter on the Norfork
of late. That coupled with lower flows and reliable wadable water
has created some greatly improved fishing. Though I have not
heard any reports of a shad kill here, anglers have reported
success with white jigs and white woolly buggers. The better
fishing has been on the lower river below the Ackerman Access.
The fish seem to be running a bit larger there. Another hot spot
has been Quarry Park below Norfork dam. There have been some
spectacular midge hatches on sunny days. The best fly for this
hatch has been Dan's turkey tail emerger is size eighteen through
twenty two.
Dry Run Creek has fished particularly well during
the past week. We had some nice warm days that were perfect for
youngsters. There is quite a bit of tree cover here and the key
to success is to have your young angler work a short line. Hot
flies during the past week have been sowbugs, egg patterns and
San Juan worms. Use heavy tippet (at least 4X), carry a very
big net and take great care when releasing fish. Do not forget
to take a camera. While you are there take the time to visit
the adjacent National Fish Hatchery. The tour is fascinating.
Be sure and remove your waders before entering the hatchery to
prevent the transfer of aquatic diseases.
March 3, 2009 - Greers Ferry Lake - Submitted by Fish Finders
Fish Service - The water level is still on the rise if
they are not generating , the level is at 461.28 and the temp
ranges today from 46 to 50 degrees and rising .
The walleye bite is on and it will not take over
a week and it will be pretty much done , until the lake walleye
spawn and the river walleye return to the lake for the big feed.
try jig head minnows and grubs, jerk baits , big bream and crank
baits at night
The whites and hybrids that were up river retreated
to the mouths after cold and have suspended and hard to catch,
if we can get a couple of days sun the bite will be on full blast
forsure, try spoons,in-line spinners and grubs for all the action
and even some swim baits.
No-report on the bream or catfish
The crappie are really doing good with a lot of
limits being caught on jigs and jigs with minnows right on the
bank.
The bass are back on again this week , with jerkbaits
crank baits and spinnerbaits working , just about anything you
have in your box is working this week even in the colder water.
Tommy Cauley
March 2, 2009 - Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood
Lake Guide Service - The Overall Picture:
Navigation conditions in Little River are cautioned due to missing
river bouys.
As of Monday 02 March, Largemouth Bass are fair to good, over
the past week, with warmer water temps. Best still, during the
mid-day hours, up to 4 and 6 pounds, when the bite is markedly
improved. RatLTraps, Spinnerbaits, jigs & worms are the best
baits for Bass over the past several weeks.
Clarity along main lake channel and Little River worsened over
the past week with the lake wind advisories which have been issues
lately. Some high density broken, vegetation and floating mats
remain in Little River, due to current in the river.
As of Monday, 02 March, the lake level is 4.2" above normal
pool, and slowly rising. The main lake and Little River's water
surface temperatures are currently ranging from approx 49º
to 54ºF, depending of course, on location and time of day.
Lake level on Millwood as of Monday, 02 February, is at 259.55
feet. Normal conservation pool is 259.20 feet.
Decreased current this week from last, at the dam in Little River
of 774 CFS as of Monday, 02 March. Main lake clarity / visibility
approx 3-5" away from any remaining current in Little River.
The river clarity is approx 5-6". High wind or thunderstorms
can have a dramatic impact and effect on main lake clarity merely
in a matter of hours. Use caution in Little River as there are
many missing river buoys noted between Yarborough point and Outlaw
Trail due to high wind over the past week, as well as further
down river along the main lake. 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 away from current in Little River.
The tailwater elevation on Monday 02 March was 225.99 feet. Discharge/
Release Rate at the spillway of 774 CFS is with 2 tainer gates
open at 1 foot each. Open gates are gates # 1 and # 13. Use caution
in navigation on Little River during low light conditions due
to debris, broken vegetation still present floating downstream,
and the missing river buoys.
The Details:
Largemouth Bass: The past few weeks we are finding more fishermen
out with the warmer weather, and the level of bass activity heating
up, between cold fronts. Bass from 3 pounds and up to 6 pounds
each are improving between cold fronts, and are fair to good,
definitely are in prespawn condition. Bite improved early last
week with aggression, then cold fronts slammed Millwood and pushed
the fish back out to deeper water and shut down the bite. Late
February and early March can be a tricky time of year for a consistent
bite.
The bite remains the best by far, during the warmest hours of
the day, on slow moving, heavy, 3/4 to 1 ounce sizes RatLTraps
and slow rolling heavy thumping spinner baits and crankbaits,
mostly from around noon to 3pm. The most consistent reaction
bite during heat of the day over the past week was slow rolling,
3/4 to 1 ounce size Rat-L-Traps in Toledo Gold, Millwood Magic,
or Red Shad colors deflecting off stumps, laydowns, standing
timber, and cover. RatLTraps in Red Chrome are best on sunny
days, and are beginning to catch some nice 3-6 pound pre-spawn,
egg laden females. Fire tiger or Red Coach Dog colors in Rat-L-Traps
or crankbaits are work best, if the water is heavier stained
clarity.
Slow rolling, heavy thumping spinnerbaits in Spot Remover or
Aurora colors in the clearer water are working, the keyword being
SLOW. Bass Assassin trick worms, charms, or Senkos wacky rigged,
around hydrilla, lily pad stems, and pondweed are working randomly
but again, the key is SLOW with a light wire hook and no weight
or a very light 1/32oz belly weighted hook. Best colors for Charm
Assassins and trick worms are the sherbet or methiolate (stained
water) and watermelon-red or salt 'n pepper silver phantom in
the clearer water. 5" Salty Rat Tails, wacky rigged, are
beginning to turn a few good keeper size bass in watermelon red,
smoke/blue, or purple smoke on points with vegetation remaining
Don't overlook underwater points in Little River where creek
junctions drop off and dump into the River for the cranks or
slow moving the big bulky 3/4oz sized Rat-L-Traps to key in on
keeper size fish! When you think your retrieve is slow enough,
slow down again on your retrieve.
Best jig colors thus far over the past couple weeks, remain metallic
amber/pumpkinseed, Texas Craw, or black/blue color combinations.
Pitching jigs and bulky 8" to 10" mag-tail rib-worms
to stumps or cypress tree knees, near deep water is working along
Little River and in the main lake.
7 to 10" worms are sporadically working for 3-4 and up to
a 7 lb bass on occasion, (from 15" to 20" size bass)
and best colors working over the past few weeks for large bulky
worms are black grape, plum, blue fleck, or peanut butter/jelly.
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: Whites continue biting well with total abandon between
cold fronts, over the past 2-3 weeks, up Little River. Whites
were best on 1/2 or 3/4 oz Rat-L-Traps in Diamond Dust, Millwood
Magic, and Red Craw colors and on 1/2 oz Rooster Tails in chrome/red
or white colors. Numbers of White Bass up to 30 or 40, an hour
are not uncommon. We estimate the annual spawn run up Little
River around Highway 71 bridge, would begin to be seen over the
next few weeks, if past years are any indication.
Crappie: Few more Crappie fishermen were out early this week
with the warming trend in weather. Crappie are beginning to bunch
up and bite again with the clearer water this week. Best bet
over the past week, continued on Blakemore Roadrunners, or Rocket
Shads, in white and chartreuse colors in the heavier stained
water clarity areas of creeks with current, around cypress trees,
or in planted brush piles on Tiny Tubes or 2" Bass Assassin
Shads in Electric Chicken colors. Start around cypress trees
in any major creek, and watch your electronics for bait fish
or stacked Crappie around the deeper drop depths.
Channel Cats: Channel Cats and Blues continue to bite fairly
well, and have ben caught over the past couple weeks, on trot
lines and yo-yo's, along Little River. Blues, mud cats, and channel
cats in the 8-12 pound range are biting good on cut shad, chicken
livers and Charlie, are working near any current along Little
River.
}><(((º> Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions
Report <º)))><{
Navigation conditions in Little River are cautioned due to missing
river buoys.
Clarity along main lake channel and Little River worsened over
the past week with the lake wind advisories which have been issues
lately. Some high density broken, vegetation and floating mats
remain in Little River, due to current in the river.
As of Monday, 02 March, the lake level is 4.2" above normal
pool, and slowly rising. The main lake and Little River's water
surface temperatures are currently ranging from approx 49º
to 54ºF, depending of course, on location and time of day.
Lake level on Millwood as of Monday, 02 February, is at 259.55
feet. Normal conservation pool is 259.20 feet.
Decreased current this week from last, at the dam in Little River
of 774 CFS as of Monday, 02 March. Main lake clarity / visibility
approx 3-5" away from any remaining current in Little River.
The river clarity is approx 5-6". High wind or thunderstorms
can have a dramatic impact and effect on main lake clarity merely
in a matter of hours. Use caution in Little River as there are
many missing river buoys noted between Yarborough point and Outlaw
Trail due to high wind over the past week, as well as further
down river along the main lake. 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 away from current in Little River.
The tailwater elevation on Monday 02 March was 225.99 feet. Discharge/
Release Rate at the spillway of 774 CFS is with 2 tainer gates
open at 1 foot each. Open gates are gates # 1 and # 13. Use caution
in navigation on Little River during low light conditions due
to debris, broken vegetation still present floating downstream,
and the missing river buoys.
Mike
February 28, 2009
- White River - Submitted by Berry Brothers Guides
- JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 2/28/2009
Over the past week, we have had no discernable
rain, some very heavy winds and some generally warm temperatures.
All of the lakes in the White River system have dropped significantly
but remain in flood pool. The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam fell
two and four tenths of a foot to rest at five tenths of a foot
above power pool of 654.00 feet. This is forty and five tenths
feet below the top of flood pool. Up stream, Table Rock Lake
fell five tenths of a foot to rest at four tenths of a foot above
power pool or fifteen and six tenths feet below the top of flood
pool. Beaver Lake fell one and one tenth of a foot to rest at
five tenths of a foot above power pool or nine and one tenth
feet below the top of flood pool. The pattern on the White was
for heavy generation around the clock. Norfork Lake has fallen
two feet to rest at seven tenths of a foot above power pool of
552.00 feet or twenty seven and three tenths feet below the top
of flood pool. There has been heavy generation on the Norfork.
