Cold! Fishing Report

River is still crazy low and clear. Little bit of rain Sunday but not enough.

The Spring River is flowing at 250 cfs, 350 avg, and water clarity has been very clear. The river has been very low for a few months now. Really in need of rain in this area. Guide trips have been in rafts lately. The drift boats have not done well on all of the rocks and low water areas.

Catching has been great over the last 2 weeks. Lots of blue wing olives and caddis hatching especially last week with the warm weather. Dries have been working on the spring, but beware the shad in the shallow areas. We got big ones and they love dries! Nymphs and smaller woollies have been great for numbers. White lightning, big white fly pattern sold in fly shop similar to big white woolly, has been the producer many times for bigger bows and of course olive woollies for the browns. Overcast days have been small streamer fun and nymphing on the sunny days. If the bite is not there eggs or move!

Catching a few bass but more largemouth than smallies. As the cold sets in the smallmouth can start to bite. But slow presentations during winter months. The white lightning was made for smallmouth during winter below a big hopper. Hopper during winter? Better than indicator....

Work on Jim Hinkle hatchery is going well. The hatchery continues to stock the Spring weekly and has been doing great at working around the construction. The work is scheduled for a year to complete. Renovation of the hatchery is very exciting and shows how much Arkansas is investing in the area. Progress will be posted thru the year.

With the river so low wading is better but please be careful, the river is all boulders and slick rock. Wading staffs are a life saver on the Spring.

Picture John Bannister, brown caught on his fly: El Diablo XL.

Tight lines and good luck, Mark Crawford springriverfliesandguides.com