 |
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.
Current Report: May, 2006
To ensure you are viewing the most current
report click Refresh
Hello Fly Fishers!
This past month we have seen some changes here on the rivers in the region due to heavy
rain falls. Much of the lower White river below Buffalo has been a wipe out, and at the
time of writing there is still a great deal of water as yet to run off. The river is more
or less clean at this time. And should be back to normal within a few more days if no
further rain fall takes place.
Some of you may have been fishing on the Norfork river at times when the run off from the
Overlook Estates development has made the river un-fishable. There is at this time action
being taken against that developer to deal with that situation.
Both lakes are now up to top pool level, so that has dealt with our low water situation
for the summer period at least.
Buffalo river is now dropping back to good floatable water, Crooked creek also same.
Generations on the rivers. We now see most days some water release on both rivers, may be
from 1 to 2 units on average for the White, on average for 3 hr periods, Norfork can vary,
from short night release or given periods during the day.
So take care if wading on either river for a water rise.
Over all there are plenty of fish out there for both rivers, which is typical for this
time of the year.
Bull shoals dam, much the same as last month. Plenty of good fish there, large numbers of
Cutts and Bows. Some of the Bows are well in the 18 to 2Oins and a good few way over that.
Cutts can be from 8 to 16 on average and some over that one.
Most of the Browns have departed down stream at this time but there is a good number of
fish still in that zone.
Fish at BSdam zone feed mainly on midge and Sowbugs, you may see a few pmd around at this
time and now and again some of the micro caddis.
Early mornings and late afternoon evenings are best time to fish there or during days that
have a good overcast sky. Midge patterns need to be in the 18 to 22 hook size, both pupa
and emergers. Midge soft hackles will work real well and you may also try fishing small
dries such as Adams, sizes 18/20.
On a good day you will be able to fish for midgers all day long.
One tip l will give you is this. If you have fished over a number of fish for a while and
done no good, then move off and give them a break. If you have wised then up the chances
of catching them are slim. They will not tolerate bad presentations for long. And there
will be times that they are very picky about the fly that they will choose to take. Depth
can be very critical, and using floatant on your tippet may be the only way to govern
depth your fly is fishing at. Bead heads are not always the best options to catch those
guys l can tell you.
Those fish can be very sensitive to any difference that your artificial demonstrates, drag
being your worst enemy.
I have fished BSD 9 times this past 12 days, and we have had some great fishing. Pretty
much 6x is mandatory for the small flies, maybe going to 7x with surface emerger's and
dry. Long leader configurations with long sections of tippet, go with 2 ft or more of 6x.
If you use indicators make sure they are micro, yarn being the best by far. Takes will be
very subtle and may not sink the indicator, just a nudge is all you will get at times.
Well worth also fishing at times a sculpin streamer as fish will eat those guys in that
zone.
When you do have flat calm water there is ample opportunity for sight fishing to target
fish, and that is one way to nail you a trophy there. But you have to learn not to move
around, stand still and watch for the fish to move to you, which they will, as many of
them are cruisers.
Norfork, more or less the same as BSD at this time. Midge, scuds and sow bugs. Some big
Browns in the trophy zone there at this time. Well worth a night time visit fishing large
streamers. If they run water then go with some larger flies such as San Juan worms, caddis
larva, sculpin and woolly bugger type streamers.
As l have said before the deal is to make sure your fly is close to the bottom when the
water is running. And you will need lead if using indicator techniques.
Dam zone at Norfork, lots of small Brookies there at this time, we did get a real nice
Brook at the Mclellands zone a week or so ago.
Many days will see there at least 50 fish or more.
Over all lots of fish there, many average Bows and small Cutts, but many way better fish
in the deeper water zones in the trophy zones, but tuff guys to catch, spook real easy.
Have not fished the White much below Rim this past two weeks due to high water run off.
Rim now is good fishable water, Ranchette access above and below to Buffalo shoals will be
good water by now.
And there should be plenty of fish in those zones as high flood water does tend to move
fish down stream.
This will also be the case from Norfork down when that water cleans up of all trash.
Plenty of fish in those zones.
These fish will not be that picky at this time, more or less, fishing with streamers,
wets, soft hackles and indicators with various nymphs will work for sure there.
There has been very little fishing pressure in those zones for a while.
One tip here also, if you are fishing water that is well stained then use flies that
exhibit good color, as the fish will have a restricted zone of vision, trashy water, you
are best to get away from.
OK, guys if we have any further changes this month l will let you know.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 2003-2005 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.
|
