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White River - December 1st, 2011
supplied by: Blue Ribbon Fly Shop
FISHING: Great
FISHING REPORT 12/01/2011 During the past week, we have had cold temperatures and windy conditions (to include lake wind advisories). The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam rose four tenths of a foot to rest at two tenths of a foot above power pool of 654.00 feet. This is forty and eight tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Upstream, Table Rock Lake rose four tenths of a foot to rest at at two tenths of a foot above power pool or fifteen and eight tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake rose one and five tenths of a foot to rest at five tenths of a foot below power pool or ten and one tenth of a foot below the top of flood pool. On the White, we have had more generation with significantly less wadable water. Norfork Lake rose one and three tenths of a foot to rest at one and one tenth of a foot below power pool of 552.00 feet or twenty nine and one tenth of a foot below the top of flood pool. On the Norfork, we have had little generation with substantial wadable water. The Catch and Release section below Bull Shoals Dam will close from November 1, 2011 to January 31, 2012 to accommodate the brown trout spawn. The State Park from the bottom of the Catch and Release section down to the wing wall will be seasonal Catch and Release for the same period. The dissolved oxygen level has dropped below the state minimum standard of six parts per million on the White and Norfork Rivers. At Bull Shoals and Norfork Dams, the vacuum breakers have been blocked open to allow more oxygen to mix with the water. Trout stocking has been eliminated on the upper Norfork River (above the Ackerman Access). Those fish have been diverted to the lower river. Stocking has also been eliminated on the upper White River (above White Hole) with those fish diverted to the lower White River. If you are fishing on the upper river of either the White or Norfork River, be very careful when handling trout. Land them quickly and revive them fully before releasing them. The best place to fish was the section from Rim Shoals down to Buffalo Shoals. The hot flies were pink San Juan worms with copper Johns and black zebra midges in size fourteen or sixteen as droppers. Y2Ks and beadhead hare’s ears were also responsible for some nice fish. Wildcat Shoals has been particularly hot. The hot flies have been partridge and orange and hare’s ear soft hackles on low water. On higher water, egg patterns with midge droppers have been the key to success. Grasshopper season is still with us. They provide us with some of the best and most reliable dry fly fishing of the year. These are large tempting morsels that can tempt big fish. You need a nine foot 2X leader and a stiff rod (a six weight would be perfect). The trick is to bang the bank and imitate the action of a grasshopper that has fallen into the water and is struggling. Many takes occur as soon as the fly hits the water. The most effective patterns are Dave’s hoppers or big western foam hoppers (both in tan). To increase your catch, use a small nymph as a dropper. Effective nymphs would be pheasant tails or copper Johns. The most effective section of the river for this technique has been the section from Rim Shoals to Buffalo Shoals. Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River are high and stained. Several anglers have reported success with Clouser minnows and grass hoppers. Carefully check the water level before entering Crooked Creek or the Buffalo River. There are no dams on these streams. They both have large drainages and are prone to flooding during and following any rain event. The water can rise very quickly. The Norfork has fished well. On lower water the hot flies have been red zebra midges (size 18 and smaller), Dan’s turkey tail emerger, hot pink worms and chamois worms. Soft hackles like the partridge and orange or the green butt have accounted for a lot of fish. On higher flows the best technique has been to drift brightly colored San Juan worms (red, hot fluorescent pink and cerise) and egg patterns (pink and orange).
Dry Run Creek has fished well. The hot flies have been sowbugs and various colored San Juan worms (worm brown, red, hot fluorescent pink and cerise). Small orange or peach eggs have been very effective. The browns are stacked in the creek like a cord of wood. While you are there take a few minutes to tour the adjacent National Fish Hatchery. It is fascinating! Be sure and remove your waders before entering to prevent the spread of aquatic diseases. The water level on the Spring River is high and stained. This is a great place to wade fish. Canoe season is over and we have much less traffic on stream. Be sure to wear cleated boots and carry a wading staff. There is a lot of bedrock that can get very slick. The hot spot has been Bayou Access. The hot flies have been olive woolly buggers with a bit of flash, cerise and hot pink San Juan worms and Y2Ks. 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.
