COTTER – Snow, ice and cold have marked Arkansas weather recently. It’s certainly not the best of conditions for fishing, but there may be an exception.
Trout fishing is an option anglers may want to check out as February lapses into March, suggests the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.
In contrast to other waters in the state, trout are living in temperatures virtually equal those of other times of the year. Experienced trout anglers also know that they have much less competition than during the warmer periods.
A suggestion is to go after trout with what has worked for you in the past, and this means summer, spring and autumn patterns and baits.
If worms and nightcrawlers have produced trout for you, try them in winter as well. Wax worms and whole kernel corn may work. Try jig colors that have been productive in recent outings but be prepared to change skirts and even jig heads if necessary. For fly fishermen, start with one or two of your favorites but be ready to switch to other flies.
Power generation affects trout fishing on the White River, North Fork River and Little Red River, and in winter this often means the generators run in mornings and in afternoons, meaning higher water in those periods.
Some recent trout reports:
Little Red River — Streamers, pheasant tails, San Juan worms, midges and pheasant tails are working well for fly-fishermen. Favorite Trout Magnet colors continue to be hot pink and purple haze bodies on chartreuse jig heads. Trout are also biting on wax worms with marshmallows.
White River — Egg patterns have been effective. The higher flows on some mornings and afternoons have been conducive to fishing large streamers. Use a fast sinking sink tip line and an eight weight or more rod.
North Fork River — The fishing is better in the morning and late afternoon and tapers off midday. The most productive flies have been small midge patterns and soft hackles. The hot flies have been sow bugs and San Juan worms in brown, red, hot fluorescent pink and cerise colors.
Beaver Tailwaters — Trout are being caught on purple and wine-colored midges and small jigs. Trout Magnets and Colorado spoons are working well as are jigs fished under a bobber with a wax worm. Power Bait is always a good bet.
Spring River — Y2Ks and big nymphs have been the most productive flies lately. Anglers are catching some bigger browns on olive woolly buggers and guppies worked upstream. Hot pink and white Trout Magnets and silver spinners have been doing well for spin fishermen.
Lake Catherine — Wax worms, meal worms, red worms and nightcrawlers fished under bobbers or just off the bottom with marshmallow floaters have caught trout. Small minnows have taken some larger rainbows. Fly fishermen casting San Juan worms in hot pink or red under a strike indicator have been successful in periods of generation over sand bars and shoal areas. Spin fishermen casting Rooster Tails in brown or white across current that covers rock structure are catching some rainbows.