During the past week, we have had a
significant rain event, (about an inch and a half here in Cotter), warm
temperatures and moderate winds. The lake level at Bull Shoals rose two and
nine tenths feet to rest at one and five tenths feet below seasonal power pool
of 659 feet. This is thirty seven and five tenths feet below the top of flood
pool. Upstream, Table Rock rose three and nine tenths of a foot to rest at one
foot below seasonal power pool and seventeen feet below the top of flood pool.
Beaver Lake rose two and eight tenths feet to rest at two and eight tenths feet
below seasonal power pool or twelve and four tenths feet below the top of flood
pool. On the White, we had brief periods of heavy generation in the morning
with several days of wadable water. Norfork Lake rose three and three tenths
feet to rest at seven tenths of a foot below seasonal power pool of 553.7 feet
and twenty six and nine tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the
Norfork, we had wadable water every day with generation most mornings.
The siphon to accommodate minimum flow on the
Norfork is down for repairs. They will be running the generators on a
speed-no-load option to make up for the lost siphon flows.
The water level for the top of power pool has
been reset for the lakes in the White River system. Despite recent rains, all
of the lakes on this system are still below seasonal power pool.
The Catch and Release section below Bull
Shoals Dam was closed from November 1, 2014 to January 31, 2015 to accommodate
the brown trout spawn. The State Park was seasonal Catch and Release for the
same period. There are redds in the area. They will appear as shallow clean
depressions in the gravel. Please avoid them when wading or dragging
chains to protect the eggs in them.
On the White, the hot spot was Wildcat
Shoals. The hot flies were olive woolly buggers (#8, #10), Y2Ks (#14, #12),
prince nymphs (#14), zebra midges (black with silver wire and silver bead or
red with silver wire and silver bead #16, #18), pheasant tails (#14), ruby
midges (#18), root beer midges (#18), pink and cerise San Juan worms (#10), and
sowbugs (#16). Double fly nymph rigs have been very effective (try a prince
nymph with a ruby midge or red fan tail midge suspended below it).
Conventional wisdom states that hopper
fishing ends with the first frost (we had several heavy frosts this past week).
I reject this idea and fish them during the winter. I favor shorter leaders
(seven and a half foot 3X) and a stiff six weight rod to proper deliver these weighty
flies. My favorite flies are Dave’s hoppers (#10) and the western pink lady
(#8). To increase hook ups I always use a dropper. I am currently using a ruby
or root beer midge in size eighteen on a three foot or longer tippet (depending
on the depth of the water I am fishing).
The higher flows on some mornings have been
conducive to fishing large streamers. You need a fast sinking sink tip line and
an eight weight or better rod. This is a heavy lift that requires casting
skills and patience. Streamer season started on opening day! The most popular
patterns have been large articulated streamers in tan and yellow and olive and
yellow.
The Buffalo National River and Crooked Creek
are stained and high. With the colder weather, the smallmouths are not active.
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 a bit better
recently. With the colder weather there was little fishing pressure on the
Norfork. The most productive flies have been small midge patterns
(#18, #20, #22) like ruby midges, root beer midges, zebra midges
(black or red with silver wire and silver bead) and soft hackles (#14, #16)
like the green butt. Egg patterns have also been productive. 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 #10). 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.
There was more fishing pressure on Dry Run
Creek due to spring break. It has been a great time to fish there. The hot
flies have been sowbugs (#14), Y2Ks (#12) and various colored San Juan worms
(worm brown, red, hot fluorescent pink and cerise #10). While you are there
take a few minutes to visit the adjacent Norfork National Fish Hatchery. It is
fascinating. Be sure and remove your waders before entering to prevent the
spread of aquatic diseases.
The water on the Spring River is stained and
high. This is a great place to wade fish, when they are running water on the
White and Norfork Rivers. Canoe season is over and there are fewer boats on the
river to interfere with your fishing. 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 (#10), cerise and hot pink
San Juan worms (#10) and Y2Ks (#10).
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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