Dave.
Stripers fair on Bama rigs and live bait near major creek basins, western + central lake. Black bass good on spoons and jigs in brush. Crappie very good — minnow-colored jig 30–50 ft. Water temp: 48–52°F, clearing.
White bass fair to good — some migrating into creek systems. Look for diving birds. Target main lake humps and points 15–25 ft. Rattletraps + swimbaits for surfacing fish, vertical slabs when they're holding. Water stained, 50°F.
Guide Austin Kennedy: "Cold nights keeping water temps suppressed. Late-winter window. Snowmelt feeding the system — water cold and dense." Night mouse fishing for trophy browns still exceptional in low flows below Bull Shoals Dam.
Cold tailwaters below Beaver + Bull Shoals Dams. Power Bait, zig jigs, nymphs. Note: 2026 stocking reduced — fish with care. Early morning best.
Best late winter through spring. Night fishing with mouse patterns is legendary below Bull Shoals Dam. Trophy fish — 10–20+ lbs possible. Wild reproducers.
Spring run in creek arms (East Fork Trinity). Peak April. Also good off dam 15–25 ft all summer. Watch for diving birds — they'll show you where the schools are.
Premier striper lake in Arkansas. Many fish over 30 lbs. Year-round. Dawn/dusk surface bite on stickbaits. Deep water Bama rigs near creek basins.
Arkansas
Late-winter window — snowmelt feeding the system, water cold and dense. Temperature back-and-forth controlling fish movement. Generation: 2–5 hours/day, two units, typically starting around 7am. Wade with caution — listen for generation horn.
Night fishing for trophy brown trout is exceptional in low flows. Big browns eat after dark — slow, steady strip on mouse patterns. Strip-set when you feel them, then lift the rod. One of the best night brown trout fisheries in the country. Guide dates booking up.
Heavily stocked section — but 2026 is lighter than usual due to Norfork Hatchery losses. Browns still reproducing wild. One-mile C&R section requires artificial + barbless only. 7,500+ trout per mile in prime sections historically.
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Bull Shoals Dam Tailwater8-generator dam creates world-class tailwater. Best fishing in low generation periods. Wade with ≤2 generators. Trophy browns year-round. 40+ miles of trout water. ⚠ C&R only (Dam to Norfork Access).
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Gaston's White River ResortPremier resort below Bull Shoals. Guided float trips, private access stretches, dock fishing, wading. Known for huge browns. Book a guide for local knowledge. (870) 431-5202
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Beaver Tailwater (Eureka Springs)8-mile heavily stocked tailwater below Beaver Dam. Rainbows and browns. 1-mile artificial-only C&R section. Best before generation starts. Call (479) 253-5828 for schedule.
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Rim ShoalsFamous wade-fishing access between Norfork and Gaston's. Shoal water produces excellent results in low flows. Dry fly fishing in hatch season. Accessible from Rim Shoals Trail.
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Lake Catherine (Hot Springs)Ouachita River chain. Warmer, bass and striper oriented. Good change-of-pace option. Check AGFC for conditions. (800) ASK-FISH.
| Season | Conditions | Best Species | Top Techniques | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter (Dec–Feb) | 38–45°F, clear, cold dense | Rainbow + Brown Trout | Nymphs, small jigs, Power Bait, live worms on bottom | Night mouse fishing for trophy browns. Cold morning bite best. |
| Spring (Mar–May) ⭐ | 45–58°F, can muddy with rain | Rainbow + Brown Trout | Woolly Buggers, streamers, emerging nymphs, zig jigs | Peak season. Hatches begin. Float trips ideal. Trophy browns pre-spawn active. |
| Summer (Jun–Aug) | 50–58°F (tailwater stays cold) | Rainbow + Brown Trout | Streamers (early morning), scuds, terrestrials | Crowds peak. Fish early. Water stays cold below dam even in summer heat. |
| Fall (Sep–Nov) | 48–55°F, excellent clarity | Brown Trout (spawning) | Egg patterns, streamers, Wooly Buggers | Brown trout spawn Oct–Dec. Aggressive fish. Best dry fly conditions of the year. |
- Bull Shoals Tailwater (Dam to Norfork Access): Catch-and-release ONLY. Artificial lures + barbless hooks required in marked C&R areas.
