Your one-stop website for fly fishing the White River, the Norfork Tailwater, and Lake Taneycomo
April ‘10 Newsletter Spring comes in like a lion in the Ozarks and another wild ride has commenced
I must have sounded like a broken record. For months, my mantra was: “wait just a little bit longer and if we stay dry, low water will come.” This scenario played out as hoped for over late winter and early spring, and by mid-March, lake levels across the region were at or below the power pool level. Although some low water became available on the smaller tailwaters early last month, wading opportunities were very rare on the White River and Lake Taneycomo despite being near power pool.
Right before the weekend of March 19th, the water was shut down on both the White River and Norfork Tailwater for days on end. This low water corresponded with the Annual Sow Bug Roundup fly fishing event in Mountain Home. Fishermen had a hey-day casting to nice trout that had not seen very many flies over the past six months. Because the transition from high to low water was not sudden on the White, when low flows finally arrived, the trout were ready to feed.
After months of anticipation followed by finally realizing our low water dreams, the trend over the last few years is that all good things can (and will) end at a moment’s notice. Normal spring rains finally hit the area at the end of the Sow Bug Roundup weekend, and that deluge was followed by another round of soaking rain the following week. When the entire region is wet, it does not take much precipitation to get the tributaries flowing. Of course, when we really need the water during dry periods, it takes copious amounts of rain to minimally impact the reservoirs.
At this point in time, it looks like high-water fishing is going to be the predominant method for the next couple of weeks –or longer. This does not bother me, as April is such a pleasurable month to fish no matter what the water does. March is the Ozark’s windiest month and the normally calm conditions that follow are welcome by most. The temperatures in April often border on ‘perfect’, and many days see highs in the upper 70’s and lower 80’s. Unfortunately, some of the dry fly opportunities we so looked forward to will likely have to wait until later. April is a particularly good month for hooking into large browns in high water, and the current moderate to heavy flows means that streamer fishing could turn on in a big way. I will keep everyone updated on this possibility in upcoming reports.
Life on the White River Basin Tailwaters is not just about adapting to changes. Maintaining a mental edge on these sometimes wacky rivers also involves never getting attached to certain conditions. The dams are in place to provide a way to control river levels in a coordinated fashion, so one must accept the fact that nothing will last forever. Sure, locals like me have certain conditions we prefer, but versatile White River anglers relish the challenge of catching fish with a fly rod in really high water. It is not that hard, but it does take a lot of practice with a boat. Don’t be put off by the recent flow changes, though – believe me, fishing will be great this month. Let’s hope releases remain moderate, but regardless, there are so many big fish out there that it really doesn’t matter. I had a chance to evaluate the state of the White in a very limited way during the brief low-water stint, and there are many eighteen to thirty-inch browns just waiting to be caught. I think the new widespread brown trout regulations are working already; I was a proponent of this legislation from the start because it actually made sense. Unfortunately, in light of recent conservation embarrassments, I’m afraid that this success may have been a one-shot deal.
A note on promotions
Because there has been little interest generated in my guide trip promotions, I will be making them more of a “couple of times of year” type of deal. I think this will make these offers more valuable. That said, I still plan on offering other types of promotions, including subscriber-only discounts on flies and tackle every month.
It has been busy around here lately, so I have not quite finished my newest collection of flies to be sold – “The pick-your-own” Selection. This will basically give everyone the chance to purchase specific patterns in the sizes, colors and styles they prefer. Since so many flies are going to be offered, it has been quite the task setting this up on the site. Once everything is completed, I will be emailing all of the newsletter subscribers regarding a special discount.
Guide Tips for April The basics of White River emerger and soft hackle fishing
The concept of emerger fishing can confound beginner and intermediate anglers, as the subject seems to be both vague and broad in scope. Emerger fishing, for all intensive purposes, refers to imitating insects that are in the stage between being a nymph and being an adult. Emerging bugs can be found at any water level, and there are times when trout will key-in on these vulnerable insects.
There are two ways in which emerger patterns are most commonly fished on White River Basin trout fisheries: on the drift and on the strip/swing. These rivers are characterized by long stretches of slow water when flows are low, so the trout are exposed to emerging midges almost every day. Although midge emergers can come in all shapes and sizes, fly selection for effectively fishing these rivers does not have to be overly complicated. Rather, it is critical to pay close attention to trout feeding behavior and use the appropriate fly and technique for the situation.
Rarely is the emerger bite an all-day bite, but when it is ‘on’, expect interest on every cast. Imitating insects that are about to hatch is extremely deadly on our waters, and every complete Ozark fly angler should have a decent grasp of the when, where and why of fishing with emergers. Those who are prepared for everything will realize the most consistent results, and there are times when nothing but a properly-presented emerger will do.
Basic White River Basin emerger patterns
The aquatic life of the White River Basin fisheries is not overly complex, and anglers should focus on having several patterns that imitate emerging caddis and midges. There is hardly a need to get too specific, and I have found that soft hackles in a variety of sizes can represent both types of insects quite well. Other styles of emergers can produce at times, especially during the mornings before a hatch, but for year-round consistency, a soft hackle is hard to beat.
