We have had a horrific three day rain storm. At the time of this writing the lake level at Bull Shoals Dam rose eight and nine tenths feet to rest at fifteen and three tenths of a foot above power pool at 654.00 feet and continues to rise. Up stream, TableRockLake rose twenty one and five tenths feet to settle at twenty two and two tenths of a foot above power pool. BeaverLake rose seven and eight tenths of a foot to settle at nine and two tenths of a foot above pool. Beaver and TableRockLakes are at flood pool and have been generating heavily and have even opened the flood gates. The water is being stored at Bull Shoals which is expected to crest at 675 feet next week. NorforkLake has risen thirteen and one half feet to rest at sixteen and eight tenths of a foot above power pool of 552.00 feet. The Norfork is expected to crest at 572 feet next week. It is estimated by the Corps of Engineers that it will take about two months of constant generation to return to power pool on area lakes. This will be a great time to hone your high water skills.
The BuffaloRiver and Crooked Creek are at flood. The old timers say that this flood is worse than the flood of 1982. The water from The Buffalo and Crooked Creek is unencumbered by dams and is spilling into the White River causing widespread flooding on the White. In addition, the water pouring into the Norfork River from Dry Run Creek, Otter Creek and others has no where to go and has backed up in the Norfork causing flooding on it. It will not be fishable in the immediate future.
If you are boating in the White and Norfork, exercise great caution. Wear your Personal Flotation Device, move slowly to avoid obstacles and utilize your automatic kill switch.
The upper White near Bull Shoals is quite fishable at the present. As the water clears, there will be more places to fish down stream. The fishing has been good on San Juan worms, Y2Ks and soft hackles. In addition, the Rhyancophilia caddis has begun to hatch. This is our big hatch of the year. They are size fourteen and have a bright green body. The best way to fish them is to use soft hackles like the green butt (I developed this fly for this hatch) and the partridge and green when they are keying in on the emergers (this is when you see the trout feeding just below the surface and there are no adult insects present). When they begin keying in on the adults, switch over to a size fourteen elk hair caddis. Cast your fly approximately eighteen inches above the feeding trout and let the fly drift over the fish in a perfect drag free float. When the trout takes the fly, you should set the hook after allowing it to close its mouth. When there is no top water activity, fish with nymphs like the fluttering caddis. This hatch is just beginning. It should last till the end of April.
With the flooding on the White and NorforkRiver the Corps of Engineers will not be releasing any water for some time to allow the flood water to recede.
Dry Run Creek is currently at flood. Yesterday the waterfall just below the road was four feet under water. I know that this is a big disappointment to a lot of youngsters particularly as this is Spring Break, but I expect it to be fishable very soon.
Practice water safety and always check conditions before you leave home.
John Berry is a fly fishing guide in Cotter, Arkansas and has fished our local streams for over twenty five years.
