During the past week, we have had several rain events (combined
for about an inch here in Cotter), cooler temperatures and moderate winds. The
lake level at Bull Shoals dropped two and five tenths feet to rest at eighteen
feet above seasonal power pool of 661 feet. This is sixteen feet below the top
of flood pool. Upstream, Table Rock rose one tenth of a foot to rest at one
tenth of a foot below seasonal power pool and fourteen feet below the top of
flood pool. Beaver Lake rose five tenths of a foot to rest at five and six
tenths feet above seasonal power pool and three feet below the top of flood
pool. On the White, we had no wadable water with heavy generation. Norfork Lake
fell eight tenths feet to rest at ten and three tenths feet above seasonal
power pool of 555.75 feet and thirteen and nine 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.
Hopper season is here. Many guides are banging the bank with
grasshopper patterns. Add a nymph dropper (ruby midge) to increase takes. If
the grasshopper is hit or sinks, set the hook. My favorite grasshopper pattern
is a western pink lady.
On the White, the hot spot has been 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. 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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