1-4-10 North Arkansas Fishing Reports

[zhoyt]

Beaver Tailwater-
COE has been generating for a few hours in the morning and a few in the evenings. The fishing is best between high water events. 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 Chamois 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 -
COE has been generating 24/7 on the Norfork Tailwaters. 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 using sink tips. Wooley buggers, slump busters, zoo cougars or various sculpin patterns in sizes 4 - 8. Utilize safe boating procedures while fishing the high water levels.

Bull Shoals Tailwater -
Generation has been erratic at best. Periods of lower water, followed by a releasing of larger amounts. Nymph tactics from a boat with San Juan worms, scuds, sow bugs, Pheasant tails and zebra midges (sizes 12 - 1 have been delivering good fish. Also try streamer fishing using wooley buggers, slump busters, zoo cougars and various sculpin patterns (sizes 6 -10). Concentrate on various bank structure such as boulders, root wads and lay downs.

King's River -
Water levels are very good for floating and fishing. Water temperatures are in the low 40's. Any fishing you do will have to be very slow as the temperatures drop. Soft plastics and jigs are the best bet this time of year. Fly fishing will be tough unless you have a sinking line and heavy flies. You want to be on the bottom.

Crooked Creek -
Water levels are a little high for fly fishing, but spin fishing should be good. Water temps are low 40's. Soft plastics and jigs fished slow on the bottom should pick up some good fish.

Buffalo River -
Water levels are very good in the middle section for fishing. Water temperatures are in the mid to low 40's. Lures on the bottom fished slow should pick up smallmouth. Water flows are just a tad high for fly fishing in the mid and lower sections.

Right now is a great time to be on the river and take some fantastic photos of our wild rivers and the snow. Be sure to take extra dry clothes and wear your PFD.

[AFISHN]

Zack...you guys have areallly nice site.
I hope Ken is continuing his courageous recovery.
BTW:I saw three flys mentioned that I never heard of:Slump Busters,Sparrows, and Zoo Cougars.
Would you please post up some pictures of these flys and also include recipies

Tom Conigliaro

[Big Bad Wulff]

Little Red?

[zhoyt]

BBW: I haven't been over to the Little Red in a few months. I will see what I can find in the way of up to date reports and pm you.

Tom: We are actually working on re-doing the site, so check back for the new one. Here are some links to the flies you are asking about.

Slump Buster
I tie mine a bit more fuzzy, but this gives you the general idea. It can be manipulated in alot of different ways.....both in tying and fishing.

Sparrow
This is a good fly to mimic a wide range of insects. I keep a few different sizes in the box.

Zoo Cougar
This is a Kelly Gallop pattern. I am a huge fan of his streamer patterns. He is extremely innovative. I tend to make mine a tad bushier than the one in the picture.....but the joy of fly tying is subjectivity.