Arkansas Fishing Reports 11/13/09

Rainbow Trout and Brown Trout said the water is clear and at normal level. The river is clear and at normal level. Trout are biting well on night crawlers, Power Bait and wax worms on red hooks.

Remember that there is a new size limit on Brown trout. All browns less than twenty four inches must be released immediately no matter where they are caught

JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 11/12/2009

During the past week, we have had no rain events and unseasonably mild conditions. The lake levels on the White River system continue their rise although at a much slower rate. The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam rose one and five tenths feet to rest at twenty four and six tenths of a foot above power pool of 654.00 feet. This is sixteen and four tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Up stream, Table Rock Lake fell one and one tenth of a foot to rest at one and eight tenths feet above power pool or fourteen and two tenths feet below the top of flood pool. The Corps of Engineers are aggressively drawing down Table Rock and dumping the water into Bull Shoals, which is rising steadily. Beaver Lake held steady at eight and five tenths feet above power pool or one and one tenth feet below the top of flood pool. On the White, we have had light but steady generation around the clock with slightly higher flows in the afternoon. There has been precious little wadable water. We did have a brief (two hour) window of no generation one afternoon. Norfork Lake rose six tenths of a foot to rest at eighteen and six tenths feet above power pool of 552.00 feet or nine and four tenths feet below the top of flood pool. There have been significant periods of no generation every day with moderate generation the rest of the day. This has created some great wading conditions. This is the lull before the storm. The lakes have accumulated a significant amount of water. The only thing preventing high levels of generation around the clock is flooding down stream. As soon as it clears, we will see a lot of high water

Remember that there is a new size limit on Brown trout. All browns less than twenty four inches must be released immediately no matter where they are caught on the White and Norfork Rivers. Only one brown trout may be kept in the daily limit of five trout.

The fishing in the Catch and Release section below Bull Shoals Dam closed on November 1, 2009 for the brown trout spawn. It will remain closed until January 31, 2010. The section from the bottom of this Catch and Release section downstream to the wing wall at the State Park is seasonal Catch and Release for the same time period.

The stretch from Cotter to Rim Shoals has fished well. The moderate flows we have received this past week 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 (black zebra midges with silver wire and silver bead) have also been effective.

Rim Shoals has cooled down some but is still fishing well. The go to flies have been Y2Ks and cerise San Juan worms. If you encounter high water, Rim Shoals Trout Dock maintains a water taxi and will ferry you to wadable water for a nominal fee. Some of the more productive water that can be accessed includes the water around Jenkin’s Creek or along the island near the walk-in access.

Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River have cleared a bit. The water below Crooked Creek has cleared up but is still not fishing too well.

The Norfork 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 the higher flows hot fluorescent pink San Juan worms and orange egg patterns have been the most effective way to fish. There are some spawning rainbows in the Catch and Release section. You should avoid fishing for them to allow them to reproduce naturally. We could use some more wild rainbows. Also avoid walking through the redds (spawning beds). They will appear as light colored depressions in the gravel.

There has been some major work done at Quarry Park. The parking lot at the ramp has been resurfaced. This is a busy ramp and it is great to have it back in service.

Dry Run Creek has fished well this past week. There are some big browns that have begun moving up into the creek to spawn. The hot fly, as always, has been the sowbug. San Juan worms and Y2Ks have also accounted for some large fish. While you are there, take a few minutes to tour the adjacent National Fish hatchery. It is fascinating. Please be sure to remove your waders before you enter the hatchery to prevent the spread of aquatic diseases.

Remember that the White and Norfork Rivers are infected with didymo, an invasive alga. Be sure and thoroughly clean and dry your waders (especially the felt soles on wading boots) before using them in any other water. Many manufacturers are now making rubber soled wading boots that are easier to clean and are not as likely to harbor didymo.

John Berry is a fly fishing guide in Cotter, Arkansas and has fished our local streams for over twenty five years.

