Bull Shoals Whites

[Dutch]

Is anyone fishing upper Bull Shoals from say K Dock to Forsyth for whites?

[Phil Lilley]

I'd say it's very early for whites. We won't see many till next month and even them it'll be in the vicinity of the mouths of the creeks and at Powersite. But I'm not as experienced as some of the other guys on the forum in early white bass on upper Bull Shoals.

[Dutch]

I used to fish down there (30 years) from Jan 1 till the tourists drove me out in April. The whites disappeared a few years ago and I quit going to that pond. I am wondering if or not the population has returned to anything resembling normal.

[Phil Lilley]

Hard to say at this point. They were better in 06 but still way down. Hopefully they'll keep coming back in good numbers.

[Dutch]

Maybe Forsythian has been there and can shed a little light on the subject if he ever reads this.

[crappiefisherman]

hey dutch, parden me for interupting, 30 years ago bull shoals was great for whites.I was there.Thats where i learned of this incredible fish.Id say things would have to change miraculusly to do any good.I am a crappie fisherman but I do love to chase the whites.The spawn in spring was very good to me and my young son last year as we caught many and many big fish.But during the summer months I found very very few.On the upside I caught more big crappie then I ever have.I am confident the whites are gathering up and are waiting for those first 65 to 70 degree days that we dream of to make a run for it.I read a post the other day on here telling of shad by the thousands running banks below powersite, I would think where these are those whites would be lurking , but maybe not.And Dutch I like the name cause thats what his friends used to call my father when I was a kid.

[Dutch]

crappie That was my dad's nick name also. That is why I chose it. If there are any numbers, they should be to 39 by now. I am not in a position to get there just now so I was doing a little internet fishing. I plan to be there later this month but there is a lot of water to cover without any outside input.

By the time I get there they could be at Fish Trap Shoal, Lake Creek Cove, or Barker's in the river or Slough Hollow, the Shoot or even the Rock Hole in BC. That is totally too much for one guy to cover in a reasonable amount of time.

I used to see Buster L down there with guide parties. Does he still go or has he quit that.

[Tightline]

Dutch,last year the first whites I caught were at the willows on the 27th of March,my nephew had started catching them about 10 days before in the mouth of Beaver.But we didn't have the water running like we do this year so maybe if we can get through this eternal winter we are having and get some warm days or rains they may start up a little early this year.Its hard to speculate or guess what the whites will do,like Crappie said, something drastic is gonna have to happen to see runs like we use to.

I sure wish they would do something about all the gravel that has piled up in Swan creek,there are very few deep areas now when its running normal.It might make a difference in the spawn.

TL

[Wayne SW/MO]

I suspect that the fish showing up last year were from the last spring with water in the creeks, about 3 years ago. Neither Swan nor Beaver get enough water flow for a good spawn very often. If the drought ever breaks I would imagine they will return, if the creeks flow in the spring.

[PowersiteProwler]

Let's hope. No better place to fish in this earth (in my opinion) then Bull Shoals. The past few years have been dissapointing for the White Bass. If you want to catch some white bass, my advise is head to The Spring River down in Oklahoma, just off of Grand Lake. You can bet you'll catch the white bass, no questions about that. Right now they are begining to bite pretty good, and with the predicted warmer weather next week they will go crazy. Throw a rogue out there and they go crazy! Certainly not the same atmosphere, but you will catch some fish. Let's hope the moons align and things get back to normal on Bull Shoals and up Beaver Creek this year!!!!