From Arkansas Game and Fish Commission

White River

Sportsman’s White River Resort (870-453-2424) said the water clarity has been good in the afternoons. Six generators have been running lately. Trout are biting well on worms and on minnow-imitating lures, such as Rapalas and Rogues.

Randy Oliver at www.randyoliverguide.com (901-832-1903) said Rainbows are baiting fair this week on corn and yellow Power Bait. The water has been a little stained with two generators running most of the time. There has been low fishing pressure during weekdays.

Guide Davy Wotton said erratic generation coupled with low temperatures have made fishing tricky, but the bite is generally good if you figure out how to work with rising and falling water levels. Trout generally prefer a more settled water level, but may well bite well on a rise depending on the current. There have been plenty of options for wade and drift fishing. Wade fishing has been best with nymphs, wet flies and streamers. During low water, look for riffles and other areas where water is flowing. Midges and BWOs in sizes 18 to 20 are working. Otherwise, white tail, prism and shimmer midges, coupled with sowbugs or olive scuds have done well. When drift fishing, find faster water and use San Juan worms, dynamite and prism worms in red, claret, and tan. Worms are a good bet coupled with eggs in areas where two flies are legal.

Jim Brentlinger at Linger’s Guide Service and Fishing Lodge (870-499-5185) said the White River is clear all the way to Reds Landing. The fishing has been consistently good along the entire way. White River Zig Jigs and Rapalas are producing large numbers of fish. The Rapala will usually produce larger, but fewer fish.

Buffalo River

Just Fishing Guides said the river level at Hwy. 7 is 3.70 feet, 19 cfs. Water temperatures throughout the system are 50 degrees. Levels are very low in the upper river, but fishing is still good. Smallmouth are still feeding heavily for the winter slowdown. Fish slow and deliberate in the deeper holes and hit the shallows as the sun heats up the water. Crayfish and minnow patterns such as Gitzits, Crazy Dads, Shenk’s Minnow and Clouser Minnows should be your main flies. (Last Updated 12/1/2010)

Crooked Creek

Just Fishing Guides said the river level is 10.83 feet, 65 cfs, 2 feet below the low-water bridge at Kelly’s Access, and the water temperature is 50 degrees. Levels are very low, but fishing is still good. Smallmouth are still feeding up for winter slowdown. Fish slow and deliberate in the deeper holes and hit the shallow, faster water as the sun heats the water. Crayfish and minnow patterns such as Gitzits, Crazy Dads, Shenk’s Minnow and Clouser Minnows should be your main flies. (Last Updated 12/1/2010)

Bull Shoals Lake

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 650.61 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool – 654 MSL).

Mike Worley’s Guide Service said bass are biting fairly well on jigs and tubes fished in 10-30 feet of water around bluff ends. Wiggle Wart crankbaits in natural colors are catching large smallmouth bass on bluff wall transitions. Be sure to down size your line and slow your retrieve. Some really nice walleyes are being caught on live bait and jigging spoons on the outside of main lake brush piles and drop offs. Water temps are in the upper 50s and suspending stick baits can catch some really good size walleyes and striped bass. Crappie are hit-and-miss, and biting better when we have a few days of stable weather. (Last Updated 12/1/2010)

Bull Shoals Tailwater

Ken Richards at Just Fishing Guides said the lake level is 651 feet and generation has been low to moderate. Fishing is good throughout the system with streamers and nymphs. There is still some activity with dries, especially in the afternoon with midges and cricket patterns. Hare’s ears, Copper Johns, Princes and Pheasant tails are the best nymphs. Don’t forget egg patterns and San Juan worms. (Last Updated 12/1/2010