Another great week of fishing weather!
All I have been hearing about is walleye, walleye here, there, and everywhere. They have been catching them in the lakes and the rivers. Some are idling, some are traveling, some are still in deep water. Crawlers, small and big crankbaits, and minnows are working well. I mostly like to troll with a worm harness or crankbaits, they seem to cover a lot of water.
On the White River, the bite can be unpredictable and always subject to rapid change due to weather and river conditions. A very good bite pattern can disappear in a matter of hours, so anglers should be aware of this potential problem and have an alternate plan of action, like a sandwich or candy bar packed away.
Bank fishermen should stick to the basics of live bait such as waxworms fished just off the bottom with a marshmallow floater. Nightcrawlers will also work when presented in the same manner. PowerBait in colors of sunrise and white can save a fishing trip since a trout’s instinct is to feed on fish eggs.
Fly-fishermen casting egg patterns in white or yellow under a strike indicator have caught decent numbers of rainbow trout where the current is present. Micro-jigs and Woolly Buggers have been working well on trout. The San Juan worm in hot pink has accounted for nice catches of trout, especially when the fish are in a slower bite pattern.
I came across this event that some of our fly people might be interested in. A fly-casting contest, The Cotter Casting Challenge, on Saturday, April 9, in Cotter’s Big Spring Park Baseball field at 1 p.m. The competition is divided into two categories: accuracy and distance. There’s a $5 fee and the competition is open to the public.
There are three categories: beginner, intermediate and advanced. Register on the Trout Unlimited website, whiterivertu.com, by March 30. The event is put together by volunteers from White River Trout Unlimited, The North Arkansas Fly Fishers, and the city of Cotter.
If you need help getting out the door and on the water, give us a call Custom Adventures Guide Service at (479) 363-9632, and always remember to take a kid fishing.