From Arkansas Game and Fish Commission

White River

Sportsman’s White River Resort (870-453-2424) said the water is high and clear, with six to eight generators running. Some mornings saw only three generators online. Trout fishing is the best there’s been in a long while. Rainbow trout are excellent on Power Worms with shrimp or trout worms added to the hook. Brown trout are close to the narrows at Tucker and are excellent on white jigs, Rapalas and Rogues from sunup to about 2 p.m.

Randy Oliver at www.randyoliverguide.com (901-832-1903) said five generators are running in the mornings, and five to eight generators running in the afternoons. Black/gold and rainbow colored no. 7 Countdown Rapalas have worked well in the mornings.

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) said generation has been consistently high. Trout are biting steadily on Countdown Rapalas. One-quarter-ounce Zig Jigs will work as well, but they are difficult to fish in the heavy current. Any place on the river where the water slows will hold fish. There are a lot of smallmouth, but they are difficult to catch with the heavy flow. Large spinnerbaits cast to the bank and slow rolled back to the boat will produce fish; just be patient and keep casting.

Buffalo River

Just Fishing Guides said the water levels are: Ponca – 1.38 feet and 3.2 cfs; Pruitt – 3.30 feet and 5.1 cfs; Tyler Bend – 3.68 feet and 80 cfs; Buffalo Point – 2.52 feet and 137. The entire river is very low and wading or dragging a canoe is the only way to fish except in the Tyler Bend and Buffalo Point areas. Water temperatures are ranging from 78-88 degrees. Smaller fish have been the rule. The river flows are very low and care should be taken to not spook fish. Spin fisherman are doing good bottom bouncing tubes, lizards and brush hogs in watermelon/red and green pumpkin. For fly fishing, try crazy dads, rabbit tail sliders, woolly buggers, Clouser minnows and Shenks white streamers on both floating and sink-tip lines.

Crooked Creek

Just Fishing Guides said the gauge at Kelly’s Slab is reading 9.39 ft. and 4.3 cfs. The creek is really low for floating, but fishing is excellent for wading. Spin fishing with soft plastics and 1/16-oz. jigs will consistently catch good numbers of fish. Topwater lures are working well also and some days will catch just as many as bottom bouncing plastics. 4-inch lizards, 3-inch tubes and brush hogs in watermelon, watermelon/red and green pumpkin are working well. Try Tiny Torpedoes and small buzzbaits for topwater action. For fly fishers use Clousers, zonkers, crazy dads, near nuff sculpins, poppers, sliders and hopper patterns.

Bull Shoals Lake

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 669.24 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool – 654 MSL).

Mike Worley’s Guide Service said walleye, bass and bluegills are all biting well on several techniques. Bottom bouncers with spinners and nightcrawlers are working well in 25 to 35 feet of water. Trolling crank baits like Fat Free Shads, 600 Reef Runners and No. 9 Shad Raps are catching walleye and bass near points in 15 to 25 feet of water. Jigging spoons are working well on points and brush piles in 25 to 35 feet of water. Some launch ramps now have parking lots that are usable and most of the launch ramps should be in pretty good shape for Labor Day weekend.

Bull Shoals Tailwater

Just Fishing Guides said water releases are continuous at 10,000 cfs with releases ramping up to 18,500 cfs for about 10-12 hours. Drift fishing has been very good with sink-tips and medium size streamers with good numbers of rainbows and browns. Hopper patterns are doing very well also and, of course, nymphing with scud, sow bug, caddis and worm patterns. Minnow crankbaits in black/gold and black/blue are working along with brown trout-colored jointed minnows. In-line spinners like Rooster Tails and Mepps are also picking up fish.