THINK OUTSIDE THE BOAT BY JOHN BERRY

A few months ago I wrote a column, where I recommended several spots to wade, when they were running a lot of water from Bull Shoals and Norfork Dams. In the past month, the water conditions have changed dramatically. We had a serious rain that dumped a huge amount of water on our area in a short period of time, which resulted in some serious flooding in many parts of the twin lakes area. When it was all over, we had some very high lake levels and a future that included significant generation for months to come at Bull Shoals and Norfork Dams. 

The Corps of Engineers has opened some of the flood gates at both dams in an effort to lower the lake levels to power pool before we get our usual spring rains. This means that we could get lower sooner. Norfork Lake is currently less than nine feet from the top of power pool and it is currently dropping at the rate of three and one half feet per week. Therefore we should be at power pool in three weeks.

Bull Shoals is eighteen feet above power pool and is dropping almost five feet per day. At that rate, it should reach power pool in four weeks. This scenario is contingent on the Corps of Engineers maintaining their aggressive generation schedule and us not receiving any substantial rainfall during the next few weeks. 

During this heavy generation, I recommend that you avoid boating on the White and Norfork Rivers unless you are with an experienced river guide. It is dangerous out there. If you don’t believe me, just ask the three guys from up north that had to be rescued, when they swamped their boat on the Norfork last week. 

There is some wading, even on the White and Norfork. A popular spot of late has been the gently sloping flooded grass bank below the ramp at Wildcat Shoals. It is holding some nice trout. An olive woolly bugger would be an excellent fly to start with. Other anglers are reporting limited success at the Quarry Park ramp parking lot on the Norfork River. Here San Juan worms and egg patterns seem to be the way to go. 

Henry Seay, the assistant manager here at Blue Ribbon Fly Shop, has been wade fishing near Patrick Bridge on the North Fork of the White in Missouri and doing well. Remember that it is illegal to wade with felt soled wading boots in Missouri because they do not want to get Didymo, which is an invasive alga that currently infects our local streams. You must be sure and wear rubber soled boots. Studded soles are highly recommended. 

My friends Amy and Dennis Gelyardt have been fishing on the Spring River lately and having great success. They had a twenty fish day wading it below Dam Number Three last week that included some very nice fifteen to eighteen inch browns. This is the river where I met my wife, Lori, and it has always been a special place for me. 

The Trout Unlimited Trout Chicks (their Lady’s fly fishing group) recently had an outing at Roaring River Trout Park in Missouri. They were able to wade and caught some nice trout. My friend, Sherry Poulos, managed to land a couple of trout on a dry fly on this trip. 

As you can see, there are several nice places to fish around here. You just need to think outside the boat. 

John Berry is a fly fishing guide in Cotter, Arkansas and has fished our local streams for over thirty years.