During the past week, we have had a rain event (just a trace here
in Cotter), unseasonably cool temperatures and heavy winds. The lake level at
Bull Shoals dropped two and nine tenths feet to rest at twelve and one tenth
feet above seasonal power pool of 661 feet. This is twenty one and nine tenths
feet below the top of flood pool. Upstream, Table Rock dropped three tenths of
a foot to rest at four tenths of a foot below seasonal power pool and fourteen
and four tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake dropped seven
tenths of a foot to rest at five and one tenth feet above seasonal power pool
and three and five tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the White, we
had no wadable water with heavy generation. Norfork Lake fell one and eight tenths
feet to rest at seven and three tenth feet above seasonal power pool of 555.75
feet and sixteen and nine tenths 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.
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. 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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