Over the past week, we have had several rain events and the lakes in the White River system have all risen and all are, once again, currently above power pool. The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam rose one and three tenths of a foot to rest at five tenths of a foot above power pool of 654.00 feet. This is forty and five tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Up stream, TableRockLake rose nine tenths of a foot to rest at one and eight tenths of a foot above power pool or fourteen and two tenths feet below the top of flood pool. BeaverLake rose seven tenths of a foot to rest at one and one tenth of a foot above power pool or eight and five tenths feet below the top of flood pool. The pattern on the White was for generation around the clock. Water levels were particularly high at the beginning of the week and lower towards the end of the week. NorforkLake has risen six tenths of a foot to rest at two tenths of a foot above power pool of 552.00 feet or twenty seven and eight tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Early in the week, there was heavy generation on the Norfork and later in the week there were several periods of no generation.
Remember that there is a new size 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 big story remains the overall poor quality of fishing. The weather with its successive rain events and warm then cold temperatures may bear some of the responsibility. We are still getting some really prolific caddis hatches. The fish do not seem to be keying in on them like they were a few weeks ago.
The most effective way to fish during the past week has been to drift brightly colored San Juan worms and egg patterns. The most productive colors for the worms have been hot pink, cerise and red. The best colors for the eggs have been peach, pink and orange. The flows have been a bit lower this week and we have been able to use shorter leaders and a bit less weight making for much easier casting. The use of a small nymph as a dropper in non Catch and Release waters can substantially increase the opportunity for success.
The upper river from Bull Shoals down to the Narrows has fished a bit better. The best technique has been to bang the bank with large streamers on sink tip or full sinking lines. Several anglers have reported success with large streamers (up to seven inches long and equipped with up to three hooks). The hot fly has been a Zoo cougar. Remember that, if you are fishing in Catch and Release water, you can only use one hook point. These are big flies and you need really fast sinking sink tips or full sinking lines to get them down. This technique requires a substantial level of casting skill and is physically demanding. Big rods (eight weights) are a real plus.
Rim Shoals has been a bit slow. Some anglers have reported success fishing dry flies (caddis and grass hoppers). The best place to fish dry flies is along banks and in back eddies. Though it is not late summer and there are no hoppers present, they can still tempt good fish to strike at any time of year.
The water below Crooked Creek and The Buffalo River is a bit high and stained. You should concentrate your efforts on the upper river.
Fishing on Crooked Creek has improved as water temperatures climbed to fifty eight degrees. However, our recent rain events have muddied up the creek and it will take several days to clear.
The fishing on the Norfork has been slow. It has not fished well on high water recently. On the higher water the hot fly has been a hot pink or cerise San Juan worm. On lower water, the hot flies have been sowbugs, black zebra midges and olive woolly buggers. There have been some good midge hatches in the afternoons on lower water. The hot midge fly has been Dans turkey tail emerger. Long 6X tippets are the key to success. The upper river at QuarryPark has fished a bit better than the lower river. It can get pretty crowded here. It is generally not as crowded during the week or later in the afternoon.
Dry Run Creek has fished well during the past week. The hot fly has been the sowbug. San Juan worms and woolly buggers have accounted for some nice fish. There is little room to cast so be sure and work as short a line as possible. The fish are huge, so you should use stout tippets (4X) to improve your chances of landing one. Carry a big net with a long handle. Please handle the fish carefully and release them as soon as possible. Do not forget to pinch down those barbs. Its the law and always a great idea when fishing with children. Finally, bring your camera and take a lot of pictures. It is an experience you and your children will never forget.
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.
