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Arkansas
Fishing
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Posted 07/02/09
Little
Red River
Rainbow Trout and Brown Trout
said the
fishing is excellent. The water level varies from low in the morning hours to
normal around noon when they turn on the generators. Trout are biting well on
Power Bait, marshmallows and wax worms when the water is low, and spoons, Rapala
and marabou jigs when the water is high
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
Back to Top
White River
Updated 07/02/09
Report
by:
www.berrybrothersguides.com
JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT
7/04/2009
We have had
precious little rain and slightly cooler temperatures (low nineties). The lakes
on the White River system continue their fall. The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam
fell two and four tenths feet to rest at thirteen and two tenths feet above
power pool of 654.00 feet. This is twenty seven and eight tenths feet below the
top of flood pool. Up stream, Table Rock Lake rose one tenth of a foot to rest
at one and seven tenths feet above power pool or fourteen and three tenths feet
below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell five tenths of a foot to rest at
seven and six tenths feet above power pool or two feet below the top of flood
pool. The pattern on the White was for round the clock generation. During the
night and morning we have been getting slightly lower flows. The flows have been
much heavier in the afternoon during peak power demand. This created some
challenging conditions for drift fishing and very limited wade fishing. Norfork
Lake has fallen one and six tenths feet to rest at eight and nine tenths feet
above power pool of 552.00 feet or nineteen and one tenth feet below the top of
flood pool. Generation on the Norfork has increased substantially, which has
severely limited wading. With the more aggressive generation, I predict wadable
water in less than five weeks.
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 Catch
and Release section below Bull Shoals Dam has been a mixed bag this past week.
While some days have been excellent, others have been a bit slow. On the higher
flows we have been getting, the ticket to success has been to fish brightly
colored flies under an indicator. The hot patterns have been hot pink or red San
Juan worms and orange egg patterns. With the water this high, you need to use
long tippet/ leader combinations (twelve to fourteen feet). Don’t forget to fish
with plenty of lead, I use AAA split shot and a heavily weighted fly. I also use
heavy tippet (4X) to handle the additional weight. This rig is not going to be
easy to cast. Open up your loop and try to keep it away from your head.
Concentrate along the banks and over any sunken islands or weed beds.
The sulphurs
are greatly diminished. We are still seeing a few in the afternoon but their
significance to the trout is about over for the year.
The section
from White Hole to Cotter has been very popular for float trips. The
preferred technique in this section is to bang the bank with large streamers.
The hot flies have been Kelly Gallop zoo cougars and other similar oversized
streamers. The secret is to get the fly down. With the heavier flows, you must
use heavy full sinking or sink tip lines. To cast these huge flies and heavy
lines, most anglers are using eight weight or larger rods.
Rim
Shoals has fished particularly well this past week. The water has been
lower in the morning and the hot flies have been black zebra midges with silver
wire and silver bead. The most productive size has been fourteen to sixteen. The
heavier flows have been reaching here around one to two o’clock, when it is best
to switch to brightly colored San Juan worms and egg patterns. If you must wade,
there is usually a bit of wadable water as long as the generation is less than
17,000 cubic feet per second. Contact Rim Shoals Trout Dock to arrange a water
taxi to shuttle you to wadable water and pick you up when you are ready to go.
Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River
have fished extremely well this week, particularly on Clouser minnows,
Barr’s meat whistles and crawfish patterns. The water has reached a much
safer level and has cleared substantially. This is a reliable place to do a
little wade fishing.
The Norfork River has received much less pressure this week. The
wadable water in the morning is a thing of the past. There is some low water
at night. If you choose to fish at night, please be very careful and
carefully plan your escape. The water can rise at any time. Once generation
begins around seven or eight o’clock drift fishing from a boat is the only
option. Employ classic high water tactics. Fish brightly colored San Juan
worms or egg patterns under an indicator with plenty of weight.
Dry Run Creek has been busy this past week. School is out and the
traffic on the creek has increased significantly. It is less crowded during
the week and, strangely enough, late in the afternoon (after four o’clock).
I expect a lot of young anglers over the Fourth of July weekend. The main
food source on the creek is Sowbugs. After a rain, worm patterns are
particularly effective. Other productive flies are Y2Ks and woolly buggers.
Work a short line as there is a lot of tree cover. Don’t forget to carry the
camera and the biggest net you can lay your hands on.
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.