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White River - November 22nd, 2011
supplied by: Blue Ribbon Fly Shop
FISHING: Great
FISHING REPORT 11/24/2011 During the past week, we have had a significant rain event (to include local flash flood advisories), cool temperatures and very windy conditions (to include lake wind advisories). The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam rose one foot to rest at two tenths of a foot below power pool of 654.00 feet. This is forty one and two tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Upstream, Table Rock Lake fell four tenths of a foot to rest at at two tenths of a foot below power pool or sixteen and two tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake rose two tenths of a foot to rest at two feet below power pool or eleven and six tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the White, we have had little generation with significant wadable water most days. Norfork Lake rose six tenths of a foot to rest at two and four tenths feet below power pool of 552.00 feet or thirty and four tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the Norfork, we have had little generation with substantial wadable water. The Catch and Release section below Bull Shoals Dam will close from November 1, 2011 to January 31, 2012 to accommodate the brown trout spawn. The State Park from the bottom of the Catch and Release section down to the wing wall will be seasonal Catch and Release for the same period. The dissolved oxygen level has dropped below the state minimum standard of six parts per million on the White and Norfork Rivers. At Bull Shoals and Norfork Dams, the vacuum breakers have been blocked open to allow more oxygen to mix with the water. Trout stocking has been eliminated on the upper Norfork River (above the Ackerman Access). Those fish have been diverted to the lower river. Stocking has also been eliminated on the upper White River (above White Hole) with those fish diverted to the lower White River. If you are fishing on the upper river of either the White or Norfork River, be very careful when handling trout. Land them quickly and revive them fully before releasing them. The big story has been sustained low water on the White River. This is the first time that guides and anglers have seen it this low since the spring flood and there have been substantial changes in the river bed. Many runs have been filled in and gravel bars have disappeared. Navigation on low water is difficult at many locations. Great care should be taken when boating on low water to prevent damage to your boat. The fishing has been challenging on the lower water. The best place to fish was the section from White Hole down to Rim Shoals. The hot flies were pink San Juan worms with copper Johns and green zebra midges in size fourteen or sixteen as droppers. Y2Ks and beadhead hare’s ears were also responsible for some nice fish. Wildcat Shoals has been particularly hot. The hot flies have been partridge and orange and hare’s ear soft hackles. Grasshopper season is still with us. They provide us with some of the best and most reliable dry fly fishing of the year. These are large tempting morsels that can tempt big fish. You need a nine foot 2X leader and a stiff rod (a six weight would be perfect). The trick is to bang the bank and imitate the action of a grasshopper that has fallen into the water and is struggling. Many takes occur as soon as the fly hits the water. The most effective patterns are Dave’s hoppers or big western foam hoppers (both in tan). To increase your catch, use a small nymph as a dropper. Effective nymphs would be pheasant tails or copper Johns. The most effective section of the river for this technique has been the section from Rim Shoals to Buffalo Shoals. Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River are high and stained. Several anglers have reported success with Clouser minnows and grass hoppers. Carefully check the water level before entering Crooked Creek or the Buffalo River. There are no dams on these streams. They both have large drainages and are prone to flooding during and following any rain event. The water can rise very quickly. The Norfork has fished well. On lower water the hot flies have been red copper Johns, scuds, red zebra midges (size 20 and smaller), and Dan’s turkey tail emerger. Soft hackles like the partridge and orange or the green butt have accounted for a lot of fish. On higher flows the best technique has been to drift brightly colored San Juan worms (red, hot fluorescent pink and cerise) and egg patterns (pink and orange).
Dry Run Creek has fished well. The hot flies have been sowbugs and various colored San Juan worms (worm brown, red, hot fluorescent pink and cerise). Small orange or peach eggs have been very effective. The browns are stacked in the creek like a cord of wood. Even with the leaves dropped, there is precious little room to cast. The most effective technique is to high stick nymphs with a short line. The water level on the Spring River is higher and stained. This is a great place to wade fish. Canoe season is over and we have much less traffic on stream. Be sure to wear cleated boots and carry a wading staff. There is a lot of bedrock that can get very slick. The hot spot has been Bayou Access. The hot flies have been olive woolly buggers with a bit of flash, cerise and hot pink San Juan worms and Y2Ks. 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.
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White River - November 16th, 2011
supplied by: Blue Ribbon Fly Shop
FISHING: Great
FISHING REPORT 11/17/2011 During the past week, we have had a significant rain event, cool temperatures and very windy conditions (to include lake wind advisories). The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam rose eight tenths of a foot to rest at one and two tenths feet below power pool of 654.00 feet. This is forty two and two tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Upstream, Table Rock Lake fell two tenths of a foot to rest at two tenths of a foot above power pool or fifteen and eight tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake rose two tenths of a foot to rest at two and two tenths feet below power pool or eleven and eight tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the White, we have had little generation with significant wadable water most days. Norfork Lake rose two tenths of a foot to rest at three feet below power pool of 552.00 feet or thirty one feet below the top of flood pool. On the Norfork, we have had little generation with substantial wadable water. The Catch and Release section below Bull Shoals Dam will close from November 1, 2011 to January 31, 2012 to accommodate the brown trout spawn. The State Park from the bottom of the Catch and Release section down to the wing wall will be seasonal Catch and Release for the same period. The dissolved oxygen level has dropped below the state minimum standard of six parts per million on the White and Norfork Rivers. At Bull Shoals and Norfork Dams, the vacuum breakers have been blocked open to allow more oxygen to mix with the water. Trout stocking has been eliminated on the upper Norfork River (above the Ackerman Access). Those fish have been diverted to the lower river. Stocking has also been eliminated on the upper White River (above White Hole) with those fish diverted to the lower White River. If you are fishing on the upper river of either the White or Norfork River, be very careful when handling trout. Land them quickly and revive them fully before releasing them. The big story has been sustained low water on the White River. This is the first time that guides and anglers have seen it this low since the spring flood and there have been substantial changes in the river bed. Many runs have been filled in and gravel bars have disappeared. Navigation on low water is difficult at many locations. Great care should be taken when boating on low water to prevent damage to your boat. The best place to fish was the section from White Hole down to Rim Shoals. The hot flies were pink San Juan worms with copper Johns and green zebra midges in size fourteen or sixteen as droppers. Y2Ks and beadhead hare’s ears were also responsible for some nice fish. Wildcat Shoals has been particularly hot. The hot flies have been partridge and orange and hare’s ear soft hackles. Grasshopper season is still with us. They provide us with some of the best and most reliable dry fly fishing of the year. These are large tempting morsels that can tempt big fish. You need a nine foot 2X leader and a stiff rod (a six weight would be perfect). The trick is to bang the bank and imitate the action of a grasshopper that has fallen into the water and is struggling. Many takes occur as soon as the fly hits the water. The most effective patterns are Dave’s hoppers or big western foam hoppers (both in tan). To increase your catch, use a small nymph as a dropper. Effective nymphs would be pheasant tails or copper Johns. The most effective section of the river for this technique has been the section from Rim Shoals to Buffalo Shoals. Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River are low and stained. Several anglers have reported success with Clouser minnows and grass hoppers. Carefully check the water level before entering Crooked Creek or the Buffalo River. There are no dams on these streams. They both have large drainages and are prone to flooding during and following any rain event. The water can rise very quickly. The Norfork has fished well. On lower water the hot flies have been red copper Johns, scuds, red zebra midges (size 20 and smaller), and Dan’s turkey tail emerger. Soft hackles like the partridge and orange or the green butt have accounted for a lot of fish. On higher flows the best technique has been to drift brightly colored San Juan worms (red, hot fluorescent pink and cerise) and egg patterns (pink and orange).