WHAT a couple of weeks it has been. The fishing has been red hot and the weather gorgeous. We have some more rain pushing through this weekend and come cooling temperatures for next week. But if anything the fishing should get better with a few more nights down into the 30s.

The Journal also managed to get our Head of PR Madison out on the river this week to meet our spotted friends. Basically she was a little marvel, very interested in the trout, kind of bored when the fish weren’t coming in thick and fast _ and even more curious where they went on the release. Untangling dogs and fly line was interesting and of course one of these incidents con-incited with the fish of the trip a fairly decent brown but it was worth the effort.

You will also be thankful the pictures after the one above where she went for a taste test were censored, but of course no dogs or fish were actually hurt in this production.

So grab your gear, grab a friend (2-legged or 4) and head to the river.

WHITE RIVER: The White is fishing very well both for boat based fly fishers or even those roaming the shorelines on the moderate flows. Places like Rim Shoals, the Narrows, Cotter/Roundhouse and Wildcat hae been fishable for waders _ and there are other spots too.

Egg patterns have been tremendously productive, pinks, orange, and other hues, have all done very well. With a bunch of browns having started the spawning cycle before the warm weather (and a bunch more ready to go) the rainbows are really keying on eggs. If you are outside the Rim Shoals Trophy Zone, fish a worm in tandem. Red, brown and light tan dynamite worms or red and brown san Juan worms have been incredibly productive.

But we have been fishing plenty of midge patterns as well. The Journal favors Davy’s Whitetail Midge in a 14, Chad runs a standard Super Midge.

NORFORK: Norfork Lake has crested after our last “monsoon” and the lake level is starting to fall. But happily there have still been low water windows during the day to entertain the waders. Keey your eye on the schedule as its fluctuating some.

Midge patterns in size 18-22 are a mainstay. Davy’s Hot Spot Midges, standard Zebras, Poison Tungs (Olive/Black) and Tungsten WD40s are very good. For pickier fish, or a little more finesse try the glass bead midges or Charlie Craven’s Jujubees.

Tight lines from all at the Mountain River Fly Shop Carrie, Chad, Kevin, Marc, Faye, and Steve

Good luck and good fishing, and please come and see us at Bull Shoals Lake Boat Dock for all your fishing needs…Thank you!

}><(((º> Millwood Lake Fishing Report 09 November 2009 <º)))><{

The Overall Picture:

Navigation conditions in Little River are hazardous. Heavy current in Little River, with debris, and 4 Foot Drawdown in process. Use Extreme Caution during Navigation and at boat ramps.

As of Monday 09 November, Largemouth Bass are improved, due to falling lake level to near normal conditions. The schooling fish disappeared with the muddy water and current in Little River. Surface water temps are currently in the lower to mid 60's. Repeated cold fronts have dropped the water surface temps another few degrees within the last several weeks. Schooling bass were being caught in Little River several weeks ago at random intervals and various locations throughout the daylight hours, but are very random with the influx of muddy water and rapidly changing conditions and heavy current in Little River. Largemouth Bass ranging from 3-9 pounds are in typical fall patterns. Crankbaits, Rat-L-Traps, spinnerbaits, worms, and plastic frogs are the go to baits for Bass over the past several weeks.

Exercise extreme caution during running Little River during low light conditions as there are still numerous river buoy markers pushed out of place from river centerline, or missing, due to recent current and major pool fluctuations over the past 2 weeks. USACE began the four foot drawdown 13 July, and stumps are exposed along the river, during the drawdown pool elevation. This four foot drawdown will remain in effect until February 2010. Use caution near end of boat ramps due to sediment, gravel, and shallow pool levels. However, as of Monday, 09 November, the lake level is falling, and now only 7 inches above normal lake pool with heavy current in Little River.

