During the past week, we have had several rain events (combined for a bit over an inch and a half here in Cotter), cooler temperatures and moderate winds. The lake level at Bull Shoals rose one and two tenths feet to rest at seasonal power pool of 662 feet. This is thirty three feet below the top of flood pool. Upstream, Table Rock Lake rose one and nine tenths feet to rest at one tenth of a foot above seasonal power pool and thirteen and nine tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell one tenth of a foot to rest at eight tenths of a foot below seasonal power pool or nine and four tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the White, we had some wadable water. Norfork Lake rose two tenths of a foot to rest at seasonal power pool of 556.8 feet and twenty three and two tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the Norfork, we had wadable water almost 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 at or below seasonal power pool. We should receive more wadable water.
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 sulphur hatch should begin any day. It normally occurs in May and June. It seems to be late, possibly due to the brutal weather last winter. 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 including myself are fishing flashback pheasant tails). As the insects begin their emergence, I switch over to a partridge and orange or partridge and yellow soft hackle. This is often the most productive tactic. When you observe the adults on the top of the water, switch to a sulphur parachute dry fly.
The Buffalo National River and Crooked Creek are a bit high and stained. 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 siphon to accommodate minimum flow on the Norfork River has been repaired and is back on line. This has been beneficial in achieving cooler water temperatures.
The Norfork River has fished poorly recently. With little wadable water on the White there has been more angling pressure 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. It has been crowded at times. Remember that there are trout everywhere. 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).
The water level on the Spring River is a bit high and stained. 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.
The White River Trout Unlimited Chapter #698 will be planting Bonneville trout eggs in the White River at Rim Shoals on Saturday June 14 and in the Norfork River at Mill Pond on Saturday June 28. If you are free on those days, volunteer a few hours to help establish a Bonneville cutthroat trout fishery. If you are fishing in these areas, please give the volunteers plenty of room to work.
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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