There were a couple of very brief windows of no generation on
the Norfork that created some good wading. With the current lake
levels and mild weather, I would predict wadable water in the
near future on both rivers.
Remember that there is a new slot limit on Brown
trout. All browns less than twenty four inches must be released
immediately no matter where they are caught on the White and
Norfork Rivers . Only one brown trout may be kept in the daily
limit of five trout.
This past week the conditions created a perfect
storm and the shad kill kicked into high gear. This has been
the best one that has occurred in several years with the trout
absolutely keying in on the shad. There were numerous instances
where the feeding was so heavy that many trout were feeding on
floating shad and anglers were taking good fish on shad surface
patterns.
The shad kill occurs when there are low temperatures
are coupled with high levels of generation. Watch for gulls feeding
in the dam discharge to signal that the shad are coming through.
The most effective flies have been white marabou jigs and white
bead head woolly buggers. For fishing this area during high levels
of generation, I generally use long 4X tippets (a twelve foot
leader tippet combination). Use plenty of lead to get the fly
down and a big strike indicator to float it all. When fishing
floating shad patterns use stout tippet (4X) to cast these heavy
flies.
When you are fishing in this area, please be careful
and do not drag chains through the redds. Disturbing them could
destroy the wild brown trout eggs recently deposited there. We
do not want to eliminate the next generation of wild brown trout.
In addition, dragging chains in high water is dangerous. If the
chain grabs the bottom, it could easily swamp the boat.
The shad kill has been so heavy that at times the
trout were gorged on shad and quit feeding. When you find yourself
in this situation, drift down stream until you encounter feeding
fish. There have been reliable reports of excellent fishing from
Bull Shoals down to Rim Shoals.
The Catch and Release section at Rim Shoals is
the area that has wadable water available as long as they are
generating below seventeen thousand cubic feet per second. To
access these spots contact Gary Flipin at Rim Shoals Trout Dock
to ferry you to wadable water with his water taxi. The cost is
nominal.
If you are fishing below Rim Shoals, you need to
concentrate on conventional high water tactics. Brightly colored
San Juan worms and egg patterns dead drifted along banks and
over weed beds with a lot of extra lead and big strike indicators.
The hot technique for the big browns is to bang the bank with
sculpin patterns on sink tip and full sinking lines. Kiwi muddlers,
zoo cougars and Mengle's Ozark sculpins would be good fly choices.
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 a bit better of late. Though
I have not heard any reports of a shad kill here, anglers have
reported success with white jigs and white woolly buggers. There
have been some big browns caught on large streamers cast at the
bank. You do not catch a lot of fish this way but you can hook
up with some really big trout. This is the best way to catch
large browns.
Dry Run Creek has been a busy place recently. There
are plenty of big fish and eager young anglers. If your favorite
spot is taken, move around. There are big fish every where. The
hot flies are sowbugs, San Juan worms and woolly buggers. Do
not forget to take the biggest net you can lay your hands on.
Most fish are lost at the net. Use heavy tippet, at least 4X.
Carry a camera to record the fish of a lifetime.
February 24, 2009
- Greers Ferry Lake - Submitted by Fish Finders
Fish Service - The lake level is at 461.80 and falling
they rae trying to get it down before spring rains, the temp
ranges from 44 degrees to 50 degrees.
The walleye bite is going on slow some days better
others it is that time of year and a couple of days warm sun
shine the bite will get good and especially at nite , some are
being caught all over the lake with one over 28 inches leading
the tournament so fro , try crank baits jigs tipped with minnows.
The crappie are still going pretty good in the
pole timber with jigs tipped with minnows or by their selves
in 15-20 feet of water
No-report on bream or catfish
The hybrids and whites are staging to make their
run as well up the rivers and can be caught with spoons , swimbaits
and in-line spinners over a variety of the lake , use your electronics
to help find them.
The bass are on the move starting the pre-spawn
feeding mode look in all the tradional areas and throw traps,
crankbaits,spinnernbaits and jerkbaits for the best bites and
deeper fish can be caught on jigs and c-rigged lizards
Tommy Cauley
February 23, 2009
- Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood Lake Guide
Service
The Overall Picture:
Navigation conditions in Little River are normal.
As of Monday 23 February, Largemouth Bass are good, improved
again over past week, with warmer water temps. Best still, during
the mid-day hours, up to 6 and 8 pounds, when the bite is markedly
improved. RatLTraps, Spinnerbaits, jigs & worms are the best
baits for Bass over the past several weeks.
Clarity along main lake channel and Little River improved this
week with the decrease in current, of Little River. 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, 23 February, the lake level is 2" above normal
pool, and slowly falling. The main lake and Little River's water
surface temperatures are currently ranging from approx 48º
to 52ºF, depending of course, on location and time of day.
Lake level on Millwood as of Monday, 23 February, is slowly falling,
at 259.35 feet. Normal conservation pool is 259.20 feet.
Decreased current this week from last, at the dam in Little River
of 1,548 CFS as of Monday, 23 Feb. Main lake clarity / visibility
approx 8-10" away from any remaining current in Little River.
The river clarity is approx 6-9". High wind or thunderstorms
can have a dramatic 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 away from current in Little River.
The tailwater elevation on Monday 23 February was unavailable.
Discharge/ Release Rate at the spillway of 1,548 CFS is with
4 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.
The Details:
Largemouth Bass: The past few weeks we are finding more fishermen
out with the warmer weather, and the level of bass activity heating
up. Bass from 3 pounds and up to 10 pounds each are good and
definitely are in prespawn condition. The bite remains best by
far, during the fewest warm hours of the day, on slow moving,
heavy, 3/4 to 1 ounce sizes RatLTraps and slow rolling heavy
thumping spinner baits and crankbaits, mostly in the heat of
the afternoon. The most consistent reaction bite during heat
of the day over the past week was slow rolling, 3/4 to 1 ounce
size Rat-L-Traps in Toledo Gold, Millwood Magic, or Red Shad
colors deflecting off stumps, laydowns, standing timber, and
cover. RatLTraps in Red Chrome are best on sunny days, and are
beginning to catch some nice 3-8 pound pre-spawn, egg laden females.
Slow rolling, heavy thumping spinnerbaits in Spot Remover or
Aurora colors in the less stained water clarity are working,
the keyword being SLOW. Bass Assassin trick worms and charm worms,
wacky rigged, around hydrilla, lily pad stems, and pondweed are
working randomly but again, the key is SLOW with a light wire
hook and no weight or a very light 1/32oz belly weighted hook.
Best colors for Charm Assassin trick worms are the sherbet or
methiolate (stained water) and salt 'n pepper silver phantom
(clearer water) colors. The best bet around the remaining vegetation
is dead-sticking a Bass Assassin Shad or twitch worm in white
or clear/silver flake. Fire tiger colors in Rat-L-Traps or crankbaits
are work best, if the water is heavier stained clarity.
Don't overlook underwater points in Little River where creek
junctions drop off and dump into the River for the cranks or
slow moving the big bulky 3/4oz sized Rat-L-Traps to key in on
keeper size fish! When you think your retrieve is slow enough,
slow down again on your retrieve.
Best jig colors thus far over the past couple weeks, remain metallic
amber/pumpkinseed, peanut butter and jelly color, or Texas Craw
colors. Pitching jigs and bulky 8" to 10" mag-tail
ribworms to stumps or cypress tree knees, near deep water is
working along Little River and in the main lake. The worms and
jigs will work for 3-4 and up to a 8 lb bass on occasion, (from
15" to 20" size bass) and best colors working over
the past few weeks are plum, blue fleck, or peanut butter/jelly,
once the sun gets up and the bass become more active from the
cooler early 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. 5" Salty Rat
Tails, wacky rigged, are beginning to turn a few good keeper
size bass in watermelon red, smoke/blue, or purple smoke on points
with vegetation remaining.
White Bass: Whites continue biting well with total abandon, over
the past 2-3 weeks, in McGuire oxbow up Little River. Whites
were best on 1/2 or 3/4 oz Rat-L-Traps in Diamond Dust, Millwood
Magic, and Red Craw colors. Numbers of White Bass up to 30 or
40, an hour are not uncommon. We estimate the annual migration,
spring run up Little River around Highway 71 bridge, would begin
to be seen over the next few weeks, in late February to early
March, if past years are any indication.
Crappie: Few more Crappie fishermen were out early this week
with the warming trend in weather. Crappie are beginning to bunch
up and bite again with the clearer water this week. Best bet
for the past week, were on Blakemore Roadrunners in white and
chartreuse colors in the heavier stained water clarity areas
of creeks with current, around cypress trees, or in planted brush
piles on Tiny Tubes or 2" Bass Assassin Shads in Electric
Chicken colors. Start around cypress trees in any major creek,
and watch your electronics for bait fish or stacked Crappie around
the deeper drop depths.
Channel Cats: Channel Cats and Blues continue to bite fairly
well, and have ben caught over the past week, on trot lines and
yo-yo's, along Little River. Blues, mud cats, and channel cats
in the 8-12 pound range are biting good on cut shad, hot dogs,
and home made blood bait, are working near any current along
Little River.
}><(((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 with the decrease in current, of Little River. 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, 23 February, the lake level is 2" above normal
pool and slowly falling. The main lake and Little River's water
surface temperatures are currently ranging from approx 48º
to 52ºF, depending of course, on location and time of day.
Lake level on Millwood as of Monday, 23 February, is slowly falling,
at 259.35 feet. Normal conservation pool is 259.20 feet.
Decreased current this week from last, at the dam in Little River
of 1,548 CFS as of Monday, 23 Feb. Main lake clarity / visibility
approx 8-10" away from any remaining current in Little River.
The river clarity is approx 6-9". High wind or thunderstorms
can have a dramatic 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 away from current in Little River.
The tailwater elevation on Monday 23 February was unavailable.