Boat ramps at various locations are closed due to lake level during drawdown. Yarborough and Jack's Isle are still open. Other ramps around Millwood which have been shallow, are usable this week with the increase in lake pool from recent rains. River Run East and River Run West are all CLOSED this week due to high water. Use extreme caution due to shallow ramps and siltation / sedimentation and drop offs at the end of ramps, lake wide during the drawdown! Gravel has been added by the USACE, to the end of the ramps at Wilton (Hwy 71) and White Cliffs to assist loading and unloading boats and trailers.

As of Monday, 09 November, the lake level, is only 7 inches above normal, with heavy current in Little River. USACE made gate changes at the dam, to compensate, and is now falling to near normal. The 4 foot draw down still in effect and lake rise is being compensated at the dam's discharge accordingly. Main lake and Little River's water surface temps are currently ranging from approx 60ºF early, to 67ºF late, depending of course, on location and time of day. Lake level on Millwood as of Monday, 09 November is 259.82 feet. Normal consv. pool is 259.20 feet. We expect another gate change mid-week.

As of Monday, the 4' drawdown is in process and discharge of 19,610 CFS is with 13 gates open at 4 feet each and 2 sluice gates open at 6 feet each. Main lake visibility worsened with all the thunderstorms and flash flooding, repeated again this past week, and clarity is approx 2-4" in high volume current and debris in Little River. The tail water elevation on Monday is 246.42 feet and falling The oxbows clarity also worsened due to recent thunderstorms, and is approx 5-6", at best. High winds and / or thunder storms will have a dramatic impact and effect on Millwood Lake clarity merely in a matter of hours.

Boat ramp repair and improvements at the Millwood State Park are recently completed.

A drawdown of four feet on Millwood Lake, began July 13, 2009 until Feb. 9, 2010 to control unwanted aquatic vegetation and make scheduled repairs, according to the Corps of Engineers. The lake will be allowed to refill 2 feet above normal pool elevation to 261.2 feet, in February 2010, the 2-foot rise will last one month, and then the lake will be returned to normal pool.

During the 4' drawdown, boaters should exercise extreme caution because submerged stumps and shallow areas have begun to appear. Also, boaters should be cautious when launching because of damage or sediment buildup or drop-offs that may have occurred at the ends of the ramps. Boat ramp closures may occur during the drawdown. To volunteer for one of the cleanup dates or ramp and USACE park information, contact Brooke Kervin at the Millwood Tri-Lakes Project Office.

The Details:

Largemouth Bass: Over the past week, fish have began returning to a more normal fall pattern. The feeding activity of Bass has picked up somewhat, now that the lake is returning to near normal level. The best bite over the past few weeks began shifting to mid-day. However, recent schooling activity of Largemouth Bass has re-appeared at random in the back of Yarborough Lake and various other locations where clearer water can be located.

The best bite over the past 2 weeks was on smoke or holographic grubs rigged on white jig heads for schooling fish, along with topwater baits like Cordell Crazy Shads, Clear Baby Torpedoes, YUM Buzz Frogs, Bass Assassin Shad jerk baits and Pop-R's or Chug Bugs. For sub-surface schools, Rat-L-Traps, Cordell Big O or XCalibur Fat Free Shad Crank baits were best bets. Now that the lake level and reduced current has began returning to normal, surface temperatures stabilize, best bite is a reaction presentation with big bulky 10" worms, jigs and slow rolling bulky spinnerbaits and crankbaits.

The best Rat-L-Trap colors over the past couple weeks are Millwood Magic, Firetiger, or Red Shad. In the better clarity areas in the oxbows, Transparent and Holographic Blue Shad patterns were the best reaction Trap colors. These will continue working for a good reaction bite in the better water clarity areas of the oxbows as well as schooling bass. The Bass Assassin Shads, Johnson spoons, Heddon baby Moss Bosses and buzz baits in white, and Yum Buzz Frogs will work inside these vegetation areas where the fish are schooling in the lily pads or vegetation where the Traps or cranks can't be utilized.

