We have had a few rain events and warmer temperatures (low to mid nineties). The lakes on the White River system are continuing to fall but at a decreasing rate. The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam fell two and seven tenths feet to rest at seven and five tenths feet above power pool of 654.00 feet. This is thirty three and five tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Up stream, TableRockLake fell two tenths feet to rest at one and five tenths feet above power pool or fourteen and five tenths feet below the top of flood pool. BeaverLake fell five tenths of a foot to rest at six and seven tenths feet above power pool or two and nine tenths feet below the top of flood pool. The pattern on the White was for round the clock generation. During the night and morning we have been getting slightly lower flows. The flows have been much heavier in the afternoon during peak power demand. This created some challenging conditions for drift fishing and very limited wade fishing.  NorforkLake has fallen one and three tenths feet to rest at five and four tenths feet above power pool of 552.00 feet or twenty two and six tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Generation on the Norfork has declined, which has created some limited wading in the morning. I predict wadable water in two weeks on the White and a week later on the Norfork.

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 Arkansas Game and Fish Commission in conjunction with the Corps of Engineers is scheduled to begin installing fish habitat designed to provide cover for juvenile trout in the Catch and Release section below Bull Shoals Dam around August 1, 2009. This work will be done at low water levels and should take about two months to complete. It should provide some wadable water on the White River during this time. There is some concern that the habitat will create navigational hazards for river boats at low levels of generation (6,000 CFS or lower).

The Catch and Release section below Bull Shoals Dam has been a mixed bag this past week.  While some days have been excellent, others have been a bit slow. On the higher flows we have been getting, the ticket to success has been to fish brightly colored flies under an indicator. The hot patterns have been hot pink or red San Juan worms and orange egg patterns. With the water this high, you need to use long leader/tippet combinations (twelve to fourteen feet). Dont forget to fish with plenty of lead (AAA splitshot) and a heavily weighted fly. Use heavy tippet (4X) to handle the additional weight. This rig is not going to be easy to cast. Open up your loop and try to keep it away from your head. Concentrate along the banks and over any sunken islands or weed beds.

The section from White Hole to Cotter has been fishing well this week. The most effective technique has been 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. With the heavier flows, you must 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. Other productive flies for this section have been brightly colored San Juan worms and egg patterns fished under an indicator.

Rim Shoals has fished well this past week.  The best fishing was in the morning when the water was lower. The hot flies have been hot pink or cerise San Juan worms and orange eggs. The heavier flows have been reaching there around one to two oclock, when it is best to add longer tippets and more weight. Heavily weighted flies are a plus. If you must wade, there is usually a bit of wadable water as long as the generation is less than 17,000 cubic feet per second. Contact Rim Shoals Trout Dock to arrange a water taxi to shuttle you to wadable water and pick you up when you are ready to go.