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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
