(note I will try to do a better job of posting these in the future - Mike T.)
During the past week, we have had unseasonably cool temperatures and a significant rain event, which was a slow soaker and had little effect on lake levels. The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam fell five tenths of a foot to rest at three tenths of a foot above power pool of 654.00 feet. This is forty and seven tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Up stream, Table Rock Lake rose four tenths of a foot to rest at five tenths of a foot above power pool or fifteen and one tenth feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake remained steady at nine tenths of a foot below power pool or ten and five tenths feet below the top of flood pool.Over the weekend, we had some nice twelve hour windows of no generation then during the past week we have had very light generation around the clock. This created some very limited wading. On some days, drift fishing was very limited. Norfork Lake rose one tenth of a foot to rest at one and four tenths of a foot above power pool of 552.00 feet or twenty six and six tenths feet below the top of flood pool. There has been little generation on the Norfork with plenty of wading available. All of the lakes in the White River system are at or near power pool. If cool temperatures and little or no rainfall continue, I predict wadable water in the near future.
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 Norfork Rivers. Only one brown trout may be kept in the daily limit of five trout.
The fishing in the Catch and Release section below Bull Shoals Dam has been hit or miss this last week. Some days were slow and some were spectacular. With the low level flows, it was difficult to navigate around all the new habitat structures recently installed by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and the Corps of Engineers. Midge patterns have been the ticket. The hot flies have been the black zebra midge with silver wire and silver bead and Dans turkey tail emerger.
Wildcat Shoals has been quite productive. While the black zebra midges have been the go to nymph, the hot flies have been the partridge and orange soft hackle and the green butt. Dans turkey tail emerger and the olive woolly bugger were also effective. This is a broad shallow shoal that can provide limited wading on low levels of generation. Be very careful, as there is a lot of bedrock in this area, which can be treacherous to wade. Studded boots are highly recommended. On sunny windy days the grasshopper has been particularly effective. Use nine foot 4X leaders and carefully work the banks. Drop the fly on the water with a plop and give the fly a twitch from time to time, to initiate a vicious strike. The best patterns have been Daves hoppers and Raineys hoppers.
Rim Shoals has been spotty this past week. Some days have been spectacular and some have been slow. In general, the mornings have fished better than the afternoons. The water was gin clear and 6X tippet or smaller was the key to success. The hot flies has been the black zebra midge with silver wire and silver bead in size sixteen, prince nymphs in size sixteen and beadhead sowbugs size fourteen. Other flies, specifically hot pink fluorescent San Juan worms and olive woolly buggers accounted for some large fish. If you encounter high water, Rim Shoals Trout Dock maintains a water taxi and will ferry you to wadable water for a nominal fee.
Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River are a bit high and off color. The cooler temperatures have moderated the water temperature. The hot flies have been Clouser minnows and crayfish patterns.
The Norfork River has been a bit slow this past week. With little if any wadable water on the White, on most days, this was the only show in town. On low water, small midge patterns have been the ticket. Try black zebra midges, Norfork beadheads in black or olive and Dans turkey tail emerger. Soft hackles like the green butt and the partridge and orange have been effective. Grasshoppers and olive woolly buggers have also been producing. The upper river at Quarry Park has fished a bit better. It should be noted that, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission is to resurface the parking lot at the ramp at Quarry Park beginning on September 24, and ending on October 9. The ramp will be closed during this process and the area will effectively be closed to fishing. This will leave the Ackerman Access as the only access open on the Norfork River. I cannot believe that they are doing this during conclave.
Dry Run Creek has fished well this past week. The hot fly, as always, has been the sowbug. Other hot flies have been worm brown San Juan worms and egg patterns (orange). The habitat improvement project for Dry Run Creek has begun. If you go down there, you will see trucks or cranes operating in the stream. The fish are still there but it is important to avoid the areas under construction. This project will enhance angling opportunities for the handicapped and improve the creeks fish handling capacity. Kudos to Dave Whitlock for a great design job on this project.
Remember that the White and Norfork Rivers are infected with didymo, an invasive alga. Be sure and thoroughly clean and dry your waders (especially the felt soles on wading boots) before using them in any other water.
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.
