Not to mention the many trophy Bows we caught last year.

This year we will see the completion of the siphon pipe which will allow for the min flow for the Norfork River. Game and Fish have also been working in stream to improve habitat destroyed by the past high water flood stage releases, all great news.

So what can we expect for the new year? As of now we are experiencing warmer that usual climatic conditions, which has been most welcome, all be it some days we have experienced high winds and a cold early start.

Generations
Lakes are more or less at pool levels, which does not mean we will see long periods of zero generations. SWP will still operate water release given power demand, either way expect to see erratic generation schedules, which mean you will need to keep in touch with dam recordings and online information so far as predicted generation, all be it, it's not a guarantee that it is accurate.

Fishing
Water temperatures are showing in the mid range 40s at this time, which may determine the trout are a little slower to respond early on in the day, once temps rise a few degree's then that will promote the fish to feed. Best results when wade fishing will be obtained fishing dead drift indicator techniques with numerous fly patterns which should include sowbugs in gray/tan/natural sizes 12 to 18. Midge patterns such as DW white tail, prism and shimmer in sizes 12 to 16 for faster medium flow water, for slower shallow water then reduce down to 16 to 22 hook size, variations of shimmer and zebra style will generally be good. Color may make a difference so include black, red, gray, claret in the midge selections. Micro prism worms will also be worth fishing in red, tan, orange and olive, sizes 14 to 18. If there is evidence of a rise to midge then include midge emergers and dry fly, such as Adams, baby sun fly, Griffiths gnat, Black gnat. You may also find the trout will respond to slower or dead drift soft hackles, include here, black and silver spider, black spider, hares ear, in sizes from 14 to 18.

Small streamer such as tan and olive buggers also worth wetting if fishing deeper holes and faster water zones.

Many good Browns can be found at this time in shallow water gravel zones, therefore pay attention before you start to wade and spook the fish out.

Generated Water
Dead drift with combinations of Whit tail midge, Sowbugs, Prism and San Juan worms, eggs and small jigs will do well here. The deal is at this time of the year to locate fish. One good tip is to remember the zones that when we see low water the fish are congregated as often as not that will be the zones you will find them when water is generated. They may be fussy if water if rising or falling out, slow rise of water is good, a high water release may shut the fish down for a while until they have become adjusted to the new water levels.

Streamer fishing can be on and off at this time of the year, always worth working the shorelines for those big Browns, you never know.

Bull Shoals Dam trophy opens again Feb. 1st.

The expectation for many will be a shad kill, which may or may not happen. For it to do so there needs to be a combination of low 40s temperatures in the lakes for a good period of time, shad close to the dam and a high water generation release. This past February we saw zero generations for a few weeks and very cold climate, few anglers were fishing the opening days at the dam.

A shad kill can be expected any time well into the early Spring, you never know.

Caddis
If past history is anything to go by then we should again see a good 3 month period of caddis emergence which should start March, may be a little earlier or later, you never know.

Ok all, let's look forward again to another great year out there on the rivers and many more trophy Browns.