Dry Run Creek has fished well. The hot flies have been sowbugs and various colored San Juan worms (worm brown, red, hot fluorescent pink and cerise). Small orange or peach eggs have been very effective. The browns are stacked in the creek like a cord of wood. If your favorite spot is taken, remember that there are good fish everywhere. The water level on the Spring River is a bit higher and lightly stained. This is a great place to wade fish. Canoe season is over and we have much less traffic on stream. Be sure to wear cleated boots and carry a wading staff. There is a lot of bedrock that can get very slick. The hot spot has been Bayou Access. The hot flies have been olive woolly buggers with a bit of flash, cerise and hot pink San Juan worms and Y2Ks. 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.
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White River - November 10th, 2011
supplied by: Blue Ribbon Fly Shop
RECORDED: 
55 °
FISHING: Great
FISHING REPORT 11/10/2011 During the past week, we have had a significant rain event, cooler temperatures and very windy conditions (to include lake wind advisories). The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam rose eight tenths of a foot to rest at two feet below power pool of 654.00 feet. This is forty three feet below the top of flood pool. Upstream, Table Rock Lake one and one tenth of a foot to rest at five tenths of a foot above power pool or fifteen and five tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake rose one and four tenths feet to rest at two and four tenths feet below power pool or twelve feet below the top of flood pool. On the White, we have had low levels of generation with significant wadable water most days. Norfork Lake fell nine tenths of a foot to rest at three and two tenths of a foot below power pool of 552.00 feet or thirty one and two tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the Norfork, we have had light generation with less wadable water. This week they are to perform maintenance on Norfork dam and there should be significant periods of wadable water daily. The Catch and Release section below Bull Shoals Dam will close from November 1, 2011 to January 31, 2012 to accommodate the brown trout spawn. The State Park from the bottom of the Catch and Release section down to the wing wall will be seasonal Catch and Release for the same period. The dissolved oxygen level has dropped below the state minimum standard of six parts per million on the White and Norfork Rivers. At Bull Shoals and Norfork Dams, the vacuum breakers have been blocked open to allow more oxygen to mix with the water. Trout stocking has been eliminated on the upper Norfork River (above the Ackerman Access). Those fish have been diverted to the lower river. Stocking has also been eliminated on the upper White River (above White Hole) with those fish diverted to the lower White River. If you are fishing on the upper river of either the White or Norfork River, be very careful when handling trout. Land them quickly and revive them fully before releasing them. The big story has been substantial wadable water on the White River. The best place to fish was the section from White Hole down to Cotter. The hot flies were pink San Juan worms with copper Johns and green zebra midges in size fourteen or sixteen as droppers. Y2Ks and beadhead hare’s ears were also responsible for some nice fish. Rim Shoals has also been hot. The hot flies have been pink worms and red zebra midges (size twenty). Grasshopper season is still with us. They provide us with some of the best and most reliable dry fly fishing of the year. These are large tempting morsels that can tempt big fish. You need a nine foot 2X leader and a stiff rod (a six weight would be perfect). The trick is to bang the bank and imitate the action of a grasshopper that has fallen into the water and is struggling. Many takes occur as soon as the fly hits the water. The most effective patterns are Dave’s hoppers or big western foam hoppers (both in tan). To increase your catch, use a small nymph as a dropper. Effective nymphs would be pheasant tails or copper Johns. The most effective section of the river for this technique has been the section from Rim Shoals to Buffalo Shoals. Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River are low and stained. Several anglers have reported success with Clouser minnows and grass hoppers. Carefully check the water level before entering Crooked Creek or the Buffalo River. There are no dams on these streams. They both have large drainages and are prone to flooding during and following any rain event. The water can rise very quickly. The Norfork has fished well. On lower water the hot flies have been red copper Johns, scuds, red zebra midges (size 20 and smaller), and Dan’s turkey tail emerger. Soft hackles like the partridge and orange or the green butt have accounted for a lot of fish. On higher flows the best technique has been to drift brightly colored San Juan worms (red, hot fluorescent pink and cerise) and egg patterns (pink and orange).
Dry Run Creek has fished well. The hot flies have been sowbugs and various colored San Juan worms (worm brown, red, hot fluorescent pink and cerise). The browns are stacked in the creek like a cord of wood. Take care when photographing the large trout caught here. Keep them in the net until you are ready to take the picture. Handle them carefully and return them to the water as soon as possible. Carefully revive them before release. The water level on the Spring River is a bit higher and lightly stained. This is a great place to wade fish. Canoe season is finally over and we should have much less traffic on stream. Be sure and wear cleated boots and carry a wading staff. There is a lot of bedrock that can get very slick. The hot spot has been Dam Three Access. The hot flies have been olive woolly buggers with a bit of flash, cerise and hot pink San Juan worms and Y2Ks. 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.