Discharge/ Release Rate at the spillway of 1,548 CFS is with
4 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
February 21, 2009
- White River - Submitted by Berry Brothers Guides
- JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 2/21/2009
Over the past week, we have had a couple of minor
rain events, some very heavy winds and some unseasonably cold
and then warm temperatures. In the overall, the lakes in the
White River system have eased down a bit but remain in flood
pool. The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam fell one tenth of a foot
to rest at two and nine tenths feet above power pool of 654.00
feet. This is thirty eight and one tenth feet below the top of
flood pool. Up stream, Table Rock Lake rose one tenth of a foot
to rest at nine tenths of a foot above power pool or fifteen
and one tenth feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake rose
eight tenths of a foot to rest at one and six tenths of a foot
above power pool or eight feet below the top of flood pool. The
pattern on the White was for heavy generation around the clock.
Norfork Lake has fallen six tenths of a foot to rest at two and
seven tenths of a foot below power pool of 552.00 feet or twenty
five and three tenths feet below the top of flood pool. There
has been heavy generation on the Norfork. With heavy generation
around the clock there has been no safe wading on either river.
Remember that there is a new slot limit on Brown
trout. All browns less than twenty four inches must be released
immediately no matter where they are caught on the White and
Norfork Rivers . Only one brown trout may be kept in the daily
limit of five trout.
The major action in the area has been on the upper
White. The long awaited opening of the Catch and Release section
at Bull Shoals Dam drew large numbers of anglers from inside
and outside the immediate area. There has also been some shad
coming through the dam. While there has not been a huge feeding
frenzy like in the past, there have been enough pulses of shad
from time to time to have the trout keying in on shad patterns.
The shad kill occurs when there are low temperatures
are coupled with high levels of generation. Watch for gulls feeding
in the dam discharge to signal that the shad are coming through.
The most effective flies have been white marabou jigs and white
bead head woolly buggers. For fishing this area during high levels
of generation, I generally use long 4X tippets (a twelve foot
leader tippet combination). Use plenty of lead to get the fly
down and a big strike indicator to float it all.
When you are fishing in this area, please be careful
and do not drag chains through the redds. Disturbing them could
destroy the wild brown trout eggs recently deposited there. We
do not want to eliminate the next generation of wild brown trout.
In addition, dragging chains in high water is dangerous. If the
chain grabs the bottom, it could easily swamp the boat.
The Catch and Release section at Rim Shoals has
been spotty. One day it fishes well and the next day it is not
as productive. The shad kill can affect the fishing down here.
Though it is twenty four miles below the dam there have been
some good fish caught on white jigs. This is the area that has
wadable water available as long as they are generating below
seventeen thousand cubic feet per second. To access these spots
contact Gary Flipin at Rim Shoals Trout Dock to ferry you to
wadable water with his water taxi. The cost is nominal.
With some of the heavier flows, we need to remember our high
water tactics. Brightly colored San Juan worms and egg patterns
dead drifted along banks and over weed beds with a lot of extra
lead and big strike indicators. The hot technique for the big
browns is to bang the bank with sculpin patterns on sink tip
and full sinking lines. Kiwi muddlers, zoo cougars and Mengle's
Ozark sculpins would be good fly choices. You will need a stout
rod (six weight or better), as these can be a bit more difficult
to cast.
Crooked Creek has slowed considerably. The water
temperature has dipped below fifty five degrees and the Smallmouth
have pretty much shut down. In addition the recent rains stained
the water.
The days of wadable water on the Norfork are over
for a while. The higher flows around the clock have ended that.
I have not heard any reports of a shad kill here. Concentrate
on traditional high water tactics as described above. Sculpin
patterns fished through deep holes have accounted for some nice
browns.
Dry Run Creek has received a bit more pressure
lately. The warmer temperatures on some days have tempted a few
young anglers and they were rewarded with some great trout. The
dominant food source is sowbugs. San Juan worms in worm brown
and olive woolly buggers have also accounted for some nice fish.
Be sure and pinch down those barbs. It is the law. I always carry
a big net as most trophy trout are lost at the net. Don't forget
the camera. The fish of a lifetime deserves a great photograph.
February 18, 2009
- Norfork - Submitted by 101 Grocery and Bait - Norfork Lake Fishing
Report by Tim Partin 101 Grocery and Bait.
2/16/09 Norfork Lake water level is near 556 above
mean sea level that is about 4 feet above normal level of 552msl.
FYI, Norfork Lake is not 552 feet deep. The water surface temperature
is around 40 degrees.
We would like to thank everyone for their phone
calls and emails these past weeks. We got a little over 11/2
inches of ice here and we were lucky we were without electric
for only one week. Some are still without electricity. There
was some tree limb damage around the area. Every thing is beginning
to get back to normal. Fishing has been slow. With the rain we
received last week it has made for some muddy water the past
few days. It will begin to clear up in a few days and the fishing
will pick up. SPRING it getting near. Now would be a great time
to plan your next fishing trip to Norfork Lake, make some reservations
at your favorite cabin, and maybe do maintenance on some fishing
gear. Re-spool those reels with some new line and remember to
recycle that fishing line, you can drop it off here at 101 Grocery
and Bait or at most any other outdoor sporting goods store. Clean
out the tackle box see what needs repaired or replaced, check
the rods for cracks and bad eyes. You don't want to have that
record fish almost to the boat just about to put the net out
and snap your rod breaks or your line snaps just because. Wow
there goes your trophy and your one of a kind lure that had him.
If only I had checked out my gear.
Have Fun Go Fishin.
Greg Weinmann
February 17, 2009
- Greers Ferry Lake - Submitted by Fish Finders
Fish Service - The water level at greers ferry is at
462.83 and falling , they are pulling water pretty fast I do
presume to at least try and get it back to normal pool before
spring rains, the temp varies from 46 degrees to 50 degrees and
rising when the sun shines.
The warm rain has put everything on the move as
expected.
Some pretty good walleye have been caught the last
few days and should get nothing but better as we go forward ,
try jigheads tipped with minnows, deep diving rebels, wally divers
, bottom bouncers with minnows or small c-rigged minnows or a
3-way and fish slow, on cloudy days try rouges or swim grubs
real slow , and if you think you are fishing slow enough slow
down some more , try main lake entrances to rivers and creeks
right now but they will be on the move as more will start filtering
up as time progresses from now until they are done .
A lot of the whites and hybrids are suspended right
now with them pulling water , but they will bite swimming a grub
or a swimbait or in-line spinner through them , if the sun is
out they will be on the bottom more and can be caught with a
spoon better , they will be close to bait and will be moving
to spawning grounds soon also.
The crappie fishing has gotten back better after
the mudline has moved down the lake some, and the water has gotten
cleaner, try jigs tipped with minnows in the pole timber 15-20
deep in creek bends or try casting roadrunners and reeling them
in real slow in the same areas.
No-report on bream
No-report on catfish
The bass fishing is good with a lot of different
baits, try jerk baits around shad as we will be having a shad
die off soon if it has not already started and of course wiggle
warts will work , especially on sunny days with a little breeze
on main lake and some secondary points, spinnerbaits and traps
will work also other wise try footballheads or c-rigs for the
deeper fish
Tommy Cauley
February 12, 2009
- White River - Submitted by Berry Brothers Guides
-JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 2/12/2009
Over the past week, we have had a significant rain
event, some very heavy winds and some unseasonably warm temperatures.
The lakes in the White River system have all risen and are in
flood pool. The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam rose one and six
tenths of a foot 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 rose one foot to rest at eight tenths
of a foot above power pool or fifteen and two tenths feet below
the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake rose one and six tenths of
a foot to rest at eight tenths of a foot above power pool or
eight and eight tenths feet below the top of flood pool. The
pattern on the White was for no generation over the weekend and
heavy generation during the week. Norfork Lake has risen two
and six tenths of a foot to rest at three and three tenths of
a foot below power pool of 552.00 feet or twenty four and seven
tenths feet below the top of flood pool. There has been limited
generation on the Norfork with significant periods of no generation
and a few days of heavy generation. This again has created some
truly spectacular wading.
Remember that there is a new slot limit on Brown
trout. All browns less than twenty four inches must be released
immediately no matter where they are caught on the White and
Norfork Rivers .
The major action in the area has been on the upper
White. The long awaited opening of the Catch and Release section
at Bull Shoals Dam drew large numbers of anglers from inside
and outside the immediate area. It was definitely crowded at
times. The hot flies were egg patterns in orange and peach. Midge
patterns, particularly Dan's turkey tail emerger accounted for
some nice fish.
When you are fishing in this area please be careful
and do not walk through the Redds (brown trout spawning beds).
They appear as clean depressions in the gravel. On higher flows
do not drag chains through the area. Disturbing redds could destroy
the wild brown trout eggs recently deposited there. We do not
want to eliminate the next generation of wild brown trout.
The Narrows has been fishing particularly well.
Though several anglers have been fishing there, all have been
catching trout. Olive woolly buggers and black zebra midges have
been the go to flies. Be careful when fishing here. The river
can come up fast. Leave as soon as you detect rising water.
Wildcat Shoals has been a real hot spot. The lower
shoals have fished particularly well with partridge and orange
soft hackles and Dan's turkey tail emerger, while the upper section
has fished well with a variety of nymphs. Try Y2Ks, olive scuds
and sowbugs.
Roundhouse Shoals has been another hot spot. This
section is one of the easiest areas to access in the area. While
the crowds have been light, the fishing has been good. Swinging
olive or black woolly buggers in heavier water has been particularly
effective. Another hot technique has been to high stick nymphs
like the olive scud, Y2K and sowbug in fast water. Take care
when wading here as there is quite a bit of bedrock. If you have
them, wear studded boots.
The Catch and Release section at Rim Shoals has
been spotty. One day it fishes well and the next day it is not
as productive. However, this is one of the areas that have wadable
water available even when they are generating. To access these
spots contact Gary Flipin at Rim Shoals Trout Dock ferry you
to wadable water with his water taxi. The cost is nominal.
