Water levels continue their drop and every impoundment in the White River system is currently below power pool. There has been no rain in several weeks and the daily high temperatures have been soaring above 100 degrees for over a week. The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam has dropped three tenths of a foot to rest at two tenths of a foot below pool at 654.00 feet. Up stream Table Rock Lake has dropped one and one tenth of a foot and is currently one and two tenths of a foot below power pool. Beaver Lake has dropped one foot and is now at two and eight tenths of a foot below pool. The pattern on the White River has been no generation in the morning and then to spike it with up to seven generators in the afternoon and early evening, when there is peak demand for electricity.This has resulted in optimal wading conditions. Norfork Lake has dropped one and one tenth of a foot and is now one and one half feet below power pool of 552.00 feet. The pattern is to turn the generators off in the morning and to run a full two generators in the afternoon and early evening. This has created some excellent wading opportunities on the Norfork early in the day. The weather is forecast to cool down about ten degrees and there is some rain expected. I predict that we will continue to see heavy generation on both rivers in the afternoons.
On the Norfork, the dissolved oxygen levels continue to drop. This is more critical during periods of no generation. There were several instances in the last week when the dissolved oxygen level dropped below three parts per million. The oxygen level will be the lowest just below the dam. This is not a problem on the White River at this time where the dissolved oxygen remains at six parts per million or higher.
Despite the weather, the fishing on the White has been excellent. With the predictable low water conditions, anglers willing to deal with the excessive heat have done well through out the river. The best way to deal with the low water and heat has been to wet wade. Anglers have been wearing tropical shirts, light slacks, big hats and wading sandals to stay comfortable. To prevent heat stroke they have also been carrying and drinking a lot of water and sports drinks. Others, in an attempt to escape the heat, have been fishing at night. This is dangerous business. Do not fish alone at night.
The Catch and Release section below Bull Shoals Dam has been a hot spot. As usual, small midge patterns like the zebra midge in black with silver bead and silver wire and in brown with copper bead and copper wire have been the ticket. There has also been some really good hopper fishing. When the water comes up in the early afternoon, fish the rise and switch to brightly colored San Juan worms when the water gets high. The upper river from Bull Shoals Dam to White Hole has fished well with the same basic techniques.
The section from Wildcat Shoals to Cotter has been fishing well. The hot flies in this area have been sowbugs (size sixteen) and partridge and orange soft hackles. Grasshoppers have also been very effective particularly when fished with a small dropper like a zebra midge or pheasant tail (size twenty). Another killer technique for this area has been to dredge the deeper holes with an olive woolly bugger fished on a sink-tip line.
Rim Shoals has been another Hot Spot. There has been some spectacular fishing there on zebra midges, scuds and sow bugs. Soft hackles have been very effective. The best pattern has been the partridge and orange. Grasshoppers (size ten) have been very productive, especially later in the afternoon.
The Norfork has not been fishing as well as the White. The Catch and Release section has been crowded all summer. With optimal wading conditions on the White, I would expect there to be less pressure here. The section as McClellans is still the bright spot. There are some nice fish in that section but it is still difficult to get there. The safest way is to float down from Norfork Dam. Be prepared to drag your boat through a few low spots.
The weather is forecast to cool down in the coming days and with the lower water conditions, I would expect some great fishing this week. Remember to practice water safety and always check conditions before you leave home.
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John Berry (870) 435-2169 berrybrothers@infodash.com