Any soft hackle that is larger than a size #16 is a solid caddis imitation, and the smaller patterns effectively imitate emerging midges. Over the years, I have added quite a few soft hackles to my arsenal, but I do like to keep things as simple as possible. I usually carry two styles of these flies with me on the river: weighted and unweighted. The heavy soft hackles are for fishing slow water on a tight line or swing, and the light ones are perfect for drifting in moving water. Keep in mind that the lead I am adding to the weighted flies is not intended to sink the fly all the way to the bottom. Rather, the purpose is to keep the fly from skimming the surface of the water. On a size #18 soft hackle, I will use eight to ten wraps of .010 lead, and I like the way the weighted patterns look when tied on a TMC 3761 hook. Be sure to use high-grade partridge hackle and strong hooks. Popular colors are: red, black, white/cream, gray, orange, green and yellow. Below are a few pictures of the soft hackles I like to use as emergers. Drifting emergers
Of the two most common ways to fish soft hackles on White River Basin trout fisheries, drifting emergers is probably the easiest method to figure out. I tend to use unweighted flies fished below a split-shot or weighted dropper when drifting an emerger before or during a hatch. Because most of the water is very slow on Lake Taneycomo during low-flow periods, there are just few good areas to employ this technique. Stick to swinging and stripping there unless you are around the outlets or fishing one of the few runs. Drifting a soft hackle from the bank when they are running one or two units can also be deadly. There are countless areas to drift emergers of all types on the White and Norfork when the water is down because of the abundance of shoals and riffles. Look for tailouts to be particularly productive. In zones that receive a lot of pressure, drifting a tiny soft hackle in a slow run will fool the bigger fish. This technique works exceptionally well throughout the year – whether there is a hatch coming off or not. During the caddis emergence of the spring, get your bigger flies ready. On a typical “hatch day” early in the season, soft hackles will be my fly-of-choice until the fish start taking adults off of the surface. Then, it’s dry fly time.
Swinging and stripping soft hackles
A major upside to soft hackles is their versatility. Drift it, swing it, do a little bit of both – it really does not matter. One of the most exciting ways to fish for trout on Ozark rivers is by stripping lightly weighted soft hackles in the slow pools. When presented properly, the fly will ride an inch or two below the surface. This means that most strikes are very visual and resemble dry fly rises. Because a strike-indicator is not encouraged when swinging or stripping soft hackles, many pseudo-purists make this type of fishing their nymph method of choice.
The basic setup for stripping soft hackles on White River Basin tailwaters starts with a 9-foot leader tapered to 4x attached to a weight-forward, floating line. I will always add a foot or two of either 5x or 6x tippet to the end of the leader.
If the river you are fishing is likely to be low for the entire day, hold off on this technique until mid-morning. The trout need to be active in order to aggressively chase down small flies near the surface – go deep and slow until the sun really hits the water and some fish start slurping. Once the soft hackle bite starts, it will often last for the rest of the day, so don’t burn yourself out too early.
To effectively present a soft hackle on a tight line, look for medium-depth pools where there are lots of fish – the trout do not need to be rising to emergers for this technique to work, but it doesn’t hurt. Cast straight or slightly downstream, and shake out some slack so that the fly can sink a little bit. Mend up or down, if necessary, and once the end of your fly line is at the 10-o’clock position, start slowly stripping. Be prepared to either feel a strike or to see a trout take. A strip-set works very well because a missed fish often gets another chance to eat the fly.
When to use emergers
The White River Basin soft hackle and emerger bite most often occurs on low water, although there are times when the action can be briefly excellent during falling water. Early morning is not the best time to strip or swing flies, so be patient and wait until the fish start to get active before trying this particular technique. Drifting soft hackles will work throughout the day. Because midges hatch steadily every month of the year, emerger fishing can be productive in the dead of winter, but the best seasons are spring and fall. If fish are feeding actively on emerging midges or caddis, stripping or swinging is the way to go, and some wind chop on the water’s surface definitely helps hide any flaws in presentation.
There are very few river systems where stripping and swinging flies is as effective as it is on the White River Basin, and during periods of low water, this type of fly fishing can be an absolute blast. Never hesitate to try a soft hackle or another type of emerger pattern if your confidence flies are not producing. Fishing this way has been a big time guide and local secret for decades, and it never hurts to have another proven technique that you can fall back on.
Conservation Corner Possible solutions for Arkansas’s trout program woes
I am fearful that the following suggestions will ruffle a few feathers, but it is time that broad solutions to the issues that plague the White River and Norfork Tailwater are put out there. Both area fly fishermen and bait fishermen agree that there is a problem with these fisheries and that numbers of trophy fish are way down on certain stretches, but each group has uniquely different ways in which they think these issues should be dealt with. Since bait fishing, hook-mortality and excessive harvest are at the core of the problem, it is easy to see why the Ozark fishing community is so polarized – the commercial interests have been able to fish in ways that are detrimental to the health of these rivers for years without having to provide justification. Considering the fact that Arkansas Game and Fish data reflects the public’s desire for more trophy water, it is difficult to see why change has been so slow to come.
