Bull Shoals Lake Fishing Report – August 17, 2016

As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 660.95 feet msl (normal conservation pool – 659.00 msl).

No lake reports this week.

White River (Bull Shoals Tailwater)

(updated 8-17-2016) Sportsman’s White River Resort (870-453-2424) reported that the water was cloudy and at a low level. Trout were just fair this week. The bite on brown trout was slow, but there were fair reports of catches of rainbows.

(updated 8-17-2016) Ron Gamble at Cotter Trout Dock said river levels have remained significantly lower the last few days and the fishing has been very good with fewer hiding places for the rainbows. Gamble said they had several folks working stick baits who came back with pictures of four browns, one weighed approximately 9 pounds. Larger stick baits were used in the deeper holes, suspending rogues with translucent and/or lime green tints were successful. While the rain kept some folks away from the river, those that braved the (mostly) misty skies had successful days with a steady stream of catches. Small spinners with a Colorado blade were popular this week; you’ll also want to keep your spoons and Blue Foxes handy.

(updated 8-17-2016) John Berry at Berry Brothers Guide Service  (870-453-2424) said that during the past week, Cotter has had a couple of rain events (a combined total of 2.25 inches), brutally hot temperatures (to include heat advisories) and moderate winds. The lake level at Bull Shoals rose 0.5 feet to rest at a half-foot below seasonal power pool of 661 feet. This is 34.5 feet below the top of flood pool. Upstream, Table Rock fell 0.3 feet to rest at 2.3 feet below seasonal power pool and 16.3 feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell 0.4 feet to rest at 2.8 feet below seasonal power pool and 12.4 feet below the top of flood pool. On the White, we had heavy generation in the afternoon last week with wadable water most mornings, and the bite has been excellent. The hot spot has been Rim Shoals. The hot flies were olive Woolly Buggers (sizes 8, 10), Y2Ks (sizes 14, 12), prince nymphs (size 14), zebra midges (black with silver wire and silver bead or red with silver wire and silver bead sizes 16 or 18), pheasant tails (size 14), ruby midges (size 18), root beer midges (size 18), pink and cerise San Juan worms (size 10), and sowbugs (size 16). Double fly nymph rigs have been very effective (my current favorite is a red San Juan worm with a size 18 ruby midge suspended below it). The best bet for large trout has been to bang the bank with large articulated streamers delivered with heavy 24-30-foot sink tips (350 grains or heavier) on bigger water. You will need an eight or nine weight rod. This is heavy work but the rewards can be great.