White River

(Updated 1-29-2014) Berry Brothers Guide Service (870-453-2424) said catch-and-release section below Bull Shoals Dam will open back up Feb. 1. The seasonal catch-and-release area at the state park will revert to normal trout regulations that day as well. The trout near the dam have not been fished over in three months and should be eager to feed. The hot spot during the low water over the weekend was Round House Shoals in Cotter. The hot flies were olive woolly buggers, Y2s, 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 Corps of Engineers have been running significantly more water during the week and that has benefitted the streamer fishing. Some effective patterns are sex dungeons and circus peanuts.

Buffalo River

(Updated 1-29-2014) Berry Brothers Guide Service said The Buffalo National River and Crooked Creek are navigable. 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 1-29-2014) Berry Brothers Guide Service The Buffalo National River and Crooked Creek are navigable. 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 658.68 feet msl (normal conservation pool – 654 msl).