Crappie fair using minnows and jigs 

Largemouth Bass are spawning in the shallow water and are moving to the rocky points using top water baits and jigs

White Bass good using live crawfish

Surface temperature: We have had warmer temperatures this last 10 days or so and the water temp is up in the middle 60's to low 70's.

VISIBILTY- With the lack of rain the visibility has gotten better. Very clear from 30 foot down. Fairly clear on the main lake.

GENERAL CONDITIONS - The water level has stabilized for the most part for now. The lake is 25 feet higher than it was a month ago. There is a lot of brush in the lake along the shoreline. Plus, there are several standing trees which is giving a lot of cover for all species of fish. I anticipate by the next report that the lake will be starting down.

THE SPAWN- It should be one of the best ever since the water is up in the brush. I know the high water causes a lot of problems but there is a silver lining in that dark cloud. From what information I can gather- the spawn is mostly over. There are some Kentucky-spotted bass with eggs in them, which means they might still be spawning but for the most part it seems like it is over.

BASS PATTERNS- The biggest change since last report is the top water bite is on. The bass seem to be scattered more with some close to the surface, some in the brush and some still on the old shore line. In my previous report, most of the bass were on the old shoreline in 20 to 30 feet of water. With the spawn over that has changed where the fish are at. So the patterns have changed.

1. TOP WATER LURES- Just about anything top water is working. Zoom Flukes, Zara Spooks, shallow running rebels just to name a few. There is a good top water bite early in the morning and late in the day. The bass are chasing shad off of the main lake points and around those standing trees.

2. Live minnows with a small split shot in 0 to 30 feet of water is producing all species of bass. For the shallow fish a bobber is working well to keep your minnow out of the brush.

3. Carolina rigging a lizard. This is working mostly for Largemouth and Spotted bass. They are mostly using the green colors with a 2 to 4 foot drop. They are using these in 25 to 35 feet of water mostly on the steeper chunk rock banks and channel swings.

4. Crawfish or green colored tube tubes dragged on the gravel flats is producing some good Smallmouth Bass. These fish are mostly in 20 to 35 feet of water on the gravel rounded points and flats.

5. Other plastic baits such as meatheads, French fry worms, and 4 inch worms. The basic green or brown colors will work. These are Carolina rigged with a 2 to 4 foot drop jut like the lizards pattern above.

6. Wacky rigged bubble gum plastic worms with no weight in shallow water

7. Spinner baits- These were working very well when the water was rising and the color was brown. They have slowed down a little bit.

8. Live night crawlers with a small split shot in 20 to 30 feet of water.

WALLEYE- The walleye have really turned on this past 10 days. They are using shallow running stick baits- mostly rogues- in various depths depending on what type of structure you are fishing. The best colors are chartreuse, yellow, bluegill, perch or purple. They are also catching lots of walleye trolling deep diving crank baits and deep diving stick baits during the day. The walleye are shallow during the early morning and afternoon. They are deeper in the day so deeper diving baits are necessary.

WHITE BASS- There has been a few caught here and there. There have also been the sporadic sightings of the classic white bass surfacing back in the creeks over the last few weeks. However, there has not been the classic white bass run of the past. I would expect to be able to see people catch them at night under the lights any time now.

CRAPPIE- I have not seen many crappies caught which is unusual for spring. Last year was the best crappie year I have ever seen. I have had a couple reports that the crappie are very deep- in 40 to 55 feet of water. This makes sense to me. Nobody else is fishing that deep for them. They have to be somewhere and they have to eat. So-go figure.

CATFISH- The catfish are doing well on jug lines, trot lines and limb lines. We have seen several good catches and stringers. Most of the fish are in shallow water and being caught on the same bait- perch, dead shad, liver, stink bait, etc

SUMMER FISHING SEMINAR - JUNE 5TH 2 TO 4 P.M.
We are holding our Summer Fishing Seminar on June 5th from 2 to 4 p.m. here at Wilderness Trail
There is no charge for the seminar but seating is limited
Call now for your reservation - 870-445-2703

ATTENTION HUNTERS - Doe Permits are now available in the store
The deadline is June 30th - Pick up your application at Wilderness Trail

May 31, 2004
Every once in a while we have a beautiful week and this past week has been one of those with mild temperatures in the low 80’s and low 70’s at night. The lake level this week has dropped a little, it is now 674.99, 20 ½ feet above normal pool. The bite has fallen off a little bit with the draw down of the lake but this is normal and as the game fish reposition themselves the bite will pick up. Lake temperature is in the mid 70’s although 20 feet down the temperature is 64 degrees and most of the fish are in that range. 

White Bass remain active halfway back in the creeks and main lake pockets, pushing shad to the top. You never know when this is going to happen so be prepared. Best baits are Pop R’s, Chug Bugs, Tiny Torpedos and white grubs. Crappie are starting to bite at night under floating lights in 30 feet of water at the back of the coves and pockets in the creek arms. Crappie minnows on a 1/16 oz jig head is working the best.

Largemouth bass have moved out of the thick brush to the front of the flooded trees and isolated flooded bushes. Top water has fallen off on Zara spooks, buzzbaits and flukes and in turn spinnerbaits have become hot. Slow roll past the trees for best results. Texas rigged brush hogs and worms are your back up baits when the wind is down and the sun in high. 

Smallmouth bass haven’t moved much from where they were last week, 18 to 28 feet of water in front of the flooded brush, but smallies have started to show up on points in the creeks and on the main lake holding on the deep side of the points. The bite is a little slow with the lake draw down but it seems like when you do get bit it is a quality fish. A variety of baits and techniques are working. Some top water on Spook Jrs and Spit’N Image Jrs and a few will strike spinnerbaits in shad color or white and chartreuse. Spider Jigs and tube baits work well on the bottom and mojo rigged centipedes, brush hogs, Fish Doctors, finesse worms and trick worms are catching the roaming smallies. 

Kentucky bass have moved off the banks and are in their summer pattern already. The lake is not that warm for them to move but the shad have pulled out of the back of the creeks and pockets and where the shad go, so do the Kentuckys. Frenzy feeding on top is present throughout the lake and almost any top water bait will catch the feeding Kentuckys at this time. Carolina rigs with centipedes, Sinko’s, and Meatheads will trigger a few on the drop offs.

Walleye continue to bite in the shallows and in the deeper water off points. During the daylight hours work the points and middle of the channel swings with spinnerbaits, Rat’l traps and Suspending Rogues. If you are a troller, Reef Runners, Mann’s 20+ and Wally Minnows are working well in 28 to 35 feet of water. Live bait anglers are catching 18 to 20" walleye on nightcrawler harnesses and split shot rigs. Also fish the rigs with shiners for a change of pace. The night time bite is still turned on around the flooded trees and bushes on Rogues and Lucky Craft Staysee’s or Pointer 78DD.

The Professional Walleye Trail will be here June 23, 24, 25th. For more information go to www.professionalwalleyetrail.com. There are a few spots left for the amateurs. Check out the web site if you are interested. The weigh ins will be held at Bull Shoals Lake Boat Dock. Plan to join in the fun and festivities and welcome them as the anglers bring in their daily catch.

Trout fishing on the White River has been best on Berkley Power Eggs in yellow, orange and red, wax worms and red worms. Buoyant Spoons, Rooster Tails and Panther Martin’s have also been working when there is some generation. The fly fishermen have been doing well on olive Woolly Buggers, peach egg patterns and San Juan worms. Browns are being caught on Suspending Rogues, Countdowns, Rebel jointed minnows and nightcrawlers.