Kentucky bass have moved in to the 8 to 12 foot range and getting ready to spawn.  Again, secondary points and banks are key places to find them.  Crappies have moved shallow and can be found near flooded brush near secondary points. 

Smallmouth’s are coming to hand along main lake bluffs and creek arms and are taking baits in the 10 to 15 foot range.

If you’re up to some fun with some rough fish, carp are moving way back in the creek arms and fishing them blind with smaller minnow imitations will surely put a bend in your rod. Some of these fish are massive and the fight can be long and hard on medium weight tackle. Large schools or suckers have made their way into the creeks in 2 to 5 feet.  They can be a lot of fun on fly gear while walking the banks using worm imitations.  You’ll need a stealthy approach as they may be rough fish, but they are not stupid.

The White River has been running hard with some stop and go flows, making it more difficult for wading anglers to get access.  The caddis hatch has been sporadic with reports of massive hatches one day and fewer bugs the next.  The usual sub surface caddis patterns are performing well and buggers in brown, olive and black are knocking them dead, as always.

Kurt Sleighter with a beautiful fall brown while fishing big foam!

The White River is fishing particularly well, as usual for this time of year and in general. Power demands for cooling have tapered off meaning low flows in the morning hours from about midnight to 2 p.m. These low flows are giving wading anglers plenty of opportunity using the usual midge, sow bug and scud patterns as well as an increased interest in egg patterns. Boating anglers are enjoying higher flows in the afternoon and having plenty of water for throwing streamers to the beautiful fall colored browns. The hoppers are still very plentiful at this time and nice catches of 22 inch plus fish are coming on larger foam patterns.
Bull Shoals Lake is picking up these days as well, with spotted bass, smallmouth’s and the occasional crappie coming to hand. The fish are still deep off primary and secondary points. Full sinking lines with your favorite shad imitation will do the trick. This time of year, it is always good to keep moving and trying a bit farther back in the coves and bays. Not, way, way, back though, the trick is to find where the shad are and you will then most likely find the game fish!
The point is, GET OUT THERE! October is one of the best months to be on the lake and river. The colors are really starting to come alive. The fish are cooperating and the fall temps make it most enjoyable to be out on the water!