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We have had a bit of rain and the lakes in the White River continue their decline. The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam fell three and one tenth feet to rest at twenty four and nine tenths feet above power pool of 654.00 feet. This is sixteen and one tenth feet below the top of flood pool. Up stream, Table Rock Lake fell five tenths of a foot to rest at one and one tenth feet above power pool or fourteen and nine tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell two tenths of a foot to rest at seven and nine tenths feet above power pool or one and seven tenths feet below the top of flood pool. The pattern on the White is for heavy generation around the clock. Norfork Lake has fallen nine tenths of a foot to rest at thirteen and one tenth feet above power pool of 552.00 feet or fourteen and nine tenths feet below the top of flood pool. The pattern has been to run one generator around the clock. There have been some limited wading opportunities on the Norfork. Boating conditions on the White have been uniformly good.
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The White River is currently dropping approximately three feet per week and the lake is about twenty five feet above power pool. If the lake were to continue dropping at the same rate it should be at power pool in eight weeks or the middle of December. Conversely the Norfork is currently dropping approximately one foot per week and the lake is about thirteen feet above power pool. If it continues to fall at the same rate it would reach power pool in thirteen weeks or late January. When the lakes fall from flood pool to power pool the control over generation passes from the Corps of Engineers to the South West Power Administration (SWPA). Once in power pool SWPA manages generation based on power needs. Under these conditions we should encounter lower water conditions and some reliable wading.
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The Catch and release section below Bull Shoals Dam will close to all fishing on November 1, 2008 and will remain closed until February 1, 2009 for the brown trout spawn. 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.
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The upper river below Bull Shoals Dam down to Cane Island has not been fishing as well of late. The lower dissolved oxygen combined with higher water temperatures have contributed to the slow fishing there. This is despite the large concentration of good fish there.
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The Cotter area from the new bridge down to the bottom of Roundhouse Shoals has been fishing a bit better than the upper river. This section has a higher dissolved oxygen level than you may encounter up stream below Bull Shoals Dam. In addition to fishing San Juan worms and midge patterns, be sure and try sow bugs in this area. As this is not catch and release, you can use droppers here. My favorite method is to rig a San Juan worm in the usual way and then attach a foot and a half section of 5X tippet to the bend of the hook and then tie a small nymph to the tippet. My favorite nymphs for this technique are small scuds and sow bugs.
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Rim Shoals has not been fishing as well as it did last week. The hot fly has been the San Juan worm in hot pink and cerise. Remember that there is some limited safe wading in the vicinity of the second island during high water. Stop by Rim Shoals Trout dock and have them ferry you down there for a nominal fee.
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Crooked Creek has fished well during the last week. Hot flies have been Clouser minnows and crayfish patterns. The creek is low and clear. The section above the Snow access, as well as the lower creek near the confluence with the White River , have been hot spots.
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The fishing on the Norfork has been spotty. The flows during the day have been light. The hot flies have been San Juan worms in hot pink and brightly colored eggs. There has been a bit of wading at Quarry Park below the dam along the parking lot for the ramp but with the lower dissolved oxygen the upper river has not fished as well as the lower river.
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Dry Run Creek is fishing well as always. With the brown trout spawn approaching, some of the browns are beginning to move up in the creek. There are plenty of large trout in the creek already. The hot flies are sow bugs, San Juan worms and egg patterns (peach would be the best color). With school back in session there is hardly anyone there. It is a great time to take your children or grand children there.
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Practice water safety and always check conditions before you leave home.
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John Berry is a fly fishing guide in Cotter, Arkansas and has fished our local streams for over twenty five years.
www.berrybrothersguides.com
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Despite a night of rain, the lakes in the White River system have continued their decline. The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam fell two and seven tenths feet to rest at twenty eight feet above power pool of 654.00 feet. This is thirteen feet below the top of flood pool. Up stream, Table Rock Lake fell four tenths 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. Beaver Lake fell five tenths of a foot to rest at eight and one tenth feet above power pool or one and one half feet below the top of flood pool. The pattern on the White is for heavy generation around the clock. Norfork Lake has fallen nine tenths of a foot to rest at fourteen feet above power pool of 552.00 feet or fourteen feet below the top of flood pool. The pattern has been to run one generator most of the day and to turn it off for a couple of hours at night. There have been limited wading opportunities on the Norfork. Boating conditions on the White have been uniformly good.
