During the past week, we have had a several rain events (a combined total of two inches here in Cotter), moderate temperatures and moderate winds. The lake level at Bull Shoals rose five tenths of a foot to rest at seasonal power pool of 661 feet. This is thirty four feet below the top of flood pool. Upstream, Table Rock fell eight tenths of a foot to rest at three and one tenth feet below seasonal power pool and seventeen and one tenth feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell three tenths of a foot to rest at three and one tenth feet below seasonal power pool and twelve and seven tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the White, we had heavy generation in the afternoon this week with wadable water most mornings. Norfork Lake rose eight tenths of a foot to rest at one and nine tenths feet below seasonal power pool of 555.75 feet and twenty six and one tenth feet below the top of flood pool. On the Norfork, we had reliable wadable water every morning, with light generation in the afternoon.
Seasonal power pool has been reset for the lakes in the White River system. All of the lakes on this system are 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 excellent. The hot spot has been the Catch and Release section below Bull Shoals Dam. We have had more reliable 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 pheasant tail nymph 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) on bigger water. 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. The smallmouths are still 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 on the lower water and has not been as crowded with wadable water on the White. 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. My favorite fly has been the green butt.
Dry Run Creek has been very busy, with summer vacation, in full swing. It has not fished as well but is still yielding some trophy trout. 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 in full swing and there are a lot of boats on the river. You should fish during the week, if you can. 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, Blue Ribbon Guides, is a fly fishing guide in Cotter, Arkansas with Blue and has fished our local streams for over thirty years.
No comments:
Post a Comment