During the past week, we have had several rain events (combined
for about an inch and a half here in Cotter), hot temperatures and moderate
winds. The lake level at Bull Shoals rose one tenth of a foot to rest at two
tenths of a foot above seasonal power pool of 661 feet. This is thirty three
and eight tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Upstream, Table Rock fell
seven tenths of a foot to rest at six tenths of a foot below seasonal power
pool and fourteen and six tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake
fell two tenths of a foot to rest at two feet below seasonal power pool and ten
and six tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the White, we had less
generation this week with more wadable water. Norfork Lake fell one and two
tenths feet to rest at three feet below seasonal power pool of 555.75 feet and
twenty seven and two tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the Norfork,
we had little wadable water.
Seasonal power pool has been reset for the lakes in the White
River system. All of the lakes on this system are at or near 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).
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 has been 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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