cmcclu

With kids and boat fishing personally I tend to prefer the Cotter area. Both are great rivers but just my person opinion Cotter area seems less stressful than being on the Fork with running water. In fact White flows have been great, reduced for downstream flooding but with the lake levels approaching capacity things can change quickly. Keep in touch with the water releases, plan on fishing out of a boat, and if need be change locations and should have a great trip. Maybe someone else can chime in on lodging suggestions. Good luck and give us a report on the trip.

I am out of the loop in that particular area but you might want to indicate your preferred fishing style i.e. fly fishing, spin fishing, etc.

20 foot fiberglass (not a drift boat). I appreciate the advice (trolling motor and drag chain) and look forward to on the water training. With all the water in the system looks like I will have plenty of opportunities for practice.

I have been trying to fish the Norfork and Little Red recently on high water and boat control just wears me down. I have been too afraid to kill the motor and am just kicking it in and out of gear to try and keep a somewhat aligned drift. Any tips that would make fishing any easier? I know I really need some one to go with me to take turns but aligning schedules is difficult.

AGFC newsletter article says the threadfin shad population in Greer's Ferry Lake is "virtually nonexistent" due to low water levels the past few years. They will be raising threadfin shad in the nursery pond next year and will discontinue stocking of black bass, hybrids, and walleye until the forage population recovers and then will stock those species in numbers that will be more tolerable for low water years (reduced numbers). Sounds like a significant development and one that I can not recall occurring before. In fact I didn't really think the lake had been that low. Does not sound so promising for the future of the hybrid and walleye fishing. I love fishing for both so I am hoping for a shad explosion and the resumption of the stocking efforts quickly.

Hello! As you know water levels will dictate methods but basically, try stripping wooly buggers or dead drifting an egg, sowbug, or zebra midge under an indicator and possibly add a split shot to keep near the bottom. I haven't kept up with the flow patterns lately but Id imagine with the colder weather there is a chance of some water running. Of course a boat would be necessary on any higher flow. Good luck!

An option with a pontoon boat that I have fond memories off is fishing at dusk and into the night around the area bridges. We use to catch crappie, white bass, and walleye fishing directly below floating lights with minnows. As a kid we would always look forward to those night fishing trips on the pontoon. Wading the upper tributaries of the lake would be tough. Your not to far away from the Mt. View area where you have trout fishing on the lower White River and Sylamore Creek area for smallmouth bass.

Minimum flow started as scheduled on Monday. At noon in JFK the minimum flow was noticable in terms of more stream bed inudated and slight current in otherwise calm pools. Overall it was still "low" water and generally would be approached in the same manner. I think it would be beneficial for the fishery if it was permanent but it sounds we will just have it temporarily. I have been waiting on warmer weather to try out a new rod and had a couple of hours on Monday to try it out. After assembly, rigging, etc. I walked down to the water and on the very first cast caught a rainbow. I probably could not do that again ever if I was trying but what a good way to break in a new rod!

Brad, I have been a customer there for years and they are always spot on. I have never used the guide service but would at least consider giving them a call or stopping in the shop to let them know your needs. The fishing methods of course will be dictaed by flow which recently has been up and down and then back up during the course of the day which could give you a variety of methods where a boat would be very helpful. The lake level is back down to normal pool level which would suggest that if the temps ever warm up then the generation will be considerably cut back. Good luck on your trip and let us know how you do!

What a brook! According to the AGFC site the record brook is 5.0 lbs. I am glad to still see that they are in there.

I remeber back in the 80's when lake Trout were placed in Greers Ferry (and also I believe Bull Shoals) and there were fisherman who specifically targeted those fish. There were catches of 5-10 pound fish that were made and there were even rumors of spawning that had occured for the Lake Trout. Supposedly there was a bad year of oxygen levels that caused a die off and stockings were halted. I would support additional stocking or would even support donating money for the fish to be reintroduced even if on a limited basis. I have heard in Texas where there are lakes facing a shortage of hybrids and stripers that local fisherman have raised money in conjuction and support with the Texas FIsh and Wildlife to purchase additional fish to enhance the numbers.

I am looking at repalcing fishing lights and have always used the old style floating light. Seems to be a lot of submersible LED lights available and was wondering if anyone would mind sharing an experience inorder todetermine which style to go with. I have young kids who love to go out at night and it is about that time (if not already) to give it a try. Thanks!

Not much to contribute other than enjoying a sunny afternoon after the clouds moved out. A few hours of fishing in the back of a main lake cove 12-18 fow simple minnow on a split shot resulted in several smallmoth, k's, and a white all released. Just simple fishing is sometimes a very enjoyable way to spend an afternoon. Water was in the low 60's with a greenish tint and near normal water levels.

Bo, Can not say as far as Swinging Bridge but you might consider a nightly rental form one of the many cabins/houses that are available for nightly rental. You might get lucky and find one located on one of the shoal areas on the river that does not offer public access. The guys at the Ozark Angler would likely also be able to offer some options for you. Good luck!

Does anyone know where you could pick up some minnows in the vicinity of the Jordan area of the lake? Thanks!