WHITE RIVER:
Report by:
Mountain
River Fly Shop Updated: 07/01/09:
WELL the July 4
weekend looks decent, without last week’s heat wave and
the fishing has been very good. Generation has been
pretty stiff on Norfork. There had been some morning
wading available on the White through the earlier part
of the week, and some big flows in the afternoon. Right
now its hard to pick what they will do over the holiday
weekend with the generation being driven purely for
electricity demand but we wouldn’t be surprised if it
gets backed off considerably. And don’t forget about the
creeks, Crooked Creek and the Buffalo which should be
cherry ripe.
WHITE RIVER: The
White has been fishing very very well on the moderate
morning flows. All our guides have been reporting some
great fishing. The fish are in tremendous nick, how can
you argue with a 6.5lb rainbow caught by Davy Wotton on
Monday night at the Dam.
Midges,
including the new Davy Wotton hothead midges, Whitetails
and Super Midges, Two Tone Midges and Clint’s Tungsten
Black Midge, are all good on the lighter water.
Copper Johns and
Pheasant Tails have been continuing to work well. Same
for Clint’s Sowbugs, Davy’s Sowbugs and McLellan’s Woven
V-Rib Sowbugs.
As the water
runs up the action shifts over the worms and eggs,
giving the fish something to see . Sculpin patterns,
like Whitlock’s Near Nuff Sculpin and Rainy’s Carp
sculpin continue to perform well..
Tight
lines from all at the Mountain River Fly Shop Gary, Cindy, Jim, Kevin, Marc,
Faye, Mike and Steve
Back to Top
Greer's Ferry
Updated: 07/02/09
Lake Elevation at Normal Pool: 462.5
Temperature:
Outflow: 4579 Level: 2.00 feet
high
Report by:
Tommy Cauley of Fish Finder Guide Service
The water level is falling by 4-6 inches
per day.
Hybrid bass are going crazy, even
in the heat. There’s even been schooling activity on the surface.
Crappie No report
Bream are biting well from 6
inches to 8 feet as well as in 40 feet of water on crawlers and crickets.
Catfish are biting well with the
flatheads spawning now all over the lake.
Walleye have slowed, but the bite
should pick up as they get set up deeper. Bass fishing is good with the
smallmouth hanging around the thermo cline.
Kentucky bass are holding around
main lake ledges and points.
Largemouths are still shallow and
can be caught on frogs fished around shade-producing cover.
Tommy
Cauley
Fishing Guide
Back to Top
Beaver
Lake
Elevation at Normal Pool: 1121.4
Temperature:
Outflow: 959 cfs. Level: 7.44
feet high
Catfish No Report
Crappie No Report
Stripers No Report
Largemouth Bass No Report
White Bass No Report
Back to Top
Beaver
Tail water
No
Report
Back to Top
Kings River
No Report
Back to Top
BULL
SHOALS
updated 06/20/09
Lake Elevation at Normal Pool: 657.0
Temperature: Low to High 70's
Outflow: 1044 cfs Level: 9.83 feet
high
Lake
Map
Fishing Report by:
Bull Shoals Lake Boat Dock
"Braggin Board"
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JUNE 10TH FRIDAY. Hello! I know I haven't
wrote anything for a while, but nothing has really changed but
the water temperature. It is anywhere from the low to high 70's
depending on where you take it on the lake on the surface. There
is a thermo cline forming around the 18 to 22 foot level. The
fishing patterns are all the same. Nothing has changed as far as
that goes. There is plenty of fish being caught but most of them
are smaller or non keepers. This is due to the tremendous fish
spawn we had in 2008. The lake level has crested and actually
started down a few inches this week. The area got some heavy
rain over the last few days but only short bursts so it
shouldn't affect the lake level much. I will keep you posted-
until next time!
FISHING PATTERNS
WHITE BASS- Lots are being caught
on anything simulating a shad or minnow. They are all the way
from the back of the creeks to the main lake points. I am
getting some reports of white bass surfacing in schools chasing
shad so keep your eye out for that. They are anywhere from the
surface to 15. If you don't see them surfacing then cast your
boat along the bank varying depths and speeds until you find
them. Small spoons, jigs with spinners, rattle traps, anything
that looks like a minnow.
BASS- With the water temp rising TOP
WATER PATTERNS are starting to work. Also, with the lake rising
there is brush from the bank out to 8-10 feet of water. A lot of
bass and other fish are starting to hang in this area.
Especially Largemouth bass. New patterns are in purple.
- Top water baits are starting to produce
bass. The classics like Zara spook, Devils Horse, Flukes,
shallow running rebels and rogues, and any other top water you
prefer. With the brush around the bank the best way to work this
is parallel your bait just in front of the brush.
