During the past week, we have had a
significant rain event (about an inch and a half), cool temperatures and heavy
winds (to include lake wind advisories). The lake level at Bull Shoals fell one
and three tenths feet to rest at three and six tenths feet above seasonal power
pool of 659 feet. This is thirty two and four tenths feet below the top of
flood pool. Upstream, Table Rock fell two tenths of a foot to rest at nine
tenths of a foot above seasonal power pool and fifteen and one tenth feet below
the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake rose two and six tenths feet to rest at five
feet above seasonal power pool and four and six tenths feet below the top of
flood pool. On the White, we had heavy generation this week with no wadable
water. Norfork Lake fell one and five tenths feet to rest at one and eight
tenths feet above seasonal power pool of 553.75 feet and twenty four and four
tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the Norfork, we had no wadable
water.
The water level for the top of power pool has
been reset for the lakes in the White River system. All of the lakes on this
system are below seasonal power pool and we should encounter lower levels of
generation on them with wadable water.
The Catch and Release section below Bull
Shoals Dam is closed from November 1, 2015 to January
31, 2016 to
accommodate the brown trout spawn. The State Park will be seasonal Catch and
Release for the same period. All brown trout must be immediately released. In
addition, night fishing is prohibited in this area during this period.
On the White, the hot spot has been Rim
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 (my current
favorite is a hot fluorescent pink or cerise San Juan worm with a black midge
suspended below it).
Conventional wisdom states that hopper
fishing begins in late summer. I reject this idea and fish them all year. I
favor shorter leaders (seven and a half foot 4X) 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 Buffalo National River and Crooked Creek
are higher and off color. With the cold weather, the smallmouths are less
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 has fished better of late. It has
had no wadable water. 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. My favorite combination has been a cerise worm
with aSunday special dropper.
There construction project at the Norfork
National Fish Hatchery is complete. It has seen less pressure with school back
in session. It still fished well. 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 at the creek you should visit the 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 navigable.
This is a great place to wade fish, when they are running water on the White
and Norfork Rivers. Canoe season is over and fishing is better. 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 for Blue
Ribbon Guides in Cotter, Arkansas and has fished our local streams for over
thirty years.
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