We have had no rain and unseasonably hot weather (high nineties). Most of the lakes on the White river system have fallen. The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam fell eight tenths of a foot to rest at fifteen and six tenths feet above power pool of 654.00 feet. This is twenty five and four tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Up stream, TableRockLake rose one tenth of a foot to rest at one and six tenths feet above power pool or fourteen and four tenths feet below the top of flood pool. BeaverLake fell four tenths of a foot to rest at eight and one tenth feet above power pool or one and five tenths feet below the top of flood pool. The pattern on the White was for round the clock generation of varied flows (3,000 CFS to 12,000 CFS). During the night and morning we have been getting lower flows. The flows have been much heavier in the afternoon during peak power demand. This created some challenging conditions for drift fishing and some limited wade fishing.  NorforkLake has fallen two tenths of a foot to rest at ten and five tenths feet above power pool of 552.00 feet or seventeen and five tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Generation on the Norfork has been limited, which has created some excellent wading. The flows are heavier in the afternoon during peak power demand.

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.

It has been dangerously hot this last week. If possible, fish early in the morning to avoid the heat. If you must fish during the heat of the day, wear loose fitting, light colored clothing and drink plenty of fluids (water is best). Wear a broad brimmed hat and do not forget the sun screen.

The Catch and Release section below Bull Shoals Dam has been productive this past week.  With the moderate 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. Copper Johns and pheasant tails have also been quite productive. On higher flows, the hot patterns have been hot pink San Juan worms and egg patterns.

The sulphurs are still in the upper river. They were sighted from the Dam to the Narrows in numbers but were thinning a bit in the Rim Shoals to Cotter area. 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. With the higher flows we have been getting the best action has been on the copper John or pheasant tail nymphs.

The section from White Hole to Cotter has been very popular for float trips. The preferred technique in this section is to bang the bank with large streamers. The hot flies have been Kelly Gallop zoo cougars and other similar oversized streamers. The secret is to get the fly down. Most anglers use heavy full sinking or sink tip lines. To cast these huge flies and heavy lines most anglers are using eight weight or larger rods.

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 nymphs. The best fly for this situation has been the copper John before, during and after the hatches. With the higher flows we have been getting here in the afternoon, the hot flies have been the hot pink San Juan worm and Y2K.