FISHING THE NORFORK AFTER THE FLOOD BY JOHN BERRY

As you know, we have had some recent flooding, on the Norfork Tailwater. The double whammy, of the big flows on the White (caused by flooding on the Buffalo and crooked Creek), which backed up into the Norfork and the Corps of Engineers opening several flood gates at Norfork Dam, caused some major damage, on the Norfork. Once the flood Gates were closed and the ramps were cleaned up, fishing returned to the Norfork.

I began fishing it as soon as I could. As I floated it in my river boat, I noted many changes. I saw wrecked or missing docks; trash hung up in trees, erosion and downed trees. I also noted several major changes in the channels. Many were filled in with gravel that severely restricted traffic. There were also spots that had been scoured out and were much deeper now. I figured that once I began wading the river I would note more profound changes.

I finally got my chance, to wade part of it, on Tuesday. The day before it was off until noon but this information was not included, on the Southwestern Power Administration prediction, so I missed it. I was doing a two day guide trip and I always like to wade one day and float the other, if possible. I had fished some novice fly fishers Monday, on the White, in my boat, with limited success. I wanted to do something different. That afternoon I checked the prediction and saw a brief window of opportunity, on the Norfork. I was to fish a half day and that worked out well.

My clients were game for an early start and a different approach. I figured that Quarry Park would be a bit crowded and opted to fish the Ackerman Access. It has always been a favorite of mine. When we arrived, we noted that the river was up but that there was no current. The White was so high the Norfork was backed up all the way to the island in front of Charlie’s. The water looked deep but I figured that I could hug the bank and make it to the island. The going was challenging and there were a couple of spots where the channel had been scoured out around a blow down. The water almost hit the top of my waders but we made it.

When we arrived at the island, I was surprised. The pool in front of Charlie’s house (the kiddy hole) was graveled in. The lower island had been washed away. About a third of the upper island was also gone leaving a string of large boulders that had been placed there to prevent this from happening. Most of the water was now moving through the right channel (facing upstream).

It was like fishing a new river. It was like a place that I had never fished before. I looked around and noted some new spots that I thought would hold fish. We began fishing with a cerise San Juan worm with a root beer midge dropper below it. There was one false start that produced no fish but after moving to a new spot both anglers were soon, into good fish. We caught several rainbows over twenty inches or better and enjoyed ourselves a lot. Unfortunately, the water began to rise and we had to leave immediately before the deep water we had crossed getting in got any deeper. Somehow we made it safely out.

It had been a challenging wade in and out. I would not recommend it to any angler. You would be much safer kayaking down from Quarry Park.

JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT FOR 5/26/2017

During the past week, we have had a rain event (about an inch here in Cotter), warm temperatures and moderate winds. The lake level at Bull Shoals rose six tenths of a foot to rest at thirty and six tenths feet above seasonal power pool of 662 feet. This is two and four tenths feet below the top of flood pool. The Corps of Engineers has opened seventeen flood gates to release 13,300 cubic feet per second to augment generation and lower the lake. Upstream, Table Rock rose one foot to rest at eleven and one tenth feet above seasonal power pool and three and one tenth feet above the top of flood pool. The Corps of Engineers has opened flood gates to release 9,800 cubic feet per second to augment generation and lower the lake. Beaver Lake rose one tenth of a foot to rest at seven and seven tenths feet above seasonal power pool and nine tenths of a foot below the top of flood pool. On the White, we had no wadable water with high generation. Norfork Lake rose five tenths of a foot to rest at twenty and seven tenths feet above seasonal power pool of 556.75 feet and two and five tenths feet below the top of flood pool. The Corps of Engineers has closed the flood gates and returned the dam to normal generation.  On the Norfork, we had some wadable water at night and early morning.

Seasonal power pool has been reset for the lakes in the White River system. All of the lakes in the White River System are now below the top of flood pool. We should expect a lot of generation with little if any wadable water in the near future.

On the White, the water below Crooked Creek and the Buffalo has cleared up. 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). Use lots of lead and long leaders to get your flies down

The Buffalo National River and Crooked Creek are navigable but high. With the warmer 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.

