The lake level at Bull Shoals is about two and three quarter feet above pool of 654.00 feet. The lake level has dropped approximately one half foot in the last week. Norfork is still three feet above pool of 552.00 feet and holding steady. Upstream both Beaver and Table Rock lakes are about one foot over pool. On the White, there has been a bit more generation than the prior week but it has only averaged about one full generator. The Norfork has generated in the afternoon but has run a bit more water (two full generators) for a shorter duration. This has limited wading opportunities on the White but has created great wading on the Norfork. The White has experienced near perfect float fishing levels. There has been precious little precipitation which has left both rivers gin clear. Temperatures have been mild and the sky has been overcast much of the time. This has kept water temperatures moderately low.
The Catch and release area near Bull Shoals has been very productive. There have been numerous reports of big fish over twenty inches long caught there. During periods of low generation the best pattern has been the black zebra midge size 18. At higher levels of generation, the hot fly has been the San Juan worm with pink being the color of choice. When there is no generation, the fishing has been good on midge emergers and soft hackles particularly the green butt.
Further down stream from Cain Island to Wildcat Shoals, the fishing has been steady. During periods of generation, concentrate on fishing the zebra midge. At low water, fish soft hackles like the partridge and orange and partridge and yellow. Sulphurs have worked their way upstream and have been noted as far up as three chutes. The Narrows has been producing good numbers of nice trout.
From Cotter down to Rim Shoals the fishing has not been quite as good as the previous weeks, which was phenomenal. They are still hitting zebra midges early. There is a subtle switch to copper johns around noon. The generation pattern has interfered with fishing the sulphur hatch in this area. The mayflies are still coming off. However, at this higher level of generation the trout do not seem to be keying in on them like they were on lower water. To effectively fish the sulphurs you need lower water when the hatch is occurring so that the trout can concentrate on the hatching insects. Below Rim down to Buffalo Shoals has fished well. It does not get near the pressure of the upper river and has an incredible amount of great structure. Try prince nymphs and pheasant tails here.
The Norfork has been producing quite a few big fish. There have not been a lot of fish landed but the average size has been impressive. The bank stabilization and stream improvement project has been completed and no further siltation is expected. The increased flows in the late afternoon have flushed what sediment there was out. The hot flies during the day have been the zebra midge, and the Norfork bead head. In the afternoon, we have gotten some decent caddis hatches and enough sulphurs to make it interesting.
The major problem on the Norfork continues to be overcrowding. With McClellans closure, there are now only two public accesses on the finest trout stream in Arkansas. This problem has been made worse by the increased flows on the White River this past week leaving the Norfork with the only wadable water. I still see a lot of people wading from the handicap access up stream to McClellans. This is incredibly dangerous. If they begin generating, these anglers could easily find themselves in rising water with no avenue of escape. It is much safer to launch a canoe at Norfork dam and float down. If the water comes up, just float down. There are several people that rent canoes and arrange shuttles in the area.
Dry Run Creek remains the best place to take kids fishing in the area. You have to see it to believe it. With summer here, more families will be taking vacation and visiting Dry Run. This could result in some crowding. In this circumstance, it is good to fish there early or late. Remember you cannot fish there before sunrise or after sunset.
Practice water safety and always check conditions before leaving home.
John Berry is a fly fishing guide in Cotter, Arkansas. He has been fishing the local waters for over twenty five years.