- Floating worms rigged weedless with baby
split shot in the brush along the bank. Bubble gum worms,
centipede or french fry worms, lizards and other plastics.
- flipping a jig and frog, jig and plastic
anything in the brush.
- spooning by retrieving- put your boat in
12 - 20 feet of water then flip your spoon just at the brush
line, work it back to the boat by "jigging" it. This pattern is
very easy and very productive for all species but is producing
smaller fish.
1. Spinner baits are catching Largemouth
and Smallmouth on the chunk rock banks, pockets and brush piles
in shallow water.
2. Stick baits that look like a minnow and
shad. Vary your speed and retrieve until you find what works.
Try to simulate a dying shad.
3. Carolina rig a lizard or a french fry
worm. Work this bait slow on shallower sloping banks for
better effect.
4. Live minnows or night crawlers- Split
shot these along the banks
5. Crank baits- This pattern is better on a
cloudy windy day. Back in the creeks in the dirty water.
6. Plastics such as grubs, hula grubs, tube
jigs - work these slow along the bottom simulating a crawling
craw fish.
7. TOP WATER - is now active as of the
first week of may.
WALLEYE- The night bite has slowed
down on the walleye mostly due to water temp and the brush
against the bank. Its hard to fish in the brush. With the water
temp rising the walleye are starting to move a little deeper.
The best patterns are-
- spoon casting with your boat in 12 - 20
feet of water towards the bank just short of the brush line.
Work your bait back to the boat while "jigging" it.
- spilt shot a night crawler - this pattern
is working but catching lots of smaller sunfish and bluegills.
If you are catching these fish that is good because that is what
the walleye are feeding on and that's where you need to be
fishing for them.
- trolling - either flat trolling, bottom
bouncing or down rigging. This should start any day.
- casting rouges, rebels and xraps. This
pattern is still working but you need to get deeper so the
deeper diving baits, suspending baits, or weighted baits will
work. Also, try to parallel the bank instead of casting at it
and retrieving it. If you parallel your bait will be in the ZONE
for a longer time.
CRAPPIE - Not much change- They are
catching them in brush piles and standing timber in 10 to 25
feet around the lake on small minnows and small jigs.
CATFISH- The catfish are up with
limb liners catching them at night in 2 to 10 feet of water.
White River:
NOTHING EVER CHANGES ON THE RIVER EXCEPT
THE WATER LEVEL!!! THE FISHING IS ALWAYS GREAT!!
The river fishing has been great!! Check
out the 2009 picture page for photos of some big ones caught
over the last couple of weeks. Nothing new on the patterns. ---
Worms, night crawlers, power baits, salmon eggs, Count down
Rapala, spoons, rooster tails, jigs and just about any other
type of trout bait or pattern you have heard of.
Good luck and good fishing, and
please come and see us at Bull Shoals Lake Boat Dock for all
your fishing needs…Thank
you!
JOHN EASTWOLD’S FAVORITE SAYING -
FISHING IS ALWAYS GOOD - SOMETIMES CATCHING CAN BE SLOW.
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Back to Top
Millwood
Updated: 06/29/09
Lake Elevation at Normal Pool: 259.20
Temperature: Lower 90's
Outflow: 4276 cfs. Level: 0.26 feet
high
Report by: Millwood Lake Guide
Service
Braggin
Board
}><(((º> Millwood Lake Fishing Report 29 June 2009
<º)))><{
The Overall Picture:
Navigation conditions in Little River are near normal.
As of Monday 29 June, Largemouth Bass are good and best
early and late in the day. Surface water temps continue to rise into the lower
90's. Largemouth Bass ranging from 2-9 pounds are in normal routine summer
patterns. Bass Assassin Shads, weightless trick worms, Tx rigged 4" worms,
swimming jigs and buzz baits are the go to baits for Bass over the past several
weeks. Several large bass between 9-12 pounds each, have been caught and
released over the past 3-4 weeks and a 10.5 pound Largemouth was weighed in the
BASSMASTER Weekend Series Tournament on Millwood, last Saturday.
Clarity along main lake channel and Little River is much
improved with reduced current. The main lake clarity has improved to approx
8-10". Exercise caution during running at low light conditions as there are
still numerous river buoy markers pushed out of place from river centerline, or
missing, due to recent current and pool fluctuations. USACE will begin
replacing/relocating these misplaced or missing river buoys as soon as normal
pool elevation is reached.
