FFC Blog Roll

White River Fly Fishing Report

June 6, 2009

John Berry reports for the Baxterbulletin.com

Sulphur hatches on decline from last week

This past week we had a few sunny days and a bit of rain. The lakes in the White River system have continued their rise and all remain above power pool. The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam rose 0.3 feet to rest at 17.8 feet above power pool of 654 feet. This is 23.2 feet below the top of flood pool.

Upstream, Table Rock Lake has fallen 0.2 feet to rest at 1.1 feet above power pool or 14.9 feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell 1.3 feet to rest at 8.3 feet above power pool or the top of flood pool. The pattern on the White was for round-the-clock generation of moderate flows with a few significant periods of no generation. This created some excellent conditions for drift fishing and some limited but excellent wading.

Norfork Lake has risen 1.4 feet to rest at 10.4 feet above power pool of 552 feet or 17.6 feet below the top of flood pool. Generation on the Norfork has been very limited, which has created some excellent wading.

The Corps of Engineers has been holding back water to relieve flooding down- stream. When that flooding abates, we can expect a significant period of high generation.

Remember that there is a new size limit on brown trout. All browns less than 24 inches must be released immediately no matter where they are caught on the White and North Fork Rivers. Only one brown trout may be kept in the daily limit of five trout.

The catch-and-release section below Bull Shoals Dam has been fishing extremely well this past week. With the lower flows we have been getting, anglers reported success on midge larva patterns.

The most effective were zebra midges in black with silver wire and silver beads and red with silver wire and silver beads. The best sizes were 16 and 14. Other hot patterns have been pheasant tails and egg patterns.

During the recent periods of no generation, anglers have done very well on partridge and orange soft hackles and green butts. There have been some decent midge hatches. The best fly for the midge hatches have been Dan's turkey tail emerger.

This week the sulphur hatches have not been quite as prolific as last week. This is our major mayfly hatch of the year. They are yellow/orange insects. The hatch generally begins with size 14 and ends next month with size 18.

The best way to fish them is with copper john or pheasant tail nymphs before the hatch begins, when the nymphs are more active. When the nymphs rise to the surface and begin to emerge, switch to partridge and orange or pheasant-tail soft hackles. When the trout begin keying in on the adults, switch to sulphur parachute dry flies. The best fishing has been on the nymphs and emerging insects. The water flows have not been as suitable for the adults.

Wildcat Shoals has fished extremely well. There have been some prolific sulphur hatches here especially in the late afternoon. Though there has been some limited dry-fly fishing, the most productive technique has been to swing soft hackles when the trout are keying in on the emerging sulphurs. The most productive flies for this situation have been partridge and orange and pheasant tail soft hackles.

Rim Shoals has fished particularly well this past week. The sulphur hatch is still coming off on most days, but is diminished. The trout have not keyed in on the adults but have been very active on the emergers. The best fly for this situation has been the partridge and orange soft hackle. The most productive way to fish the hatch however has been to fish copper John nymphs before during and after the hatches. The nymphs have been very active and the trout have been keying in on them.

Anglers have also reported success with pheasant tails and dark gold ribbed hare's ears. The best sizes have been 14 and 16. There have also been some caddis and midge hatches in the afternoon. The best flies for these hatches have been small green butts and Dan's turkey-tail emergers. Try both in size 18.

Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River are beginning to clear but are still a bit high. The overall quality of fishing on the North Fork River remains poor. There has been little generation on it. The North Fork has been the only reliable source of wadable water on most days and has been pounded relentlessly. If you want to avoid the crowds, fish very early. The most productive flies have been small black zebra midges, North Fork beadheads and red micro San Juan worms. On higher water fish brightly colored San Juan worms and egg patterns.

Dry Run Creek is fishing well. School is out and there is more pressure on the creek as families begin to take vacations. This is a great and inexpensive way to entertain kids. To avoid the crowds fish early or late. The weekends will be busier than during the week. The hot fly is the sowbug. Always use heavy tippet (at least 4X) and carry the biggest net you can lay your hands on. Be extremely careful when handling trout. Use wet hands and return them to the water quickly. Carefully revive trout before releasing them.

John Berry, a fishing guide from Cotter, has 25 years of experience fishing local rivers. Contact him at Berry Brothers Guide Service.

You can also get current conditions on the White River from Marc Poulos of River Works, Inc. here at Fly Fishing Conditions: White River Fly Fishing Report