Baxter County, Arkansas

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White River, North Fork (Norfork) River, Buffalo River, Bull Shoals Lake,
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North Arkansas Weekly Fishing Report
From the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
November 12, 2009  

White River: 

John Berry from Berry Brothers Guide Service said the White has seen light but steady generation around the clock with slightly higher flows in the afternoons. There has been precious little wadable water. The only thing preventing high levels of generation around the clock is flooding downstream. As soon as it clears, we will see a lot of high water. The Catch-and-release section below Bull Shoals Dam will be closed until January 31, 2010. The section from the bottom of the catch-and-release section downstream to the wing wall at the State Park is seasonal catch-and-release for the same time. The stretch from Bull Shoals State Park to the Narrows has fished well. The moderate flows we have received have been perfect for drift fishing. The hot flies have been San Juan worms and Y2Ks. Two-fly rigs (San Juan worm and egg) have done particularly well in this area. Small mayfly nymphs like pheasant tails and copper johns and midge patterns have also been effective. Rim Shoals has been red hot for another week. The go-to flies have been Y2Ks and cerise San Juan worms. On windy days, try fishing grasshoppers. Use 4X tippet and large flies. Let the fly land with a splash and twitch it occasionally to imitate a struggling grasshopper. The best patterns have been Dave’s hoppers and Rainey’s hoppers. If you encounter high water, Rim Shoals Trout Dock maintains a water taxi and will ferry you to wadable water for a nominal fee.

Sportsman’s White River Resort (870-453-2424) said the water is high and murky. Trout are biting fairly well on Power bait. Brown trout are slow, but rainbows are biting fairly well.

Jim Brentlinger at Linger's Guide Service and Fishing Lodge (870-499-5185) said Rim Shoals is where the action is. One-hundred to 200-fish days have been common. The fly rod with sow bugs, scuds, San Juan worms (hot pink) and pink 1/8-ounce jigs have generated a lot of action. White River Zig Jigs on 4-lb. line and spinning rods have been awesome.  

White River (From Buffalo City to Red’s Landing):

Jim Brentlinger at Linger's Guide Service and Fishing Lodge (870-499-5185) said as you come down from Buffalo City, the fishing is not quite as furious but still no problems putting a lot of fish in the boat. Six to 8 percent of the daily catches have been brown trout with several in the 18- to 20-inch range.

Crooked Creek: 

John Berry of Berry Brothers Guide Service said Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River are running high and muddy.

Lake Norfork:

101 Grocery and Bait said fishing has been good for the most part. The surface temperature is in the low 60s. There is some stained water near the newly flooded brush that has been good for largemouth bass. Kentucky and smallmouth bass are being caught more often in the deeper water. Crappie fishing has been fair using minnows and small rubber baits with a very light jig and a slow presentation. Catfishing is good on nightcrawlers and live minnows. Walleye fishing has been slow. Striper fishing has been slow. White bass fishing has been fair on top-water baits.

Norfork Tailwater: 

Jim Brentlinger at Linger's Guide Service and Fishing Lodge (870-499-5185) the tailwater is very muddy because of Otter Creek flooding during the last rain. There won’t be much good fishing until the stained water is flushed out.

John Berry from Berry Brothers Guide Service said there have been significant periods of no generation every day with moderate generation in the afternoon. This has created some great wading conditions daily. The North Fork River has continued to receive quite a bit of pressure due to round the clock generation on the White but has still fished well. Midge patterns have been the go-to flies on the lower flows. The most productive patterns were black zebra midges with silver wire and silver beads, black Norfork midges and Dan’s turkey tail emergers. Other effective flies have been olive woolly buggers and soft hackles (partridge and orange soft hackles and green butts). On higher flows, hot fluorescent pink San Juan worms and orange egg patterns have been the most effective way to fish. Dry Run Creek has fished well. Some big browns have moved into the creek to spawn. The hot fly, as always, has been the sow bug. The most effective technique to use on Dry Run creek is to high stick nymphs under an indicator. There is precious little room to cast. Have the youngster you are fishing with set the hook quickly and fight the fish on the reel. Be sure and use at least 4X tippet to have a chance at landing some of the bigger fish. Carry the biggest net you can lay your hands on as most fish are lost at the net.

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