As of Monday, 22 June the lake level is approx 4.2 inches
above normal pool, and falling. The main lake and Little River's water surface
temperatures are currently ranging from approx 87ºF early to 92ºF late,
depending of course, on location and time of day. Lake level on Millwood as of
Monday, 29 June, is 259.55 feet. Normal consv. pool is 259.20 feet.
As of Monday, the discharge was 779 CFS with 2 gates open 1
foot each. Main lake visibility approx 6-10" away from any remaining current in
Little River. The tail water elevation is 227.71 feet. The river clarity is
approx 10-15" and improving. High winds and / or thunder storms will have a
dramatic impact and effect on main lake clarity merely in a matter of hours.
Upriver oxbow's clarity is drastically improved with the
reduced current and almost normal conservation pool reached and improving
daily. Oxbow clarity is ranging from 18-30" dependent upon location.
USACE campground at Beards Bluff are closed for camping on
Millwood due to recent lake rise and flooding conditions are being cleaned and
repaired.
A drawdown of four feet (to 255.2 feet) on Millwood Lake,
will start July 13, 2009 until Feb. 9, 2010 to control unwanted aquatic
vegetation and make scheduled repairs, according to the Corps of Engineers. The
lake will be allowed to refill 2 feet above normal pool elevation to 261.2 feet,
in February 2010, the 2-foot rise will last one month, and then the lake will be
returned to normal pool.”
After the drawdown begins, boaters should exercise extreme
caution because submerged stumps and shallow areas will begin to appear. Also,
boaters should be cautious when launching because of damage or sediment buildup
that may have occurred at the ends of the ramps. Boat ramp closures may occur
during the drawdown. To volunteer for one of the cleanup dates, contact Brooke
Kervin at the Millwood Tri-Lakes Project Office.
To receive updates, call the Corps’ toll-free information
line at 888-697-9830.
The Details:
Largemouth Bass: Well folks, its STILL HOT, but not
as hot this week as last. Summer has arrived in South Arkansas!! Wear your
sunscreen and drink plenty of water. Bass are in typical seasonal summer
routine patterns on Millwood and are steadily improving their appetites, early
and late in the day.
The best bite over the past few weeks is ranging from
daylight till about 10 or 11 am, then slower until 6-8pm when the bite improves
again. Best bass bite has been on weightless trick worms or wacky rigs in June
Bug, grasshopper, or kiwi colors, Bass Assassin Shad jerk baits and buzz baits,
in the clearest water you can find, around new lily pads, hydrilla, or dollar
pads and Pond Weed vegetation. Rat-L-Traps in Millwood Magic, Gold Tennessee
Shad and Spring Bream colors are working for a good reaction bite in the better
water clarity areas of the oxbows.
Medium running depth crankbaits like the Deep Little N's in
chrome/blue color, and Bomber or Excalibur cranks in brown back/orange belly
crawfish or citrus shad colors and patterns are still taking some keeper size
bass in the 3-6 pound class. Once the sun gets up high, and bearing down, the
best bass bite option is to switch to a 10" worm in Black, Blue Fleck, Peanut
Butter 'n Jelly, or Plum, pitching or flipping stumps, cypress trees, and
laydown tree trunks near deep water.
Siefert's buzz baits in Firecracker, Bleeding Avocado, or
Casper Ghost colors, and spinnerbaits in Aurora, Sparkling Chartreuse Mouse, or
Spot Remover colors are working around grass beds on the main lake and in the
oxbows, up Little River at dawn, and again late in the day. Working a Rattling
Zara Mouse over big lily pads, are working over deep flats where 2 species of
lily pads meet hydrilla or milfoil grass. Soft plastic Bass Assassin Shads
continue to take a few decent 14-18" Largemouths, and Senkos, trick worms, or
charms, wacky rigged, around hydrilla, lily pad stems, and pondweed are working
especially where you find new dollar pads and lily pads growing in close
proximity. Salt 'n Pepper silver phantom colors are best colors working in the
clearer water for the Shad Assassins, and also 5" to 7" Salty Rat Tails, wacky
rigged. Lizards in watermelon-reds or Moccasin/Blue Glitter colors are catching
good keeper size 16" fish. Gitzits and 4" tubes in smoke-black/red flake or
pumpkinseed w/ chartreuse tail, or purple smoke colors, in the back of the
oxbows, where water clarity is better, are working also.
