This past week we had a few sunny days and a bit of rain.  The lakes in the White River system have continued their rise and all remain above power pool. The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam rose three tenths of a foot to rest at seventeen and eight tenths feet above power pool of 654.00 feet. This is twenty three and two tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Up stream, TableRockLake has fallen two tenths of a foot to rest at one and one tenth feet above power pool or fourteen and nine tenths feet below the top of flood pool. BeaverLake fell one and three tenths of a foot to rest at eight and three tenths of a foot above power pool or the top of flood pool. The pattern on the White was for round the clock generation of moderate flows with a few significant periods of no generation. This created some excellent conditions for drift fishing and some limited but excellent wading.  NorforkLake has risen one and four tenths feet to rest at ten and four tenths feet above power pool of 552.00 feet or seventeen and six tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Generation on the Norfork has been very limited, which has created some excellent wading. The Corps of Engineers has been holding back water to relieve flooding down stream. When that flooding abates, we can expect a significant period of high 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 Catch and Release section below Bull Shoals Dam has been fishing extremely well this past week. With the lower flows we have been getting, anglers reported success on midge larva patterns. The most effective were zebra midges in black with silver wire and silver beads and red with silver wire and silver beads. The best sizes were sixteens and fourteens. Other hot patterns have been pheasant tails and egg patterns. During the recent periods of no generation, anglers have done very well on partridge and orange soft hackles and green butts. There have been some decent midge hatches. The best fly for the midge hatches have been Dans turkey tail emerger.

This past week the sulphur hatches have not been quite as prolific as last week. This is our major mayfly hatch of the year. They are yellow/orange insects. The hatch generally begins with size fourteen and ends next month with size eighteens. The best way to fish them is with copper john or pheasant tail nymphs before the hatch begins, when the nymphs are more active. When the nymphs rise to the surface and begin to emerge, switch to partridge and orange or pheasant tail soft hackles. When the trout begin keying in on the adults, switch to sulphur parachute dry flies. The best fishing has been on the nymphs and emerging insects. The water flows have not been as suitable for the adults.

Wildcat Shoals has fished extremely well. There have been some prolific sulphur hatches here especially in the late afternoon. Though there has been some limited dry fly fishing, the most productive technique has been to swing soft hackles when the trout are keying in on the emerging sulphurs. The most productive flies for this situation have been partridge and orange and pheasant tail soft hackles.

Rim Shoals has fished particularly well this past week.  The sulphur hatch is still coming off on most days, but is diminished. The trout have not keyed in on the adults but have been very active on the emergers. The best fly for this situation has been the partridge and orange soft hackle. The most productive way to fish the hatch however has been to fish copper John nymphs before during and after the hatches. The nymphs have been very active and the trout have been keying in on them. Anglers have also reported success with pheasant tails and dark gold ribbed hares ears. The best sizes have been fourteen and sixteen. There have also been some caddis and midge hatches in the afternoon. The best flies for these hatches have been small green butts and Dans turkey tail emergers. Try both in size eighteen.