White River

(Updated 12-4-2013) Sportsman’s White River Resort (870-453-2424) said the gates are at minimum flow. There have been a lot of 16- to 18-inch rainbow trout taken on shrimp and Power Bait. Fly-fishermen did well on midges and soft-hackles. The water was very uncrowded, wo the people who were there had a great time.

(Updated 12-4-2013) Berry Brothers Guide Service (870-453-2424) said there has been wadable water every day. The hot spot has been the section from White Hole down to the Narrows. The best time to fish is early morning or late in the afternoon. The hot flies were Y2Ks, prince nymphs, zebra midges (black with silver wire and silver bead or red with silver wire and silver bead), pheasant tails, ruby midges, pink and cerise San Juan worms, and sowbugs. Double-fly nymph rigs have been very effective. Try a small bead headed pheasant tail suspended 18 inches below a brightly colored San Juan worm (hot fluorescent pink or cerise). Olive woolly buggers have also produced some nice trout.

Buffalo River

(Updated 12-4-2013) Berry Brothers Guide Service said the Buffalo National River and Crooked Creek are extremely low. With colder temperatures, the smallmouth are much less active. The most effective fly has been a tan and brown Clouser minnow. Carefully check the water level before entering Crooked Creek or the Buffalo River. There are no dams on these streams. They both have large drainages and are prone to flooding during and following any rain event. The water can rise very quickly.

Crooked Creek

(Updated 12-4-2013) Berry Brothers Guide Service said the Buffalo National River and Crooked Creek are extremely low. With colder temperatures, the smallmouth are much less active. The most effective fly has been a tan and brown Clouser minnow. Carefully check the water level before entering Crooked Creek or the Buffalo River. There are no dams on these streams. They both have large drainages and are prone to flooding during and following any rain event. The water can rise very quickly.

Bull Shoals

As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 657.95 feet msl (normal conservation pool – 654 msl).

(Updated 11-06-2013) Bull Shoals Lake Boat Dock said the lake is turning over as it usually does this time of year. The water temperature is around 70 degrees on the surface and in the low 60s all the way down to 45 to 50 feet. The thermocline was around 45 feet and moving down. Topwater lures are working fairly well for bass over 10 feet of water. Mustard- or watermelon-colored soft-plastic tubes are working fairly well in the middle of the day in 10 to 15 feet of water. On cloudy days, a spinnerbait in natural colors is working well on windy banks. No report on white bass. Walleye are fair on nightcrawlers bottom-bouncing rigs and split-shot rigs in 30 to 40 feet of water. Crappie are fair on small minnows and 1/16- through 1/64-oz. jigs around brush piles.