During the past week, we have had a trace of rain here in Cotter,
warmer temperatures and moderate winds. The lake level at Bull Shoals dropped
one and one tenths feet to rest at twenty four and eight tenths feet above
seasonal power pool of 661 feet. This is nine and two tenths feet below the top
of flood pool. Upstream, Table Rock fell one and four tenths feet to rest at
one and three tenths feet above seasonal power pool and twelve and seven tenths
feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell four tenths of a foot to
rest at six and eight tenths feet above seasonal power pool and two and eight
tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the White, we had no wadable water
with moderate generation. Norfork Lake fell one and nine tenths feet to rest at
fourteen and three tenths feet above seasonal power pool of 555.75 feet and ten
feet below the top of flood pool. 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 limited wadable water
in the near future.
On the White, the hot spot has been the Rim 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 bead head
pheasant tail nymph (#14) with a ruby midge suspended below it). Use lots of
lead and long leaders to get your flies down.
The Buffalo National River and Crooked Creek are low and clear.
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 one day and poorly the next. 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 fishing better. 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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