During the past week, we have had several rains (about an inch here
in Cotter), hot temperatures and moderate winds. The lake level at Bull Shoals
rose four tenths of a foot to rest at one tenth of a foot below seasonal power
pool of 661.95 feet. This is thirty three and nine tenths feet below the top of
flood pool. Upstream, Table Rock rose one and six tenths feet to rest at one
tenth of a foot above seasonal power pool and thirteen and nine tenths feet
below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell one tenths of a foot to rest at
one and eight tenths feet below seasonal power pool and ten and four tenths
feet below the top of flood pool. On the White, we had less generation this
week with more wadable water. Norfork Lake fell two feet to rest at one and nine
tenths feet below seasonal power pool of 556.55 feet and twenty six feet below
the top of flood pool. On the Norfork, we had no wadable water. In an effort to
get the lake level down on Norfork the Corps of Engineers ha s opened a sluice
gate during daylight hours. The increased flow is equal to about one full
generator.
Seasonal power pool has been reset for the lakes in the White
River system. All of the lakes on this system are currently below seasonable
power pool. With summer here we should expect more generation in the afternoon
to supply power for the increased demand for air conditioning.
On the White, the bite has been erratic. Some days it fished well
others not so good. We have had more wadable water. 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 pink San Juan worm with a
ruby midge (#18) suspended below it).
Our sulphur hatch provides some of our best dry fly fishing of the
year. I have observed a few sulphurs on the White and have had reports of
hatches on the Norfork. This is a big mayfly, about a fourteen. Before the
hatch I fish pheasant tail nymphs. When I see top water activity but no
insects, I fish with a partridge and orange. When I see trout taking adults
from the top, I switch over to a sulphur parachute.
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 active. My favorite fly is a Clouser
minnow. 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 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 will be very busy, with summer vacation, in full
swing. It is cleared and 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 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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