White River

(Updated 1-22-2014) Sportsman’s White River Resort (870-453-2424) said there were very few anglers out last week because of the extreme cold.
(Updated 1-22-2014) Berry Brothers Guide Service (870-453-2424) said the catch-and-release section below Bull Shoals Dam is closed to fishing until January 31, and the state park area is seasonal catch-and-release for the same time. Night fishing is prohibited in this area during this period as well. The hot spot on the lower water was Roundhouse Shoals. 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 cerise or pink San Juan worm with a midge pattern suspended below it). The U.S. Corps of Engineers has been running significantly more water most of the week, benefiting streamer fishing. To do this you need at least an 8-weight fly rod, a heavy sink-tip fly line and large articulated streamers. The idea is to bang the bank and strip the fly back to the boat. This is heavy work and requires advanced casting skills. Some effective patterns are sex dungeons and circus peanuts.

Buffalo River

(Updated 1-22-2014) Berry Brothers Guide Service said the Buffalo National River and Crooked Creek are high and off color. With the cold temperatures, the smallmouth are very inactive. 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 1-22-2014) Berry Brothers Guide Service said the Buffalo National River and Crooked Creek are high and off color. With the cold temperatures, the smallmouth are very inactive. 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 659.43 feet msl (normal conservation pool – 654 msl).