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White River - November 3rd, 2011
supplied by: Blue Ribbon Fly Shop
FISHING: Great
FISHING REPORT 11/03/2011 During the past week, we have had cooler temperatures, mostly sunny skies and very windy conditions (to include lake wind advisories). The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam fell five tenths of a foot to rest at two and eight tenths feet below power pool of 654.00 feet. This is forty three and eight tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Upstream, Table Rock Lake fell four tenths of a foot to rest at six tenths of a foot below power pool or sixteen and six tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell one foot to rest at three and eight tenths feet below power pool or thirteen and four tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the White, we have had low levels of generation with some wadable water most days. Norfork Lake fell eight tenths of a foot to rest at two and three tenths of a foot below power pool of 552.00 feet or thirty and three tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the Norfork, we have had light generation and reliable periods of wadable water every day. All of the lakes on the White River system are below power pool The Catch and Release section below Bull Shoals Dam will close from November 1, 2011 to January 31, 2012 to accommodate the brown trout spawn. The State Park from the bottom of the Catch and Release section down to the wing wall will be seasonal Catch and Release for the same period. The dissolved oxygen level has dropped below the state minimum standard of six parts per million on the White and Norfork Rivers. At Bull Shoals and Norfork Dams, the vacuum breakers have been blocked open to allow more oxygen to mix with the water. Trout stocking has been eliminated on the upper Norfork River (above the Ackerman Access). Those fish have been diverted to the lower river. Stocking has also been eliminated on the upper White River (above White Hole) with those fish diverted to the lower White River. If you are fishing on the upper river of either the White or Norfork River, be very careful when handling trout. Land them quickly and revive them fully before releasing them. The big story has been wadable water on the White River. The best place to fish was Wildcat Shoals. The hot flies were pink San Juan worms with copper Johns and green zebra midges in size fourteen or sixteen as droppers. Y2Ks and beadhead hare’s ears were also responsible for some nice fish. Rim Shoals is also hot. Here again the hot flies have been pink worms and green or red copper Johns. Grasshopper season is still with us. They provide us with some of the best and most reliable dry fly fishing of the year. These are large tempting morsels that can tempt big fish. You need a nine foot 2X leader and a stiff rod (a six weight would be perfect). The trick is to bang the bank and imitate the action of a grasshopper that has fallen into the water and is struggling. Many takes occur as soon as the fly hits the water. The most effective patterns are Dave’s hoppers or big western foam hoppers (both in tan). To increase your catch, use a small nymph as a dropper. Effective nymphs would be pheasant tails or copper Johns. The most effective section of the river for this technique has been the section from Rim Shoals to Buffalo Shoals. Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River are very low and gin clear. Navigation on Crooked Creek is difficult with the low water. Several anglers have reported success with Clouser minnows and grass hoppers. Carefully check the water level before entering Crooked Creek or the Buffalo River. There are no dams on these streams. They both have large drainages and are prone to flooding during and following any rain event. The water can rise very quickly. Despite some heavy construction in the Catch and Release section above the Ackerman Access on the Norfork River, fishing has been good. We have had some significant periods of wadable water every day. On lower water the hot flies have been red copper Johns, scuds, red zebra midges (size 20 and smaller), and Dan’s turkey tail emerger. Soft hackles like the partridge and orange or the green butt have accounted for a lot of fish. On higher flows the best technique has been to drift brightly colored San Juan worms (red, hot fluorescent pink and cerise) and egg patterns (pink and orange).
Dry Run Creek has fished well. The hot flies have been sowbugs and various colored San Juan worms (worm brown, red, hot fluorescent pink and cerise). There is precious little room to cast. The most effective technique is to high stick nymphs below a strike indicator. The water level on the Spring River is low and lightly stained. This is a great place to wade fish. Canoe season is finally over and we should have much less traffic on stream. Be sure and wear cleated boots and carry a wading staff. There is a lot of bedrock that can get very slick. The hot spot has been Dam Three Access. The hot flies have been olive woolly buggers with a bit of flash, cerise and hot pink San Juan worms and Y2Ks. 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.
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White River - October 1st, 2011
supplied by: Blue Ribbon Fly Shop
RECORDED: 
72 °
FISHING: Excellent
The air is crisp and the leaves are changing as the fall season is officially upon us. Now is an awesome time of year to be here. The temperatures drop to the fifties during the night and the highs most days reach the mid to late seventies making for perfect fishing weather. In addition, both lake levels are within feet from power pool as the flows on both Bull Shoals and the Norfork tailwater have been significantly reduced as of late. The last week of September offered some incredible fishing opportunities for both the wade fishermen and the drift boat guys. Big browns are beginning to march up river and put on weight in anticipation of the upcoming spawn and they are fighting mad hungry. Hoppers. ants, beetles, and other terrestrials are still producing quality fish along the banks and riffles while the standard mix of nymphs including assorted colors of zebra midges, rusty midges, and Garrett's black death are working particularly well. Sow bugs tied with sow scud dubbing in a size #14-#18 make for a stellar dropper in olive or natural tones. Low water on the Norfork is also producing a significant number of large browns that are moving into Dry Run Creek. It's not uncommon to land an unproportionate number of browns to rainbows lately. Cutthroats are also stacked up and more than willing to eat dries like black, green, and orange soft hackles. For those of you that like streamer fishing, it might be a good time to pick up a sink tip line rig and pick up a few leech patterns from the fly bins. This is also a good time of year to start throwing shad patterns of white and gray.
All in all this may be one of the better fall seasons this area has seen in quite some time. The floods of early 2011 have produced high flows which equate to big and unmolested fish. Now is the time to get in on the action. There are people arriving early for this year's annual FFF Southern Council Conclave to take advantage of great fishing. October is our busiest guide months of the year. There are few openings available so be sure to check in soon for dates. We really appreciate the many of you that fished with us in September and look forward to seeing those ready to return after a long year of high water. Welcome back. Come fishing with us.
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White River - September 14th, 2011
supplied by: Blue Ribbon Fly Shop
RECORDED: 
92 °
FISHING: Great
Fly Fishing Report
Cooler temperatures have arrived as the fishing remains hot!
In what seemed to feel like an overnight event, the temperatures in early September dropped from a long period of 100 degree days down to a more comfortable mid-nineties. Meanwhile, both Bull Shoals Lake and Norfork lake are less than ten feet from reaching power pool as generation releases have stabilized. Based on the current factors involved, it may be sooner than later that the flows are reduced to wadable conditions assuming that any unforeseen events take place. Some speculation and rumors seem to indicate that the COE may run the lakes further in to power pool for construction projects on the lake but at this point it may be premature to guess. Ultimately, both rivers are releasing more consistent flows versus the peaks and valleys experienced in July and August making for a steady bite.