With some of the heavier flows, we need to remember
our high water tactics. Brightly colored San Juan worms and egg
patterns dead drifted along banks and over weed beds with a lot
of extra lead and big strike indicators. The hot technique for
the big browns is to bang the bank with sculpin patterns on sink
tip and full sinking lines. You will need a stout rod (six weight
or better), as these can be a bit more difficult to cast.
Crooked Creek has slowed considerably. The water
temperature has dipped below fifty five degrees and the Smallmouth
have pretty much shut down. In addition the recent rains have
raised the level and considerably stained the water.
The Norfork has not fished well during the past
week. There has been a lot of fishing pressure here, more than
any other area. My favorite time to fish it is on Sunday afternoon
or during the week when the out of town anglers have headed home.
The go to flies have been olive scuds, sowbugs and orange micro
eggs. Worm brown San Juan worms have also produced fish. Sculpin
patterns fished through deep holes have accounted for some nice
browns.
Dry Run Creek has been fishing well, as always.
The warmer temperatures tempted a few young anglers and they
were rewarded with some great trout. The dominant food source
is sowbugs. Be sure and pinch down those barbs. It is the law.
I always carry a big net and a camera. The fish are huge.
Practice water safety and always check conditions
before you leave home.
John Berry is a fly fishing guide in Cotter, Arkansas
and has fished our local streams for over twenty five years.
February 10, 2009
- Greers Ferry Lake - Submitted by Fish Finders
Fish Service -
The water level at greers ferry is at 461.63 and
trying to rise, but they are releasing water through the turbines
as fast as they can and its really staying about the same level
and the temps will rise after this warm rain.
Walleyes, not much of a report pretty slow, the
world walleye classic will start on February 14th and run through
march 21st, the bite should really pick up after this warm rain
and with a couple of days sun .
Bass fishing slowed a little this week with the
change in weather , should we say shock, this should really help
the trap and spinnerbait bite as well as wiggle warts be good
and c-rigs and football heads out deeper and in the clearer water
the jerkbaits should work really well now.
No report crappie this week
No report bream or catfish
The whites should be thinking rivers also and the
bite will be good from here on through may
The hybrids will be thinking of dumping their eggs
also, some will do it in the rivers and some in the main lake.
Tommy Cauley
February 9, 2009 -
Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood Lake Guide
Service
The Overall Picture:
Navigation conditions in Little River are normal.
As of Monday 9 February, Largemouth Bass are good, improved over
last week, with warmer water temps. Best still, during the mid-day
hours, up to 6 and 8 pounds, when the bite is markedly improved.
RatLTraps, Spinnerbaits, jigs & grubs are the best baits
for Bass over the past several weeks.
Clarity along main lake channel and Little River slightly worse
this week w/ high wind lake advisories and increase in current
in Little River, and lake is only slightly above normal conservation
pool. 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, 9 February, the lake level is approx 3" above
normal pool. The main lake and Little River's water surface temperatures
are currently ranging from approx 48º to 52ºF, depending
of course, on location and time of day. Lake level on Millwood
as of Monday, 9 February, is slowly falling, at 259.74 feet.
Normal conservation pool is 259.20 feet.
Reduced in current this week from last week, at the dam in Little
River at 1,550 CFS as of Monday, 9 Feb. Main lake clarity / visibility
approx 8-9" away from any remaining current in Little River.
The river clarity is approx 5-8". 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 away from current in Little River.
The tailwater elevation on Monday 9 February was 227.63 feet.
Discharge/ Release Rate at the spillway of 1,550 CFS is with
4 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.
The Details:
Largemouth Bass: The past week we have found more fishermen out
with the warmer weather over this past week. Bass from 2 pounds
and up to 8 pounds each, are best by far during the fewest warm
hours of the day, on slow moving, heavy, 3/4 to 1 ounce sizes
RatLTraps and slow rolling heavy thumping spinner baits and crankbaits,
at random periods throughout the day, mostly in the heat of the
afternoon. The most consistent reaction bite during heat of the
day over the past week was slow moving, white 3/4 to 1 ounce
size Rat-L-Traps in Toledo Gold, Diamond Dust, or Red Shad colors
deflecting off stumps, laydowns, standing timber, and cover.
RatLTraps in Red Chrome are best on sunny days, and are beginning
to catch some nice 3-8 pound pre-spawn, egg laden females. Red
Shad colored Jig'n Traps with gold tail spinner, continue to
take some nice 3-4 pound keeper size bass early in the week over
deep water structure in Little River by yo-yoing the Jig'n Traps
1-5 feet off the bottom where baitfish schools are present.
Slow rolling, heavy thumping white/chart spinnerbaits with gold
Colorado blades, and white or smoke colored grubs on light wire
jig heads with rattles imbedded in them, parallel to any remaining
vegetation are working, the keyword being SLOW. Bass Assassin
trick worms and charm worms, wacky rigged, around hydrilla, lily
pad stems, and pondweed are working randomly but again, the key
is SLOW with a light wire hook and no weight or a very light
1/32oz belly weighted hook. Best colors for Charm Assassin trick
worms are the sherbet or methiolate (stained water) and salt
'n pepper silver phantom (clearer water) colors. The best bet
around the remaining vegetation is dead-sticking a Bass Assassin
Shad or twitch worm in white or clear/silver flake or slow rolling
a heavy 3/4oz spinnerbait in deeper water, in Aurora, Spot Remover,
or fire tiger if the water is heavier stained clarity.
Crankbaits like the Bomber Fat Free Shad in firetiger, are taking
good keeper size bass from 16-19" in length in the heavier
stained water clarity. Don't overlook underwater points in Little
River where creek junctions drop off and dump into the River
for the cranks or the big bulky 3/4oz sized Rat-L-Traps to key
in on keeper size fish! When you think your retrieve is slow
enough, slow down another 10-20% on the reel handle!
Best jig colors thus far, remain peanut butter/jelly, pumpkinseed/chartreuse
or Texas Craw colors. Pitching jigs and 8" mag-tail ribworms
to stumps or cypress tree knees, near deep water is working along
Little River and in the main lake. The worms and jigs will work
for 3-4 and up to a 8 lb bass on occasion, (from 15" to
20" size bass) and best colors working over the past few
weeks are Plum, Black Neon or Pumpkinseed/ chart tail, once the
sun gets up and the bass become more active from the cooler morning
water temperatures, during the warmest periods of the day. 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: Whites were biting well and with total abandon, over
the past week in McGuire oxbow up Little River. Whites were best
on 1/2 or 3/4 oz Rat-L-Traps in Diamond Dust, Silver, and Red
Craw colors. Two fishermen caught and released over 30 Whites
in 45 minutes. We estimate the annual migration, spring run up
Little River around Highway 71 bridge, would begin to be seen
over the next few weeks, in late February to early March, if
past years are any indication.
Crappie: Few more Crappie fishermen were out this week with the
warming trend in weather. Crappie still remain scattered this
week and hard to entice a bite w/ the increase in muddy water
and current, as well. Best bet this past week for Crappie were
on Blakemore Roadrunners in white and chartreuse colors. Start
around cypress trees in any major creek, and watch your electronics
for bait fish or stacked Crappie around the deeper drop depths.
Channel Cats: Excellent bite for Channel Cats and Blues caught
over the past week, especially with the current in Little River.
Trot lines and yo-yo's, along Little River are yielding blues,
mud cats, and channel cats in the 8-12 pound range. Charlie,
chicken livers, and dog food were working near current along
Little River.
}><(((º> Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions
Report <º)))><{
Navigation conditions in Little River are normal.
Clarity along main lake channel and Little River slightly worse
this week w/ high wind lake advisories and increase in current
in Little River, and lake is only slightly above normal conservation
pool. 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, 9 February, the lake level is approx 3" above
normal pool. The main lake and Little River's water surface temperatures
are currently ranging from approx 48º to 52ºF, depending
of course, on location and time of day. Lake level on Millwood
as of Monday, 9 February, is slowly falling, at 259.74 feet.
Normal conservation pool is 259.20 feet.
Reduced in current this week from last week, at the dam in Little
River at 1,550 CFS as of Monday, 9 Feb. Main lake clarity / visibility
approx 8-9" away from any remaining current in Little River.
The river clarity is approx 5-8". 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 away from current in Little River.
The tailwater elevation on Monday 9 February was 227.63 feet.
Discharge/ Release Rate at the spillway of 1,550 CFS is with
4 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
February 3, 2009 -
Greers Ferry Lake - Submitted by Fish Finders
Fish Service -
The water level at greers ferry lake is at 461.59
and rising at present and the temp is at 45-48 degrees.
The warm rain expected should get the water temp
back up some and put the walleye on the move back up river and
will help the bite which has went to nothing.
The bass fishing continues to be good with jerk
baits crankbaits,traps and spinnerbaits up shallow as well as
football heads and c-rigs working 25-45 feet of water
The hybrids and whites can be found mostily at
40-45 feet deep and can be caught on spoons
No-report on the catfish or bream
Crappie are still being caught in the pole timber
15-20 feet deep on jigs and minnows
Tommy Cauley
February 2, 2009 -
Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood Lake Guide
Service
The Overall Picture:
Navigation conditions in Little River are normal.
As of Monday 2 February, Largemouth Bass are fair to good, but
slow with the cooler water temps, until the mid-day hours, (mostly
around 3.5 pounds, and an occasional 5 or 6 pounds) when the
bite is markedly improved. RatLTraps, Spinnerbaits, jigs &
grubs are the best baits for Bass over the past several weeks.
Clarity along main lake channel and Little River slightly worse
this week w/ high wind lake advisories and increase in current
in Little River, and lake is only slightly above normal conservation
pool. 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, 2 February, the lake level is approx 4" above
normal pool. The main lake and Little River's water surface temperatures
are currently ranging from approx 45º to 49ºF, depending
of course, on location and time of day. Lake level on Millwood
as of Monday, 2 February, slowly falling, at 259.74 feet. Normal
conservation pool is 259.20 feet.
Increase in current this week from last week, at the dam in Little
River at 4,380 CFS as of Monday, 2 February. Main lake clarity
/ visibility approx 3-8" away from any remaining current
in Little River. The river clarity is approx 3-5". 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 away from current in Little River.
