Mountain Home Fishing Blog

Thus far August has been a relatively cool month with a few days with highs in the 70’s. Last week our highs were in the 80’s and this weekend Labor Day weekend highs expected in the 90’s with a chance of rain showers for today the 29th and for Saturday the 30th. Later mid week the temps are forecast to be back in the mid to upper 80’s. For those of us in the tourism and fishing guide business the current storm Gustave in much on our minds as the last event we need is for this storm to head up our direction and dump a bunch of rain on us to bring up our lakes and flood our streams. Our current lake levels on Bull Shoals lake as of 6:00 am this morning is 680.44 and dropping roughly a third of a foot per day. The lake level on Norfork lake is 566.85 and is dropping 2/10 ths of a foot per day. The Norfork dam is generating during the day with mostly one of it’s two units and Bull Shoals is generating with all 8 of it’s units; however these units are not at full capacity most of the time and fluctuate anywhere from 5 1/2 alnd 7 1/2 units of water with the occasional full 105 % of 8 units later in the afternoon. At this rate of drop the C.O.E (Corps of Engineers) is predicting October 20th as the date to hit normal pool elevation. For fly fishers wishing to wade fish this is an important date to watch.

Fishing Report: Fishing with various types of flies such as Sow Bugs, Leonards Roo Scud, San Juan worms as well as caddis larvae on a log 13 to 16 foot leader with a bb and 3/0 shot along with a thing-a-ma-bobber indicator are working well for my fisherman as we are hooking near 60 fish a day with this rig and landing the occasional brown trout. Mostly I am working the upper end of the river from the dam down to wildcat shoals a total of about 10 miles. I watch for the subtle rises in the water and ride them down stream as these fish tend to turned on by these small rises. The heavy moss we were getting earlier in the year has gone and the river is clean, cold and clear. Perfect high water fishing conditions. Our fish are looking good as they are fat and sassy and are pulling well. The O2 levels are good as well.

Here are some of the links I use to facilitate my decisions on the what, where and whens of fishing.

This is the link for water quality or Oxygen Levels.http://www.swl-wc.usace.army.mil/water_quality_data.htm

This is the Norfork graphs link for precipitation, flows in CFS and the lake levels.

http://www.swl-wc.usace.army.mil/WCDS/plots/WEB/nor.htm

Here is the graph links for Bull Shoals

http://www.swl-wc.usace.army.mil/WCDS/plots/WEB/bul.htm

This is the link for predicted generation scheduling for all of the S.W.P.A lakes in the 24 dam system

http://www.swpa.gov/generationschedules.aspx

Here is the link for State Wide flows and levels for rivers and streams in Arkansas.

http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ar/nwis/rt

These links should help with planning a fishing trip to our state.

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We have been lucky in the Twin Lakes area of Mountain Home with our weather. The hot days of summer are upon us now and one sure way to stay cool is to go fishing on one of our cold water rivers or streams. The White River with it’s cold water is like free air conditioning during generation and the Norfork has been wadeable with it’s pattern of no generation until 2 or 3 pm so standing in this cold water river will cool one off for sure. Besides the fishing has been fabulous on both rivers in the mornings with a little slow down in the afternoons but hey, the scenery is still good and the wildlife is at it’s best with bald eagles and hawks soaring, blue herons fishing and deer all over the place plus some of the friendliest folks anyone could ever meet. It’s a great time to visit the Twin Lakes area of Bull Shoals and Norfork Lakes and enjoy the clear cool waters of the lakes and the rivers. As for myself I’m a bit partial to the rivers but the lakes do offer some great water skiing, wake boarding and plain water fun. There are campgrounds, resorts, cabins, and RV sites on both the lakes as well as the rivers and many of them are displayed on this website so plan a trip and give some of them a call today. We’d love to have you come and visit us.

Jim Traylor

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Late August and early September are traditionally a slow time in the Twin Lakes area due to the back to school time which means fewer folks fishing the rivers and lakes…NO CROWDS even on the weekends. About the middle of september it begins to pick up around the area with fisherman returning for the cooler days and even cooler evenings. October is one of the busiest if not the busiest month on the white and Norfork rivers as our trout begin the yearly spawn down river and work their way up as the winter approaches finally ending the spawn up at the Dam in February and into early March. December and January are the slowest months of the year and in my opinion provide the best fly fishing opportunities of the year for big fish. Sight fishing to big fish at this time will almost always produce some really good brown trout as well as provide the opportunities to increase ones skill levels of casting, mending and playing a big fish. In the fall I begin taking my fishers downstream and as the winter approaches I begin moving upstream and end in feb and march fishing at the dam. During this time I am looking for low water opportunities to sight fish for big fish. It’s always nice if there is no generation however if generation does end during the evenings or at some point for a period of time during the day there will be a window of opportunity to wade and sight fish during the next day.