Buzz bait bite is improving again with the settling out of all the sediment and improved water clarity upriver; and slow rolling spinner baits in White/ Chartreuse, Spot Remover, firetiger, or Hot Mouse colors are the best option, near grass and vegetation in the oxbows, in the clearest water areas available, typically in the oxbows away from the increased current of Little River. Soft plastic Bass Assassin Shads and Yum Buzz Frogs continue working randomly for Bass, around hydrilla, lily pad stems, and pondweed are working especially where you find new dollar pads and lily pads growing in close proximity. Best color for Yum Buzz Frogs are Pumpkin Pearl or Black.

Shallow to medium running depth crankbaits like the Cordell Big O, or Fat Free Shads in gray mouse, white, or citrus shad colors in clearer water, and Bandit cranks in brown back/orange belly and firetiger were taking some keeper size bass heavier stained water. 10" worms in Blue Fleck, Red Shad or Black colors, are all good colors in the heavier stained and muddy areas, by pitching or flipping stumps, cypress trees, and laydown tree trunks near deep water. Crankbaits are many times finding schools of larger bass before any surface activity is being observed. Magnum Tubes like the 3-4" Southern Pro Tubes and fire tiger spinner baits remain working in remaining flooded grass and stumps over the past week now that normal pool is returning and resulting in bass moving back to previously s. Best colors we have observed working for tubes and gitzits are pumpkinseed/chartreuse tail, smoke/black & red flake w/ chartreuse tails, or solid black with red flake (black neon).

Jig bite, continues to improve on cypress trees, knees, stumps and laydowns. Texas Craw, Black/blue, or Chartreuse-Pumpkin colors will take a few keeper bass in the 3-4 lb class. Keeper size bass, in the 3-7 pound class, have been caught over the past couple weeks on Texas rigged 10" worms and 8" lizards in June Bug, Black Moccasin, Peanut Butter & Jelly colors.

White Bass: Schooling White Bass disappeared with the increase in muddy water and current. They will return and improve over the next week to ten days.

Crappie: bite almost completely shut down with all the current, muddy water, and rapid pool fluctuations along Little River, over the past couple weeks. They will improve over the next week to ten days, now that the water has begun clearing.

Channel Cats: Channel Cats are loving the increase in current along Little River and biting extremely well with the increase in current, and are best on bulky earthworms, cut shad, chicken livers, or Charlie by either tight-lining, or on yo-yo's hung from cypress trees in the oxbows over 10-15' depths, and on trotlines in Little River current.

}><(((º> Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions Report <º)))><{

Navigation conditions in Little River are hazardous. Heavy current in Little River, with debris, and 4 Foot Drawdown in process. Use Extreme Caution during Navigation and at boat ramps.

Boat ramps at various locations are closed due to lake level during drawdown. Yarborough and Jack's Isle are still open. Other ramps around Millwood which have been shallow, are usable this week with the increase in lake pool from recent rains. River Run East and River Run West are all CLOSED this week due to high water. Use extreme caution due to shallow ramps and siltation / sedimentation and drop offs at the end of ramps, lake wide during the drawdown! Gravel has been added by the USACE, to the end of the ramps at Wilton (Hwy 71) and White Cliffs to assist loading and unloading boats and trailers.

Boat ramp repair and improvements at the Millwood State Park are recently completed.

Wear your Life Jacket!! If you are suddenly or unexpectedly thrown from your boat, it could be your only chance of survival. Use caution navigating Little River in low light conditions, SLOW DOWN, and pass friendly to other boaters! As always, careful watch for any random floaters and debris in Little River's current, and wearing your PFD and kill switch is a requirement!!

Don't forget, be courteous, and respect the other guy's right to use the lake too. Release those big bass to spawn and fight again, and take home those little 16"ers to fry up! Use caution in low light conditions, and wear your flotation device! If you are suddenly thrown from your boat, or knocked unconscious, your life preserver can potentially be your only hope to survive.