Over the past week, we have had a couple of minor rain events, some very heavy winds and some unseasonably cold and then warm temperatures. In the overall, the lakes in the White River system have eased down a bit but remain in flood pool. The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam fell one tenth of a foot to rest at two and nine tenths feet above power pool of 654.00 feet. This is thirty eight and one tenth feet below the top of flood pool. Up stream, TableRockLake rose one tenth of a foot to rest at nine tenths of a foot above power pool or fifteen and one tenth feet below the top of flood pool. BeaverLake rose eight tenths of a foot to rest at one and six tenths of a foot above power pool or eight feet below the top of flood pool. The pattern on the White was for heavy generation around the clock. NorforkLake has fallen six tenths of a foot to rest at two and seven tenths of a foot below power pool of 552.00 feet or twenty five and three tenths feet below the top of flood pool. There has been heavy generation on the Norfork. With heavy generation around the clock there has been no safe wading on either river.
Remember that there is a new slot limit on Brown trout. All browns less than twenty four inches must be released immediately no matter where they are caught on the White and NorforkRivers. Only one brown trout may be kept in the daily limit of five trout.
The major action in the area has been on the upper White. The long awaited opening of the Catch and Release section at Bull Shoals Dam drew large numbers of anglers from inside and outside the immediate area. There has also been some shad coming through the dam. While there has not been a huge feeding frenzy like in the past, there have been enough pulses of shad from time to time to have the trout keying in on shad patterns.
The shad kill occurs when there are low temperatures are coupled with high levels of generation. Watch for gulls feeding in the dam discharge to signal that the shad are coming through. The most effective flies have been white marabou jigs and white bead head woolly buggers. For fishing this area during high levels of generation, I generally use long 4X tippets (a twelve foot leader tippet combination). Use plenty of lead to get the fly down and a big strike indicator to float it all.
When you are fishing in this area, please be careful and do not drag chains through the redds. Disturbing them could destroy the wild brown trout eggs recently deposited there. We do not want to eliminate the next generation of wild brown trout. In addition, dragging chains in high water is dangerous. If the chain grabs the bottom, it could easily swamp the boat.
The Catch and Release section at Rim Shoals has been spotty. One day it fishes well and the next day it is not as productive. The shad kill can affect the fishing down here. Though it is twenty four miles below the dam there have been some good fish caught on white jigs. This is the area that has wadable water available as long as they are generating below seventeen thousand cubic feet per second. To access these spots contact Gary Flipin at Rim Shoals Trout Dock to ferry you to wadable water with his water taxi. The cost is nominal.
With some of the heavier flows, we need to remember our high water tactics. Brightly colored San Juan worms and egg patterns dead drifted along banks and over weed beds with a lot of extra lead and big strike indicators. The hot technique for the big browns is to bang the bank with sculpin patterns on sink tip and full sinking lines. Kiwi muddlers, zoo cougars and Mengles Ozark sculpins would be good fly choices. You will need a stout rod (six weight or better), as these can be a bit more difficult to cast.
Crooked Creek has slowed considerably. The water temperature has dipped below fifty five degrees and the Smallmouth have pretty much shut down. In addition the recent rains stained the water.
The days of wadable water on the Norfork are over for a while. The higher flows around the clock have ended that. I have not heard any reports of a shad kill here. Concentrate on traditional high water tactics as described above. Sculpin patterns fished through deep holes have accounted for some nice browns.
Dry Run Creek has received a bit more pressure lately. The warmer temperatures on some days have tempted a few young anglers and they were rewarded with some great trout. The dominant food source is sowbugs. San Juan worms in worm brown and olive woolly buggers have also accounted for some nice fish. Be sure and pinch down those barbs. It is the law. I always carry a big net as most trophy trout are lost at the net. Dont forget the camera. The fish of a lifetime deserves a great photograph.
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
