Zack Hoyt

5 units of generation around the clock. Lake level: 653.97 Drift fishing from a boat with San Juan Worms (pink, red, worm brown), Prince nymphs (size 12 - 14), Fox Squirrel nymphs (size 12-14), R&R Caddis (size 12-14) are producing numbers of fish. The big issue is getting the fly down to the feeding lanes. On sunny days, with the cold weather still around, look for fish around large rock structures. Streamer fishing with fast sinking lines and large flies are producing larger fish. Fly selection includes; Galloup's Sex Dungeon (olive, rusty brown), Galloup's Fat Head Minnow (white, yellow, olive), Conehead Madonna (yellow, white, olive).

Reports of male walleyes starting to be caught. As water temperatures increase, expect more and larger fish to start coming up to spawn. Fish with sink-tips and minnow imitating streamers. Fly selection includes; Clouser Minnows, Bunny flies, Jiggies, KC's Creek Chub and Woolly Buggers. Also, try crawling crayfish imitations along the bottom. Flies; Crazy Dads, Meat Whistles and Lead-eyed Woolly Buggers (olive, rust brown)

That was me amigo. That boat hadnt been out since before winter and needed to be ran. Launched it on the lake for a few hours before they shutoff generation. I didnt launch it on the Tailwaters. There were about 3 boats that ran up near the dam and drifted back a few times. They seemed to quit once the water started falling. I fished the far end of the gravel bar downstream of the ramp. I couldnt get my hookset timing right, so not many fish landed. There was a midge hatch coming off up there. About a sz 18 grey or black. I swapped over to a black Zebra midge and they seemed to like that alot. Water temp was still pretty chilly.....low 40's while I was there. The fish were holding to the larger rocks pretty heavily. These will heat up faster then the stream bed.....this is good to know when fishing really cold water on sunny days. Rocks heat up faster than logs or brush. But yeah, that was my Outback. Glad you guys had a good day. Catching a sculpin is a pretty good accomplishment. Means she was really watching her indicator. Also means there were a few sculpins around, and a streamer would have been productive as well.

Welcome from NW Arkansas. Glad to see more smallmouth junkies lurking about.

I am thinking about doing the same. Wanting to take the motor boat out to warm up for spring. Might head up to the town of Beaver and motor around for a few hours tills Beaver shuts down. Hoping to get into some Walleye and whites.

The Cloudveil 8x Rubber will be my next boot. I like the Simms alot but they are HEAVY!!!

Alot of that depends on how far you are from the dam. You will see a pretty quick drop at the dam ramp, but it will take longer the further down stream you go. I figure at the ramp, it will take about 10 minutes for the water to fall out. They dont really just turn a switch and its off. Its a gradual slow down. It also depends on how close to time they are sticking. SWPA is just a guideline. They could crank it up to 112 instead of 0 if they decide. Help any?

Per the SWPA, Beaver will be down tomorrow from noon into late afternoon. Should be some great fishing with the slightly warmer temps and sunny skies.

Welcome from Nw Arkansas. Must be a stress on the budget living so close to the Feathercraft store......

Predicted generation is on the SWPA website. They are usually issueing the generation for the next at about 5pm the day before. Edit: http://www.swpa.gov/generationschedules.aspx

I knew that would get a respnse from someone......lol. I haven't tried this yet, but have a few questions regarding. Do you have much issue with the knots if it isn't a tapered knotless leader? Also do you have any issue with the indicator moving during the cast? I assume as an "old timer".........you use a pretty relaxed cast. I lean toward a med action rod myself, but am wondering about someone who throws a fast action rod and tight loops. I run into the "walking indicator" when using the rubber band ones.....especially with a newer fisherman who has not got the smoothness down. Appreciate the input.

I love the Klinkhammer. Keep them on yellow, olive, and dun. Great multipurpose fly. Great looking fish Duck......I was holding my chair down in the office, but glad a few guys got out to enjoy the water. How was the wind? It was cranking through NW Ark.

