From Arkansas Game and Fish Commission

White River

Sportsman’s White River Resort (870-453-2424) said the water is clear and high with seven generators running. Trout fishing is good from a boat on drifted pink or red Power Bait and on trout worms. The larger brown trout have been very hard to come by in the last week.

Randy Oliver at www.randyoliverguide.com (901-832-1903) said fishing with black/gold Countdown Rapalas from 7 to 11 a.m. has worked well for trout lately.

Guide Davy Wotton said there’s been some welcome rain the last week. Fishing is as good as you can get with many trophy browns and rainbows being caught daily. Overall fishing pressure has been moderate. The constant high water has kept the river clean and clear, making it necessary to fish with small, very realistic flies. Sowbugs, white tail and prism midges, scuds, worms, hares ear, and many other nymph-type flies are doing very well. Streamer fishing may be productive during low light. There are a lot of hoppers and crickets around this year, so be prepared for some excellent dry fly action soon. The best time to try hopper imitations will be on windy days near brushy shorelines and grassy banks.

Jim Brentlinger at Linger’s Guide Service and Fishing Lodge (870-499-5185) said fishing has continued to get better as the fish are getting used to the ups and downs of the water due to the generation schedule. Still the fishing slows when fresh water arrives. Rapalas, Zig Jigs and Woolly Buggers have been producing very well.

Buffalo River

Just Fishing Guides said the water levels are: Ponca – 1.72 feet and 18 cfs; Pruitt – 3.82 feet and 40 cfs; Tyler Bend – 3.61 feet and 27 cfs; Buffalo Point – 2.32 feet and 91 cfs. The entire river is very low and wading or dragging a canoe is the only way to fish. Water temperatures are ranging from 78-88 degrees. Smaller fish have been the rule. The river flows are very low and care should be taken to not spook fish. Spin fisherman are doing fair bottom bouncing tubes, lizards and brush hawgs in watermelon and green pumpkin. For fly fisherman, try Crazy Dads, Rabbit tail Sliders, Near Nuff Sculpin, Clouser Minnow and Shenks White Streamer on both floating and sink-tip lines.

Crooked Creek

Just Fishing Guides said the gauge at Kelley’s Slab is reading 9.54 ft. and 4.3 cfs. This is very low water and poor floating conditions. Wade fishing is good for fly fishers using Clousers, Near Nuff Sculpins, Zonkers, Sneaky Petes and size 4-6 hopper patterns. Spin fisherman are doing fair using tubes, lizards and baby brush hogs in watermelon and green pumpkin. Crawdad crankbaits and Tiny Torpedoes are also working well. Try fishing away from the heat of the day. Best bets are early morning and early evening just before dark.

Bull Shoals Lake

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 675.76 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool – 654 MSL).

Mike Worley’s Guide Service said the lake is 22 feet above power pool and is dropping several inches per day. Water temperature is about 85 degrees and walleye are biting well at about 30 feet deep on crawler rigs and bottom bouncers, and on crankbaits trolled on lead-core line. Striped bass are active on the upper section of the lake and are biting the same baits as the walleye. Many monster bluegills are also being caught in deep water on the crawler rigs. Black bass are biting well at night on soft-plastic worms, jigs and spinnerbaits.

Bull Shoals Tailwater

Just Fishing Guides said water releases are continuous at 10,000 cfs with releases ramping up to 20,000 cfs for about 10-12 hours. Drift fishing is very good now. Nymphing, terrestrials and streamers should all be used. San Juan worms, eggs, scuds, sow bugs, BH Pheasant Tails, Copper Johns, Hare n’ Copper, hoppers, ants, beetles, Zoo Cougars, Woolly Buggers and large articulated streamers are suggested patterns to use.