The Shad Kill: This much awaited and anticipated time of the year has many a fly fishers throughout the country searching for info as to weather or not there will be a shad kill. This is a time when full generation is expected because it pulls the shad from the lake and into the river. The trout are coming off the spawn at this time and the brown trout as well as the rainbow trout are hungry and go on a big feed. Many big fish were hooked and landed this past february and march. The biggest one one of my fishers hooked and landed was a 10 1/2 lb brown trout at 29 inches on a shad pattern. Since I live a mile from the dam in the town of Bull Shoals (I can hear the horn when it goes off) I frequently drive down to the dam (sometimes twice a day) to check for shad. I usually begin doing this about mid January if there is generation. I also have a few guide buddies who do this as well and we will often go together with our binoculars to get an even better look which means we are usually the first to find out if shad are coming through the dam. Because of this flyfisharkansas.com is setting up a new service to it’s readers and those interested in knowing when and if there are shad coming through the dam. If you are interested send an e-mail to shadkillalert@flyfisharkansas.com with Shad Kill in the sublect line. When shad start coming through I will make this information available to all who sign up.

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According to the latest projections for Bull Shoals and Lake Norfork, the return to normal lake levels will be the end of September.  Earlier projections had the return to normalcy at the beginning of September.  However, according to Ed Druml, president if the Rod and Reel club he disagrees.  “I think it is very optimistic to say late summer”.  With all of the rain we have been receiving, I tend to agree with Druml.

On Bull Shoals the walleye are biting exceptionally well.  Most are being caught over brush on main lake points in 20-30 feet of water while using bottom bouncers with spinner rigs.

On Norfork things aren’t quite as exciting.  Stripers are showing up in the 40-60 foot range over deeper water from the mid-lake area to the dam.  Bass fishing is fair by casting crankbaits in the shallow.

In a recent article in the Bulletin, Druml gave his “tip of the week”.  “Most of the main-lake points have a small group of trees or stand-alone trees that are out from the shore and in water 25-35 feet deep.  These trees are fish magnets and can be fished by easing the boat to the tree and dropping a split shot and hook straight down.

This method works but in many cases you will spook the larger fish.  A better system is to use a slip bobber and remain 10-15 feet away from the tree.  For example, if the tree is in 30 feet of water and the brush under the tree is up to 25 feet, you should set the slip bobber for 20 feet.  Worms, minnows, crickets, or small jigs can be used and bluegill, perch, crappie, bass, walleye, catfish, or white bass can be your reward”.

Speaking of good ideas, the Walleye Angler Group will meet Tuesday the 22nd of July at the Eastside Baptist Church in Mountain Home.  The time is 7 pm.

Till next time-RRjr

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It seems that word has traveled far and wide about the floods and subsequent high water level on the White.  Most of the word has been negative.  But a lot of fishermen aren’t complaining.  In fact,  they’re Lovin It!!

Mark Roberts and Rick Everhart of Bryant Ar. had the greatest fishing experience ever at the confluence of the White and NorthFork.  “I’ve been fishing at the confluence for 30 years and this was the dangdest fishing trip if my life,” Roberts said.  “I can’t tell you how many fish we caught.  It was the best three days of fishing I’ve ever had on the river.”

Since spring the Corp of Engineers has been running 8 generators at Bull Shoals dam nearly 24-7.  That has kept the White river at near flood stage and has spooked many fishermen off the river.  The high waters don’t bother the trout.  In fact, it provides more food for them.

“A lot of people think that if they are running that much water, you can’t fish,” Roberts said.  ” Jerkbaits were the pattern.  I tried Smithwick Rogues and several other jerkbaits but the Rapala was the most consistent fish catcher.  I’d throw it against the bank and slow roll it in.  We caught about 30 15-20 inch fish.  I caught one that was 27 inches and weighed nine and a quarter pound.”

Also, because a lot of people are shying away from the area, finding a great deal on lodging is becoming easier.  Prices have been greatly discounted.  Roberts found housing that normally runs $180 per nigh for as low as $120.  In fact, because the fishing is good and the lodging i inexpensive, Roberts is going back for another outing in just a few weeks.

RRjr.

