The numbers of trophy Browns we caught were unreal, many days of more than a dozen fish that were between 16 and 24 ins, which is largely due to the 24 ins size limit and the successful spawning of the species.

Unfortunately due to the unprecedented levels of rainfall we now have a very different situation. Lake levels in the system are full and it is very likely that we will see some flood stage water release from the dams over and above generation release once water levels lower in the State and the Mississippi delta have reduced.

At the time of writing we are experiencing some high-water flows for both the White and Norfork rivers. Contrary to popular belief this by no means eliminates the opportunity to experience some great fly fishing, granted wade fishing may well be limited, all be it the Spring river will offer that as it is not a tailwater subject to generation release.

Boat fishing is the way to go here.

This provides very many options. Streamer fishing for many is first choice. trophy Brown trout will migrate to the shorelines and be found close to shoreline structure and over flooded grass. Choice of fly lines will be determined by speed and depth of water which may be from a dry line, sink tips or full sink lines. So far as flies are concerned there are many, choice of color may make a great deal of difference at time, so chop and change from white, black, olive, yellow or combinations of those colors, size of lures used may also make the difference. There will be days when a regular long shank 8 or 6 hook is good, other you will need streamers of 4 to 6 ins in length. Simply there is no definite answer to what will work one day from the next.

My personal choices are Zoo Cougars and large muddler type flies.

Do no dismiss either the value of using large jigs, they can be deadly, cast with a dry line and then jerked back with a rise and fall technique. Here l would opt for at least a 6wt if not a 7wt line to deal with heavy weight jigs.

Dry fly fishing. This is the year we expect to see the million fly cicada hatches. Trout will nail these large terrestrial flies, so be prepared as it is going to happen, many large brown trout will be caught at this time casting these imitations into and close to the shorlines and open water where you see fish rising.

Other than the cicada, many other dry fly options will work. By and large trout are curious at times and will check out a likely looking food source. Hoppers, larger dries such as Adams, Elk hair caddis, Hare ear, Royal coachman, Irresistible, humpys, are all those that are good choices. In fact l have used stonefly imitations, stimulators and flies of that order to catch many fish during high water flows, give it a go you never know.

Nymph fishing dead drift.

Simply the deal to come to terms with this is to have a rig that will allow for your fly or flies to track close to the river bed. In order for you to do this you will need sufficient length from the indicator and weight.

Granted without intimate knowledge it will not be easy to determine exact depth. There are a couple of pointers here. Look for water that you can see the river bed, fish over flooded grass lands, moss beds, the tail outs of known submerged or visible islands and gravel bars and slower water zones off the main stream flows and close to shorlines.

The perfect scenario is to use a long rod of around 10ft for a 6wt line. Have a very short butt section to the fly line of 2ft of 20lb leader. This is where you will attach the indicator. Add to the butt section from the indicator from 8 to 14 ft of 4 or 5x tippet. 2ft above the end of the tippet add a short section of line and form a surgeons knot, this will give you a stop knot to avoid your shot sliding down. You may also use the lower section tag from this knot for a second dropper fly. This is more or less a standard rig. You may have to adjust this if fishing shallower zones.

Weight and flies.. It is better to string shot rather than say use one large shot. As a rule l will use from 2 to 4 no I size, which will deal with almost all water depth of average 8 to 10 ft with a 12 to 14ft leader from the indicator.

Flies. There are many options here and it is not always as many might believe needed to fish large flies. Fish will feed on the naturals which are generally small, such as sowbugs, scuds, midges, small bait fish, worms and caddis larva, in sizes from 10 to 18, they will also take your imitations if you maintain good drift control and allow for the flies to track well for long drifts.

If you carry a good selection of different colored San Juan worms, sowbugs, whitetail black and red midges, scuds, prince nymphs, GRHE, various bead heads, eggs and jigs you will not go far wrong. Fishing two fly combinations will increase options for fish to take, often we will use a hi vis fly such as a red or pink worm in conjunction with a midge or sowbug, two fly worm rigs can also be a good bet at times. It's one of those deals that on any given day you have to figure out what is the best combination and that may well change during the day as light conditions and feeding patterns shift.