During the past week, we have had a rain event (a half an inch here in
Cotter), warmer temperatures and heavy winds (to include lake wind advisories).
The lake level at Bull Shoals rose six tenths of a foot to rest at one and four
tenths feet above seasonal power pool of 659 feet. This is thirty four and six
tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Upstream, Table Rock Lake fell nine
tenths of a foot to rest at seasonal power pool and sixteen feet below the top of
flood pool. Beaver Lake fell seven tenths of a foot to rest at two tenths of a
foot below seasonal power pool or nine and eight tenths feet below the top of
flood pool. On the White, we had no wadable water. Norfork Lake rose three
tenths feet to rest at nine tenths of a foot above seasonal power pool of
553.75 feet and twenty five and three tenths feet below the top of flood pool.
On the Norfork, we had wadable water most days.
The water level for the top of power pool has been reset lower for some of
the lakes in the White River system. All of the lakes on this system are at or
near power pool.
On the White, the hot spot was Rim Shoals. The hot flies were olive
woolly buggers, Y2Ks, prince nymphs, zebra midges (black with silver wire and
silver bead or red with silver wire and silver bead), pheasant tails, ruby
midges, pink and cerise San Juan worms, and sowbugs. Double fly nymph rigs have
been very effective (try a cerise or pink San Juan worm with a caddis pattern
(prince nymph) suspended below it).
The Corps of Engineers have been running more water and that has been an
advantage to streamer fishermen. To do this you need at least an eight weight
fly rod, a heavy sink tip fly line and large articulated streamers. The idea is
to bang the bank and strip the fly back to the boat. This is heavy work and
requires advanced casting skills. Some effective patterns are sex dungeons and
circus peanuts.
We have had some spectacular caddis hatches. The trout have not been
keying in on them due to the higher flows. This is our best hatch of the year
and hopefully we can get some lower water before it is over. Before the hatch,
fish green caddis pupa size fourteen or prince nymphs also size fourteen. You
will often get more strikes at the end of the drift as the fly rises. When the
move to the surface and begin keying in on emergers switch over to a green butt
soft hackle size fifteen. When they start taking adult insects off the water’s
surface, you should switch to a green elk hair caddis pattern size fourteen.
The Buffalo National River and Crooked Creek are navigable and clear.
With the water warming, the smallmouth will soon be active. The most effective
flies are Clouser minnows and crawfish patterns. Carefully check the water
level before entering Crooked Creek or the Buffalo River. There are no dams on
these streams. They both have large drainages and are prone to flooding during
and following any rain event. The water can rise very quickly.
The Norfork has fished a bit better of late. Since it has had the only
wadable water, it has been a bit crowded. The most productive flies have been
small midge patterns like zebra midges (black or red with silver wire and
silver bead) and soft hackles like the green butt. Double fly nymph rigs have
been very effective. Try a small bead headed nymph (zebra midge, copper John or
pheasant tail) suspended eighteen inches below a brightly colored San Juan worm
(hot fluorescent pink or cerise). There have been reliable hatches of small
midges (try a size 24 Adams parachute) and caddis (try a size 18 elk hair
caddis).The fishing is better in the morning and late afternoon and tapers off
midday. Some anglers have been fishing heavy articulated streamers on sink tip
lines on the higher flows.
With Spring Break, there has been a lot of action on Dry Run Creek. Now
would be a great time to fish it. The weather has been perfect on some days and
it is more comfortable for young anglers. The hot flies have been sowbugs, Y2Ks
and various colored San Juan worms (worm brown, red, hot fluorescent pink and
cerise). Use at least 4X tippet and carry the biggest net you can find, in
order for your youngster to land these huge fish.
The water level on the Spring River is wadable and clearer. This is a
great place to wade fish, when they are running water on the White and Norfork
Rivers. Be sure to wear cleated boots and carry a wading staff. There is a lot
of bedrock that can get very slick. The hot flies have been olive woolly
buggers with a bit of flash, cerise and hot pink San Juan worms and Y2Ks.
Remember that the White and
Norfork Rivers and Dry Run Creek are infected with didymo, an invasive alga. Be
sure and thoroughly clean and dry your waders (especially the felt soles on
wading boots) before using them in any other water. Many manufacturers are now
making rubber soled wading boots that are easier to clean and are not as likely
to harbor didymo.
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