Fishing Reports 12/8/09

[ZackHoyt]

Beaver tailwaters -
Water releases have slacked off some and the Table Rock Lake level has gone down so there is much more wading access. The fish have been staying near the bottom and hitting mostly nymphs. Sowbug/scud patterns, small mayfly nymphs such as pheasant tails and copper johns and bead head midge patterns have been working best. Small olive woolly buggers fished with a sink-tip line are picking up nice fish.
 
Norfork tailwaters -
Water releases have been high with 2 units running plus some release from the flood gates have grounded the wade fishermen. Boat fishing is the only option until the COE gets the lake level down.
 
Bull Shoals tailwaters -
High water releases, 20,000+ cfs, has made drift fishing from a boat the only option. Brightly colored nymphs, San Juan worms and egg patterns are working for those that want to watch an indicator. For fly fishermen that want to be more active, a larger streamer fished on a sinking or sink-tip line is working. Make sure you are casting to structure, as the trout will be holding to get away from the current.
 
Crooked Creek -
Spin fishing with soft plastics are still picking up fish. The weather change to cold has made the fish a little sluggish. Make sure you slow down your action on your lures.
 
King's River -
The river has fallen to where floating is tough. Soft plastics are working with colors in the reddish or green tints. With the cold weather, slow down your retrieve.

[Kevin]

I have heard it may be a good while before you'll be able to wade fish below Norfork Bull Shoals.

[ZackHoyt]

I am afraid the first of the year at least. They are making good progress with the generation, so who knows. It has been great fishing on Beaver. They have not started emptying, so wading is possible for a good portion of the day. If you can get out on Bull or Norfork, streamers are the way to go. The generation will have the trout in back eddies and along shore trying to stay out of the main current. Larger streamers mean fewer fish, but the size will go up considerably.