Below dam terminal tackle

[Davem]

Hi, I will be passing through the area and have only a half day to fish for trout below the dam. I'll be camping at Bull Shoals State Park the third week of April.  Could some of you give me a quick guide. I'll be fishing from the bank if the water is deep. If the water is shallow I can wade.  I'm bringing both a spinning rod and fly rod. I am only a so-so Fly fisherman, I've caught a lot of fish with a fly rod but in many instances (wind, etc. ) the spinning is best for me.

In the past a technique I've used a lot is to cast a Blue Fox spinner with a silver blade and either a blue or chartreuse body and if the current is swift enough I just let the current broom swing the lure in an arc downstream- the current spinning the blade. If I time it correctly the spinner will swing through likely holding areas.

In any event, if you were in my shoes, how would you fish this area under various conditions? High Water, low water.  If a fly rod is best in low water, what flies, etc. Thanks.

[Phil Lilley]

I think you meant to post this under the White River forum.  You're fishing below Bull Shoals dam on the White since you're staying at the campground there, I assume.

I'll move it over there.  You'll get more answers I think once it's moved.

[JestersHK]

Depending on generation your methods should produce.   You can drift egg patterns or read NetBoys reports here on what the fly rod bite is. 

I've had good success jig fishing the whole stretch down there.  Size of jig depends on flow of course. Best colors for me down there are olives and darker patterns.

Good luck

[netboy]

April will be prime time for the caddis hatch. Hard to beat a size 16 elk hair caddis with a green body.  Just cast it and mend the line to make a drag free drift. Nothing better than to see them come up on top and suck it in. 

[Phil Lilley]

It all depends on generation... where you can wade, if you can wade.  Keep an eye on reports here and when it gets closer to your trip, ask again.

[Davem]

Have any other you tried "steelhead" rigs?  You start with a "slinky" which is parachute cord stuffed with BB's. It slides over rocks, etc. better than a pure lead sinker, and then some sort of lure, yarn with a hook, etc.  You cast out and "doorswing" the offering downstream.  I've done the same thing with a spinner like Blue Fox. Cast so that the spinner with swing in front of a likely spot. Often I don't retrieve at all, the current spins the blade and keeps it at a mid-depth.