On the Norfork there was flooding but the river is back in its banks and the flood gates have been closed. Navigate this stream with caution as things have changed a bit during the recent flooding. There has been major gravel recruitment at the bottom of Mill Pond and the dock hole. 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). 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 affected by the flooding but has returned to its banks. 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 on and there many 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.

JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT FOR 5/20/2017

During the past week, we have had a rain event (about an inch here in Cotter), warm temperatures and heavy winds (to include lake wind advisories). The lake level at Bull Shoals fell eight tenths of a foot to rest at thirty feet above seasonal power pool of 660.57 feet. This is three feet below the top of flood pool. The Corps of Engineers has opened ten flood gates one foot to release 10,800 cubic feet per second to augment generation and lower the lake. Upstream, Table Rock fell three feet to rest at ten and two tenths feet above seasonal power pool and four and one tenth feet above the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake rose four tenths of a foot to rest at seven and two tenths feet above seasonal power pool and one foot below the top of flood pool. On the White, we had no wadable water with high generation. Norfork Lake six tenths of a foot to rest at twenty and three tenths feet above seasonal power pool of 555.32 feet and three feet below the top of flood pool. The Corps of Engineers has closed the flood gates and returned the dam to normal generation.  On the Norfork, we had some wadable water at night.

Seasonal power pool has been reset for the lakes in the White River system. All of the lakes in the White River System are now below the top of flood pool. We should expect a lot of generation with little if any wadable water in the near future.

On the White, the water below Crooked Creek and the Buffalo has cleared up some. 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 on the wane. This is our best hatch of the year and it is going fast. 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 navigable but high. With the warmer 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.

On the Norfork there was flooding but the river is back in its banks and the flood gates have been closed. Navigate this stream with caution as things have changed a bit during the recent flooding. There has been major gravel recruitment at the bottom of Mill Pond. 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). 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 affected by the flooding but has returned to its banks. 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 high and off color. This is a great place to wade fish, when they are running water on the White and Norfork Rivers. 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.

A RETURN TO FISHING HIGH WATER BY JOHN BERRY

After months of low wadable water, we have returned to a high water that looks like it is going to be around for quite a while. Up to the last few days the Corps of Engineers has been running a lot of water on the Norfork both through the generators and the flood gates. At the same time the corps, was holding back water on the White with very little generation, while waiting for the flooding downstream to clear. Late last week the closed the flood gates on the Norfork and conditions returned to near normal. At the same time generation on the White was picked up to about four full generators or about 12,000 cubic feet per second (cfs). It has since opened the flood gates on the White is currently adding an additional 12,000 cfs to their generation.

I had a couple of guide trips last week. I chose to fish on the White River on the first one. It had rained the night before and the water was stained. I started at Rim Shoals but did poorly. I rigged the rods with a cerise San Juan worm with a ruby midge dropper with lots of weight. The going was pretty slow and at lunch we put my boat on the trailer and drove to the Bull Shoals Dam access. We found the water to be crystal clear here. Conventional wisdom is always to move upstream, after a rain, to find clear water. We did much better here and caught several nice fish.

The next day I guided a father and son. My wife, Lori, had guided the son on Dry Run Creek the previous day and had done exceptionally well. I definitely had my work cut out for me to get anywhere close to the success that she had on Dry Run Creek.

It was a four boat trip and three of the guides including myself decided to fish the Norfork River. The prediction was for the Corps to run two full generators (around 5,500 cfs) for the entire day. In reality, the actual generation, when we started was more like one generator. We decided to launch our boats at the ramp at Quarry Park, below the dam, because there had been significant gravel recruitment, below Mill Pond. That would limit our access to the Catch and Release section from the access at the confluence, on the lower flow.

We began fishing, with a cerise San Juan worm and a Sundayspecial dropper. We set the depth at six feet, with a big strike indicator and an AAA split shot (.8 grams). We picked up some fish immediately. About 10:30 AM, the water started coming up. I had to adjust my tackle, to account, for the increase, in flow. I finally had to increase the depth of my rig (from the strike indicator to the bottom fly) to ten feet or better. I also had to add an additional AB split shot (.6 grams), to the rig, to get it down to the bottom of the water column. This made a difference and we began picking up fish.

