During the past week, we have had several rain events (combined
for about an inch here in Cotter), warmer temperature and heavy winds (to
include lake wind advisories on several days). The lake level at Bull Shoals
rose eight tenths of a foot to rest at three and eight tenths feet below
seasonal power pool of 659 feet. This is thirty nine and eight tenths feet
below the top of flood pool. Upstream, Table Rock rose two feet to rest at at
three feet below seasonal power pool and nineteen feet below the top of flood
pool. Beaver Lake rose six tenths of a foot to rest at four feet below seasonal
power pool and thirteen and six tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the
White, we had wadable water with more generation. Norfork Lake rose one and
nine tenths feet to rest at three and eight tenths feet below seasonal power
pool of 553.75 feet and thirty 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 at
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).
Caddis season is upon us. This is our best hatch of the year and
it is still here. I fished the caddis hatch on the Norfork, with great success.
With the lower lake levels we should have perfect flows to target this hatch.
Before the hatch when the trout are feeding on the surface but you see no
insects use a soft hackle like my green butt or a partridge and orange. When
the trout begin to target insects, on the surface of the water, switch over to
an elk hair caddis. Match your fly to the hatching insect based on size, shape
and color.
The Buffalo National River and Crooked Creek are high. With warm
weather the smallmouths should be more 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 but it has fished
poorly. Daphnia has been spotted on the upper river and could adversely affect
the bite. 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 hare
and copper nymph with a ruby midge dropper.
Dry Run Creek has been very crowded due to spring break. 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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