Although the thirteen year cicada hatch has expired, the introduction to our annual hopper season turned out to be a nice follow up to an already dynamic surface bite on almost every section of river. Our guide trips during the past month usually incorporate extended flows that range between Bull Shoals Dam down to Buffalo City and everything in between. Some of the bigger fish have come during the early morning hours but ultimately the bite remains consistent as the day progresses. A bit of a change up may involve size and colors of these foam and rubber leg concoctions and even perhaps a second dropper. On more than one occasion clients were able to land two fish at once utilizing this rig.
Regardless of technique, the action on both river systems is excellent. Whether you're geared up with a nymph rig, terrestrial, or streamer rig, the overall action and quality of fish is exceptional.
The Norfork generation pattern is now a consistent four thousand cubic feet per second which is perfect for a productive float in the drift boat. In fact, our recent trips have resulted in plenty of wonderful cutthroats and browns still eating cicadas, hoppers, green BH hare's ears, and Garrett's purple death. Josh from TX, pictured below, landed this nice Norfork Cutthroat in the catch and release area during his first experience fly fishing.
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White River - July 26th, 2011
supplied by: Blue Ribbon Fly Shop
RECORDED: 
99 °
FISHING: Good
A series of flow fluctuations has made for some excellent lower water fishing, if you know where the hot bite is going to be based on water conditions It can be difficult to post reports that are accurate for extended periods of time during the summer because as soon as we find ourselves getting used to fishing a productive pattern, flows will change and we end up having to adapt (which is part of the fun and challenge of fly fishing the White River Basin trout fisheries). This is why we encourage anglers to give the fly shop a call for daily conditions if you find yourself coming down to fish the White or Norfork at the last minute. For most of July, Bull Shoals Dam was shutting down from around midnight through the early morning hours, and then the releases would increase quickly around noon. A lot of the calls to the shop were met with disappointment regarding this regime, but in reality, by starting your day from Wildcat Shoals down to Cotter and drifting (or even driving and walking in) down to Buffalo Shoals, it was possible to stay ahead of the heavy water, and for most of the day, the lower river would be falling or dead low. Once we made this clear, our callers would perk up, and we received many call-backs thanking us for the information that allowed these folks to have a productive experience. We had some great guide trips sight-fishing to big browns with a huge foam bug and dropper which, when possible, is a much more appealing way for our clientele to fish than using a deep indicator rig system like most every other services were using. Some of the flies that are smoking big trout on the surface (and as a dropper) include Henry's RS Zebra Midge (black), Garret's Purple Death, Garret's Black Death, xelon sowbugs, copper bead head caddis pupa flies, and prince nymphs in sizes #16 through #20. Our fly bins are fully stocked with hoppers and other big foam patterns in a wide array of colors and sizes that have been ordered from multiple top-tier vendors such as Umpqua, Idlewilde, and Montana Fly (this fly is sold only sold at Blue Ribbon Fly Shop). What our guides found interesting during this period in July that consisted of a brief, night and morning window of low water was how many other guides in the area (who are not affiliated with the shop) would still fish the entire day up by the dam – we ascertain this information by reading reports from other outfits, and some would even insinuate that the only way to fish this vast river system was to bite the bullet and just fish the first couple of miles below Bull Shoals. Because the weather has been very hot (be sure to load up on liquids to stay hydrated, and it never hurts to wet wade for brief times to stay cool), the low water mornings on the upper river are often very foggy, and the bite doesn’t usually pick up until the water temperatures rise a few degrees as the fog burns off. It is about this time that flows would increase very quickly, which basically meant that there were only a few spots where the water would stay clear for long enough to get in on the brief, rising-water bite. By noon, six to eight units were kicking, and one of the few ways to fish productively was to fight with the other boats in the area for the best drifts (we call this “hot drifting”) while using huge “bobbers” and the same bright flies as everyone else. The fish will often turn off after being motored over for several hours, and it is common for the bite to slow down drastically by early afternoon; this forces the guides to fish in a repetitive fashion, which teaches the client very little and can get boring in a hurry. Sure, there are times when we are forced to fish with high water techniques for the entire day, and a lot of big trout can be caught during these conditions. What we find difficult to understand is why an “experienced” and “seasoned” guide would pick fly fishing difficult and primarily very high water when there were other options available that offered the variety of low or falling water all day long? One answer to this question is that fishing these conditions out of a traditional Jon boat is hard on the gear, and you don’t get the full excitement of sight-fishing because motoring into position will spook the bigger and most visible fish. So, it’s easier for many guides to stay with the status quo and fish the water by the dam. This is why we use drift boats when the water conditions are low or falling – the majority of guides do not offer this option, and we understand that it is an added expense to own two boats. Still, we want to make it clear that all guide services do not operate the same, and it is important to understand how each guide fishes during all the different water conditions that occur on both the White and the Norfork. If high water is the only option, we often prefer to fish two units on the Norfork where depth only increases five feet because that 4.8-mile stretch offers up more variety (and a better chance at finding good fishing all day) than going over to the White during very high water because most spots are extremely fast and the majority of the river is eight to fifteen-feet deep. Plus, the few good areas see quite a bit of pressure. If you are just after a few good bites, the White does offer the chance at a very big brown during big water, but it takes quite a bit of work and patience. Scores of big fish stack up on the Norfork during the mid to late summer period, so there is also a good chance of hooking into a trophy over there during maximum flows, while also experiencing action fishing in a much less intimidating setting than what is found on most of the White. We respect all the guides in the area, but the years of experience that our guide team possesses has taught them that you have to be flexible and on top of your game every time you take people fishing…going out with this type professional is priceless, even though every day will fish differently. But, if you want the best chance at a great experience, it is important that both the guides and the clients do their homework before EVERY trip. Of course, on the White River and Norfork Tailwater, all good things must come to an end (or at least change), and flow regimes have altered over the last few days. Bull Shoals Dam has been releasing water through the night lately, but the water is not getting really high until around 11am – this means that there is a still a good opportunity for fishing lighter flows for the entire day by sticking to areas away from the dam. It is critical to stay several miles ahead of the increase in generation because once you get several miles downstream of the dam, the river will stay trashy for pretty much the rest of the day after the rise. Norfork has been low until between 10am and noon, which is very typical for this time of year, and the morning action fishing is usually fantastic over there. Once the water comes up, we usually use a Jon boat to stay on the rise for several hours, and if you can catch the flows increasing in the catch and release area, there is a great chance at hooking into a large brown. Once the river crests down at the lower boundary of this zone (the Ackerman/Handicapped Access), a motor allows us to head back upstream into clear water where there are a multitude of long drifts. You never know what you might catch on this river – the fish on the Norfork move around quite a bit, and since it is a short stretch of water, the bigger trout will congregate in prime feeding lies that are relatively easy to fish from a boat once the water comes up. Just because release schedules have changed, good fishing can be found most every day through August. Yes, there will be times when a boat will be necessary, but hiring a guide who knows how to fish high water is a blast. Both rivers are often relatively empty this time of year because it is difficult to know what to expect, but during the “dog-days” of summer, tons of nice fish come out of the woodwork to feed heavily. We are always here to answer any specific questions you may have, and because of the rampant misconceptions regarding fishing this time of year, many fishermen miss out on one of the best times to fish both tailwaters. There is still quite a bit of variety, and no matter what the water conditions are, we are more than willing to point anyone who asks in the right direction. We pride ourselves on doing things differently, and so far this year, it has paid off in a big way.
