During the past week, we have had a minor rain event (about a
quarter of an inch here in Cotter), warm temperatures and heavy winds (to
include lake wind advisories). The lake level at Bull Shoals fell five tenths
of an foot to rest at one and three tenths feet below seasonal power pool of
659 feet. This is thirty seven and three tenths feet below the top of flood
pool. Upstream, Table Rock rose two tenths of a foot to rest at four tenths of
a foot above seasonal power pool and fifteen and six tenths feet below the top
of flood pool. Beaver Lake remained steady at four tenths of a foot below
seasonal power pool and ten feet below the top of flood pool. On the White, we
had moderate generation this week with no wadable water. Norfork Lake rose one
tenth of a foot to rest at eight tenths of a foot below seasonal power pool of
553.75 feet and twenty seven 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 for the
lakes in the White River system. All of the lakes on this system are currently
at or below seasonable power pool and we should encounter lower levels of
generation, on our tailwaters, with limited wadable water.
On the White, the bite has been a bit slow. During higher levels
of generation the river is “dirty” with large amounts of aquatic vegetation
suspended in it. 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 hare and
copper suspended below it).
It is time for our big caddis hatch which usually provides our
best dry fly fishing of the year. I have observed a few caddis on the White and
have had reports of a spectacular hatch at Wildcat Shoals. This is a big
insect, about a fourteen. Before the hatch I fish prince nymphs. When I see top
water activity but no insects, I fish with my green butt or a partridge and
orange. When I see trout taking adults from the top, I switch over to an elk
hair caddis.
The best bet for large trout has been to bang the bank with large
articulated streamers delivered with heavy twenty four to thirty foot sink tips
(350 grains or heavier). You will need an eight or nine weight rod. This is
heavy work but the rewards can be great.
The Buffalo National River and Crooked Creek are navigable. With
the warm weather, the smallmouths are more 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 cleared somewhat stained and has fished better
lately. 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 fly has been the green butt.
Dry Run Creek has seen less pressure with spring break over but
was quite busy. It is cleared some and fished well. There is another phase of
the project to repair the Norfork National Fish Hatchery now going on. Access
to the creek is not impaired. 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 Spring River is fishing well. 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 with Blue Ribbon Guides in
Cotter, Arkansas and has fished our local streams for over thirty years.
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