Billy Vanderbilt (left) found the smallmouth bass biting on the Spring River when he was out recently with guide Mark Crawford of Spring River Flies and Guides. Billy used an olive Woolly Bugger to catch the smallmouth. Trout are often what is most talked about when the Spring River comes up in discussion, but Crawford has been noting that smallmouth are hitting a lot lately. He says they chase the olive Woolies on a short fast strip back upstream. Meanwhile, trout continue to bite well, he says, with his imitation minnow getting hot response. “The trout are hitting right when it hits the water and at the end of the swing.”
Trout are biting well near Flippin and Cotter below Bull Shoals Dam. Sportsman’s White River Resort says the trout bite is excellent, but these will mostly be rainbows. The browns being caught, they say, are small. Still, they say, bring your PowerBait and maybe you’ll have a day like one angler this past week who caught 40.
In the Fayetteville area, the bream are excellent at Lake Sequoyah. The full moon is upon us, so bream fishing could pick up all over the region, as the fish will be tending their beds. The black bass will also be in the neighborhood of those beds, too, looking for small fry. If you fish for bream at Lake Sequoyah, target the 5-foot depth and toss a redworm. Lake Nimrod appears to be the place to be for bream. Big slab crappie are also being caught. Black bass and catfish also are good, so it appears a good time will be had at Nimrod.
Cooler temps on the way should mean even better fishing in North Arkansas.
