During the past week, we have had some minor rain event (combined
for about a half an inch here in Cotter), warmer temperatures and moderate
winds. The lake level at Bull Shoals dropped four tenths of a foot to rest at
twenty seven and five tenths feet above seasonal power pool of 661.73 feet.
This is five and seven tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Upstream, Table
Rock fell one and five tenths feet to rest at five and seven tenths feet above
seasonal power pool and eight and three tenths feet above the top of flood
pool. Beaver Lake fell three tenths of a foot to rest at seven feet above
seasonal power pool and one and six tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On
the White, we had no wadable water with moderate generation. Norfork Lake fell
nine tenths of a foot to rest at seventeen and two tenths feet above seasonal
power pool of 556.48 feet and six and three tenths feet below the top of flood
pool. On the Norfork, we had limited 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 limited wadable water
in the near future.
On the White, the hot spot has been Buffalo Shoals. 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 bead head pheasant tail nymph (#14) suspended below it). Use
lots of lead and long leaders to get your flies down
The Buffalo National River and Crooked Creek are navigable. With
the warmer weather the smallmouths are 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, the water is stained. It fishes well one day and
poorly the next. 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 cerise San Juan
worm with a ruby midge dropper.
Dry Run Creek is fishing well. With school out it can get a bit
crowded. 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 off color. 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.
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