Pretty much we have at this time the same situation as we had during August. Other than the fact that the overall day temps are up and down from hot windless days to others of either lower temps, hot with some winds.

Over all the fishing has been good with some days being very slow for some reason. I am not sure why this should be the case other than the fact that the body of water has be subject to some changes caused by a number of factors.

Trout are very sensitive as many other species of fish are to such factors as decreased oxygen levels that can be caused by both temperature and decaying vegetation, not to mention at times some of the water discharged from the dams is not good, due to the large amount of contaminants that are within the lake systems.

You may well find that the fish in the zone you are fishing will be up and down on the feeding scale. An hour or so they are hot, then for some reason they shut down and will not look at anything you throw at them. Trout do not normally react that way when bottom dwelling organisms are on the menu, certainly surface feeding activity may well promote that kind of feeding pattern.

Best bet if you find this is to move via a boat or drive to another area of the river.

There has been some moderate surface feeding activity, midges and small caddis being the source of interest, and if you are in a area that has a good move of water then fishing hoppers and elk hair caddis is a good bet. You may well have a nice Brown rise to the occasion as we have had this past few weeks.

During the periods of low water flows look for zones that have good agitated water and those that have good moss beds, many fish will be found in these places at this time.

You should expect to have a good feeding activity if you have a rise of water, for a period of time as that water moves up, likewise you will find the same as after a higher water flow it starts to settle down to a more moderate flow level.

There are a great number of Browns evident through the system at this time. They may well show little interest during the day time period but they will become active around the last two hours of light and into darkness.

Fishing streamers, wooly buggers are a good bet at this time, with sunk fly techniques, surface fished fly will also be well worth trying, often it is the way to bring a good fish to the surface when other methods are not working.

Generation has been moderate for the White river, some days 3 units others up ro 6, overall you should find some low water slots for wade fishing,

Same for the Northfork river, here again good period s of low water but most days there is some generation both one and two units.

Best bet for the Nothhfork is to fish small and fine during the lower water flows. The fish on this river are subject to a great deal of pressure at times and the chuck and chance it way of thought is not going to produce many fish, Avoid if you can areas that there are a number of fly fishers already fishing, l personally do not like to fish in the crowds, for me fly fishing to some extent is a solitary pursuit and not one that l choose to have to deal with others who have no courtesy or etiquette so far as giving space to another, or for that matter causing such a disturbance on the water that the fish are spooked and gone for the day.

The assumption that the fishing is bad may not be related to the fact that there are no fish to be caught it may well be that either you have spooked them out or some other person has done so, either before you started to fish that zone or when you are there.

Most fish that are visibly seen feeding on the Northfork can be caught using a great many midge patterns, as l have said before the trick is to fish the fly in the fishes zone of vison, without any instance of drag and not allowing the fish to become aware of your presence, same also for the Bull shoals dam zone.

For the White river also low water, with clear cloudless skies and bright overhead conditions are not conducive for good fishing unless you are in a position to not let the fish be aware of your presence and that you fish in a manner that you do not disturb the water.

There is no doubt that at such times long range fishing is the only way you may have some success, particularly if you are fishing from a boat. Better to pull the boat to shore and wade fish, that way you will keep a lower profile to the fishes vision and be less likely to spook them because of that.

Mid September on through to November are some of my favorite times of the year to fish. Prime times for hooking into a trophy Brown and the opportunity too for the other species we have in the river.

Feel free to contact me regarding the conditions are and how the fishing is.

Tight lines for now, Davy Wotton.

Good fishing for the month and see you on the river,
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.