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Fishing opportunities abound around the Mountain Home area. Of course there is the White and Norfork river and Dry Run Creek for those mobility impared and for those under the age of 16, as well as the Crooked Creek which is a blue ribbon small mouth stream, the Buffalo River and a short drive away is the Spring River which is spring fed at Mammoth Springs. The Buffalo and Crooked creek are well known for small mouth but other fish live there as well such as various types of sunfish as well as catfish. For the fisherman visiting the area there are a variety of rivers and lakes to fish as well as a variety of species. The White and Norfork of course are well known for the four types of trout in the rivers. Rainbow trout are the most numerous but there are also brook trout, cutthroat and of course the brown or german trout which in these rivers grow to monster lengths. So as you can see the choices are wide and varied as are the species one can fish for. In the months to come It will be my pleasure to keep the visitor and potential visitor to our area informed of what is happening on these rivers and give some fishing reports. Mostly about fly fishing but I will also include info aquired from from other guides who fish other techniques and in various parts of the river especially since the white has just about 100 miles of fishable trout water.

Let me begin with a list of some of the public accesses on first the Norfork and then the White River.

For the Norfork River there are only three accesses with the first nearest the dam which is Quarry Park which has a boat ramp but is currently not usable by vehicle as the area was torn up with the recent releases of water from the spill gates. Clean up and rebuilding work is going on there and foot access is available however boat launching is not. More foot access is available for a few hundred yards down stream via the park. The next access is on River Ridge road at the Bill Akerman/handicapped access which is via foot traffic only. The next access is at the confluence of the Norfork and the white river and it has a boat ramp. There is also plenty of access at the Dry Run Creek area by the Hatchery.

White River access begins at the dam in which there is access all along this area. There are two boat ramps with boat and trailer parking on both sides of the river. Further down the river on the Baxter co. side of the river there is a public boat ramp at the Gastons Resort. The next access is on the Marion county side of the river at White Hole and there is plenty of parking there as it is an Arkansas Game and Fish maintained access. A few miles downstream is the Wild Cat Shoals access on the Baxter County side upstream from cotter and also with plenty of parking. At Cotter which is 6 or 7 miles down from Wildcat is another brand new re-done access with a super ramp and lots of parking along with a spring to fish in . This spring runs into the river and is filled with trout which only children under the age of 16 can fish. The next access is at Rim Shoals and is a very nice access as well with great parking and picnic tables. Further down at Rea Valley is the Ranchetts access which has recently been upgraded with bank stabilization and paved parking as also been added. Buffalo city is the next access 5 miles below Ranchetts and also provides some boat access to the Buffalo river and further down stream is the Matney walk in access. All of these areas are good for fishing from the bank with fabulous scenery.

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     May is slowly coming to an end in my little Ozarkian corner.  Here in Flippin the home of the legendary Ranger Boat, the honeysuckles are in full bloom.  At night there isn’t a single inch of the City that doesn’t smell of the sweet nectar. 

     Southern Snow has come early, the snow I refer to is the seeds from the Cotton Wood trees that fall upon the ground like a light airy snow.  I have seen years in which the snow was so thick that children could play in it, especially at the mouth of the White and Buffalo Rivers in Buffalo City.  The Cotton Wood population is thick there and campers and fishermen alike have been seen “playing” in the cotton seed piles.

     Despite the fear and rumors of a poor fishing season due to the previous months flooding, just the opposite seems true and the local guides are excited over the prospect.  Lake levels still appear high, but this is not an issue for fishing or boating.  For the most part the Rivers appear to be at near normal levels and the trout have thrived on the fresh cold water that was added to correct the high lake water.  Fresh cold water adds oxygen and oxygen promotes feeding and growth.

     While you are visiting us, I recommend that you shop at the Sun Valley grocery store in Gasville.  Sun Valley is directly assisting the victims of the February tornado so any purchase at Sun Valley helps the community at large. 

      After a fishing or boating excursion, music on the square has returned to Yellville and begins every Saturday at 7pm.  Restaurants and gift shops including the local espresso bar stay open late to accommodate music on the square visitors. The music ranges from blue grass to classic rock and Yellville has real small town appeal.

     The Eureka Springs Blues Festival begins Thursday and runs through Sunday night.  All forms of blues will be represented.  Check the Eureka Springs Chamber of Commerce for the full schedule. 

Let’s see what June will bring.

Jennifer Porter is a long time Flippin resident and will be a regular contributor to the Twin Lakes blog.  She also writes a blog for the Baxter Bulletin newspaper.

 

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Jim was born in west Texas in “58′ and spent his youth in south Louisiana, the Middle East and in ScotlandAfter vacations in the Ozarks Jim and his wife Debbie moved to the town of Bull Shoals in 1995 and began guiding.  He guides both the White and North Fork Rivers and  fly fishing is his specialty.  He is also a commercial fly tier and his flys can be found at many shops in the Twin Lakes area.

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Welcome to the Mountain Home Fishing Blog. This blog is dedicated to providing fishing information for the Mountain Home area including: the White River, the North Fork River, Lake Norfork and Bull Shoals Lake.

Feel free to join us in our discussions.

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