The bait fishing contingency feels that the natural cycles of the rivers will ensure their future health, and to some degree, this is true. Both the White and Norfork are in excellent shape now because of the previous years of continual high water, but just a few weeks of low flows can virtually erase all gains, as many big fish are very vulnerable to natural baits during lower water conditions. When any talk of improving the fisheries through proven but restrictive management strategies is proposed, a war is certain to follow, as the bait fishing faction feels threatened by any action that could potentially limit harvest and the use of bait.
Unfortunately, these fisheries are past the point of thinking a “wait and hope” attitude will do much long term good. Fishing pressure is exponentially greater than it was just ten years ago, and there are new habitat concerns that threaten the overall health of the rivers. Fixing the habitat will take time, and I do not think that many people in the area would be for limiting the number of anglers allowed on certain stretches of water, but there are actions that can be taken immediately that would improve the fishing for trophy and bait fishermen alike. Of course, regulation changes involve compromise, but there is a way to set this up that will allow for the best of both worlds; the new trophy zones will provide exceptional big fish action, and the unrestricted areas will hold exponentially more quality fish than they did before the changes.
My preferred approach
Catch and release regulations are necessary when it comes to protecting threatened or spawning fish, and I think that the current catch and release area directly below Bull Shoals Dam should keep the same regulations indefinitely. Otherwise, the White would benefit greatly from several strategically located slot-limit areas where only trout above (or below) a certain length may be harvested. In order for this type of rule to function properly, the use of natural bait would have to be eliminated in the trophy zones. Slot-limits are extremely popular because they work so well at establishing big fish populations, while still allowing for the harvest of certain trout for consumption or vanity.
A plan for the White
In a nutshell, the White has the potential to be the best trophy trout river in the Lower 48 states, and this could be accomplished by converting less than 20 of the 44 miles of open trout water from Bull Shoals Dam to the town of Norfork into slot-limit water. This means outfitters could still market harvest and bait trips while being able to boast once again about this river’s prolific productivity.
As mentioned, the upper catch and release area should stay in place, and from Bull Shoals State Park downstream to Gaston’s Resort would make for an incredible trophy zone. Yes, a few resorts will have to change some things around to get to bait water when the river is low, but otherwise, high-dollar traffic will drastically increase if there are substantial numbers of really big fish in the river.
From Gaston’s down to Wildcat Shoals would make for a great bait fishing stretch, and the slot-limit would pick up again from Wildcat to Cotter and then again from Jenkins Creek (Rim Shoals) down to Ranchette. Although this setup would take some getting used to, there is no doubt that these changes would help the fishery while reestablishing the White as the Country’s foremost trophy trout fishery.
A plan for the Norfork
Because the Norfork is just a shade less than 5 miles in length, this tailwater is the perfect place for sweeping trophy regulations. If this entire river was turned into a slot-limit area, anglers would travel from great distances to see this amazing river. The brook and cutthroat trout would grow huge, and the Norfork possesses such strong habitat that it is scary to think of how many big fish this short stretch could hold. This river is under siege right now, and no other Ozark trout fishery has diminished so significantly over the last ten years. We have past the breaking-point, and if something is not done expediently, the Norfork will merely be a stocker ditch – it’s already so close. While for major changes to occur on the White River there will need to be a regional shift in attitudes and perceptions, the Norfork has already been close to being designated a trophy river. Last-minute political maneuvering got in the way of 2003’s valiant effort to implement a slot-limit, but that regulation is still on the “table”. All it will take is for a few intelligent Arkansas Game and Fish Commissioners to “see the light” and the incredible value of this regulation for one of the state’s most prized resource.
Those who are content with the deterioration of the White and Norfork and contend that “things are fine” will likely find my suggestions pure blasphemy, and I’m sure I’ll hear the same scared arguments regarding why the current regulations should not change. The tourists that have come to the area for years because of the chance of catching a big fish will not visit as much when trophy fish become extinct – there is really no reason to travel to a purely put-and-take fishery. Those who want the opportunity to fish for big trout are always the last ones considered, but ironically, this group holds significant financial and national political influence. Unfortunately, the good old boy system of Arkansas is set up to resist outside influence, no matter how logical it may be.
Nothing worth having ever comes without a struggle, and I truly feel that we are as close to real change as we ever have been. It will take a sustained effort, many great people work on this cause daily. You can do your part by letting the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission know your thoughts. This Web site is a great place to start if you want to let those in charge know just what you think needs to be done.
Until next month…
If you get the chance, come on down and fish the Ozarks this April. The scenery is amazing when the foliage returns, and the fishing is going to be fantastic. There may be some moderate water in the beginning of the month, but things could get low again very soon if the region stays dry. The White and Norfork are absolutely loaded with four to seven-pound browns – no doubt a reflection of the new Arkansas brown trout regulations. Taneycomo is in the best shape it’s been in for a long time. The 20-inchers are back and the color on these fish is vibrant. Let me know if you are heading this way, and I will do all that I can to point you in the right direction.