The tailwater elevation on Monday 2 February was 231.97 feet.
Discharge/ Release Rate at the spillway of 4,380 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.
The Details:
Largemouth Bass: The past week we have found more fishermen out
with the warmer weather over this past week. Bass from 2 pounds
and up to 6 pounds each, are best by far during the fewest warm
hours of the day, on slow moving, heavy, 3/4 to 1 ounce sizes
RatLTraps and slow rolling heavy thumping spinner baits and crankbaits,
at random periods throughout the day, mostly in the heat of the
afternoon. The most consistent reaction bite during heat of the
day over the past week was slow moving, white 3/4 to 1 ounce
size Rat-L-Traps in Smokey Joe, Silver, or Diamond Dust colors
deflecting off stumps, laydowns, standing timber, and cover.
RatLTraps in Toledo Gold, Red Craw/Chart belly, and Red Chrome
(sunny days) colors are beginning to catch some nice 3-5 pound
pre-spawn, egg laden females. Jig'n Traps with gold tail spinner,
were taking some nice 3-4 pound keeper size bass early in the
week over deep water structure in Little River by yo-yoing the
Jig'n Traps 1-5 feet off the bottom where baitfish schools are
present.
Slow rolling, heavy thumping white/chart spinnerbaits with gold
Colorado blades, and white or smoke colored grubs on light wire
jig heads with rattles imbedded in them, parallel to any remaining
vegetation are working, the keyword being SLOW. Bass Assassin
trick worms and charm worms, wacky rigged, around hydrilla, lily
pad stems, and pondweed are working randomly but again, the key
is SLOW with a light wire hook and no weight or a very light
1/32oz belly weighted hook. Best colors for Charm Assassin trick
worms are the sherbet (stained water) and salt 'n pepper silver
phantom (clearer water) colors. The best bet around the remaining
vegetation is dead-sticking a Bass Assassin Shad or twitch worm
in white or clear/silver flake or slow rolling a heavy 3/4oz
spinnerbait in deeper water, in Aurora, Spot Remover, or fire
tiger if the water is heavier stained clarity.
Crankbaits and jigs have begun to incite a few good keeper size
bass over the past couple weeks, and is improving overall. Crankbaits
like the Bomber Fat Free Shad in firetiger, are taking good keeper
size bass from 16-19" in length. Don't overlook underwater
points in Little River where creek junctions drop off and dump
into the River for the cranks or the big bulky 3/4oz sized Rat-L-Traps
to key in on keeper size fish! When you think your retrieve is
slow enough, slow down another 10-20% on the reel handle!
Best jig colors thus far remain peanut butter/jelly, pumpkinseed/chartreuse
or Texas Craw colors. Pitching jigs and 8" mag-tail ribworms
to stumps near deep water is working along Little River and in
the main lake. The worms will work for 3-4 and up to a 6 lb bass
on occasion, (from 15" to 20" size bass) and best colors
working over the past few weeks are Plum, Black Neon or Pumpkinseed/chart
tail, once the sun gets up and the bass become more active from
the cooler morning water temperatures, during the warmest periods
of the day. 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: These nomadic, roaming fish have not been caught
with any reproducibility over the past 2-3 weeks. Try jigging
spoons with a hair bucktail, in deep holes in Little River where
you see suspended baitfish over 20+ feet of depth. We estimate
the annual migration, spring run up Little River around Highway
71 bridge, would begin to be seen over the next few weeks, in
late February to early March, if past years are any indication.
Crappie: Few more Crappie fishermen were out this week with the
warming trend in weather. Crappie still remain scattered this
week and hard to entice a bite w/ the increase in muddy water
and current, as well. They will be suspended in brush over 17-22'
of water one day, and gone the next. Best bet is to start around
15' and watch your electronics for bait fish or stacked Crappie
around the brush piles. Gradually run your jig or shiner down
to 18-22 feet until you connect with the bite.
Channel Cats: Excellent bite for Channel Cats and Blues caught
over the past week, especially with the increase in current.
Trot lines and yo-yo's, with the increase in water discharge
and current along Little River are yielding blues, mud cats,
and channel cats in the 8-12 pound range. Charlie, chicken livers,
and hot dogs were working near current along Little River.
}><(((º> Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions
Report <º)))><{
Navigation conditions in Little River are normal.
Clarity along main lake channel and Little River slightly worse
this week w/ high wind lake advisories and increase in current
in Little River, and lake is only slightly above normal conservation
pool. 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, 2 February, the lake level is approx 4" above
normal pool. The main lake and Little River's water surface temperatures
are currently ranging from approx 45º to 49ºF, depending
of course, on location and time of day. Lake level on Millwood
as of Monday, 2 February, slowly falling, at 259.74 feet. Normal
conservation pool is 259.20 feet.
Increase in current this week from last week, at the dam in Little
River at 4,380 CFS as of Monday, 2 February. Main lake clarity
/ visibility approx 3-8" away from any remaining current
in Little River. The river clarity is approx 3-5". 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 away from current in Little River.
The tailwater elevation on Monday 2 February was 231.97 feet.
Discharge/ Release Rate at the spillway of 4,380 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.
Mike
January 22, 2009 -
White River - Submitted by Berry
Brothers Guides - JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 1/22/2009
Over the past week we have had some cold and some
warm days, some very heavy winds but no measurable precipitation
during the past week (it is so dry that a burn ban has been announced
for Baxter and Marion Counties ); the lakes in the White River
system are all below flood pool and continue their steady fall.
The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam rose one and one tenth of a
foot to rest at eight tenths of a foot below power pool of 654.00
feet. This is forty one and eight tenths feet below the top of
flood pool. Up stream, Table Rock Lake fell one foot to one and
one tenth of a foot below power pool or seventeen and one tenth
feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell eight tenths
of a foot to rest at one and two tenths of a foot below power
pool or ten and eight tenths feet below the top of flood pool.
The pattern on the White was for light to heavy generation with
significant periods of wadable water and limited navigation.
Norfork Lake has fallen five tenths of a foot to rest at one
foot below power pool of 552.00 feet or twenty nine feet below
the top of flood pool. There has been limited generation on the
Norfork with significant periods of no generation every day.
This again has created some truly spectacular wading.
The low water has exposed significant changes in
the river channel. There is virtually no section that has remained
unchanged. When navigating the rivers at low water, take great
care. The channel may not be where you expect it to be.
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. It is only one week until the Catch
and Release section below Bull Shoals Dam opens for fishing.
The brown trout have been spawning in this area (they do not
feed during the spawn) and they have not been fished over.
Remember that there is a new slot limit on Brown
trout. All browns less than twenty four inches must be released
immediately no matter where they are caught on the White and
Norfork Rivers.
We had a minor shad kill last week. It occurred
at night and to my knowledge no one was able to take advantage
of it. The shad kill is a natural phenomenon where threadfin
shad are drawn through the turbines on the dams. The shad kill
produces a feeding frenzy that has to be seen to be believed.
For the shad kill to occur we must have very cold conditions
coupled with high generation. The first tell tale signs are gulls
feeding on them just below the dam.
The lower water and light traffic has resulted
in some pretty fantastic fishing conditions on the White River
. This is the first reliable wading we have had in almost a year.
The State Park is fishing well. The hot fly here has been the
peach egg and various midge patterns. Be careful on lower flows
to avoid walking through redds particularly in the seasonal Catch
and Release section.
Wildcat Shoals has been a real hot spot. The lower
shoals have fished particularly well with partridge and orange
soft hackles, while the upper section has fished well with a
variety of nymphs. Try Y2Ks, olive scuds and sowbugs.
Roundhouse Shoals has been another hot spot. While the crowds
have been light, the fishing has been good. Swinging olive woolly
buggers in heavier water has been particularly effective. Another
hot technique has been to high stick nymphs like the olive scud,
Y2K and sow bug in fast water.
The Catch and Release section at Rim Shoals is
fishing particularly well. The hot fly on lower water has been
the Y2K. You should also try sowbugs, olive scuds and midges
(size 14). Hot spots have been the back of the first island and
the Jenkins Creek area. If they are running water have Gary Flipin
at Rim Shoals Trout Dock ferry you to wadable water with his
water taxi. The cost is nominal.
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 not fished well during the past
week. The crowds from the three day holiday absolutely pounded
it. If you must fish there, you should go during the week when
it is not as crowded. My favorite time to fish it is on Sunday
afternoon when the out of town anglers have headed home. The
go to flies have been olive scuds, sowbugs and orange micro eggs.
Worm brown San Juan worms have also produced fish. Sculpin patterns
fished through deep holes have accounted for some nice trout.
Dry Run Creek has been fishing well, as always.
There has been virtually no one there. If you want a great day
on the water, take your youngster here on the next warm day.
The hot flies are sowbugs, San Juan worms and olive woolly buggers.
While you are there, take a few minutes to visit the adjacent
National Fish Hatchery. It is fascinating. Remember to remove
your waders before entering to prevent the spread of aquatic
diseases.
January 21, 2009 -
Greers Ferry Lake - Submitted by Fish Finders
Fish Service - The lake level is at 460.52 and falling
we are the only ones at the time providing generation as north
fork and bull are down now due to things beyond their control
and we will generate as needed for at least 2 weeks and it will
continue to fall accordily, the temp ranges from 31 degrees to
50
Part of the upper ends are froze now due to last
weeks cold temps and now it will take a while to get back up
like march or so, just maybe its over and a warming trend will
take place and that will help the fish.
No report on walleye this week
Bass are still going good on spinner baits crank
baits , jigs and also jerk baits all over the lake
No report catfish
No report bream
Crappie are still biting good in the pole timber
around 15-20 feet deep on jigs and minnows
Hybrids and whites are are still biting pretty
good in and around bait fish , use jigging spoons , hair jigs
and swimbaits, watch for the birds
Tommy Cauley
January 21, 2009 -
Norfork - Submitted by 101 Grocery and Bait - Burrrrrr, that's
how it has been here on Norfork Lake, one day the air temperature
is in the 50's next day it's in the low 30's for the high. The
lake level is in the high 550's and the water surface temperature
is in the low 40 degrees. As for fishing, this week its been
fair. One day its good fishing then the next day its crappie
LOL. For the most part fishing Norfork Lake has been great for
the past couple months. It's been like spring time fishing and
with that said just wait till spring really gets here, I believe
it will be some of the best fishing there has been here in years.
