From Arkansas Game and Fish Commission

White River

Sportsman’s White River Resort (870-453-2424) said the water is clear and high in the afternoon, but lower at night. Rainbow trout are excellent on small spinnerbaits and drift-rigs. The brown trout bite is slowing down. (Last Updated July 6, 2011)

Guide Davy Wotton said flow is low early and higher with generation during the day. Dry flies, such as Rock Hoppers and stimulators work well early for slower water. Dead-drift nymph fishing with GRHE, white tail and prism midges in black, red and copper, scuds and sow bugs work well in medium flow. In high water, try San Juan, dynamite and prism worms coupled with eggs or larger nymph patterns on dropper rigs. Streamers and larger floating bugs work well from dusk until dark. Whitlock surface frog patterns and large black/red throat muddlers are also producing.

Jim Brentlinger at Linger’s Guide Service and Fishing Lodge (870-499-5185) said the fishing is picking up. Power Bait is producing very well. Fishing was slow for several weeks on artificial baits, but the last several days have shown a turnaround. Large numbers of fish are being caught on jigs and on Rapalas, and the average size has increased as well.

Buffalo River

Just Fishing Guides said the entire river is very low and wading or dragging a canoe is the only way to fish. The river flows are very low and care should be taken to not spook fish. Spin fisherman are doing well with tubes, lizards and brush hogs in watermelon and green pumpkin. Fly fishermen should try Crazy Dads, Near Nuff Crawdad, 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 9.80 feet and 12 cfs. This level is very low for floating. Fishing is excellent for numbers and size for smallmouth. Fly fishermen are doing well with a variety of minnow patterns. Clousers in shades of olive and tan, zonkers in white and olive, Near Nuff Sculpins and Meat Whistles in olive and Shenks Streamer in white are all producing. Try your favorite top water poppers and sliders in shades of chartreuse, white, black and frog colors. Spin fisherman are doing well with soft plastics, jerk baits and top water baits. The best fishing is early in the morning and late in the evening.

Bull Shoals Lake

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 687.52 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool – 654 MSL).

Mike Worley’s Guide Service said bass are biting well on soft plastics, spinnerbaits and crankbaits. Top water lures and flukes are working well early in the morning. Walleye are biting well on crawler rigs, trolled crankbaits and jigging spoons in 20 to 40 feet of water. The lake level has dropped, but boats are still being launched from flooded roads as the ramps still flooded. Catfish are biting well on limb lines. Large bluegills are biting worms, meal worms and crickets.

Bull Shoals Tailwater

Just Fishing Guides said generation has been in the afternoons with flows up to 20,000 cfs. Drift fishing is very good using egg and worm patterns. Some days stripping streamers can put you on some quality fish. Work your flies around woody debris and rocks. Regular nymph patterns have been good in the grass beds and rocky shoals. Best flies are copper johns, hare’s ears, pheasant tails and scuds/sow bugs. With low water in the morning midges are picking up fish. Terrestrials, such as hoppers and beetles are starting to become a go-to fly.