During
the past week, we have had a couple of rain events (for a combined total of
half an inch here in Cotter), warm temperatures and moderate winds. The lake
level at Bull Shoals fell three tenths of a foot to rest at one tenth of a foot
below seasonal power pool of 661.4 feet. This is thirty three and seven tenths
feet below the top of flood pool. Upstream, Table Rock Lake fell two tenths of
a foot to rest at one tenth of a foot below seasonal power pool and thirteen
and nine tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake remained steady
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 no wadable water. Norfork
Lake fell three tenths of a foot to rest at one tenth of a foot above seasonal
power pool of 556.2 feet and twenty three and seven 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 lower 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 or red fan
tail 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 low and clear but still navigable.
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 no 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 hot flies have been sowbugs, Y2Ks and various
colored San Juan worms (worm brown, red, hot fluorescent pink and cerise). The
creek is located in a narrow valley and is surprisingly cool during hot weather.
It is a great place to beat the heat.
The
water level on the Spring River is a low and clear. 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.
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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