Norfork Lake is full of new Crappie, Bass, Catfish, Walleye,
White Bass, Stripers, Sunfish and Shad. It has just been a great
year for the fish. With all the bait fish in Norfork, it seems
the fish are growing fast. The fish that are being caught now
have full bellies and there are a lot of good size keepers of
all the species being caught. The crappie we are catching range
from 14"-17" easy and a lot of big bass. Well that's
MY report for the week basically fishing has been fair for all
species. Have Fun Go Fishin.
January 19, 2009 -
Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood Lake Guide
Service
The Overall Picture:
Navigation conditions in Little River are normal.
As of Monday 19 January, Largemouth Bass are slow with the cooler
water temperatures, good at times, and fair until the mid-day
hours, around 3.5 pounds, and an occasional 5 or 6 pounds, on
Millwood when the bite is markedly improved. RatLTraps, Spinnerbaits,
jigs & grubs are the best baits for Bass over the past several
weeks.
Clarity along main lake channel and Little River improved slightly
this week w/ reduced current. Current in Little River, decreased
since last week, and lake is slightly above normal conservation
pool. Lake wind advisories were issued over the past week, and
prevented further additional clarity improvements. 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, 19 January, being a holiday, the USACE had not
updated the lake level reading. As of Friday, 16 January, the
lake level is approx 1" above normal pool. The main lake
and Little River's water surface temperatures are currently ranging
from approx 44º to 49ºF, depending of course, on location
and time of day. Lake level on Millwood as of Friday 16 January,
is very near normal, and steady, at 259.24 feet. Normal conservation
pool is 259.20 feet.
Decrease in current this week from last week, in Little River
at 384 CFS as of Friday, 16 January. Main lake clarity / visibility
approx 5-9" away from any remaining current in Little River.
The river clarity is approx 9-14" and slowly 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 3-5 feet visibility. The tailwater elevation on Friday
16 January was 230.20 feet. Discharge/ Release Rate at the spillway
of 384 CFS is with 1 tainer gates open at 1 foot, gate #1 on
the west side of the spillway. Use caution in navigation on Little
River during low light conditions due to debris, broken vegetation
still present floating downstream, and the increased current.
The Details:
Largemouth Bass: We have seen a few more fishermen out over the
past 2-3 days with the improved weather and lake level almost
normal, this week. Bass from 2 pounds and up to 4 pounds each,
are best by far during the fewest warm hours of the day, on slow
moving RatLTraps and slow rolling heavy thumping spinner baits
and crankbaits, at random periods throughout the day, mostly
in the heat of the afternoon. The most consistent reaction bite
during heat of the day remains crawling jigs over stumps, laydowns,
and like cover, and RatLTraps, heavy thumping white/chart spinnerbaits
with gold Colorado blades, and white or smoke colored grubs on
light wire jig heads parallel to any remaining vegetation. Spinnerbaits
and Assassin trick worms and charm worms, around hydrilla, lily
pad stems, and pondweed are working randomly but the key is SLOW
with a light wire hook and no weight or a very light 1/32oz belly
weighted hook.
Bass remain somewhat sluggish upriver this week due to another
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 slow rolling a heavy 3/4oz
spinnerbait in deeper water, in Aurora, Spot Remover, or fire
tiger if the water is heavier stained clarity.
Crankbaits and jigs have begun to incite a few good keeper size
bass over the past couple weeks, and is improving overall. 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. Don't overlook
underwater points in Little River where creek junctions drop
off and dump into the River.
Best jig colors thus far remain peanut butter/jelly, pumpkinseed/chartreuse
or black/ blue/ & purple. Pitching jigs and 8" mag-tail
ribworms to stumps near deep water is working along Little River
and in the main lake. The worms will work for 3-4 and up to a
6 lb bass on occasion, (from 15" to 20" size bass)
and best colors working over the past few weeks are Plum, Black
Neon or Pumpkinseed/chart tail, once the sun gets up and the
bass become more active from the cooler morning water temperatures,
during the warmest periods of the day. 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: No Report this week.
Crappie: Few more Crappie fishermen out this week, even though
a lot of the Crappie are scattered. They will be suspended in
brush over 26' of water one day, and gone the next. Best bet
is to start around 15' and watch your electronics for bait fish
or stacked Crappie around the brush piles. Gradually run your
jig or shiner down to 18-22 feet until you connect with the bite.
In front of Mud Lake entrance to Little River is finally getting
good water clarity back again.
Channel Cats: No Report.
}><(((º> Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions
Report <º)))><{
Navigation conditions in Little River are normal.
Clarity along main lake channel and Little River improved slightly
this week w/ reduced current. Current in Little River, decreased
since last week, and lake is slightly above normal conservation
pool. Lake wind advisories were issued over the past week, and
prevented further additional clarity improvements. 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, 19 January, being a holiday, the USACE had not
updated the lake level reading. As of Friday, 16 January, the
lake level is approx 1" above normal pool. The main lake
and Little River's water surface temperatures are currently ranging
from approx 44º to 49ºF, depending of course, on location
and time of day. Lake level on Millwood as of Friday 16 January,
is very near normal, and steady, at 259.24 feet. Normal conservation
pool is 259.20 feet.
Decrease in current this week from last week, in Little River
at 384 CFS as of Friday, 16 January. Main lake clarity / visibility
approx 5-9" away from any remaining current in Little River.
The river clarity is approx 9-14" and slowly 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 3-5 feet visibility. The tailwater elevation on Friday
16 January was 230.20 feet. Discharge/ Release Rate at the spillway
of 384 CFS is with 1 tainer gates open at 1 foot, gate #1 on
the west side of the spillway. 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
January 15, 2009 -
White River - Submitted by Berry
Brothers Guides - - JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 1/15/2009
Once again we have had alternately cold and warm
temperatures, some very heavy winds but no measurable precipitation
during the past week; the lakes in the White River system are
all below flood pool and continue their steady fall. The lake
level at Bull Shoals Dam fell one and two tenths of a foot to
rest at one and nine tenths of a foot below power pool of 654.00
feet. This is forty two and nine tenths feet below the top of
flood pool. Up stream, Table Rock Lake remained steady at one
tenth of a foot below power pool or sixteen and one tenth feet
below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell four tenths of
a foot to rest at four tenths of a foot below power pool or ten
feet below the top of flood pool. The pattern on the White was
for light to heavy generation around the clock. Norfork Lake
has fallen three tenths of a foot to rest at five tenths of a
foot below power pool of 552.00 feet or twenty eight and five
tenths feet below the top of flood pool. There has been high
generation on the Norfork with significant periods of no generation
every day. Last weekend the Norfork was off for over forty eight
hours. This again created some truly spectacular wading.
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. It is only two weeks until the Catch
and Release section below Bull Shoals Dam opens for fishing.
The brown trout have been spawning in this area (they do not
feed during the spawn) for the last three months and they have
not been fished over in that period.
It is nearing time for the shad kill. This is a
natural phenomenon where threadfin shad are drawn through the
turbines on the dams. The shad are tasty morsels to the spawned
out browns just below the dam and are welcome food. The shad
kill produces a feeding frenzy that has to be seen to be believed.
For the shad kill to occur we must have very cold conditions
coupled with high generation. The first tell tale signs are gulls
feeding on them just below the dam.
The State Park is fishing well. The hot fly here
has been the peach egg and various midge patterns. Be careful
on lower flows to avoid walking through redds in the seasonal
Catch and Release section. On higher flows, try brightly colored
San Juan worms with an egg dropper. Some anglers have done well
fishing streamers on sink tip and full sinking lines. The hot
streamers have been sculpins and white zonkers.
The Catch and Release section at Rim Shoals is
fishing well. The hot fly on lower water has been the Y2K. You
should also try sowbugs, olive scuds and midges (size 14). Olive
woolly buggers stripped over weed beds have accounted for some
large brown trout. Anglers have also done well on higher flows.
The hot flies for this water were cerise San Juan worms 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 spotty. One day is poor and
the next is excellent. The Norfork continues to get heavy pressure
as it is the only wadable water available. The most productive
times have been during the week when it is not as crowded. My
favorite time to fish it is on Sunday afternoon when the out
of town anglers have headed home. Remember that Monday is a national
holiday so they will stay a day longer this week. The go to flies
have been olive scuds, sowbugs and orange micro eggs. Worm brown
San Juan worms have also produced fish. On the higher water,
try San Juan worms in bright colors (hot fluorescent pink, cerise
and red) with substantial amounts of weight. If you are not in
the Catch and Release section try fishing a sowbug or scud as
the dropper under a San Juan worm.
Dry Run Creek has been fishing well as always.
With the projected cold weather, be sure and bundle your youngster
up. When my daughter was of age, the best day we ever had in
terms of trophy trout was at this time of year. The temperature
was fourteen degrees and Katherine landed a twenty seven inch
rainbow. Take a break occasionally to drink some hot chocolate
and warm up. The hot flies are sowbugs and worm brown San Juan
worms. Do not forget to take your camera.
January 14, 2009 -
Norfork and White River - Submitted
by Mountain
River Fly Shop -Arctic weather brings higher water on
the White but Norfork has been the place to fish all week.
WHITE RIVER: Bull Shoals is back down into power
pool levels, so on cold days you can expect some generation.
You had to be lucky to catch the 2 hours of low water on Tuesday,
but like almost everyone else we were stuck on the job.
But the good thing is, as Clint Wilkinson found
out, the bite on generation is pretty good.Clint caught a bunch
of fish on Gary's River King, a more streamlined version of Jim
Mengle's Ozark Sculpin, Check it out next time you are in the
shop, the pictures are coming.
