11/18 White River Arm - Beaver, AR

[Bassin4fun]

So yesterday, I decided to do some exploring to a section of Table Rock/White River that I had never been. I put in at Houseman's Access first...quickly realized this was too far upstream for bass right now. It was beautiful though. I ran into a guide that said he was taking a client upstream while I had intended on going downstream from there. I fished for about 20 minutes and decided to move. Water Temps there were about 47°F. Water was crystal clear and had a decent current. Thankfully, I have a trolling motor and didn't have to paddle in that.

I was intending to go up to Holiday Island to launch but stopped and put in at Beaver after checking out the water there. The water temps were 48-49°F. I fished from there downstream about 2 miles. I ended up with four in the boat after fishing it for about 3-4hrs. I took out at about 145pm. It was a little chilly. When I put in it was about 27-28°F outside and there was some wind. I don't think it ever got above freezing. I threw Rock Crawler, Squarebill, and a Jerkbait. Fish were not real aggressive and were cold.

[Bassin4fun]

[Champ188]

You don't want to be fishing 47-48 degree water when temps are in the mid-50s in other areas of the lake. It'll be cold all over the lake soon enough --- take advantage of the warmer water while you can. Also, as you mentioned, that upper-White water is crystal clear because it comes from the bottom of Beaver Dam. Strong-flowing clear, cold water is difficult to catch fish from. 

[Bill Babler]

James really nailed it. The caveat is as soon as this water stabilizes (mid 40’s lower 50’s) from Shell Knob to Holiday Island, is that area from Roaring River to Beaver Town really lights up. 

The deep channel swings up there are fantastic along with the bluff banks, and cuts. It kind of fishes like Bull Shoals. 

There are all kinds of stump rows and timber right on the old White River channel banks that hold bass all Winter. 

Football jig, swim bait and the dreaded A-rig can really be the ticket up there. 

At times you can also find congregated schools with a spoon, dimiki rig or an Ice Minnow. 

Lots of theses locations or swings are off shore, but not hard to find with current electronic or a lake map. 

There will also always be fish on the bank up there to some extent and after mid December it can be one of the best jerk bait sections on all of TR. 

Low pressure and as you said, it’s just beautiful up there.  

Good Luck






 

[rps]

2 hours ago, Bill Babler said:

James really nailed it. The caveat is as soon as this water stabilizes (mid 40’s lower 50’s) from Shell Knob to Holiday Island, is that area from Roaring River to Beaver Town really lights up. 

The deep channel swings up there are fantastic along with the bluff banks, and cuts. It kind of fishes like Bull Shoals. 

There are all kinds of stump rows and timber right on the old White River channel banks that hold bass all Winter. 

Football jig, swim bait and the dreaded A-rig can really be the ticket up there. 

At times you can also find congregated schools with a spoon, dimiki rig or an Ice Minnow. 

Lots of theses locations or swings are off shore, but not hard to find with current electronic or a lake map. 

There will also always be fish on the bank up there to some extent and after mid December it can be one of the best jerk bait sections on all of TR. 

Low pressure and as you said, it’s just beautiful up there.  

Good Luck






 

Bill, if I still lived at HI, I would protest you sending strangers to my old area.

To add to your options, slow roll a twin spin not far off the bottom, along the timberline and/or bluff end. If you want to go total old school, use one with black deer hair and a green spot pork frog.