Jig bite, continues to improve on cypress trees, knees,
and stumps. Texas craw, metallic amber-chartreuse, or River Craw / Orange
continue to take a few bass in the 3-4 lb class. Good numbers of 13-15" fish
can be caught and released (due to 16" minimum length except Kentucky Bass' 12"
minimum) on short 4-5" trick worms, v-tails, and 5" purple/fire tail Texas rig
worms. Nice sized, keeper size bass, in the 3-7 pound class, have been caught
over the past couple weeks on Texas and Carolina rigged worms in black, plum,
peanut butter & jelly, or red bug colors. Major or secondary points in Little
River are holding good numbers of bass willing to bite almost anything you put
in their face, near deep vertical drops or creek mouths adjacent to deeper
water. New Dollar Pads and fresh Lily Pad bloom and new growth around hydrilla,
milfoil, or coontail w/ stumps and cypress trees seem to be key holding areas
for the better size keeper bass.
White Bass: Continue to bite slow.
Crappie: Continue to improve over past week, with
less current and muddy water in Little River, as of Monday. Blakemore
roadrunners, and live shiners continue to be best lures and bait over past
couple weeks in oxbows close to cypress trees in 17-25' depths in close
proximity, or in deep creek channels with cypress knees or stumps or in planted
brush piles along Little River.
Channel Cats: Channel Cats continue to bite well on
cut shad, and chicken livers on yo-yo's hung from cypress trees in the oxbows
over 8-12' depths, and on trotlines in Little River.
}><(((º> Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions
Report <º)))><{
Navigation conditions in Little River are near normal.
Clarity along main lake channel and Little River is much
improved with reduced current. The main lake clarity has improved to approx
8-10". Exercise caution during running at low light conditions as there are
still numerous river buoy markers pushed out of place from river centerline, or
missing, due to recent current and pool fluctuations. USACE will begin
replacing/relocating these misplaced or missing river buoys as soon as normal
pool elevation is reached.
As of Monday, 22 June the lake level is approx 4.2 inches
above normal pool, and falling. The main lake and Little River's water surface
temperatures are currently ranging from approx 87ºF early to 92ºF late,
depending of course, on location and time of day. Lake level on Millwood as of
Monday, 29 June, is 259.55 feet. Normal consv. pool is 259.20 feet.
As of Monday, the discharge was 779 CFS with 2 gates open 1
foot each. Main lake visibility approx 6-10" away from any remaining current in
Little River. The tail water elevation is 227.71 feet. The river clarity is
approx 10-15" and improving. High winds and / or thunder storms will have a
dramatic impact and effect on main lake clarity merely in a matter of hours.
Upriver oxbow's clarity is drastically improved with the
reduced current and almost normal conservation pool reached and improving
daily. Oxbow clarity is ranging from 18-30" dependent upon location.
USACE campground at Beards Bluff are closed for camping on
Millwood due to recent lake rise and flooding conditions are being cleaned and
repaired.
A drawdown of four feet (to 255.2 feet) on Millwood Lake,
will start July 13, 2009 until Feb. 9, 2010 to control unwanted aquatic
vegetation and make scheduled repairs, according to the Corps of Engineers. The
lake will be allowed to refill 2 feet above normal pool elevation to 261.2 feet,
in February 2010, the 2-foot rise will last one month, and then the lake will be
returned to normal pool.”
After the drawdown begins, boaters should exercise extreme
caution because submerged stumps and shallow areas will begin to appear. Also,
boaters should be cautious when launching because of damage or sediment buildup
that may have occurred at the ends of the ramps. Boat ramp closures may occur
during the drawdown. To volunteer for one of the cleanup dates, contact Brooke
Kervin at the Millwood Tri-Lakes Project Office.
And As Always,
"""""<º)))><{"""""GOOD
FISHIN'
!"""""<º)))><{"""""""
Mike
Back to Top
Norfork
Updated 06/22/09
Lake Elevation at Normal Pool: 552.0
Temperature: Upper 80's and Low 90's
Release Rate: 4046 cfs. Level: 8.72
feet high
Lake
Map
Report by Tim Partin of 101 Grocery and
Bait
The lake level is 561.8 down a foot from last week. Throw
a Zara spook to top water fish and if they don't take it the first time keep
moving the bait and don't stop it. We found some nice largemouth back in
a creek coming up in the 3-4lb range over the creek channel in 40ft. of water
and there were some whites breaking too. This time of the year I always have a
rod laying on deck with a spook tied on. Look for breaking fish on long points
too. I like to throw a clear or bone colored one. Throw a jig or a grub in
15-35ft for bass also. Look for fish in at least 35ft of water and deeper drop a
spoon.
Till next week Good Fishing!!!!!!!!!!
Back to Top
Norfork
Tail water
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This page was updated
Thursday, July 02, 2009
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