Arkansas Fishing Report – February 2, 2012

Sportsman’s White River Resort (870-453-2424) said the water is high and clear, with six to eight generators running. Trout fishing is very good for spin-fishermen. Fly-fishing is limited. Rooster Tails, Lil’ Cleos and floating trout worms are working well on rainbow trout. Brown trout are biting well on Original Rapalas, Rattling Rogues and white jigs.
Randy Oliver at www.randyoliverguide.com (901-832-1903)  said generation has been high the last week and the fishing has been hot. Drift fishing using Power Bait in yellow and pink/white fished in the deeper channels has worked better this week than lures.
Guide Davy Wotton said unseasonably warm weather has been most welcome, and fish have been active most of the day. Generations have been a little erratic with days of very high water to lower generations and shut down, therefore you will have to pay attention for the best zones to fish, be it wade or boat fishing. Brown trout fishing continues to be exceptional with many days of double-digit numbers and fish well over 20 inches. Both rivers are well stocked with rainbows as well. The best options will be drift-fishing combinations of sow bugs, white tail black and red midges, prism worms and  hares ear during low water. During high water, switch to combinations of eggs, San Juan worms, larger sizes of sow bugs, scuds and white tail midges. Streamer fishing may be good one day and gone another. The Bull Shoals Dam area opens Feb 1. If there are low water levels then, midges, sowbugs and soft hackles will be the order of the day, if we see generations then most of the above will work..
Jim Brentlinger at Linger’s Guide Service and Fishing Lodge(870-499-5185) said daily generation has cleared out the muddy water. The water is still off-colored, which is excellent for the larger brown trout. Black/gold/white Countdown Rapalas in no. 7 or 9 and blue/silver/orange Rattling Rogues will do the job. Fish the deeper banks and make a lot of casts.
Just Fishing Guides said the water is at a good level but cold due to lower air temperatures. Water temperatures are in the mid to upper 40’s, right at the point where fishing (catching) gets tough for smallmouth. Make sure you are fishing the deep holes and shallower waters on warm sunny days. With the cold temperatures concentrate on places you know there are springs or seeps. Fish slow and deep with soft plastics or crawdad pattern flies.
Just Fishing Guides said the water is at a good level but cold due to lower air temperatures. Water temperatures are in the mid to upper 40’s, right at the point where fishing (catching) gets tough for smallmouth. Make sure you are fishing the deep holes and shallower waters on warm sunny days. With the cold temperatures concentrate on places you know there are springs or seeps. Fish slow and deep with soft plastics or crawdad pattern flies.
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 654.31 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool – 654 MSL).
Mike Worley’s Guide Service said water temperature is still holding at 47-50 degrees. Bass and walleye are biting in shallow water on chunk rock main lake points. Best baits are grubs or swimbaits fished on Alabama rigs or suspending stick baits. There is a deep water bite for bass suspended under schools of shad in 80 to 100 feet of water with most of the fish in the 40- to 60-foot range with grubs, drop shot rigs or jigging spoons. Crappie are still holding over brush piles and submerged timber at 15 to 30 feet deep.
Just Fishing Guides said generation has been around the clock, varying between two to six units (5,000-20,000 cfs). Nymphing and streamers are two of the more productive presentations. Seasonal flies include scuds, sow bugs, blue wing olives, micro-caddis, midges, worm, egg and sculpin patterns. Now is the time to get out your big streamers and the 8 weight rods to pick up some big browns.

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