More nice brown trout being caught on the White River

Good weather in the forecast could mean good fishing this week

By Jim Harris

Arkansas Wildlife Editor

Several anglers took in a few days of rare sunny weather recently to hook some fighting brown trout in the White River below Bull Shoals Dam. Our friends at Cotter Trout Dock sent along a few photos, including the one on the right of Greg Archer, who has an armful of impressive brown trout.

Sculpins, river minnows and some choice stick baits are working well for browns in the White, along with little silver ShadRaps that were 'making a comeback this past week,' they tell us. Try the Rapala Jointed ShadRap JSR5 on the higher water, swimming it mid-depth at about 5-6 feet. Read more from the Cotter Trout Dock report by clicking the green button below, as well as other fishing opportunities from around the state.

White River Fishing Report

Cotter Trout Dock (870-435–6525) said Bull Shoals Lake is about a half-foot above power pool and they are continuing to see significant releases, averaging three to four generators (8,000 to 12,000 cfs), due to Table Rock and Beaver Lake discharges.

“It's time to catch some beautiful browns and we've been doing so with sculpins, river minnows and some choice stick baits. Little silver ShadRaps made a nice comeback this past week; the Rapala Jointed ShadRap JSR-5 did a nice job for us on this higher water, swimming middepth, about 5-6 feet. Look also for 4- or 5-inch lures with a yellow collar or yellow back; the HeadHunter series has a good selection.”

“This time of year always calls for white baits, and a white jig, maybe with some red in the skirt, is a good choice. Everybody is looking for a brown because the catch-and-release area near the dam reopened after the annual spawn closing, but the rainbow catch has been terrific, too. Along with the always successful shrimp/egg pattern bait, we've met our limit with spinners. We especially liked the Blue Fox 3/16- ounce rainbow blade and pink bell; played about a foot or 2 below the surface.

Come on over and angle for your trout catch.

Sportsman’s White River Resort reported that the Army Corps of Engineers has the generation high in the mornings and tapering off in the afternoon. No wade fishing is available. The catch-and-release area below the dam is open.

White jigs are good on cloudier days. Anglers are drift-fishing with minnows and shrimp. They’re catching a few browns here and there.

Shrimp, PowerBiat and pink worms will work very well with rainbows. Fly-fishing is best throwing streamers in a white pattern. River clarity is clear and the river is high when eight generations are going at the dam. Overall trout bite is good.”

John Berry of Berry Brothers Guide Service says that during the past week, they have about an inch of rain in Cotter, very cold temperatures and heavy winds (to include lake wind advisories). The lake level at Bull Shoals rose 0.1 foot to rest at 0.2 foot below seasonal power pool of 659 feet msl. This is 36.2 feet below the top of flood pool.

Upstream, Table Rock fell 0.5 foot to rest at seasonal power pool and 16 feet above the top of flood pool.

The White had variable generation with some wadable water. Norfork Lake rose 0.1 foot to rest at 0.1 foot below seasonal power pool of 553.75 feet msland 26.3 feet below the top of flood pool.

The State Park is seasonal catch-and-release for the same period. All brown trout must be immediately released. In addition, night fishing is prohibited in this area during this period. The section section was reopen to fishing on Monday, Feb. 1.

The White has fished well on moderate flows. The hot spot has been Wildcat Shoals. The hot flies were olive Woolly Buggers, Y2Ks (sizes 14, 12), prince nymphs (size 14), zebra midges (black with silver wire and silver bead or red with silver wire and silver bead sizes 16, 18), pheasant tails (size 14), ruby midges (size 18), root beer midges (size 18), pink and cerise San Juan worms (size 10), and sowbugs (size 16). Double-fly nymph rigs have been very effective (John’s current favorite combination is an egg pattern with a size 18 ruby midge).