During the past week, we have had no rain, milder temperatures and
heavy winds. The lake level at Bull Shoals rose four tenths of a foot to rest
at eight and six tenths feet below seasonal power pool of 659 feet. This is
forty four and six tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Upstream, Table Rock
fell four tenths of a foot to rest at eight feet below seasonal power pool and
twenty four feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell three tenths of
a foot to rest at nine and six tenths feet below seasonal power pool and
nineteen and two tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the White, we had
much more wadable water with less moderate generation. Norfork Lake rose one
tenth of a foot to rest at five and nine tenths feet below seasonal power pool
of 553.75 feet and thirty two and one tenth feet below the top of flood pool.
On the Norfork, we had less 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.
On the White, the bite has been spotty. Some days have been
excellent and some poor. The hot spot has been the Catch and Release section
below Bull Shoals Dam. 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).
Streamer season is here. Unfortunately the generation has been a
bit low for optimal streamer conditions. The idea is 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
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 cerise San Juan worms with a
ruby 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.
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