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White River - July 4th, 2011
supplied by: Blue Ribbon Fly Shop
RECORDED:
92 °
FISHING: Good
Summer conditions are starting to settle in after a very dry June, so look for steady action virtually every day, as water flows should remain relatively steady for the next couple of months
June of 2011 was quite a different month than April and May were from a rainfall perspective, and this has allowed Bull Shoals and Norfork Lakes to start falling relatively quickly. Still, the Corp seems to be holding off on maximum releases, and this is likely a result of the fact that the Mississippi River is going to experience a surge as the flood waters on the Missouri River and its tributaries start to make their way south; running the White River dams at full power could aggravate flooding downstream, and that would add insult to injury for the folks who are just now starting to dry out. It is amazing how far-reaching the influence of the Ozark Basin Dams are, and they are very capable of causing the Mississippi to rise, which is something that very few anglers in our neck of the woods even think about. This is just our theory because the lower White River has receded to seasonally low levels, so the Corp could start to lower the reservoirs, if they so desired, but as of this writing, the water is high but not ripping. Regardless of the Corp’s reasoning, releases at Bull Shoals and Norfork have been consistent, with the heaviest flows occurring during the heat of the afternoon when power demand is high, and during the cooler hours of morning and during the night, expect much lower water. Still, there are very few periods when the water has been shut off completely, but the morning fishing on both rivers has been very good, and if you can catch the rise on the Norfork that usually occurs around noon, some very large fish (browns, rainbows and cutthroats) are being caught until the tailwater crests around 2pm. Fly fishing on the White has been a different story, though. The action is very good on the upper river (from the dam to Rim Shoals) during the morning, but once the water starts to rise quickly, the river often becomes trashy which can turn off the bite. One strategy that is working for some of our guides is to drift fish during the morning and then head back up towards Bull Shoals Dam to get into clearer water in the afternoon. Unfortunately, the cicada bite has died down from what it was in May and early June, but it is still possible to coax a big brown to the surface – it just takes more patience than it did during the preceding months when the action was insane.
Nymph fishing (with or without a dropper) using standard patterns like Copper Johns, caddis pupa, and Prince Nymphs has been productive when drifted along deep-cut banks and through shallow shoals during the lower water periods of the morning, but once releases start to increase, brighter flies like San Juan Worms and eggs are doing the trick. Streamer fishing has been notably slow on bright, cloudless days, but it is still possible to hook into a trophy fish during these onditions by working bank structure such as submerged timber and large rocks. These areas are protected from the peak of the sun, and working shaded banks can also produce similar results with large streamers and BIG dry flies. It is quite typical for the fishing to slow down slightly at the beginning of July, but that will all change by mid month, at the latest. In fact, July and August can be two of the best months of the year for action fishing and for catching large trout. This is because water flows become consistent due to the fact that releases are primarily based on the weather, so the fish become very comfortable feeding at certain times. 2011 will be a little different, and it is likely only a matter of time before the Corp starts to run heavy water around the clock to lower the lakes, but the guide team at the shop seems to agree that steady and high water is great once the fish get used to such conditions, and there will be many areas where scores of nice trout will stack up out of the main current and a feeding frenzy is likely to occur. Wading will be very limited, but the drift-fishing action is expected to be wonderful. Our guess is that July will be very similar to June with respect to river levels, but once August arrives, look for higher water and many big fish caught – this flow pattern will last for close to a month as the lakes are lowered down to power pool. Keep in mind that the reservoirs will usually drop a little over a foot a day if maximum water is run around the clock, and once the lakes get close to normal levels, the rivers will drop drastically. So, while walking in to most spots is going to be tricky for awhile, don’t let that deter your plans to fish the White and Norfork. In fact, we are on the cusp of entering a prolonged stretch of remarkable big-fish and action fishing. The spring floods were great for the rivers, and it looks like summer and fall are going to be seasons to remember.
