White River

Sportsman’s White River Resort (870-453-2424) said two to three generators ran all weekend but the water clarity was good. Fly-fishing was tough because of the running water but should pick up this week with the generators being shut off. Fishing for rainbows is good using small lures and drift fishing lures. A few brown trout have been caught but nothing of great size.

Berry Brothers Guide Service (870-453-2424) said there has been significant wadable water. The hot spot has been Wildcat Shoals. The best time to fish is early morning or late in the afternoon. Midday can be slow. The hot flies were prince nymphs, zebra midges (black with silver wire and silver bead or red with silver wire and silver bead), pheasant tails, copper Johns, pink and cerise San Juan worms, gold ribbed hare’s ears and sowbugs. Double fly nymph rigs have been very effective. Try a small bead headed nymph (zebra midge, copper John or pheasant tail) suspended 18 inches below a brightly colored San Juan worm (hot fluorescent pink or cerise).

Buffalo River

Berry Brothers Guide Service said with summer here, the smallmouths are active. The most effective fly has been a tan and brown Clouser minnow. Carefully check the water level before entering Crooked Creek or the Buffalo River. There are no dams on these streams. They both have large drainages and are prone to flooding during and following any rain event. The water can rise very quickly.

Crooked Creek

Berry Brothers Guide Service said with summer here, the smallmouths are active. The most effective fly has been a tan and brown Clouser minnow. Carefully check the water level before entering Crooked Creek or the Buffalo River. There are no dams on these streams. They both have large drainages and are prone to flooding during and following any rain event. The water can rise very quickly.

Bull Shoals Lake

As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 665.07 feet msl (normal conservation pool – 654 msl).

Mike Worley’s Guide Service said the water is a little high with temperatures in the mid-70s. Walleye are biting well in 10-30 feet of water using bottom bouncers with crawler rigs and silver/chartreuse Colorado or smile blades. Bass fishing has been good on soft plastic baits fished near the brush line and the old shore line about 15 to 20 feet deep. The early morning and late afternoon topwater bite on Spook Jrs., floating wacky worms and flukes has been good for both largemouth and smallmouth bass. White bass are schooling and are working shad on the main lake as well as the creek arms and are biting anything that looks like a shad when they come up.