The rest of the day went well. We had originally planned to eat lunch on the picnic tables at Quarry Park but noted that they were gone. I assume that they had been washed away during the recent flooding on the Norfork. We finished the day and caught some nice trout but were unable to match Lori’s previous day on Dry Run Creek.

FISHING AFTER THE RAIN BY JOHN BERRY

This week was the first time that I have been out on the water since we had all, of that rain, which resulted in flood conditions in several areas. The main reason that I had not fished of late is that several of my clients cancelled their trips due to the river conditions. I am not one that likes to be idle and it was really nice to be back on the water.

My first gig was a two day corporate trip for River Ridge Inn. The lodge is on the Norfork and we could see the large amount of water flowing by. The turbine releases was augmented by the water coming through several flood gates. The two combined for a volume of about 18,000 cubic feet per second. Though that is a lot of water, the real problem is that the water was the color of chocolate milk. Conditions like this are dangerous. You cannot see obstacles in the water just below the surface and could easily hit something that you don’t see. With this much water, you would be in trouble before you knew it. 

The best bet was to fish the White River. Conventional wisdom, for fishing the rivers after a big rain, is to head upstream, until you find clear water. Due to flooding on Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River, the closest place to fish the White was Rim Shoals. When these streams first flooded there was so much water coming down it could not flow downstream on the White quick enough and the White backed up and flooded the Rim Shoals area. Luckily for us the flood waters had receded and the area was fishable.

The water was slightly stained and the flows were fairly low, about 2,500 cubic feet per second. Bull Shoals Lake is near the top of flood pool as are Beaver Lake and Table Rock. They are not running water at Bull Shoals now despite generating a lot on the lakes above it. That water is being stored until the flooding downstream has cleared.

With the water a bit off color, we decided to fish a bright pink San Juan worm, with a ruby midge suspended below it. I always fish a worm after a big rain because there are always a lot of worms that are washed into the river during a rain. One of my fellow guides told me that he had caught several trout recently that had absolutely gorged on worms. I like the bright pink worms because they show up in stained water and act as an attractor.

We began fishing and caught three, on the first drift. We caught ninety percent, of our trout, on the ruby midge and the rest on the San Juan worm. The best trout we caught were a fat nineteen inch rainbow and a stout sixteen inch cutthroat. We fished until around 4:00 PM and it fished well all day.

There is life after the rain.

JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT FOR 5/12/2017

During the past week, we have had a several rain event (about a half inch here in Cotter), warm temperatures and moderate winds. The lake level at Bull Shoals rose three and six tenths feet to rest at thirty and four tenths feet above seasonal power pool of 660.57 feet. This is two and eight tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Upstream, Table Rock fell five tenths of a foot to rest at fourteen and three tenths feet above seasonal power pool and one and one tenth feet above the top of flood pool. The Corps of Engineers has opened several flood gates to release an additional 13,800 cubic feet per second in an effort to lower the lake. Beaver Lake fell six tenths of a foot to rest at seven and two tenths feet above seasonal power pool and one and four tenths feet below the top of flood pool. The Corps of Engineers has closed the flood gates and returned the dam to normal generation. On the White, we had no wadable water with more generation. Norfork Lake fell two and seven tenths feet to rest at twenty and nine tenths feet above seasonal power pool of 555.32 feet and two and eight tenths feet below the top of flood pool. The Corps of Engineers has closed the flood gates and returned the dam to normal generation.  On the Norfork, we had no wadable water.

Seasonal power pool has been reset for the lakes in the White River system. All of the lakes in the White River System are now below the top of flood pool. We should expect a lot of generation with little if any wadable water in the near future.

On the White, the water below Crooked Creek and the Buffalo has cleared up some. 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 on the wane. This is our best hatch of the year and it is going fast. 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 not navigable. With the warmer 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 was flooding but the river is back in its banks and the flood gates have been closed. Navigate this stream with caution as things have changed a bit during the recent flooding. 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). 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 affected by the flooding but has returned to its banks. 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 high and off color. 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.

RAIN, RAIN GO AWAY BY JOHN BERRY

For the past few months, we have been enjoying one of the longest periods of low, reliable, wadable water that I can remember. It was so low this past February that it all but eliminated our traditional streamer season. You need high water to push the big browns to the bank in order to target them with the big streamers and we had low flows all winter. The low water has been a boon to the caddis hatch. The low flows have been a perfect delivery system for dry flies this spring. The wadable water has rapidly come to an end.