Clint was also tossing white Zonkers for some of
his browns. But we have also had good reports on larger buggers
in brown, olive and chartruese. The Journal also has an affinity
for Hansen's Stay Hungry Streamer in the white/gray shiner colors.
Egg patterns and San Juan and Dynamite Worms are
good on the higher flows, on the lower water levels try midges
(12-14) and sowbugs.
Clint's Black Tungsten Midge, Sunday Special and
Sowbug are favorites of our on this 1-3 units of water.
We also make sure we have a good stock of Davy
Wotton's Whitetail and Super Midges (12-14) and his Sowbug patterns
. With temperatures expected to improve on Saturday and Sunday
there is a good chance of some lower flows.
NORFORK: There has been afternoon windows of wadeable
water on Norfork. Most report coming in find its hard to sift
your way through the smaller fish to find the bigger ones. Most
fish caught are in the 14Åç to 16Åç
range. Nothing to be sneezed at but not your usual Norfork fishery.
There is also a bunch of smaller stocked brooks, browns and cutts,
so getting a grand slam is a real chance.
Tan scud and sowbug patterns have been doing well
one of our old friends from northwest Arkansas, Oswald had a
big time with a very pale tan sowbug/scud pattern that resembled
a cross between Rainy's Woven Scud and Kaufman's Scud.
Its always worth carrying midges to Norfork particularly
the Camel Midge (search our archives here for the tying video),
Super Midges, Tungsten WD40s and standard Zebra Midges.
January 14, 2009 -
Greers Ferry Lake - Submitted by Fish Finders
Fish Service - The water level at greers ferry is at
461.30 and falling they have just about got it back to normal
and the temp ranges from 46-52 degrees , but its gonna cool down
some more in the next couple of days.
The whites and hybrids are on humps and drops 38-60
feet of water and pushing shad up different times of the day
and can be caught with spoons and in-line spinners and hair jigs
, watch for the birds
The blackbasses are still being caught pretty shallow
on lipless crank baits and shallow running crank baits as well
as spinnerbaits and jigs , whacky rigging is working for the
bigger fish as well as jerkbaits-depper fish can be caught on
c-rigs
The crappie are biting pretty good in the pole
timber all over the lake
No-report catfish
No-report bream
Walleye are on the move and can be caught on sunny
days in about 40 feet and cloudy days in about 20 feet the cold
front will knock them back pretty much for at least a week
Tommy Cauley
January 12, 2009 -
Norfork - Submitted by 101 Grocery and Bait
1/12/09 Norfork Lake water level is around 552'
and the water temp. is in the upper 40 degrees. Fishing has slowed
down a bit this past week from what is has been. With the full
moon and the cold fronts we have been experiencing, fishing and
hunting Norfork Lake has been a challenge compared to the past
couple of months which had been great. Crappie fishing is fair
around the brush piles about 15'-25' deep using minnows and split
tail grubs on a jig. The crappie bite is light so you may need
to use a slip bobber and watch your line for any movement and
be ready to set your hook on those paper mouths (crappie). Bass
fishing has been good using a jig tipped with your favorite trailer
bait fished 15'-30' deep. Some are using suspending stick baits.
Just a reminder there was a great spawn this year and the little
8"-10" bass are all over the lake. You will have to
work for those keeper size bass be it the spotted bass, large
mouth or small mouth bass but those little guys will give you
a work out. White Bass fishing has been slow but jigging a spoon
around some of the long points and flats has been good for a
few fishermen. Striped Bass fishing has been slow, a few have
been caught along some of the bluffs and back in the creeks using
live bait (Shiners from 101 Grocery and Bait of course) seem
to do well and jigging with a spoon if you find fish schooled
up you may get lucky and catch a walleye. We carry the Binks
and Burrhead Spoons if you happen to be looking for them. Walleye
fishing has been slow. The walleye and stripers should start
hitting stick baits at night along the shore line in the shallow
water soon. Looking for the bait fish is not hard to do because
they are every where and thick too. Have Fun Go Fishin.
January 12, 2009 -
Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood Lake Guide
Service
The Overall Picture:
Navigation conditions in Little River are normal.
As of Monday 12 January, Largemouth Bass are slow with the cooler
water temperatures, good at times, and fair until the mid-day
hours, up to 6 pounds on Millwood when the bite is markedly improved.
RatLTraps, Spinnerbaits, jigs & grubs are the best baits
for Bass over the past several weeks.
Clarity along main lake channel and Little River improved slightly
this week. Current in Little River, increased over last week,
and lake is slightly above normal conservation pool. Lake wind
advisories were issued over the past week, and prevented further
additional clarity improvements. 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, 12 January, the main lake and Little River's water
surface temperatures are currently ranging from approx 48º
to 50ºF, depending of course, on location and time of day.
Lake level on Millwood as of Monday 12 January, is approx 4.3"
above normal, and steady, at 259.56 feet. Normal conservation
pool is 259.20 feet.
Increase in current this week from last week, in Little River
at 3,140 CFS as of Monday, 12 January. Main lake clarity / visibility
approx 4-7" away from any remaining current in Little River.
The river clarity is approx 8-9" and slowly 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 3-5 feet visibility. The tailwater elevation on Monday
12 January was 230.32 feet. Discharge/ Release Rate at the spillway
of 3,140 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: This week is yielding a few more fishermen out,
with the improved weather early in the week. Bass from 2 pounds
and up to 6 pounds each, are best by far, during the warmer few
hours of the day, on slow moving RatLTraps and slow rolling heavy
thumping spinner baits and crankbaits, along the old tree line
of Little River's 2nd drop, at random periods throughout the
day, mostly in the heat of the afternoon. The most consistent
reaction bite during heat of the day remains crawling jigs over
stumps, laydowns, and like cover, and RatLTraps, heavy thumping
white/chart spinnerbaits with gold Colorado blades, and white
or smoke colored grubs on light wire jig heads parallel to any
remaining vegetation. War Eagle Spinnerbaits and Bass Assassin
trick worms and charm worms, around hydrilla, lily pad stems,
and pondweed are working randomly.
Bass remain somewhat sluggish upriver this week due to another
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 in Aurora, Spot
Remover, or fire tiger in the stained water clarity.
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 20" 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, during the warmest periods of the
day.
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. Don't overlook underwater points in Little River where
creek junctions drop off and dump into the River.
White Bass: No Report this week.
Crappie: Few more Crappie fishermen out this week, even though
the bite remains sluggish again this week due to the reduced
water clarity along Little River, early this week. The bite was
improving on live shiners and white or white/chartreuse 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 14 to 18 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 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 slightly
this week. Current in Little River, increased over last week,
and lake is slightly above normal conservation pool. Lake wind
advisories were issued over the past week, and prevented further
additional clarity improvements. 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, 12 January, the main lake and Little River's water
surface temperatures are currently ranging from approx 48º
to 50ºF, depending of course, on location and time of day.
Lake level on Millwood as of Monday 12 January, is approx 4.3"
above normal, and steady, at 259.56 feet. Normal conservation
pool is 259.20 feet.
Increase in current this week from last week, in Little River
at 3,140 CFS as of Monday, 12 January. Main lake clarity / visibility
approx 4-7" away from any remaining current in Little River.
The river clarity is approx 8-9" and slowly 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 3-5 feet visibility. The tailwater elevation on Monday
12 January was 230.32 feet. Discharge/ Release Rate at the spillway
of 3,140 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.
Mike
January 8, 2009 -
White River - Submitted by Berry
Brothers Guides - - JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 1/08/2009
We have had alternately cold and warm temperatures,
some very heavy winds but no measurable precipitation during
the past week; the lakes in the White River system are at or
below flood pool and continue to fall. The lake level at Bull
Shoals Dam fell four tenths of a foot to rest at seven tenths
of a foot below power pool of 654.00 feet. This is forty one
and seven tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Up stream,
Table Rock Lake fell two tenths of a foot to rest at one tenth
of a foot below power pool or sixteen and one tenth feet below
the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake remained steady at power pool
or nine and six tenths feet below the top of flood pool. The
pattern on the White was for light generation around the clock.
Norfork Lake has fallen two tenths of a foot to rest at two tenths
of a foot below power pool of 552.00 feet or twenty eight and
two tenths feet below the top of flood pool. There has been less
generation on the Norfork with significant periods of no generation
every day. Last weekend the Norfork was off for over forty eight
hours. This created some truly spectacular wading.
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.
It is only three weeks until the Catch and Release
section below Bull Shoals Dam opens for fishing. This event generates
quite a bit of excitement in the fly fishing community. The brown
trout have been spawning in this area for the last three months
and they have not been fished over in that period. They do not
feed during the spawn so they are ready to regain some weight.
The State Park is a perpetual hot spot with plenty of fish reported.
The hot fly here has been the peach egg and various midge patterns.
Be careful on lower flows to avoid walking through redds in the
seasonal Catch and Release section. They are clean depressions
in the gravel that hold fertilized brown trout eggs. If you walk
through them, you will destroy future trophy brown trout. On
higher flows, try brightly colored San Juan worms with an egg
dropper.
The section from Wildcat Shoals to Cotter has been
a real hot spot during the last week. At low water, it has been
very productive. Anglers have done well fishing a variety of
flies under an indicator. Productive patterns have included brightly
colored San Juan worms (cerise, hot fluorescent pink and red),
peach or orange egg patterns, gold ribbed hares ears and black
zebra midges (size 14).
The Catch and Release section at Rim Shoals is
fishing extremely well. The hot fly on lower water has been the
Y2K. Olive woolly buggers stripped over weed beds have accounted
for some large brown trout. Anglers have also done well on moderate
flows. The hot flies for this water were cerise San Juan worms
and Y2Ks. If they are running water and you want to wade, make
use of the water taxi at Rim Shoals Trout Dock. For a nominal
fee they will ferry you to wadable water and pick you up when
you are ready to leave.
Crooked Creek has slowed considerably. The water
temperature has dipped below fifty five degrees and the Smallmouth
have pretty much shut down.
The Norfork continues to fish poorly due to constant
pressure. The most productive times have been during the week
when it is not as crowded. The go to flies have been olive scuds
and sowbugs. Worm brown San Juan worms have also produced fish.
