This past week we have seen some very heavy rain fall and unsettled weather conditions, coupled with water levels from as low as you can get to a full 8 on the White and two on the Norfork. Needless to say this has created some difficult fishing conditions.

Trout generally do not like unsettled climatic conditions, and do take a while to adjust to fluctuations in water levels. Many places on the river at this time have very low fish counts, and there are a great many small fish about. l can only assume the AGFC is holding back some good fish for release at a later point in time. There is no doubt that heavy fishing pressure will take its toll on both harvested fish and fish that die for various other reasons. However, news is not all bad.

There are many trophy Browns about to be caught, and you have a good chance to catch one during the day time period if you can get close enough without spooking them. Use patterns that suggest both crawdads and sculpins, then cast close to shore line around structure. If you have a fish follow you do not be tempted to continue the strip. Instead let the fly fall to the river bed and watch real closely, often fish will pick the fly up this way. If you strip the fly toward you odds are the fish will see you and be gone.

These low water bright days are perfect conditions to go fish spotting. Look for the location of trophy fish, and then fish in those zones. If you spook the fish, then leave it for a period of time and then go back. A fish that is alarmed will not likely feed until it has become settled again.

In the Rim Shoal trophy zone l have seen a number of 'Bows in the 5lb. plus range, and some class Browns also. At the confluence area of the White and Norfork there are a number of good Browns around, hopefully many will survive the heavy fishing pressure here at times. The Norfork is fishing well overall, but if you want to capitalize on catching those fish then you will need to have a cautious approach, and fish with scaled down rigs, small flies, and fine tippet, even down to 8x if you can deal with it. It is not so much the fly you are using, it is how you fish it that will largely determine if you will hook up.

Same also for the White river particularly in trophy zones that have high fishing pressure. It really does make a difference, believe me! Today l fished Rim Shoals with my clients, and saw a good number of other persons fishing the shoals.  l saw not one person fishing in an upstream method, all down stream. Sure you may catch a few fishing downstream, but not as many as you would if you approach fish from behind, fishing upstream.  It is by far the best way to accumulate not just numbers, but also hook into a good fish. It does take additional skills to fish this way.

Use small nymphs size 14 and 16, and soft hackles fished upstream. Avoid the use of lead shot, in low water it is not needed as fish will rise to intercept a fly that is above them.  Do not always assume that you have to have the fly close to the river bed!

Not much in the way of hatches at this time, some midge activity on both rivers. If you are fishing shoals and riffles then try a small hopper, this will work very well, also on the flat water particularly if wind ruffles the surface, fish are more likely to respond this way to a hopper or other dry such as a caddis, ants and other terrestrials. Overall it is high summer and what is termed as the dog days. Best options are to fish early morning, late afternoon into dark - water levels permitting.

Tight lines for now,
Davy Wotton

About Davy Wotton
Davy has been making his living as a full time fly fisher in one capacity or another for over 30 years. He has written many articles for all of the fly fishing magazines, created several unique flies and fly tying materials which he developed into a full scale manufacturing operation in his native country of Wales, and is a much-sought speaker around America at fly fishing functions and shows. Over the years Davy has fished in over 40 countries around the world but his choice for base of operation is right here on the White River. Davy operates his American International Schools of Fly Fishing in Flippin, Arkansas.