During
the past week, we have had a minor rain event (about a quarter inch here in
Cotter), warmer temperatures and heavy winds (to include lake wind advisories).
The lake level at Bull Shoals fell two and two tenths of a foot to rest at one
foot below seasonal power pool of 662 feet. This is thirty four feet below the
top of flood pool. Upstream, Table Rock Lake fell one tenth of a foot to rest
at one and six tenths feet below seasonal power pool and sixteen feet below the
top of flood pool. Beaver Lake rose five tenths of a foot to rest at three
tenths of a foot below seasonal power pool or eight and nine tenths feet below
the top of flood pool. On the White, we had substantial wadable water. Norfork
Lake rose one and two tenths feet to rest at one tenths of a foot below
seasonal power pool of 556.8 feet and twenty three and three tenths feet below
the top of flood pool. On the Norfork, we had wadable water every day.
The
water level for the top of power pool has been reset higher for the lakes in
the White River system. All of the lakes on this system are below seasonal
power pool.
On
the White, the hot spot was Cotter. 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
caddis hatches are on the wane but with lower water the trout have been keying
in on them. The sulphur hatch should begin any day. It normally occurs in May
and June. This is our most reliable mayfly hatch of the year. It is a size
fourteen or sixteen insect and it is yellowish orange. Before the hatch I fish
mayfly nymphs. My favorites are copper Johns and pheasant tails (some guides
are already fishing flashback pheasant tails). As the insects begin their
emergence I switch over to a partridge ans orange or partridge and yellow soft
hackle. This is often the most productive tactic. When you observ the adults on
the top of the water switch to a sulphur parachute dry fly.
The
Buffalo National River and Crooked Creek are navigable and clear. With the
warmer weather, the smallmouths are 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 poorly of late. At the time I am writing this the siphon to
accommodate minimum flow has been off for three days and the flows are very
low. With substantial wadable water on the White, there have been fewer anglers
on the Norfork. 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
warmer weather, 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.
The
Arkansas Game and Fish Commission is making repairs to the Dam at the State
Fish Hatchery at the Dam Three Access. During this process water may be
diverted from the main channel to the north channel that runs alongside the
parking lot resulting in a rise in the water level there of up to two feet. The
access will remain open to the public although the parking may be limited to
the lot on the North side of the railroad tracks during busy times. All users
are requested to exercise extreme care when in the area.
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.
John
Berry is a fly fishing guide in Cotter, Arkansas and has fished our local
streams for over thirty years.
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