What to expect on the White River and Norfork Tailwater
Late June and all of July should be consistently better than average
We are hoping that the heavy rains and accompanying runoff of spring are over for awhile, but statistically, June is one of the Ozarks wettest months, so we must always stay ready for anything. Unfortunately, the rest of June is likely to be a predominantly high water affair on both the White River and Norfork Tailwater, but the bite should be good for those willing to get out in a boat.
June is a month of transition, and the trout often act accordingly. The beginning of the month offers the best chance of really hot fishing, and the bite will get progressively slower as the Fourth of July approaches; the trout need time to adjust to the sultry conditions of the "Dog Days" of summer. After a week or two of typical July weather, expect to encounter the most consistent fishing of the year.
There are several reasons that mid-summer is such a good time to fish these tailwaters. First of all, the river always stays in the 50-55-degree range, so it's possible to stay cool right on the water, whether you are in a boat or wading. It's looking like the lakes will be down to power pool sometime near the end of June, and barring any unusual rain events, the reservoirs will continue to drop. This will make for a prolonged and extremely consistent flow regime, as the Corp of Engineers will practice "water conservation" during the coolest part of the day, and switch to a "power production" motive sometime during the heat of the afternoon. Water can and will come up quickly during the summer months because the dams will often switch from low water to maximum releases in a matter of minutes.
If Bull Shoals and Norfork Lakes are at or below pool in the middle of July, most mornings will be low on the Norfork - look for two units to come on between 11am and 2pm. Of course, there will be the occasional day where one unit will run all morning, but this tailwater will emerge as the steadiest summer wading spot in the Ozarks if water levels are normal. Finding low water on the White will take a bit more hunting, but there can be days over there when decent wading conditions can be literally "followed" down river all day by staying in front of power flows. Sometimes Bull Shoals Dam will run water through the night and into the morning, and this can put a damper on wading plans, but as the lake gets 2 to 5-feet low, look for flows to shut down anytime from 8pm through midnight, and generation will commence in the morning between 8am and 1pm. Every day will be a little different, and please do not hesitate to contact the shop if you have any questions regarding the low-water "window" concept on the White.
As a solid and unwavering generation pattern develops, the subsequent fishing will be some of the best of the year. White River Basin trout thrive on consistency and they are creatures of habit. If the water is doing the same thing every day, the trout will begin feeding extremely steadily starting around mid-morning, and there is often a feeding- frenzy on rising water - especially on the Norfork. High-water drift fishing will be excellent, and the best fly conditions will be on the Norfork - once again - because it is still very fishable with two-units running (maximum flows). The White gets exceedingly difficult for inexperienced boat anglers when flows exceed the 5-unit level, and this will happen every day at some point on the White during the summer.
Weather can play a role in summer water releases, and typically, if the temperatures to the south and west of the rivers are cooler than normal, expect the water to stay low for an hour or two longer in the morning/afternoon. Of course, the opposite will hold true during heat waves.
Summer fly fishing opportunities in the Ozarks are much better than advertised, and towards the end of the season, some really big browns will start feeding on high water. Often, the thought of the heat keeps people away, but it is definitely a time that versatile fly anglers will love, and it is always comfortable on the water. Late June through July of this year will offer up some of the best summer conditions we've seen in a long time, so be sure to keep the Arkansas option on your mind when thinking of an overlooked summer fly fishing destination.
Book your July and August guided fly fishing trip with a Blue Ribbon Guide by sending us an email @ blueribbonflyfish@hotmail.com.
Blue Ribbon Fly Shop & Professonal Guides
Fishing Report 6-16-10
The heat of summer has crept upon us, and now we are in the midst of a classic Midwest heat wave - since it's only mid-way through June, hopefully this is not indicative of steady hot weather for the rest of the summer. Actually, early heat waves do not necessarily mean that the entire summer will follow suit. Last year was a perfect example, as June was hot, but the rest of the summer was abnormally wet and cool.
We are starting our fishing days early in the morning, and we usually finish late into the afternoon after a brief respite to avoid the peak heat hours of mid-afternoon. The fishing later in the day has been very productive, and this trend of "hot" afternoons is a common summer theme - especially on the Norfork. Although a catastrophic flash flood in west/central Arkansas has grabbed national news headlines as of late, northern Arkansas has not seen much rain over the last few weeks. Considering how humid our climate is in the Ozarks, a few weeks without rain (coupled with heat) can make it feel really dry.
Both Bull Shoals and Norfork Lakes continue to drop daily, primarily as a result of moderate to heavy generation most days. The arid weather also helps the lakes recede because quite a bit of water evaporates from the surface when it's dry and hot. Both reservoirs are less than eight-feet above power pool and their levels are falling at a rate of approximately 6-inches per day. Barring any heavy rains and subsequent runoff over the next few weeks, low-water opportunities should start popping up around the Fourth of July. If this scenario plays out, July will be an awesome month for waders and drift anglers. Of course, we can't count on anything for certain, so the best strategy is to employ the most productive and safe methods for the day at hand. If you are planning on fishing the White or Norfork in the next two weeks, feel free to give us a call or email - conditions are a bit tricky right now, but as always, there are some possibilities for those willing to get creative.
Algae issues persist downriver from Bull Shoals Dam on the White, but this "scourge" should begin to dissipate as the summer heat intensifies. Even though the influx of algae may make fishing difficult at times, this problem pales in comparison to the trouble we've experienced due to didymo recently. Algae is usually much healthier than didymo for the river's habitat, and if you would rather not deal with any of it, fish the Norfork. For some reason, that river rarely gets choked with moss, algae or didymo, so there is [almost] always debris-free water available over there.
The usual suspects of nymphs like Bead Head Sowbugs, red Zebra Midges, red Copper Johns, Xelon Sowbugs, Ultra Violet Midges and other local patterns are pulling most of the fish right now. Terrestrials are starting to illicit some aggressive responses when fished along brushy, slack-water banks. Ants, beetles and hoppers are the flies to have for this exciting top-water action, and when this fun bite is combined with the sporadic sulfur hatch, it's not hard to keep busy on the surface for hours on end. Most fly anglers overlook these exceptionally enjoyable opportunities because they are hesitant to use a boat to get into position. A guide can show you the ropes, and the knowledge gained in one day with a professional may just translate into years of "fishing with an edge".
Late June is a transition time, but the fishing and conditions are remarkably steady this year. We are extremely excited about how the summer will pan out if the action is already so steady during a time of year when things typically slow down slightly.
Fly Shop News
For explosive surface action, nothing has produced as many strikes as Todd's Wiggle Minnow as of late. We've tested these on a variety of waters the past two weeks. Whether its white bass and kentuckys on the lakes, trout on the rivers, or smallmouth on the creeks TWM prouduces. BRFS stocks 5 colors in two sizes (#2 & #4) of this great top water fly.
Don't forget Dad for Father's Day with a Blue Ribbon Fly Shop Gift certificate! The shop is heavily stocked with plenty of great gift ideas! Call us to purchase one today in any $ amount @ 870.425.0447.
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Bob & Debi Cooke, Larry & Missy Babin, Henry Seay, Don Adams, Forrest Smith, Bob Krause & Randy Sublett
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