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The Catch and release section below Bull Shoals Dam will close to all fishing on November 1, 2008 and will remain closed until February 1, 2009 for the brown trout spawn. 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. Some anglers have reported that the brown trout in the area are starting to “color up” in preparation for the spawn.
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Due to low dissolved oxygen levels (below three parts per million) on the upper sections of the White and Norfork Rivers, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission has suspended stocking in these areas. There will be no stocking for the time being above Cotter on the White and above Roses trout dock on the Norfork. The affected trout will be held at the state trout hatchery until the oxygen levels are acceptable. They will then be stocked in the affected sections.
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The upper river below Bull Shoals Dam down to Cane Island has been producing well despite constant pressure from local anglers and visitors to the state park located in the middle of this section. While a lot of anglers have been doing well banging the bank with big streamers like kiwi muddlers and Jim Mengle’s Ozark sculpin, the top technique for this level of water is to fish brightly colored San Juan worms under a strike indicator. Hot colors have been red, cerise and hot pink. Other effective flies have been black zebra midges in size fourteen and egg patterns in peach and pink.
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One hot spot has been the Cotter area from the new bridge down to the bottom of Roundhouse Shoals. This section does not get as much pressure as you may encounter up stream below Bull Shoals Dam. In addition to fishing San Juan worms and midge patterns, be sure and try sow bugs in this area. As this is not catch and release, you can use droppers here. My favorite method is to rig a San Juan worm in the usual way and then attach a foot and a half section of 5X tippet to the bend of the hook and then tie a small nymph to the tippet. My favorite nymphs for this technique are small scuds, sow bugs or copper johns.
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Rim Shoals has been fishing extremely well. The hot fly has been the San Juan worm in hot pink and cerise. This section has not received as much pressure of late and has been producing some large trout. Remember that there is some limited safe wading in the vicinity of the second island during high water. Stop by Rim Shoals Trout dock and have them ferry you down there for a nominal fee.
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Crooked Creek has fished well during the last week. Hot flies have been Clouser minnows and crayfish patterns. Successful anglers have been fishing early in the morning. This is a great alternative for anglers that are tired of being in the boat and would prefer to wade. The section below the Snow access, as well as the lower creek near the confluence with the White River , have been hot spots.
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The fishing on the Norfork has been good. The flows during the day have been moderate. The hot flies have been San Juan worms in hot pink and brightly colored eggs. There has been a bit of wading at Quarry Park below the dam along the parking lot for the ramp. There are new signs posted around the mouth of Dry Run Creek that severely limit fishing there.
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Dry Run Creek is fishing well as always. With the brown trout spawn approaching, some of the browns are beginning to move up in the creek. There are plenty of large trout in the creek already. The hot flies are sow bugs, San Juan worms and egg patterns (peach would be the best color). Be sure to carry the biggest net you can lay your hands on and bring a camera. This is where memories are made.
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Practice water safety and always check conditions before you leave home.
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John Berry is a fly fishing guide in Cotter, Arkansas and has fished our local streams for over twenty five years.
www.berrybrothersguides.com
Arkansas Fish and Game - http://www.agfc.com/
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White River: John Berry of Berry Brothers Guides said the water flows on the White have been consistently high. Overall, the fishing has been excellent on the White River. It has at times been spectacular, particularly at the Catch-and-release section at Bull Shoals Dam and the adjacent state park. The hot flies have been San Juan worms (in tan, orange and red), and brightly colored marabou jigs. Jigs have the added advantage of riding hook point up which makes them virtually weedless. Another hot spot was Rim Shoals. Here again the most action was encountered using brightly colored San Juan worms and eggs. Those fishing just outside the catch-and-release sections had good results by using black zebra midges and copper johns as droppers. The best fishing has occurred in the Red Bud area. The hot fly there has been brightly colored marabou jigs.
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Sportsman’s White River Resort said the water is very high with eight generators still constantly running. Trout fishing has been very good. Jigs and countdown Rapalas seem to be working well. Power Bait and pink or red 3-inch Power Worms are also working. Fly-anglers seem to be having luck on Glo Eggs and San Juan worms.
