Arkansas Fishing Report – February 16, 2012

Sportsman’s White River Resort (870-453-2424) said the water is cloudy and five to six generators are running. Brown trout are biting well on jigs and stick baits. Rainbow trout are biting fairly well on shrimp, Power Bait and trout worms.
Randy Oliver at www.randyoliverguide.com (901-832-1903)  said generation has been steady and the fish are holding in the deeper pools. Black/silver no. 7 Countdown Rapalas are working well on rainbows and brown trout.
Guide Davy Wotton said both rivers are seeing a shad kill, which has perked up the odds of nailing a very big brown trout. Be on the water when generation levels are high and dead drift white jigs and streamers. Fishing may get slow by the dams, but move downstream as the action cools. Worms, eggs, sow bugs, midges, scuds and other generic nymphs all are doing well downstream.
Jim Brentlinger at Linger’s Guide Service and Fishing Lodge(870-499-5185) (870-499-5185) said the Buffalo River has cleared up nicely so that was a big factor in the White River clearing up. The water color is great for fishing as it is barely stained. Fish jigs in low water or Rapalas in normal to high water.
Just Fishing Guides the water levels are a little high and the water temperature is in the low to mid 40s. Fishing is tough for smallmouth. Make sure you are fishing the deep holes and shallower waters on warm sunny days. Some good fish have been caught. With the cold temperatures concentrate on places you know there are springs or seeps. Fish slow and deep with soft plastics or crawdad pattern flies.
Just Fishing Guides the water levels are a little high and the water temperature is in the low to mid 40s. Fishing is tough for smallmouth. Make sure you are fishing the deep holes and shallower waters on warm sunny days. Some good fish have been caught. With the cold temperatures concentrate on places you know there are springs or seeps. Fish slow and deep with soft plastics or crawdad pattern flies.
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 654.07 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool – 654 MSL).
Mike Worley’s Guide Service said walleye and smallmouth bass are biting swimbaits, jigs and suspending stick baits on gravel points that have some chunk rock or ledges 10 to 20 feet deep. Crappie and bluegill are biting on jigs and minnows fished in brush piles in 20 to 40 feet of water. Largemouth and spotted bass are biting on bluffs in 10 to 20 feet of water biting on jigs.
Just Fishing Guides said generation has been around the clock, varying between 2-6 units (4,000-20,000 cfs). Nymphs and streamers are two of the more productive presentations. Brown trout are on the feed now. Large streamers on 7- and 8-weight rods and fast-sinking lines can put you on that epic fish. Try staying with rising water while fishing to improve your odds.  Fish up to 10 pounds have been caught on big streamers.

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