Also, take note of the fact that many of the famous destination fisheries of the Rockies and other spots out West are still in the throes of heavy runoff, and it is going to be a short season out there. If you are planning on fishing in eastern Idaho, Colorado, Wyoming or Montana, be sure to call your outfitter or guide frequently to check on water conditions. Although all of us at Blue Ribbon love those fisheries as a change of pace and scenery during the summer, this has been a strange year out there like it has been here, and prime conditions are likely to occur primarily in August and September. We are very lucky in the White River Basin because our rivers are fishable virtually every day of the year. In fact, a recent discussion in the shop revealed that during the peak of the spring flooding, there was less than a week when either the White or Norfork were unfishable. Even when the gates were open wide on the White, fishing was excellent (if you are experienced with where to go during such high water), and the Norfork was unbelievable in May and early June. Considering that both rivers are choked with trophy browns, this may be the year to fish the Midwest, especially if you have plans to try the big western rivers; some of the springs and small tributaries out there are fishing decently, but anyone who has fished the Rocky Mountain region knows, the fish in small tributaries and streams are easily spooked, so a lot of walking will be required to find fresh areas. In no way are we trying to discourage a Western trip, but rather, our aim is to save some of our followers time and money on such a trek only to find rivers that are running higher than they have in years due to a heavy snowpack and a cool spring. If you live within six to ten hours of the White River and Norfork Tailwater, you could get in two trips to the Ozarks for the price of one trip out west. For those of you who are committed to fishing out there, see if it is possible to push your plans back towards late summer and early fall (September out west can be magical, and the fish should have seen very little pressure compared to what they see most years). But those times of year are also fantastic on the White and Norfork…decisions, decisions, decisions.
Because of the diversity of the guide team at Blue Ribbon Fly Shop with respect to the different styles of fishing employed coupled with the fact that we utilize both Jon Boats and drift boats, we can customize your guide trip to get the most out of your time on the water. If you are particularly sensitive to the sun and humidity, we can plan to fish during the morning and/or the late afternoon to avoid the peak of the heat. Still, because our rivers are very cold, it is usually comfortable on the water all day. If you are planning a family trip that includes youngsters 15 years of age or younger, we can also take them over to Dry Run Creek (which is very shaded and cool) during the afternoon after hitting the big rivers during the morning. There are many possibilities, so do not hesitate to call or email us with your particular desires and we will make sure that you experience a trip to remember, no matter what the weather is like. No other guide service offers such a commitment to their clients, and we want you to have the most fun as possible when fishing with us.
Finally, do not forget about the fishing in August if you can’t make it here in July. This month is quite unique, and it is usually the best time of year for fishing high water for large trout. There are very few crowds, so we usually get much of the White and Norfork all to ourselves. Blue Ribbon realizes that August can be a busy time for families due to planned vacations and school starting back up, but if possible, it is the perfect month for a group trip or a father and son (or daughter) outing. Yes, flows will likely be high, but the fishing out of a boat with a guide is not overly difficult, so it is a great time to learn the basics of the sport, and lots of nice trout of all species will be caught in August. We are here to explain what to expect, and as we always stress, some of the best fishing on the White and Norfork occurs at times when most people say that it is going to be tough; August is a perfect example of this social phenomenon. And if you are thinking way into the future, September is often a month that offers a little bit of everything. There should be some wading water and many of the river’s biggest fish are all over hoppers and other big dries during this month. We will remind everyone of what is coming up, but we also understand that a lot of anglers (for various reasons) need to plan their outings months in advance.
Please keep in touch, and Blue Ribbon Fly Shop and its experienced guides fully expect a very productive July, no matter what the water conditions and weather are. The trophy brown trout regulations implemented in 2008 are working well, so we are planning on catching scores of browns over 18 inches. As always, give us a call or drop us an email with any questions you may have that were not covered in the newsletter, and if you are in the Mountain Home, Arkansas area and want to talk fly fishing, we welcome everyone to stop by the fly shop for honest information - we are here to point all anglers in the right direction because it is our mission to make sure that every area visitor has as much fun as possible (while remaining safe) when they come to fish our unique and productive fisheries.
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White River - June 7th, 2011
supplied by: Blue Ribbon Fly Shop
RECORDED:
98 °
FISHING: Great
Fly Fishing Report for Early June
The rivers are in great shape as the flood releases subside, and the surface fishing for browns has been unbelievably good
There has been much written over the last month both in print (primarily by people who were speculating and not wetting a line) and on the Web regarding how the fishing on the White River and Norfork Tailwater are going to suffer indefinitely because of all the water coming through the spillway gates at the dams, and there has also been some mention of the fact that water temperatures were approaching lethal levels for productive trout fishing on the Norfork because both generators were being repaired, which meant that all the water in the river was coming from the top of the lake. It's easy to believe this type of hype and drama, especially considering that neither fishery had ever been subjected to the conditions that prevailed over most of May, but no one ever knows how the fish are going to react to radical changes unless they actually get out there and go fishing. Well, the guides at Blue Ribbon Fly Shop took out scores of clients throughout the last month on both the White and Norfork, and what they found was truly remarkable and somewhat unexpected...in a good way.
To get an idea of what we were dealing with, it's important to understand exactly what was happening at the dams. Bull Shoals ran six units for the first week or so of May until the reservoir could no longer hold all the runoff and inflow from the Table Rock and Beaver Tailwaters. At that point, the gates were opened, and flows held at unprecedented levels (@ 60,000 cubic feet per second, or the equivalent of sixteen to twenty generators) until just a few days ago when flows were reduced significantly. As touched on in the first paragraph, both of the powerhouses at Bull Shoals and Norfork are doing extensive repairs on the wicket gates; these are the fan-like structures on the units that utilize hydraulics to control how much water flows into the power-producing part of each generator and then on into the river. When major hardware is in need of fixing, it takes the Corp of Engineers quite a while to retrofit each part because every aspect of the generator must be custom manufactured due to the fact that the specifications are different at each dam's powerhouse. Norfork only has two units, so when the rain started falling like arrows in April, the dam was forced to open all twelve floodgates a foot and a half, which brought the river up to levels just over what they would be with both generators running. This is where all the concern came from with respect to water temperatures, as the surface of Norfork Lake started warming up because air temperatures rose quickly in mid May. As of this writing, one of the units is fixed at Norfork Dam with six gates still open, and this should make the great fishing of May even better in June.