Arkansas Fish and Game - http://www.agfc.com/
NORTH ARKANSAS
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White River: John Berry of Berry Brothers Guides said the shad kill is on and it’s time to tie on some large white flies and get out there. Large brown trout will be in the tailwater of the dam ready to eat the dead shad coming through the dam. Mountain River Fly Shop said there has been a lot of water lately, and some shad are finally starting to come through the dam. White streamers fished deep did pretty well Wednesday, but there was a lot of dirty water. This is a great time to bring out the river boat and have a shot at some very good fish. During lower water flows, San Juans and red head woolly buggers have been working well. But the big buzz is still on Davy Wotten super midges, particularly the white tail/red, and the black/silver. The same colors have been working in other midges with good reports on zebras and ruby midges. Sportsman’s White River Resort said the water conditions are normal with heavy generation. Trout fishing is very good on jigs, Rapalas and heavy spinnerbaits. Fly fishing is slow. Angler’s White River Resort reported the water is very high, but fishing is picking back up. Trout can be found in creeks that run into the river. They are being caught on worms and Power Bait. McLellan’s Fly Shop said generation has been sporadic. However, fishing high water out of a boat has been very productive using large scuds, eggs and San Juan Worms. This is also a great time to fish large streamers for aggressive brown trout. Fishing from a boat using sinking lines, cast to fishy-looking structure as you drift downstream and use an erratic retrieve to swim your fly across the current. You won’t get as many hook-ups this way, but streamer fishing usually produces the biggest fish of the day.
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Bull Shoals Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 653.89 feet MSL.
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Lake Norfork: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 551.86 feet MSL. Cranfield Junction Bait and Tackle (870-492-5141) had no report. 101 Grocery and Bait said the surface water temperature varies from 40 to 38 degrees. The weather has been cold and rainy and fishing has been on and off. Walleye fishing has been fair on a jig-and-minnow or stick bait in 10-20 feet of water. Crappie fishing has been slow. Striper fishing has been fair on live bait. Find the baitfish, and you will find the stripers. Largemouth bass have been slow. Catfish has been slow. White bass have been fair on jigging spoons fished around 40 feet deep.
- Norfork Tailwater: Gene’s Trout Dock (870-499-5381) said water conditions are normal with heavy generation. Trout are biting well on Rapalas and worms. Mountain River Fly Shop said the cold weather and rising lake level prompted more generation on the river, which means wait for the periods of no water or jump in a boat. Boat fishing streamers or dead drifting can be very productive. Try a spaghetti-and-meatballs (an egg pattern in front of a San Juan worm) rig outside the trophy zones or perhaps a Pink Lady or larger midge pattern. Remember to allow plenty of length between your indicator and fly to get that fly down. Streamer patterns can be very effective. Big streamers were attracting attention from some very good fish, including a couple of 20-inch browns. Try some zoo cougars, zonkers, big woolly buggers or even some of the larger Hansen’s stay hungry streamers in white. Sinking lines, like a type 2 are recommended. In low water fish scuds and sow bugs and midges. John Berry of Berry Brothers Guides said the Norfork tailwater fished a bit better last week. There have been few anglers here because of the inclement weather. Some really nice fish were caught on brown zebra midges with copper wire and a copper bead. The bigger fish were caught during falling water. The river in general does not fish as well when there has been no generation for over twenty four hours. Anglers have also done well with Dan’s turkey tail emerger when the fish were keying in on the midge emergers in the film. There were a few kids at Dry Run Creek last week and predictably they did well. While sow bugs are the dominant food source, try fishing a Y2K or big San Juan worm. They generate a lot of strikes and the larger hook helps to land some of these big fish. The majority of big fish are lost at the net. Take your time and do not rush the process. McLellan’s Fly Shop said during the last week, water releases have been fairly consistent – two units running in the morning and shutting off by mid-morning, then turning on again in the evening. This is providing some excellent high-water fishing during the early morning hours as well as some productive wade-fishing after the water drops out. When fishing high water, remember to use larger strike indicators, flies and split shot as well as longer leaders and heavier tippet. If you have never fly-fished high water on our tailwaters, be sure to stop by the shop. We will be happy to show you how we rig up for the heavier flows.
Springdale Morning News, AR - Feb 22, 2008
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Beaver Lake: Weekend rain has Beaver Lake on the rise with muddy water on the upstream half of the reservoir. Aaron Jolliff at Hook, Line and Sinker said fresh water entering the lake presents an opportunity for bass anglers. Black bass will often move to areas where runoff is entering the lake, such as the back of a creek arm, to seek warmer water and bait fish. “Even if it’s a cold rain the water coming into the lake is warmer than the lake water,” he said. Good lures to try include crank baits that imitate shad, spinner baits and jerk baits. Crappie were being caught on the upstream half of Beaver Lake last week before the rain, but that bite has likely shut down, Jolliff said.
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