During the past week, we have several rain events and much cooler conditions. The lake levels on the White River system continue their rise, although at a much slower rate. The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam rose one and eight tenths feet to rest at twenty six and four tenths of a foot above power pool of 654.00 feet. This is fourteen and six tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Up stream, Table Rock Lake fell one and seven tenths of a foot to rest at one tenth of a foot above power pool or fifteen and nine tenths feet below the top of flood pool. The Corps of Engineers have aggressively drawn down Table Rock and dumped the water into Bull Shoals, which is rising steadily. Beaver Lake fell three tenths of a foot to rest at eight and two tenths feet above power pool or one and four tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the White, we have had light but steady generation around the clock with slightly higher flows in the afternoon. There has been precious little wadable water. Norfork Lake rose two tenths of a foot to rest at eighteen and eight tenths feet above power pool of 552.00 feet or nine and two tenths feet below the top of flood pool. There have been significant periods of no generation every day with moderate generation the rest of the day. This has created some great wading conditions. This is the lull before the storm. The lakes have accumulated a significant amount of water. The only thing preventing high levels of generation around the clock is flooding down stream. As soon as it clears, we will see a lot of high water. We expect to start seeing higher flows beginning December 1, 2009.
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 closed on November 1, 2009 for the brown trout spawn. It will remain closed until January 31, 2010. The section from the bottom of this Catch and Release section downstream to the wing wall at the State Park is seasonal Catch and Release for the same time period.
The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission recently stocked about one thousand golden trout from Bull Shoals Dam down to Buffalo City. These are not a separate species but a color variation in rainbow trout. They were purchased from a commercial hatchery in Missouri to make up for a short fall in stocking this year. These fish are edible and the regulations for harvesting rainbow trout apply to them. They are bright yellow with a faint pink stripe and a snow white belly. They are very easy to see in the river.
The stretch from Bull Shoals State Park down to White Hole has fished very well. The moderate flows we have received this past week have been perfect for drift fishing. The hot flies have been San Juan worms and Y2Ks. Two fly rigs (San Juan worm and egg) have done particularly well in this area. Small midge patterns (black zebra midges with silver wire and silver bead) and soft hackles have also been effective.
Rim Shoals is still fishing well. The go to flies have been Y2Ks and cerise San Juan worms. 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 have cleared a bit. The water below Crooked Creek has cleared up but is still not fishing too well.
The Norfork River has continued to receive quite a bit of pressure due to round the clock generation on the White but has still fished well. Midge patterns have been the go to flies on the lower flows. The most productive patterns were black zebra midges with silver wire and silver beads, black Norfork midges and Dans turkey tail emergers. Other effective flies have been olive woolly buggers and soft hackles (partridge and orange soft hackles and green butts). On the higher flows, hot fluorescent pink San Juan worms and orange egg patterns have been the most effective way to fish. 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.
There has been some major work done at Quarry Park. The parking lot at the ramp has been resurfaced. This is a busy ramp and it is great to have it back in service.
Dry Run Creek has fished well this past week. There are some big browns that have begun moving up into the creek to spawn. The hot fly, as always, has been the sowbug. San Juan worms and Y2Ks have also accounted for some large fish. It is important that you allow the children to fish. You cannot cast or fish for them. You are allowed to net the fish and help release them,
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. Many manufacturers are now making rubber soled wading boots that are easier to clean and are not as likely to harbor didymo.
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.
