 |
Additional White River Area Information
Davy Wotton's Web Site | White River Home Page | White River Lodging Directory
Davy Wotton's
White River & North Fork River Fly Fishing Report
Updated about once per month, or as conditions change.
Previous Reports
2004> jan | feb
| mar | apl
| may | june | july | aug | sept | oct | nov | dec
2005> jan
January, 2005
to ensure you are viewing the most current
report click Refresh
Hello Fly Fishers!
At last we now see some run down of the high water flows we have
had these past weeks. In fact the past couple of days, zero on the White river.
For those of you who have ventured out, it has not been all that bad, despite high water
and on some days, cold and miserable conditions.
Fishing very high water demands a number of things, one being a very intimate knowledge of
the river. If you know the underwater zones, structure and places that fish will seek out
then you are ½ there to catching them. Often as not also at this time many fish will be
found right on the shore lines and over flooded grass and timber, always places to check
out for sure.
The next major factor is being able to control your boat so as you can effectively fish
those zones, a boat that rips down the river without some degree of drift control is not
going to help you. Best bet is to take turns at fishing, one control the drift with the
motor whilst the other fishes. That is also a perfect way to be safe, particularly when
fishing close to shore at such times. You need to watch out for rock and timber structure
that could result in the boat being pushed into the shore line and even worse causing it
to become stuck and turn over, it happens believe me, and when it does it happens real
fast. I know also of guys who have been literally knocked out of the boat by over hanging
branches that they ran into. So please be safe when fishing these higher water flows.
OK, that said. Fishing this past week has been very good. High water really does put top
condition on the fish and there are some great conditioned Bows around at this time, many
in the 14 to 17 ins range, bars of silver and fin perfect.
Many of the Browns that have spawned are running back downstream from the redds and are
hungry. We have had a good number of what is called spent fish, they are of course a
little under weight due to the rigors of the spawn, so take care of them and release them
with care, you may well catch them again in full fit condition at some other time.
General good tactics to use at this time are dead drift nymph, fish are not that fussy to
be honest at this time. Pressure of fishing is very low on the White and fish will not be
so picky about what they take, unless they are subjected to a great deal of fishing
pressure, that be the case for the Norfork river.
Yesterday we fished 10 different flies and it made no difference to the catch rate which
was very good indeed and included some class Bows and Browns.
Anything from Hares ear, P.tails, scuds, sows, prince etc will work at this time, you may
also try eggs, Juan worms and other high vis fly patterns
You may see on the good days some BWO emergence, here emergers and small dries and soft
hackles should do the trick if you can fish em dead drift with zero drag. Sizes 18 to 22.
Sink tip and sunk line techniques are always worth fishing into shore lines and around
known structure, small flies in the size 10 to 6 range for the lower water flows and
anything up to 2/0, 5 ins in length flies for big water.
Wooly buggers, streamers that represent bait fish and patterns like that will do the
business
For the Norfork, if you can find a space to fish at times, then flies that represent
midges, BWO, sows and scuds will work well for the low water scenarios. High water flows,
then you need to get done to the fish, Juan worms, scuds and sows, try also dead drift
with leech patterns, you may be surprised how well they will work at times. Black, Tan and
Olive are the deal here. Size 10 LS hook.
Fish at this time of the year may well go up and done feeding wise, and will shut off for
periods of time before they will resume again to feed.
Water temps on the White yesterday are still in the 50s and a little colder for the
Norfork.
What should we expect for the new year, January period, more or less that l have written.
Water flows, well who knows what we will have for the next month, but keep a sharp eye out
for a Shad kill. You never know when that may take place, even as l write the lakes are
not down in the 40s as yet to stun shad, but there is always the chance that some will
make it through the dam.
It only remains for me to say, l have enjoyed immensely writing the reports for you this
year. So on behalf of myself and The Ozark Mountains Website that provide this for you to
read - Have a great and Happy New year and may many fish take your flies.
See you in 2005.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.
|
Additional
White River Area Information
Davy Wotton's Web Site | White River Home Page | White River Lodging Directory
© Copyright 2003-2004 Davy Wotton and the Ozark
Mountains Website, Inc. All rights reserved. This report
may not be reproduced in any form, in whole or in part, without written permission. For
use permission phone 870-491-5751.
|