We had a heavy rain that flooded Crooked Creek and the Buffalo. In addition the lake levels on Beaver, Table Rock, Bull Shoals and Norfork lakes all rose significantly. Then a couple of days later we had what has been described by the Weather Channel as a hundred year rain. It rained for two days. This time the ground was super saturated and we had significantly more runoff. All of the lakes in the White River system rose even more. Beaver, Table Rock and Norfork are at or near the top of flood pool and all opened their flood gates in an effort to draw them down quickly. Bull shoals rose thirty four feet in a week. As I write this, it is raining again and over two inches are expected.

What does this mean for fishing? With all of the lakes at or near the top of flood pool, we will have high water, for the rest, of spring and well into the summer. I do not expect wadable water until fall. The fish are still there but you will need a boat to fish the White and Norfork.

The best way to fish during the high water will be to fish nymphs under an indicator. You will need to fish deep. I generally set my nymph rigs at about four feet from the indicator to the bottom fly. I then add a foot of depth for each full generator (roughly three thousand cubic feet per second). This is a rough estimate and I will make adjustments for depth and current at specific spots on the river. If I am hanging the bottom, I reduce the depth and, if I am not getting fish, I increase it.

Weight is also a key factor. I generally use heavy split shot. My favorite for this type of fishing is AAA (.8 grams). I use a lead free egg shaped split shot as it hangs on better. I attach it above my tippet knot to keep it from slipping. I also prefer to use heavily weighted flies particularly bead heads tied on jig hooks. My top flies, for this type of fishing, includes pheasant tails, hare and copper, copper Johns, prince nymphs and ruby midges. I favor double fly rigs and fluorocarbon leaders and tippets as they sink more quickly than monofilament.

Casting these rigs is difficult at best. Open up your loop and be sure and not rush your cast. Do not false cast, as this is an invitation to tangle.

Now is also a good time to fish streamers. Heavy sink tips fly lines, big streamers and larger fly rods are the norm here. Here again the casting is tough and a lot of work. This technique does not produce numbers but can attract a trophy.

Fishing high water can be very productive. Give it a try!

JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT FOR 5/5/2017

During the past week, we have had several rain events (combined for five inches here in Cotter, which included a flash flood watch), warm temperatures and heavy winds (to include lake wind advisories). The lake level at Bull Shoals rose twenty two and two tenths feet to rest at twenty six and nine tenths feet above seasonal power pool of 660.57 feet. This is seven and six tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Upstream, Table Rock rose twelve and two tenths feet to rest at fifteen and six tenths feet above seasonal power pool and six tenths of a foot above the top of flood pool. The Corps of Engineers has opened several flood gates to release an additional 13,800 cubic feet per second in an effort to lower the lake. Beaver Lake rose two and seven tenths feet to rest at eight feet above seasonal power pool and six tenths of a foot below the top of flood pool. The Corps of Engineers has opened several flood gates to release an additional 3,700 cubic feet per second in an effort to lower the lake. On the White, we had no wadable water with some generation. Norfork Lake rose nine feet to rest at six and seven tenths feet above seasonal power pool of 555.32 feet and one tenth of a foot below the top of flood pool. The Corps of Engineers has opened several flood gates to release an additional 6,600 cubic feet per second in an effort to lower the lake. On the Norfork, we had no wadable water.

Seasonal power pool has been reset for the lakes in the White River system. All of the lakes in the White River System are over or near the top of flood pool. We should expect a lot of generation with little if any wadable water in the near future.

On the White, the water below Crooked Creek and the Buffalo is high and muddy. There has been some flooding. 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 on the wane. This is our best hatch of the year and it is still here. I fished the caddis hatch on the Norfork, with great success. 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 at flood and are not navigable. With the warmer 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 flooding on the Norfork and the river level is quite high due to the flood gates being open in an effort to drop the lake level. The ramps have been closed due to flooding and debris on them. Navigate this stream with extreme caution. 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). 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 affected by the flooding but has returned to its banks. 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 high and off color. 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.