From Arkansas Fish and Game Commission

White River

Sportsman’s White River Resort (870-453-2424) said the water is low. Trout fishing is good on olive and black woolly buggers and on grasshopper patterns in the evening. Bait fishermen are doing well on yellow PowerBait and Power Worms.

Randy Oliver at www.randyoliverguide.com (901-832-1903) said the water has been clear from no rain and the fish are holding near any drop off close to the flats. Corn and red worms have worked best fished off the bottom with a White River rig using a no. 6 hook and small bell weight.

Guide Davy Wotton said fishing continues to be first class at this time. Generation levels have been moderate with some high water spikes for limited periods. Plenty of options for both wade and boat fishing for the entire length of the White River. Temperatures have dropped low during the early morning hours. Anglers may find the bite slow until the sun rises and temperatures increase, after which the bite has been very good indeed. Water clarity has been good, with plenty of options to sight fish for trophy browns, all be it they may be way more wary as overhead light levels increase. Early and late evening hours are giving anglers the best options to catch at this time. Dry fly fishing may be on and off but still worth fishing, you may experience many fish rising to the fly but not committing to take. Often the best option here is to fish a dry dropper option with midge, sowbugs or scuds suspended. Streamer fishing again may result in many follows and fish turning away, this is often due to high levels of water clarity. If this is the case, then opt to fish dead drift nymph tactics close to the river bed. Flies this week that have produced large numbers of fish include, whitetail, shimmer, prism and zebra style midges. Sowbugs in grey, tan, scuds on tan and olive/gray. Soft hackles have also been worth while fishing in riffle and well agitated water zones. If fishing slow moving water zones marabou jigs and streamers bounced on and off the river bed can be deadly at times. Browns are staged at many zones in the system at this time and moving steadily up stream at this time. Water clarity being as clear as it is at this time will give you plenty of opportunity to sigh fish many of these fish, all be it they may well be very spooky in shallow water zones. High water increases from low water may see colored and dirty water conditions which will after a period of time flush through. Best bet is either to move way downstream of the rise or motor upstream above it. All in all given current lake levels, don’t expect to see long periods of high generations for the White.

Jim Brentlinger at Linger’s Guide Service and Fishing Lodge (870-499-5185) said water levels on the White have been lower than usual and it has improved the fishing. Anglers are catching many trout on White River Zig Jigs in Ginger or Green. Use 4-pound-test line and make sure to let the jig get close to the bottom before you start working it in. Many fish have been caught on Black/Green woolly buggers. Fish any fast, shallow water you can find if wading. From the boat cast out 90 degrees with a sinking line and strip it back to the boat.

Buffalo River

Just Fishing Guides said all sections of the river are very low, an no floating opportunities are available in the upper ¾ of the river. Wade fishing is good if you don’t mind walking. Fish are biting well on Clouser minnows and crawdad patterns. Spin fishermen are using soft plastics and crankbaits in brown and green shades.

Crooked Creek

Just Fishing Guides said the river level is 10.1 feet, which is difficult for easy floating. Fishing is good at public access points on Clouser minnows and Crazy dads. Spin fishermen are cathing fish on jerkbaits, Rebel Crawdad crankbaits and topwater baits like Tiny Torpedoes.

Bull Shoals Lake

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 653.13 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool – 654 MSL).

Mike Worley’s Guide Service said walleye are biting crawler rigs on bottom bouncers fished on main lake points and flats 35 to 40 feet deep. Bass and walleye are following the shad and biting well on spoons, grubs and crankbaits. Crappie are moving shallow, biting grubs along drop offs. Spotted & Largemouth bass are biting split-shotted nightcrawlers in 40-60 feet of water. When the fish are blowing up on the shad try casting a grub or crankbait to them, when they go down, a white 1-oz. jigging spoon will catch a mixed bag of fish.

Bull Shoals Tailwater

Ken Richards at Just Fishing Guides said generation is around the clock with one generator. There have been brief periods of low water. Brown trout are staging for their spawn along the river. Streamers have worked well during the day, as have a hopper/dropper combination. Later in the day switch to a nymph under an indicator. Beadhead sowbugs, humpback scuds and beadhead pheasant tails.