White River

Sportsman’s White River Resort (870-453-2424) said the water is clear and low with little generation. Trout fishing is excellent, especially with PowerBait; try yellow or pink. Go with small spinners and spoons – Rooster Tails, Little Cleos or Copper Johns. In higher water, try Rogues and Rapalas. For fly anglers, scuds, sow bugs, zebra midges and grasshoppers are working.

Jim Brentlinger at Linger’s Guide Service and Fishing Lodge (870-499-5185) had this report for Buffalo City to Red’s Landing: The water level remains somewhat low but is beginning to pick up a little bit each day. The fishing is definitely limited to specific areas. When you find an area that is holding fish, be sure to fish it repeatedly. There are many areas that just don’t hold fish. Try Rapalas in the faster water, Zig Jigs everywhere else or Power Baits on the bottom. Do yourself a favor and get out on the water early. The extremely high temperatures are dangerous and should be watched closely. Fish early in the day and quit at noon. You will catch plenty of fish and it will be much safer for you.

Buffalo River

Just Fishing Guides said as of Wednesday, the river was low and getting lower. Ponca was very low at 1.45 feet, Pruitt was very low at 3.22 feet, Tyler Bend was low at 3.34 feet and Buffalo Point was low at 2.63 feet. Water temperature was averaging in the upper 70s. The river level is extremely low for floating; the water is clear. Most of the Ozark streams are about a quarter of their normal flows for this time of year. Be prepared to walk and drag your boat quite a bit. We have had spotty, scattered showers but not enough to make any difference. All of the rivers have fallen in the last week. All are at or near record lows for the date and all time. However, warmwater streams and rivers have been fishing very well lately in both quantity and quality. Fly-fishing has been good with bait fish patterns, Bogle Bugs in white, Tequeely Streamers, Woolly Buggers and Clouser Minnows. The top-water bite with flies is really going gangbusters. Spotted bass are holding near woody debris. Smallmouth are in the deeper channels. Sunfish have been caught with about anything that hits the water. Small poppers, Woolly Buggers, spiders, beetles and hoppers are raking in the sunfish. Sometimes it is hard not to catch them. Spin fishing has picked up; fish with white or gray Flukes, 4-inch Zoom lizards in watermelon red and tube baits in green pumpkinseed. Crankbaits, buzz baits and spinners have worked well also.

Crooked Creek

Just Fishing Guides said the gauge at Kelley’s Slab was reading 9.6 feet Wednesday, a good level for wade fishing. Most of the Ozark streams are about a quarter of their normal flows for this time of year. Be prepared to walk and drag your boat quite a bit. We have had spotty, scattered showers but not enough to make any difference. All of the rivers have fallen in the last week. All are at or near record lows for the date and all time. However, warmwater streams and rivers have been fishing very well lately in both quantity and quality. Fly-fishing has been good with bait fish patterns, Bogle Bugs in white, Tequeely Streamers, Woolly Buggers and Clouser Minnows. The top-water bite with flies is really going gangbusters. Spotted bass are holding near woody debris. Smallmouth are in the deeper channels. Sunfish have been caught with about anything that hits the water. Small poppers, Woolly Buggers, spiders, beetles and hoppers are raking in the sunfish. Sometimes it is hard not to catch them. Spin fishing has picked up; fish with white or gray Flukes, 4-inch Zoom lizards in watermelon red and tube baits in green pumpkinseed. Crankbaits, buzz baits and spinners have worked well also.

Bull Shoals Lake

As of Wednesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 653.4 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool – 654 MSL).

Mike Worley’s Guide Service said the water temperature is 87 degrees. The walleye bite has been a little slower during the last week but most days we are still catching them in 22- to 28-inch range on jigging spoons and night crawler rigs fished on bottom-bouncers. Crankbaits like Shad Raps or Flicker Shads trolled on lead-core line or flat-line trolling deep-diving crankbaits like Tail Dancers or Reef Runners also are working. Black bass are shallower and biting on soft plastics, crankbaits and live crayfish. Some crappies are being caught on the lead core/crankbaits trolled over brushpiles. The weather is very hot so be sure to drink lots of water and use sun screen.

Bull Shoals Tailwater

Just Fishing Guides said mornings are better than afternoons. Heavier flows are the norm in the afternoon as the weather heats up. Bead-head nymphs such as pheasant tails and hare’s ears are producing well. Early terrestrials like beetles and ants are getting some top-water action. Be sure to have some sulphur and light Cahill dries in your fly box. Try a hopper/dropper combo to maximize your chances of hook-ups or, if possible, a double-nymph rig. Doubles are very possible. Water releases have been all over the place but mainly in the afternoon for four-six hours, 1,500-8,000 cfs.