12-28-09 North Arkansas Fishing Reports
Beaver Tailwaters - Generation has been sporadic, but there is some low water wading at some point during the day. The COE is set to start emptying Beaver shortly after the New Year. During periods of low water, try swinging small soft hackles (sizes 14-18) or stripping small streamers such as wooley buggers, .56ers, slump busters or sparrows (sizes 8-12). Also, try nymphing with small scuds, sowbugs, pheasant tails and zebra midges (sizes 14 - 20) using 6x or 7x tippet with a 9 to 12 foot leader. Use as small an indicator as possible in natural colors like white, blue or black to spook fewer fish. During periods of high water, drift fishing from a boat is the best option. Try high water nymph tactics with larger flies such as San Juan worms, scuds, sow bugs, zebra midges and pheasant tails (sizes 12 - 16). Concentrate your drifts along the slower current seams along channel banks and drop offs.
Norfork Tailwater - Generation has been slowed due to a major rain event down stream. Drift fishing from a boat is very successful. Use high water nymph tactics with larger flies; San juan worms, scuds, sow bugs, pheasant tails and zebra midges (sizes 12 - 16). Also, streamer fishing with type 4 or 5 fast sink-tips or full sinking lines. Try wooley buggers, slump busters, zoo cougars or various sculpin patterns in sizes 4 - 8. Utilize safe boating procedures while fishing the extremely high water levels.
Bull Shoals Tailwater - Generation has been backed off alot due to heavy rain accumulations down stream. Nymph tactics from a boat with San Juan worms, scuds, sow bugs, Pheasant tails and zebra midges (sizes 10 - 14) have been delivering good fish. Concentrate your drifts over flooded grass beds. Also try streamer fishing using wooley buggers, slump busters, zoo cougars and various sculpin patterns (sizes 4 -8) on fast type 4 or 5 sink-tips or full sinking lines. Concentrate on various bank structure such as boulders, root wads and lay downs.
Kings River - The river is at a good stage to float, but very low temps and high winds make this very treacherous. Water is very cool and the small mouth have slowed considerably.
Crooked Creek - Water has been very cool and the small mouth seem to be slowing. I have heard a report or two of rainbows being caught up into the creek.
