From Arkansas Game and Fish Commission

White River

Sportsman’s White River Resort (870-453-2424) said the water is murky and four generators are running. Trout are biting well on Rapalas, Rogues and white marabou jigs.

Guide Davy Wotton said things are looking good, as the first signs of the caddis emergence showed up at the end of last week. So long as we do not see a further cold temperatures, it will not be long before the hatch is in full swing. If it anything like last year, you will see some of the best top-water fishing in the country. Before the caddis emergence, try caddis pupa such as the SLF trans pupa, green-tail pupa and soft hackles such as GRHE, green tail, partridge and green. It’s also a good time to fish wet flies, such as grouse and green, woodcock and hares ear nymphs. These will be primarily dry line tactics, fished either with a dead drift or with a downstream strip-and-pause retrieve. When the caddis emerge, move over to dry fly fishing with a elk hair or Davy’s caddis. Sizes of dry flies early on may be from size 12 for the larger species to size 16 for the smaller. Generations for the White have been on and off. Didymo has started to make an unwelcome appearance, and is very bad at Bull Shoals Dam. If we see high water generations, it will scarf from the river bed and make fishing difficult as the new water moves downstream. This may force you to move way below the rise or move upstream above the worst of it.

Buffalo River

No report.

Crooked Creek

No report.

Bull Shoals Lake

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 650.29 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool – 654 MSL).

Bob Pauletti at Bull Shoals Lake Boat Dock said spring is right around the corner, and the anglers are ready to go. The water temperature for the lower portion of the lake is around 47 to 49 degrees. The white bass are running in the backs of some creeks. White twister tails, inline spinners and small crankbaits will catch the white bass during the run. Bass can be caught on tube baits, jigs and jerk baits fished in the wind. Walleye have been few and far between, but this should change soon. Anglers should be ready by the next full moon and fish suspending jerk baits in likely spawning areas. Crappie are biting well on bluff walls with cover.

Bull Shoals Tailwater

No report.