White River Fishing Talk - Discussion
White River Fishing Report - Blog

Current River and Lake Levels
Bull Shoals Dam and Bull Shoals Lake
Norfork Dam and Lake Norfork
Buffalo River 

May 09, 2008

Fishing Tip: Many fly-fishermen use sink-tip lines to get streamers or nymphs down to trout feeding near the bottom in fast current. Here’s a cheaper and more convenient way. Tie a section of lead-core trolling line between your fly line and a 3-foot mono leader. Use a short piece to sink a fly in shallow water, a longer one in deeper water.

White River: John Berry of Berry Brothers Guides said although the reservoirs on the White River system have fallen, they remain precariously close to the top of flood pool. The pattern on the White has been to run all eight generators around the clock. In addition they opened the flood gates and ran 13, 000 additional cubic feet per second (the equivalent of four additional generators). The also ran the flood gates on Beaver and Table Rock. All have now been shut down. There have been a few brief periods of wading opportunities on the Norfork River at night but none on the White. On the higher water, boating conditions have been excellent. Most boat ramps on the White River are now usable. Great care should be taken when launching or loading your boat during heavy generation. The use of a personal flotation device is highly recommended when boating on heavy water. Fishing on the White has been tough. The water has been so high most anglers have avoided it all together. A few brave souls have fished the upper White with some success, particularly the Catch-and-Release section below Bull Shoals dam.

Mountain River Fly Shop said it will be a while before you hear no generation on the White, but if no more torrential rains hit, we’re hopeful that we won’t see any more spillway flows. There will be some very good fishing from a boat over the next weeks. High water can produce growth rates of around an inch a month. And with the super-size buffet of drowned worms, decaying warmwater fish and more during times the floodgates were open these fish should be stacking on the weight. There is no better time to catch a trophy White River fish than during high water. It’s a good bet to start with fly patterns from Wotton or Wilkinson. The Dynamite Worm has been one of Davy's little secrets until he let it slip last month. The Sunday Special has been a go-to fly for Clint for a good while, and if you had been one of his clients there is a good chance you had it on your rod at some stage. If you aren't fishing in a catch-and-release zone, try a double rig with the Dynamite Worm trailing the heavier Sunday Special.

Sportsman’s White River Resort said the water is clearing up, but eightgenerators arerunning around the clock. Trout fishing has been very good on small red or purple worms with heavy sinkers. Rogues and Rapalasare also very good.

Bull Shoals Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 693.62 feet MSL.

Lake Norfork: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 578.35 feet MSL.

Cranfield Junction Bait and Tackle (870-492-5141) said the water is muddy and high. Crappie are biting well on the banks on minnows. Stripers are being caught in 25 to 30 feet of water on flukes and Stump Jumpers. A few catfish have been caught on jugs with minnows.

101 Grocery and Bait said fishing is good. The surface water temperature ranges from 61-64 degrees. Walleye fishing has been good on live bait, spoons and Rogues fished around 6-10 feet deep along bluffs and main-lake points. Crappie fishing is fair on minnows and small chrome dome jigs. Striper fishing is good, and most are being caught using live bait and your favorite stick bait. Bass fishing has been fair. Catfish has been good using limblines and live bait with rod-and-reel. Sunfish are starting to hit on wax worms and crickets.

Norfork Tailwater: John Berry of Berry Brothers Guides said with the water on the White River extremely high, the action was centered on the Norfork River. The traffic was incredibly heavy. With the ramp at Quarry Park destroyed by recent flooding and the ramp at the confluence flooded by the additional water coming through the flood gates at Bull Shoals dam, the only place to launch boats on the Norfork was off the side of the road leading to the confluence ramp. This is a tricky place to launch and at times the spot got quite congested. Patience prevailed and I heard of no mishaps. Despite the extremely crowded conditions, the fishing, while not hot, was steady. The key to success has been to use conventional high-water tactics. Large, brightly colored San Juan worms (red, hot pink, cerise and fire orange have all been productive) and brightly colored egg patterns. One tactic that helped produce fish was the use of a dropper in the sections of the Norfork that were not designated Catch-and-Release. A small nymph can be attached to the bend of the hook of the San Juan worm by a 24-inch tippet with a couple of simple improved clinch knots. A good nymph to use for this technique would be the copper john. Our most reliable mayfly hatch of the year is the sulphur. They regularly hatch in May and June and the nymphs should be coming more active in the coming weeks. Use the copper wire variety in size 14. It is a dead on imitation of the sulphur nymphs. Other good nymphs to try would be olive scuds or black zebra nymphs in size 14. Dry Run Creek as usual is fishing very well. The hot fly has been the worm brown San Juan worm in smaller sizes. Other productive patterns have been sowbugs, olive woolly buggers, egg patterns and Y2Ks. While you are there take a tour of the National Fish Hatchery. It is fascinating and educational. Be sure and remove your waders before entering the hatchery to prevent the spread of aquatic diseases.

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