During the past week, we have had cool temperatures and a succession of significant rain events, which raised all of the lake levels on the White River system. The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam rose four and nine tenths of a foot to rest at five and two tenths of a foot above power pool of 654.00 feet. This is thirty five and two tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Up stream, Table Rock Lake rose one and five tenths of a foot to rest at two feet above power pool or fourteen feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake rose one and five tenths feet to rest at six tenths of a foot above power pool or nine feet below the top of flood pool. We had some long windows of no generation during the past week. This created some excellent wading. On some days, drift fishing was very limited. Norfork Lake rose three and four tenths of a foot to rest at four and eight tenths of a foot above power pool of 552.00 feet or twenty three and two tenths feet below the top of flood pool. There has been little generation on the Norfork with plenty of wading available.
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 much better this week. The rains caused some off color conditions down stream and this was the only clear water for several days. 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, the red zebra midge with silver wire and silver bead and Dans turkey tail emerger. On moderate flow brightly colored San Juan worms (red, cerise and hot fluorescent pink) and egg patterns (orange and yellow) have been the go to flies.
Wildcat Shoals has hit or miss. On low water days, when the water was relatively clear 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. It did not fish well on those days when it was severely stained.
Rim was also hit or miss due to the runoff from the heavy rains we encountered. The hot flies have 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 high and off color. Give them a few days to clear. The cooler temperatures have moderated the water temperature. The hot flies have been Clouser minnows and crawfish patterns. The White River below Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River is stained and fishing poorly.
The Norfork River has fished a bit better this past week.With wadable water on the White the river was not as crowded as it has been. 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. 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. 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.
There are some spawning rainbows in the Catch and Release section. You should avoid fishing for them to allow them to reproduce naturally. We could use some more wild rainbows. Also avoid walking through the redds (spawning beds). They will appear as light colored depressions in the gravel.
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). Be sure and bring a large net and a camera. 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.
The Southern Council Conclave is to be held in Mountain Home next week and there will be a lot of out of town anglers fishing our local streams. 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.
