Your one-stop website for fly fishing the White River, the Norfork Tailwater, and Lake Taneycomo
“Fall is the favorite time of year for most White River fly fishing guides and anglers because the water flows are typically perfect for wading all day. The Ozark Mountain scenery is something to behold during the fall fly fishing season, and the dry fly and nymph fishing will be exceptional. Fly fishing on Lake Taneycomo near Branson, Missouri becomes alive with activity due to the legendary brown run, and the White River and Norfork Tailwater in Arkansas offer up many diverse fly fishing opportunities.”
Norfork
Fall
The first cold front in September marks the beginning of the fall season, and the flows will begin to lighten when the daytime highs are consistently in the 70’s. By late September there is usually ample low water below Norfork and Table Rock Dams, but Bull Shoals will often run the dam at 20 to 50% power for some of the days during the week. Weekends will again be the best times for long stretches of low water. As fall temperatures settle in, look for flows to become very light. October is the best month of the year for nice weather, low water, good fishing, and incredible scenery. The Ozark Mountains come alive with vibrant colors usually by the second week in October, and the peak for the fall foliage can last into early November if winds are light. Fishing can be excellent in both September and October, but cold fronts can make the fishing tricky, like in May. By late October, windy days can make fishing difficult because the water becomes littered with dead leaves, but decent fishing can still be had on almost any windy day when the water is low. While good fishing prevails for the rest of fall on the White River tailwaters, Norfork tends to slow down as dissolved oxygen levels are at their lowest point of the year. Late fall can be a slow time for action fishing, but many big fish are on the move so a slow day can become memorable in a heartbeat. Dry fly fishing in the fall can be awesome, and both big and small patterns can be used effectively. Also, the fall caddis hatch on the White below Bull Shoals can be prolific. The best imitations are in tan, olive, and cinnamon, and they should be small to medium sized. Fall is a magical time in the Ozarks, and it is one of the busiest times for fly fishing guides in the area, so be sure to book your trip early. The trout parks of Missouri are also alive with hatches in the early fall.