I agree with JD on the indicator colors. I stick with mainly white, chartreuse, and orange. I use the Big Kahuna indicators from Rio, but most of the time will rip them in half. I do the same with the palsa indicators. This makes them a tad tougher to see, but does wonders for spooky fish and also makes them very sensitive. The fish, for the most part, will see the top of the water easily, and see the disturbance. When dead drifting, alot of guys assume the fly goes directly under the indicator......wrong. When fishing with an idicator, you want your cast to land with the fly downstream of the indicator. This give the fly a drag free presentation(ie the current at the top of the water is flowing at a different rate than that below the surface.....so an indicator will "drag" the fly after it). In slower moving water and deeper pools, it is alot harder to get this drag free drift....obviously the fly will hinge straight down from the indicator. This is especially true with beadhead flies. Back on topic.....lol. I will tear a Big Kahuna or palsa in half and fold it over the line. Also there are a few compnaies that make indicators out of fly lines. The old timers will use worn out fly lines this way. Cut a slit down the center and you can adjust how long you want them. I havent used one, but there are a enough companies carrying them that some people do. (There should be some good wadable water coming up. Lakes are near power pool, so barring a substacial rainfall, we should be in good shape. There have been alot of mid-day sections of low water recently. I am trying to look at the SWPA site every morning early and will try to post predictions. Next month should be great for a trip. Just let me know what day works well for you.)

I have seen guys use mini-ballons for indicators and heard stories of guys using rubbers......who knows....lol. Just out of curiosity, what are you looking to achieve with such a deal? I assume for when fish are indicator shy and such?

Welcome Jason. I am pretty sure the Buffalo has a 10hp limit on the water. Alot depends on the water level of the river at the time of your trip. The regs they instituted on the Buffalo ahve helped the fish population alot. There are a handful of outfitters at each section, so renting a canoe and shutteling are not hard to do. I believe Erbie is as high as you can take a motored boat, but I would be suprised if you could get one up that far.

With TR reaching pool later this week, there should be some upcoming opportunity for lower water. Per the SWPA there should be low water today around noon on Taney. High temp being 40+ and pretty sunny......I would say Phil's midge hatch may be repeated.

Welcome from a fellow Bentonville guy(Pea Ridge actually, but send my 9-5 in Bent). Tim, SWEPCO was down for most of the winter, but is back up and running currently.

Sorry I missed your reply. The other thread did a good job of covering temps and such for walleye and whites....but I would say yes. Water is about 45, which is still a tad cold, but these warmer sunny days will help alot.

Water level is at 4.4ft and rising. water is very muddy and still pretty cold for spring feeding bass.

Generation has been sporatic, with afternoon times of low water. The lake should hit pool by this weekend so look for more wading opportunities. Midge hatches have been seen so use zebra midges, wd40's, cracklebacks, and smaller spinners. During high water fish are hitting various streamers and deep fished flies. San Juan worms, weighted soft hackles, and beadhead nymph imitations.

Welcome from Nw Arkansas.

Good info. How deep were they? I am looking at getting out there with my fly rod and a full sinking line this year.

Drift boats and shop looked great. Had a blast tying, casting, and shooting the bull. Was great to meet everyone.

Terry, I will have ole blue behind the Outback for the event. Was hoping to get the new coat of varnish on, but its not in the cards. Still, the three of us all hauling drift boats are sure gonna turn some heads between here and Springfield.

Definately a longer sink tip or full sinking line. The full sinking gets the fly down better......type 6 is recommended. Streamers no doubt on the fly. I prefer mine longer and skinny. Shad colors always work. White/grey, white/black, and chartreuse/white. Don't be afraid to take the popular trout streamer patterns and match colors to the local baitfish. If you are fishing on the white.....smaller rainbow patterns work great. These fish are pretty agressive, so a very fast retreival will get their attention. Also being a streamer and a deep fishing technique, dont be afraid to go larger on your leader/tippet or even just use a single size of line the whole way.