From Arkansas Game and Fish Commission

White River

Sportsman’s White River Resort (870-453-2424) said the water is clear and only two to three generators are running. Few anglers are fishing, but the trout have been biting fairly well. Bank fishermen are catching trout on pink Power Worms and black/green and brown/orange crappie jigs. Fly-anglers are catching fish on black/red Copper Johns and zebra midges.

Randy Oliver at www.randyoliverguide.com (901-832-1903) said fishing has been excellent drift fishing on bottom. Low fishing pressure kept the fish close to the deep holes. Try using corn, redworms or bright-colored Power Bait on a White River rig with 6-pound-test green line.

Guide Davy Wotton said temperatures are dropping. The Bull Shoals Dam Zone is now closed to fishing for the spawn, and the area below the dam zone to the State Park now is catch-and-release only. Most brown trout are in spawning zones, digging redds and spawning. Please leave these fish alone so they can have a successful spawn for the health of the fishery. The best options during lower water flows are midge patterns in sizes 14 to 20 if fish are seen feeding on the surface. White-tail, prism, shimmer and zebra midges are the go-to flies. Sow bugs and scuds in gray, gray/olive and orange have produced during overcast conditions. Afternoons have been good for fishing both soft hackles in the riffle zones and small streamers in deeper water. When drift fishing moderate generations, combinations of midge, prism and San Juan worms have been very good, if fishing colored water and when overhead light is diminished then you may need to add hi-vis flies such as eggs and worms.

Jim Brentlinger at Linger’s Guide Service and Fishing Lodge (870-499-5185) said from Buffalo City to Reds Landing, the old standbys like Power Bait and corn are catching fish very well. Pink or Chartreuse Power Bait is working the best. If you want to catch larger fish, fish a Rapala Floating Minnow or White River Zig Jig. In the last few days, brown trout in the 20- to 22-inch range have been active and catchable.

Buffalo River

Just Fishing Guides said most of the river is not floatable, but can be fished by wading or dragging a boat. Highway 7 flows are 14 cfs and 3.44 feet. Highway 65 flows are 47 cfs and 3.73 feet. Highway 14 flows are 93 cfs and 2.5 feet. These are all about a foot below good floating and fishing. Water temperatures are still holing in the fair range for smallmouth, 50 for lows and 58 for highs. Be sure to fish slow and deep. Soft plastics in green and brown shades should work. Fly fishing with crawdad and minnow patterns in the same colors will work.

Crooked Creek

Just Fishing Guides said there have been very low flows throughout the creek and most of the lower part is dry. Flows at the Kelly’s Access are 110 cfs and 10.77 feet. This is about 2 feet below the low-water bridge. Temperatures are in the 50s. Fish deep and slow with crawdad and minnow imitations. Fly-anglers are doing well with big rubber-legged nymphs.

Bull Shoals Lake

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 650.76 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool – 654 MSL).

Mike Worley’s Guide Service said bass and a few walleyes are being caught on stick baits, crankbaits and spinnerbaits on windy banks. Crappie are biting 1/8-oz. jigs about 10 feet deep over brush piles and around boat docks. Walleyes are biting jigging spoons on bluff ends, drop offs and brush piles about 30 feet deep. Some walleyes are still being caught on bottom bouncer and crawler rigs on drop offs. The best bite is late afternoon and evening.

Bull Shoals Tailwater

Ken Richards at Just Fishing Guides said water releases have been low to moderate with 1,000 -2,000 cfs being the average. The lake level is 650.8, about 3 feet below flood pool. Small streamers have been picking up good quantities of fish. Also your standard nymphs, pheasant tail, hares ear, prince and copper john, have been working. Egg patterns are a good bet where trout are spawning. Be careful of the redds. If you are after fewer but bigger trout, try throwing big streamers such as zoo cougars. Don’t forget your San Juan worms in bright colors for higher water.