Arkansas trout loving high water this summer

Heavy spring rains paying big dividends for anglers around the state

Arkansas Game & Fish Commission The big lakes of north Arkansas are being lowered by the Army Corps of Engineers with quite a bit of generation, according to our reporters. Bull Shoals Lake, in particular, has been well above normal pool for some time, and the rivers below that dam have been high the past week. But, the reporters say, that hasn’t detered the trout bite.

Sportsman’s White River Resort at Flippin says the bite is excellent. Lots of rainbows were caught on river rigs with pink Power Worms. Also, lots of nice browns were brought in on stick bait – bigger browns than ever before, they say. “People fishing with guides are doing a lot better than those without,” is the report. Further west, below Beaver Lake Dam, the tailwaters remain prolific for trout as well as spotted bass and walleye, according to Austin Kennedy. Beaver Lake is slowly getting back to its normal summer level.

Austin has been golden for us, providing photos from some of his recent trips with clients, including this one with an angler from Oklahoma who caught a 19.5-inch rainbow in the Beaver Lake Dam tailwater.

And don’t forget the Spring River in northeast Arkansas, where a cool-water destination awaits along with hungry trout and smallmouth bass, according to guide Mark Crawford. Both species were hitting the fly hard this week, he said. On the hot sunny days the bite can slow and a smaller nymph or Woolly Bugger will get the bites.

Hot pink Trout Magnets are working great just off the bottom of the river.

Gold spoons have been hot the last week also with a slow retrieve with a twitch for flash.