Complete White River Fly Fishing Website

Newsletter for May of 2010

April has come and gone, and I must admit that the fishing over the last month was not very consistent. We had a series of fronts come through, and the rapidly changing weather coupled with consistently inconsistent water flows made for some challenging conditions. Still, on the days where everything came together, the fishing was fantastic. The White River, Norfork Tailwater and Lake Taneycomo are all loaded with bigger-than-average trout, so I am excited about the prospects for May. Although there was very little dead-low water this last April, flows were rarely heavy, so drift fishing was very enjoyable.

Standard high-water flies like worms, eggs and big nymphs are all producing on the White. Caddis have been thick over there starting in the afternoon, and once the hatch gets going, scores of trout are stacking up in slow eddies and other slack-water areas. Many different types of caddis and mayfly nymphs are also working in the mornings before the bugs make it to the surface. Never be afraid to try a new pattern on the White River Basin fisheries - sometimes all it takes to make an average day stellar is to find a fly that the fish are not used to seeing.

As of this writing, both the White and Norfork are giving up long periods of low water. This is one of those “windows of opportunity” that has to do with the Corp of Engineers’ flood-control policies, so if you get the chance, head on down for some amazing wade fishing. Otherwise, both Norfork and Bull Shoals Lakes are still several feet high, so once things settle down, look for steady releases over the first part of May. Hopefully, flows will remain moderate, as the dry fly fishing is just now heating up. Bugs are popping on the Norfork, and the recent low water has made for some amazing surface action.

May is traditionally a fickle time in the Ozarks due to the constant cold-fronts, but rarely are the rivers in such prime shape with big fish like they are this year. Most days will offer up excellent fishing, and the sheer number of chunky browns on the White and Norfork is staggering. The new minimum-length regulation has made a big difference, and it is great to see our rivers resembling the ‘good old days’ once again.

First of all, I appreciate everyone who has expressed interest in our hosted trips to Boise, Idaho. Unfortunately, my partner out there has been a little under the weather, so we haven’t been able to get as organized as we would have liked. If things fall into place, we still want to do the June trip, but if it doesn’t happen, there will be another opportunity in September. There have been a few exciting developments, like the possibility of staying in a cabin right on the river – this place is really cool and will reduce the trip cost quite a bit. My associate is also willing to put together personalized hosted trips for any time of year. So if you want to fish the Owyhee, and our group excursion is delayed or doesn’t work with your schedule, give Gabe a call. He will set you up with a great guide, wonderful lodging, transportation and everything else you will need to take advantage of the Boise area’s prolific fly fishing opportunities. His number is: (208) 968-3359 Email: gcflyfish@yahoo.com

I am not currently running any fly specials, but look for a big one next month. Because my guide schedule is fairly busy over the course of May and June, I am going to save my next guide trip promotion for July or August. There are always good deals on my “Flies for Sale” page, and I have several new kits available. Check it out if you haven’t been to this part of the site in awhile.

To say that dry fly fishing is addictive would be a huge understatement, and some anglers become so passionate about this style of fishing that they only fish on top. While this may work out well for someone who can spend as much time on the water as they want, most guys struggle to find the time to get just a few days a year out on a river; and when they do get out there, they want to be as productive as possible throughout the day.

Although there are rare exceptions to this rule, for the most part, the bigger bugs like caddis and sulphurs do not really start to hatch until the water has the chance to warm up a few degrees. If the water has been low all morning, do not expect much in the way of surface activity until 1pm. Most people want to start fishing in the morning, so it is important to have a nymph strategy that covers all the bases during the non-hatch periods.

For the first part of the morning – especially if it’s foggy – expect to see some very sparse midge activity and that will be about it. Starting out with a small Zebra-style or thread midge will imitate the current bugs the fish are seeing, and it is not uncommon to hook into something big on a midge nymph first thing in the morning. Fish the tailouts of riffles where the water starts to get slow and deep.

