During
the past week, we have had a rain event (an inch here in Cotter), warm
temperatures and moderate winds. The lake level at Bull Shoals fell nine tenths
of a foot to rest at one tenth of a foot below seasonal power pool of 661.7
feet. This is thirty three and four tenths feet below the top of flood pool.
Upstream, Table Rock Lake rose two tenths of a foot 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 two tenths of a foot to rest at nine tenths of
a foot below seasonal power pool or nine and five tenths feet below the top of
flood pool. On the White, we had limited wadable water. Norfork Lake rose two
tenths of a foot to rest at four tenths of a foot above seasonal power pool of
556.5 feet and twenty three feet and two 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 at or near 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 beadhead pheasant tail nymph with a ruby midge suspended
below it).
The
sulphur hatch has been sighted but is sparse. Several anglers have reported
success fishing this hatch. 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 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 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.
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 clearing. This is a great
place to wade fish, when they are running water on the White and Norfork
Rivers. We are in the midst of canoe season and it can be difficult to fish
during the aluminum hatch. You should fish during the week to avoid the crowds.
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 Norfork River at Mill Pond on Saturday June 28. If you are free,
volunteer a few hours to help establish a Bonneville cutthroat trout fishery.
If you are fishing in this area, 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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