Now that the logistical information is out of the way, it's time to talk about the amazing angling experiences that we had on both rivers. The 'Thirteen-Year' cicadas that everyone has been talking about finally started hatching along the banks of the lakes and rivers. We didn't see a lot of these critters on the riverbanks (but we did see some and so did the fish), but these big bugs must have been coming through the floodgates by the million. Every big trout on both rivers was looking up, and if you could find a slower seam and hold your boat there, it was one bite after another on a myriad of large dry flies. Our guides primarily focused on the Norfork because there was less current to deal with over there, and the warm water really turned on the browns, a species that does better from a feeding and survival perspective during warm water conditions than the brook trout and rainbows. We also caught some gorgeous cutthroats, and it was unusually rare to even catch a 'bow. It's hard to stress how critical it is hold the boat in the right spots for as long as possible when fishing dries on high water, but when you found the fish, eighteen to twenty-inch trout were common, and everything we landed was fat due to the ongoing feeding frenzy. The entire tailwater fished well, and the cicadas are still thick. For those of you who had an early-season trip planned to fish the stonefly hatch on the Madison River in Montana, only to have your plans ruined due to the very high runoff in the Rocky Mountain Region, this fishing in the Ozarks is even better, and it's probable that the surface action will continue through the summer and into the fall, as our trout have exceptional memories (no joking). It is such a thrill to catch so many nice fish on top when the water is high, and you never really know what size of trout that you may hook into- a thirty-inch brown or 22-inch cutthroat is not out of the question on any given cast. Sometimes, the worst case scenario seems to turn into a hey-day, and this is exactly what has been happening on both rivers for the last three (plus) weeks.
There has also been some productive fishing on the White, as well, and with almost 60,000 cubic feet per second running, the eddies and slack-water resembled ponds. These areas are absolutely loaded with fish of all sizes that are seeking out current breaks in order to escape the heavy flows in the main channel, but it can be difficult to sneak up on these hoards of fish without spooking the entire pod. A paddle can work, but it is difficult to put a Jon boat exactly where it needs to be with just one 'stick', especially if the wind is blowing. Rarely is the fly fishing on the White or Norfork easy for those who are unfamiliar with these rivers and this is even truer during heavy flow periods. Utilizing a guide who is on the water virtually every day is worth it, if you want to be in the right place at the right time and make the most out of your trip; spending a day or two frustrated because of the fickle nature of the river's flows teaches an angler nothing, and any respectable guide in this area knows plenty of tricks for getting into the proper position to catch as many fish as possible... and they should also place an emphasis on teaching their clients how to become better fishermen for the times when they are out on their own. There is no doubt that the constantly changing conditions force those who frequently fish the Ozark tailwaters to learn fast and get better every day, and if you can get a decent grasp on how to become steadily productive on the White or Norfork during high and low water flows, there will be very few other rivers in the country that you will not be able to figure out relatively expediently. The gates are starting to close up on the White, so expect the river to clear up and regular high-water to resume. This record flood will end up being a great thing for both rivers, but it was difficult to look at it from that perspective when in the midst of a one- and a half-month period where almost twenty inches of rain fell. The lakes are still high, but as long as we don't see another string of one deluge after another, water conditions will be stable through the summer months - fishing gets exceptionally good and somewhat predictable when flows don't waver for extended periods of time, and high water is better for the fisheries and for catching large trout.
On a different note, we're pleased to offer a clients another way to fish these rivers as Larry just acquired a new drift boat by Adipose boat works out of Helena, MT. Similar to resident guide Forrest Smith's drift boat, this skiff is unlike any "typical" drift boat on the market which is lower than the "wind catching" LPs or high rocker boats. A stealthy and efficient rig for all types of water. Of course, guys have been using many different styles of drifters for almost twenty years on the White and Norfork, but this vessel by Adipose is truly a fishing machine like no other. The seats and safety bars are fully adjustable, so each angler gets the opportunity to have their fishing station customized for comfort, safety and ease of fishing. All the bells and whistles on this drift boat make is a blast to fish out of it, but its best attributes are not going to be overtly visible to the eyes of the average fly fisherman. What makes the Adipose stand out is how easy it is to control during all water conditions, and the "man on the sticks" has no problem with indefinitely holding the boat in the right spot, whether fishing with dries, streamers or nymphs. Also, it makes it much easier to sneak up on fish in slow or shallow water, and this craft opens up the river to many new and unpressured areas during all water conditions. Anyone can claim hot laps in a motorized jon boat dragging San Juan worms is "productive", but we can prove it's not the only way to capitalize on these fluctuating rivers.
Blue Ribbon Fly Shop has the most versatile guide team in the Ozarks, and now we have another deadly tool in our arsenal with respect to being able to adapt to whatever the Corp of Engineers throws at us. From all the floodgates open to dead-low water, Blue Ribbon is ready to put our clients on fish based on what type of vessel is going to be the most productive and also based on what our clients desires may be. Fishing the White and Norfork is all about being prepared, and we are the only shop in Arkansas that 'weathered' the storm over the last month and a half by having superb days on the water while almost everyone else was wondering what to do. We pride ourselves on thinking outside the box, so when you either fish with us or utilize our shop for flies or information, you can be assured that you will be privy to being able to pick the brains of guys who have a passionate, laid back and patient approach to the sport of fly fishing. Never hesitate to stop by or give us a call/email if you are interested in how the fishing with HUGE dry flies is progressing, if you just want to fish out of the new drift boat or if you are just interested in checking in on what the flows and fishing are doing during these extremely dynamic times on the rivers.
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