Unbelievable Action On The White River

[trophy trout]

The fishing was unbelievable today on the White River. The water was clearer and closer to the average flow for this time of year than it has been the past few days. Fishing alone, I caught 70 rainbow trout and one brown trout. The majority of the fish came on crankbaits, though around a dozen came on other artificials. The brown came on a jig. The big fish of the day was a 19 inch rainbow. There was a nice caddis hatch in the afternoon and the midges were there as usual. A few fish were feeding on top, though not enough to provide consistent action. Saw a muskrat while fishing and a hen turkey and a box turtle on the way to the boat launch.

[Maggiesmaster]

The fishing was unbelievable today on the White River. The water was clearer and closer to the average flow for this time of year than it has been the past few days. Fishing alone, I caught 70 rainbow trout and one brown trout. The majority of the fish came on crankbaits, though around a dozen came on other artificials. The brown came on a jig. The big fish of the day was a 19 inch rainbow. There was a nice caddis hatch in the afternoon and the midges were there as usual. A few fish were feeding on top, though not enough to provide consistent action. Saw a muskrat while fishing and a hen turkey and a box turtle on the way to the boat launch.

What size and color crankbaits do you use? Spinning or casting gear?

[BFTMASTER]

When I was down at BSD last week, we did quite well on Rapala cd-1,3,5,7 all brook trout color. The browns we caught were all on white jigs. Got into the walleye in the eddy up by the dam, trick was to let my Rapalas sink for 7-10 seconds then slowly retrieve with a fast rod tip twitch.

[trophy trout]

Maggies: I always use spinning gear for trout.

I don't want to be too specific about the types of crankbaits I've been using. A lot of the lures and techniques I use are fairly unique for this area. If I wasn't guiding I'd be happy to share the exact info, but as it is all I can say is go small and look for key feeding areas.

As BFT mentioned, jigs have been producing as well.

[fishinmachine]

When I was down at BSD last week, we did quite well on Rapala cd-1,3,5,7 all brook trout color. The browns we caught were all on white jigs. Got into the walleye in the eddy up by the dam, trick was to let my Rapalas sink for 7-10 seconds then slowly retrieve with a fast rod tip twitch.

Do you guys really catch walleyes occasionally below Bull Shoals dam, or are you referring to upper Bull Shoals Lake below Powersite dam?

[Ham]

YES, we catch the occassional walleye in the White river BELOW BSL. The walleye and other warm water game fish got into the White when the floodgates were opened in 2008. I know that many have been taken out of the river, but more remain. I'm not sure that they won't establish marginal populations in the river system.

[taxidermist]

Many below the Buffalo river. I dont think all of them came over the dam. I think many migrated upstream during the flood.

[fishinmachine]

Wow....that is some cold water flowing out from the dam. But the walleyes are northern fish, I guess. Thanks, guys. I'm traveling up from Texas tomorrow to give the stripers and walleyes a shot on Norfork. Good luck to you this spring!

[trophy trout]

Yea, there's no real reason why walleye couldn't survive there. I've caught them through the ice more than a few times, and they were pretty aggressive. They spawn in water temps between 40 and 50 degrees F.

[gotmuddy]

Wow....that is some cold water flowing out from the dam. But the walleyes are northern fish, I guess. Thanks, guys. I'm traveling up from Texas tomorrow to give the stripers and walleyes a shot on Norfork. Good luck to you this spring!

where bouts in texas do you live?