From Arkansas Game and Fish Commission

White River

Sportsman’s White River Resort (870-453-2424) said the water is clear and high with six to eight generators running almost around the clock. There are no wading opportunities and all fishing is from a boat. Rainbow trout have been biting Power Bait and pink worms fished along the bottom. Small spinners and spoons are working well on rainbows in the morning as well. Brown trout are biting well early and late in the day on Rapala floating minnows.

Randy Oliver at www.randyoliverguide.com (901-832-1903) had no report.

Guide Davy Wotton said fishing is as good as it gets using many methods from deep dead drifting nymphs, dry flies with hoppers and wet and soft hackles, depending on where you are fishing. White River is currently seeing generation 24/7 from lower flows early on to high flows later in the day. The river is generally very clean. The White is good all the way down to Sylamore. We are also seeing many good browns averaging 15 to 20 inches long.

Jim Brentlinger at Linger’s Guide Service and Fishing Lodge (870-499-5185) had no report.

Buffalo River

Just Fishing Guides said the water levels are: Ponca – 1.46 feet and 5.3 cfs; Pruitt – 3.50 feet and 11 cfs; Tyler Bend – 4.71 feet and 515 cfs; Buffalo Point – 2.53 feet and 139 cfs. The entire river is very low and wading or dragging a canoe is the only way to fish except in the Tyler Bend area and later in the week as the water reaches the Buffalo Point area. Water temperatures are ranging from 78-88 degrees. Smaller fish have been the rule. Spin fisherman are doing well bottom-bouncing tubes, lizards and brush hogs in watermelon/red and green pumpkin. Fly-fishermen are doing well on crazy ’dads, rabbit tail sliders, woolly buggers, Clouser minnows and Shenks white streamers.

Crooked Creek

Just Fishing Guides said the gauge at Kelly’s Slab is reading 9.61 ft. and 4.3 cfs. This is very low water and poor floating conditions. Wade fishing is good for fly anglers using Clousers, near nuff sculpins, zonkers, sneaky petes and size 4-6 hopper patterns. Spin fisherman are doing good using tubes, lizards and baby brush hogs in watermelon and green pumpkin. Crawdad crankbaits and Tiny Torpedoes are also working well. The best bet is 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 672.58 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool – 654 MSL).

Mike Worley’s Guide Service said the lake level is about 20 feet above power pool and is dropping several inches every day. Water temperature is about 85 degrees. Walleye are biting well at about 40 feet deep on crawler rigs and bottom bouncers, deep-running crankbaits and jigging spoons. Striped bass are active on the upper section of the lake and are biting the same baits as the Walleye. Large bluegill are biting on just about anything you want to try. Black bass are biting better at night on plastic worms, jigs and spinnerbaits.

Bull Shoals Tailwater

Just Fishing Guides said water releases are continuous at 13,000 cfs with releases ramping up to 18,500 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. Minnow crankbaits in black/gold and black/blue are working along with brown trout-colored jointed minnows. In-line spinners like Rooster Tails and Mepp’s are also picking up fish.