During the past week, we
have had a rain event (a bit over an inch here in Cotter), warm temperatures
and moderate winds. The lake level at Bull Shoals fell nine tenths of a foot to
rest at two and two tenths feet below seasonal power pool of 661 feet. This is
thirty six and two tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Upstream, Table
Rock fell two tenths of a foot to rest at six and two tenths feet below
seasonal power pool and twenty and two tenths feet below the top of flood pool.
Beaver Lake rose eight tenths of a foot to rest at four and three tenths feet
below seasonal power pool and twelve and nine tenths feet below the top of
flood pool. On the White, we had heavy generation in the afternoon this week
with wadable water on some mornings. Norfork Lake rose four tenths of a foot to
rest at one and eight tenths feet below seasonal power pool of 555.75 feet and
twenty six 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. 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 Wildcat Shoals. We have had some
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 hare and copper nymph (#14) 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
less crowded with school back in session. It has fished a bit better and is
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.
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