During the past week, we have had a minor rain event (a quarter of
an inch here in Cotter), cold temperatures and heavy winds (to include lake
wind advisories). The lake level at Bull Shoals rose three tenths of a foot to rest
at nine feet below seasonal power pool of 659 feet. This is forty five feet
below the top of flood pool. Upstream, Table Rock remained steady at seven and
six tenths feet below seasonal power pool and twenty three and six tenths feet
below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake rose two tenths of a foot to rest at
nine and three tenths feet below seasonal power pool and eighteen and nine
tenth feet below the top of flood pool. On the White, we had more wadable water
mixed with periods of moderate generation. Norfork Lake rose two tenths of a
foot to rest at five and eight tenths feet below seasonal power pool of 553.75
feet and thirty two feet below the top of flood pool. On the Norfork, we had
low levels of generation with more wadable water.
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 colder weather and a higher demand for power, we should see less 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 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 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. With
cold weather the smallmouths are much less 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 more wadable water on the Norfork. 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 rig has been a yellow egg with a root beer
midge dropper.
Dry Run Creek has been less crowded with the colder weather. 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.