White River

Sportsman’s White River Resort (870-453-2424) said the water clarity is good and three to four generators are running. Trout fishing is excellent on shrimp and Power Bait. Large brown trout are biting fairly well on stick baits.

Berry Brothers Guide Service (870-453-2424) said the most prolific insect hatch of the year, the Rhyacophilia caddis, is still active, though waning. This is a size 14 bright green aquatic insect. Before the hatch, concentrate on fishing caddis pupae patterns in green. My favorite is the fluttering caddis. When you observe fish feeding near the surface but see no insects, the trout are keying in on the emergers. The best fly for this phase is my green butt (size 15). Then, when you observe insects on the surface of the water and trout keying in on them, you switch over to the adult insect fly. My hands down choice is the elk hair caddis in green (size 14). On the White, we have had no wadable water. The hot spot has been the Catch-and-release section below Bull Shoals Dam. 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 sow bugs. Double fly nymph rigs have been very effective. Try a small beadheaded 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 the river is navigable. Smallmouth are beginning to get active. Look for water that’s warmed to 55 degrees for the best activity.

Crooked Creek

Berry Brothers Guide Service said the river is navigable. Smallmouth are beginning to get active. Look for water that’s warmed to 55 degrees for the best activity.

Bull Shoals Lake

As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 659.97 feet msl (normal conservation pool – 654 msl).

Mike Worley’s Guide Service said the water temperature is in the mid-50s to low 60s. Bass fishing is pretty good most days with stick baits, grubs and lizards in less than 20 feet of water. White bass are biting on shad-colored jigs, spinners and crankbaits in the backs of the creeks with colored water on windy days. Walleye have mostly finished spawning and are moving to chunk rock banks in less than 20 feet of water; they are starting to bite on spinner rigs, stick baits and crankbaits.