On the higher water, try San Juan worms in bright colors (hot
fluorescent pink, cerise and red) with substantial amounts of
weight. If you are not in the Catch and Release section try fishing
a sowbug or scud as the dropper under a San Juan worm.
Dry Run Creek has been fishing well as always.
With school back in session and some of the cold temperatures
we have experienced lately, there has been little pressure on
the creek. If you get a chance to take your youngster there,
it is loaded with fish. The hot flies are sowbugs and worm brown
San Juan worms. While you are there, take a tour of the adjacent
National Fish Hatchery. Be sure to remove your waders before
entering to prevent the spread of aquatic diseases to the trout
population. Do not forget to take your camera.
January 7, 2009 -
Norfork and White River - Submitted
by Mountain
River Fly Shop -
Looks like a fantastic weekend of fishing ahead
on both Norfork and the White, the sun is shining and the fishing
is very good.
WHITE RIVER: Expectations are high for some wadeable
water this weekend with windows of wading opening up today. Bull
Shoals cut back generation from around 10pm last night until
7am which opens a decent days fishing downstream. With the weather
looking good for this weekend, though cool on Saturday, we are
hoping for some great fishing.
If you have read Davy's tips, then Saturday with
a lower temperature and some clouds will mean for brighter colors,
eggs and San Juan Worms, Dynamite Worms. If the day warms, (or
on Sunday) look for midges, Super Midges, White tails, standard
Zebras, Poison Tungs and WD40s. Follow Davy's tip and pick up
bigger midges for moderate generation, we like the 12-14 Whitetails
and Clint's Black Midge. On lower water Black and Silver, Red,
Pearl are all good colors, and the Journal often drags out the
Tungsten Rainbow Warrior on bright winter days.
Scuds and sowbugs remain very strong too, especially
fished in combination with a brighter egg, or perhaps a larger
midge. Davy's Sowbugs, Clint's Sowbug, McLellan's Hunchback Scud
(UV Gray, olive) and Woven V-Rib Sowbug plus Rainy's Gray Sowbug
are all very good.
Talking to one of our good friends and shop guide
Marc Poulos yesterday, Marco told us he had been doing very well
on size 6 buggers in the "usual places" tailouts of
pools and in the runs. The Journal also dragged up some fish
on streamers along some structured bank. As you know we have
plenty of choice in buggers. Try the brighter colors, Chartruese,
Yellow, Red for some variety but there is always a place for
olive and black.
NORFORK RIVER: Tracking down the best information
off the river is something of a chore when two of your sources
are out of cell phone range catching fish. Guides Clint Wilkinson
and Kevin Brandtonies were out on Norfork yesterday. We had a
garbled message something about "been here half an hour
and caught 12 to 14 fish, biggest about 15Åç or
so, talk to you later." No fly patterns, nada _ guess they
were having too much fun!
So we will have to tell you what we know from last
weekend and update tonight after the inevitable phone call to
rub it all in.
Norfork has been off since Tuesday morning, we
are guessing it will stay this way for the weekend, though our
crystal ball is still on the fritz so we can't be more certain.
Midge action has been strong during the low water, with soft
hackles scuds, sowbugs and of course buggers all accounting for
fish.
Black and silver and olive Zebra Midges, Camel
Midges and Tungsten WD40s are good. On bright days with some
water clarity try blue Poison Tungs and the newish Tungsten Rojo
Midges. The latter barely got a trot last year on the White due
to high water, and this twist on a Colorado favorite hasn't been
seen by many trout.
January 6, 2009 -
Greers Ferry Lake - Submitted by Fish Finders
Fish Service -
The water level at greers ferry is at 461.70 a
little higher than they would like but we have been getting a
lot of rain and it is falling its just about 6 inches over full
pool
The walleye are being caught off on on depending
on the weather , if it does not get much colder they will be
off and running up river soon, have to keep eye on that.
The hybrids can be caught at some time during the
day at some point , but they will not feed all day, good electronics
and birds are a help , spoons , in-line spinners , and hair jigs
working well with a grub on the end
All blackbasses are being caught on spinnerbaits
, rattle traps, crankbaits and c-rigged lizards.
No report on bream or crappie or catfish
Tommy Cauley
January 5, 2009 -
Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood Lake Guide
Service
The Overall Picture:
Navigation conditions in Little River are slightly below normal
elevation.
As of Monday 05 January, 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 improved slightly
this week. Current in Little River, remains same as last week,
and lake is slightly below normal conservation pool. Lake wind
advisories were issued over the past week, and prevented further
additional clarity improvements. 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, 05 January, the main lake and Little River's water
surface temperatures are currently ranging from approx 47º
to 55ºF, depending of course, on location and time of day.
Lake level on Millwood as of Monday 05 January, is approx 1.5"
below normal, and slowly falling, at 259.09 feet. Normal conservation
pool is 259.20 feet.
Consistent current this week as last week, in Little River at
2,667 CFS as of Monday, 05 January. Main lake clarity / visibility
approx 4-7" away from any remaining current in Little River.
The river clarity is approx 5-8" and slowly 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 5-6 feet visibility. The tailwater elevation on Monday
05 January was 233.07 feet. Discharge/ Release Rate at the spillway
of 2,667 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 and rainy 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 and crankbaits, along
the old tree line of Little River's 2nd drop, at random periods
throughout the day, mostly in the heat of the afternoon. 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 upriver this week due to another
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
reduced water clarity along Little River, early this week. The
bite was improving on live shiners and white or white/chartreuse
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 17 to 22 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 slightly below normal
elevation.
Clarity along main lake channel and Little River improved slightly
this week. Current in Little River, remains same as last week,
and lake is slightly below normal conservation pool. Lake wind
advisories were issued over the past week, and prevented further
additional clarity improvements. 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, 05 January, the main lake and Little River's water
surface temperatures are currently ranging from approx 47º
to 55ºF, depending of course, on location and time of day.
Lake level on Millwood as of Monday 05 January, is approx 1.5"
below normal, and slowly falling, at 259.09 feet. Normal conservation
pool is 259.20 feet.
Consistent current this week as last week, in Little River at
2,667 CFS as of Monday, 05 January. Main lake clarity / visibility
approx 4-7" away from any remaining current in Little River.
The river clarity is approx 5-8" and slowly 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 5-6 feet visibility. The tailwater elevation on Monday
05 January was 233.07 feet. Discharge/ Release Rate at the spillway
of 2,667 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.
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!!
Don't forget, be courteous, and respect the other
guy's right to use the lake too. Release those big bass to spawn
and fight again, and take home those little 16"ers to fry
up! Use caution in low light conditions, and wear your flotation
device! If you are suddenly thrown from your boat, or knocked
unconscious, your life preserver can potentially be your only
hope to survive.
Visit us on the web for the most current Millwood Lake fishing
report, updated weekly. See some great catch and release photos,
sponsor links, tons of great information and resources on the
lake available to you, along with excellent related direct links
to Arkansas' State Parks, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission's
Black Bass Program, The US Army Corps of Engineers, and Arkansas.com.
And As Always,
"""""<º)))><{"""""GOOD
FISHIN' !"""""<º)))><{"""""""
Mike
January 3, 2009 -
White River - Submitted by Berry
Brothers Guides -JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 1/03/2009
We have had a significant rain event and some very
heavy winds during the past week; the lakes in the White River
system are at or below flood pool having risen a bit. The lake
level at Bull Shoals Dam have fallen two tenths of a foot to
rest at three tenths of a foot below power pool of 654.00 feet.
This is forty one and three tenths feet below the top of flood
pool. Up stream, Table Rock Lake rose one and three tenths of
a foot to rest at one tenth of a foot above power pool or fifteen
and nine tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake
rose one foot to rest at power pool or nine and six tenths feet
below the top of flood pool. The pattern on the White was for
moderate generation during the week. Norfork Lake has risen nine
tenths of a foot 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 with periods of no generation on most
days. Last weekend the Norfork was off for over forty eight hours.
This created some truly spectacular wading.
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.
Up stream the State Park has been a real hot spot with stacks
of fish reported. The hot fly here has been the peach egg and
various midge patterns. Be careful on lower flows to avoid redds
in the seasonal Catch and Release section. They are clean depressions
in the gravel that hold fertilized brown trout eggs. If you walk
through them, you will destroy future trophy brown trout. On
higher flows, try brightly colored San Juan worms with an egg
dropper. There is a bit of trial and error necessary to determine
what color San Juan worms the trout want. Try red, cerise, hot
pink and fire orange.
Wildcat Shoals has been a real hot spot during
the last week. At low water, it has been very productive. Anglers
have done well fishing small olive scuds under an indicator.
Other productive nymph patterns have been red San Juan worms,
Y2Ks and sowbugs. The lower section has fished well with various
soft hackles. The hot flies have been green butts and partridge
and orange soft hackles.
The Catch and Release section at Rim Shoals is
fishing extremely well. The hot flies on lower water level were
Y2Ks, sowbugs and olive scuds. Olive woolly buggers also accounted
for a lot of fish. Anglers have also done well on moderate flows.
The hot flies for this water were cerise San Juan worms, peach
eggs and Y2Ks. If they are running water and you want to wade,
make use of the water taxi at Rim Shoals Trout Dock. For a nominal
fee they will ferry you to wadable water and pick you up when
you are ready to leave.
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 poorly the last week. It
has received too much pressure. The most productive times have
been on low water. The go to flies have been olive scuds and
worm brown San Juan worms. Orange egg patterns have also done
very well. 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 fishing a sowbug
or scud as the dropper under a San Juan worm.
Dry Run Creek has been fishing well as always.
Lately we have had some nice sunny days occasionally that have
been perfect for fishing the creek. It is located in a deep valley
and is not affected much by winds. Take your youngster there
the next time you get a pretty day. The hot fly is the sowbug
but also try San Juan worms. I always recommend that you take
the biggest net you can lay your hands on (I use my rubber bagged
boat net) and a camera. You cannot believe the size of the fish
here.
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