- Beaver Tailwaters: Daily limit reduced to 2 rainbow trout. Only 1 may exceed 14 inches. All others must be released immediately.
- Reason: Significant hatchery population loss at Norfork National Fish Hatchery (2025) — over 50% stocking reduction on White River system.
- Trout Permit: Required in addition to standard AR fishing license for anglers 16+ keeping trout.
- Always check agfc.com before each trip — rules may change. Call 1-800-ASK-FISH.
Texas
White bass fair to good. Some fish migrating into creek systems, others scattered main lake. Key: look for diving birds — they mark schooling fish 100% of the time. Patterns shift every 2–3 days. Rattletraps + swimbaits for surfacing fish, slabs when fish hold in place.
Annual white bass spring run: Rainfall + lake releases trigger males upstream into creek arms. Hot spot: East Fork Trinity River below Lavon Dam, SH-78 bridge access. Can hook into occasional hybrid striper from Ray Hubbard too. Peak: March–April.
Summer: White bass surface at first light — "splash working 100% bringing them to the boat." Schools boiling near railroad tracks. All three clients catching doubles every cast with slab + fly combo setup. Hit the water by 5:30am.
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Main Lake Humps & Points (15–25 ft)Primary white bass holding area winter–spring. Find structure on electronics, then vertical jig slabs or swimbaits. Schools shift every few days — check multiple points before committing.
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East Fork Trinity River (Spring Run)White bass pour in during March–April. Access from SH-78 bridge crossings. Bank fishing accessible. Watch TPWD spring run announcements for peak timing.
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Dam Face — Off Dam (Summer)Deep water off dam face in summer (20–42 ft). White bass school feeding on shad. Watch for diving birds. Power plant discharge on east arm attracts fish in winter.
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Railroad Tracks AreaGuide Carey Thorn's go-to summer spot. Scan with side-sonar until you see the school light up. Fish are tight. Blind-cast until it starts boiling, then slabs and fly combos for doubles.
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East Fork & Sister Grove Creek ArmsStanding timber — prime crappie + bass habitat. White bass push in during spring. Brush piles at 15–20 ft hold fish year-round. Best with minnows or small jigs.
| Season | White Bass | Striper / Hybrid | Top Lures | Focus Areas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter (Dec–Feb) | Fair — main lake humps 15–25 ft. Vertical jigging best. | Fair — trolling umbrella rigs 15–35 ft. | Slabs, jigging spoons, live shad, umbrella rigs | Main lake structure. Electronics critical. Power plant discharge. |
| Spring Run ⭐ (Mar–Apr) | EXCELLENT — Annual Creek Run. East Fork Trinity. Best day of year. | Good — schools mid-lake. Swimbaits, live shad. | Small jigs, inline spinners, swimbaits, topwater | East Fork Trinity below dam. SH-78 bridge. Watch for birds. |
| Summer (Jun–Aug) | Good — dawn topwater excellent. Schools suspend 20–42 ft midday. | Slow to fair — finicky after fronts. Deep live bait most consistent. | Topwater at dawn, slabs midday, live shad deep | Open water (birds diving). Dam face deep. Creek mouths. |
| Fall (Sep–Nov) | Good to Excellent — feeding heavily before winter. | Good — schools mid-lake. First hour of day key. | Umbrella rigs, slabs, swimbaits, live bait | Mid-lake points + humps. Party Cove. Creek channel edges. |
- White Bass: No size minimum, 25 fish daily bag limit
- Striped Bass / Hybrid: No minimum size, 10 fish daily bag limit (combined)
- Largemouth Bass: 14 inch minimum, 5 fish daily bag
- ⚠ Zebra Mussels: Drain ALL water from boat, livewells, and gear before leaving. Transporting is illegal.
- Valid Texas fishing license required — buy online at tpwd.texas.gov
Arkansas