Usually during the spring, the fog will burn off by 10 to 11am, and this will be the time when the fish first start seeing bigger bugs beginning the hatch cycle. A dry fly might pique a small amount of interest, but it’s still a little early for that. Stick with nymph and emerger techniques until it becomes obvious that the fish are looking upward to feed. Sparse soft hackles are a good caddis imitation, and a classic Pheasant Tail serves as a very effective sulphur mayfly nymph. Move towards faster water as the action both on and below the surface picks up.

The trout will quickly turn off of nymphs once they key in on the adults, so pay close attention to how the fish are behaving around you. Lots of splashy rises usually indicates that the fish are taking caddis, whereas, the trout will take mayflies softly; often sticking their entire head out of the water. Because the fish on the White and Norfork are not overly exposed to dry flies, there will be times where anything floating will draw attention. In general, the Norfork is more technical from a dry fly and nymph standpoint, so you may need to make adjustments in both size and color more often there than you would on the White.

There are some occasional hatches on upper Lake Taneycomo, but the slow, deep water makes for tough dry fly conditions. Still, it never hurts to try any type of dry fly in areas where trout are concentrated in shallow water. The dry fly action most people are after will take place in Arkansas, as the hatches and layout of the White and Norfork are perfect for fishing dries. May is the peak month, but June and July also offer up decent hatches. Even though a dry with a dropper works very well at times, I recommend using just a single fly if the fish are keyed in on any phase of a hatch. This will help reduce tangles and allow you to spend the maximum amount of time fishing. There is nothing worse than picking through a preventable mess while there are trout rising all around.

The prospect of productive dry fly fishing makes the spring a great season to fish any of the Ozark tailwaters. Big fish will take dries on these rivers, but rarely will there be steady dry fly action all day long. Being prepared with a non-hatch strategy allows an angler the chance to be productive during tough mornings before the fish start looking up.

This month’s Conservation Corner is going to be a little shorter than normal, but I do want to take this opportunity to discuss how to approach a situation when you see someone blatantly violating conservation laws. No one wants to get into a confrontation on the water, but on the other hand, it can ruin your day if you see something that hurts the fishery and you do nothing. Over the years, I’ve learned to take a subtle approach, and it never hurts to “kill ‘em with kindness”. Never assume that fishermen know the rules of the river or the locations of the catch and release areas, so taking an educational tone will often garner the desired results – especially if the violators are truly ignorant of the fact that they are doing something illegal.

As mentioned, wear your kid-gloves in these situations, and simply tell the people that they are indeed breaking the law. Whether they thank you or start cursing, make the situation short and sweet. It is never worth getting into an altercation on the rivers, so if the situation is even a slight bit over your head, call a wildlife officer and the sheriff’s department. I would also avoid saying anything to a guide breaking the rules, as that situation requires real delicacy. Instead, try and photograph and document as much as possible while keeping your distance.

Never leave your comfort zone on the river, and this includes when confronting poachers. Always err on the side of caution, and keep in mind that it is not an angler’s job to enforce the rules of the fisheries. I speak up when I genuinely feel someone is clueless, and I will not call the authorities unless it is an egregious or dangerous situation. Obviously, if everyone stands idly by while our rivers get raped, we all lose, so it does pay to be vigilant out there. Taking a calm and sensible approach to a violation situation will preserve your sanity on the water while making a real difference in the quality of the Ozark trout fishing experience.

This upcoming month is going to be different from any May we’ve experienced in years. There will likely be a nice mix of light to moderate flows on the White River, the Norfork Tailwater and Lake Taneycomo, with some dead-low water mixed in. I am anticipating some of the best dry fly action we have seen in quite awhile, as it is already pretty amazing, and things are just heating up. This May will likely offer a little bit of something for everyone, and I am really excited about the different water flow regimes. Getting bored on the White or Norfork will be absolutely impossible this month.