During the past week, we have had a minor rain event (a tenth of
an inch here in Cotter), cool temperatures and moderate winds. The lake level
at Bull Shoals fell two tenths of a foot to rest at six and one tenth feet
below seasonal power pool of 659 feet. This is forty one and five tenths feet
below the top of flood pool. Upstream, Table Rock rose one tenth of a foot to
rest at five and eight tenths feet below seasonal power pool and nineteen and
eight tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell two tenths of a
foot to rest at six and one tenth feet below seasonal power pool and fifteen
and seven tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the White, we had
moderate generation in the afternoon with lower generation in the morning and
no wadable water. Norfork Lake rose one tenth of a foot to rest at one and one
tenth feet below seasonal power pool of 553.75 feet and twenty seven and three
tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the Norfork, we had low levels of
generation late in the afternoon with wadable water every day.
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 cooler fall weather and lower lake levels, we should see more wadable water.
The Catch and Release section below Bull Shoals Dam is closed from
November 1, 2016 to January 31, 2017 to accommodate the brown trout
spawn. The State Park will be seasonal Catch and Release for the same period.
All brown trout must be immediately released. In addition, night fishing is
prohibited in this area during this period.
On the White, the bite has been spotty. Some days have been
excellent and some poor. The hot spot has been Rim Shoals. We have had no
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 cerise 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) 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.
There has been wadable water every morning on the Norfork. The
lake has turned over and there is a sulphur smell on the upper river and with
lower dissolved oxygen, in that area, the bite has been slow there. 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 an orange egg.
Dry Run Creek has been less crowded with school back in session. A
large number of brown trout have moved into the creek. 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 there are fewer boats on the river. 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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