As predicted, the lake levels at Bull Shoals have now returned to target level and below.  This has meant significantly lower flows.  Many of you have asked if this has meant “dead-low” water; to answer your question, No, it has not been dead-low, but it has been fairly “wadeable” in the mornings.  Norfork has been off quite a bit, too.

Here’s a look at what it’s been doing for the last several days…

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As you can see, they’ve been running some, but not nearly the amounts they’ve been running through the summer.

As far as what to use?

For our fly fishers, quite a few things have been been working.  Folks are having the best luck with woolly buggers, and red San Juan worms.  Especially in the morning, when the levels have been a little lower, bead head midges have been working as well.

For our spin fishers, even with the lower water, things have not changed too terribly much.  The same white/hot pink mice tails have still been the most productive thing going.  Several of our guests have also reported good luck with the larger nightcrawlers, too.

For those who like lures, pretty much any kind of gold or copper Colorado/Buoyant spoon, or Blue Fox has been producing really well.

The weather has been cool in the morning, and warming up nicely in the afternoon.  It’s a great time to come fishing on the White River, and I hope we see you soon!

I’m going to make a prediction about the water levels here on the White River…

I typically don’t like to make predictions more than a few days out, but this seems like pretty much as easy a prediction as I’ll ever have the opportunity to make…  so, here goes!

Lake’s about 662 ft above sea level today…  Target is 654.  The lake’s been dropping about 8 inches or more per day.  Lakes above have hit pool.

I’m thinking 2 weeks or less to hit target.

So, when the target is reached; we’ll be in pretty mild weather…  Probably not a huge demand for power.  And once target level is reached, SWPA takes over…  and they don’t run water “jus’ cuz”; they run it to make money…  so they’ll sit on it…

So, sometime around 9/20 to 9/25, I expect to see drastically reduced flows…

Therefore; if you’re a higher water fan like me and you’re planning a visit, come now!  If you’ve been waiting for some lower water, I think your wait is about up!

Either way, I’ll be here waitin’… 

Your White River Trout Diva

Just wanted to give you a little update on the fishing conditions here on the White River…

The fishing has been good and consistent, with an average of 7 generators max.  It’s been pretty much the same flow pattern over the last couple of weeks.

Drift fishing with river rigs weighted with 1/4 oz. Sinkers has been the ticket; #4 Aberdeen hooks will take care of most everything you want to put out there to ‘em…

And what to put on the hook???  Well, it’s something that resembles absolutely nothing in nature, actually…  Berkley Mice Tails…  If you haven’t seen them; No…  they don’t look like mice tails…  not to me, anyway… 

But, what they look like to the Trout Diva doesn’t really matter, now does it?

They are simply a scented plastic worm with a Powerbait ball attached to one end; in a different color from the worm.  Doesn’t sound like much, does it?  Well, doesn’t look like much, either…  but they WORK!

White head / bubblegum body and vice-versa are working equally well for the spin/bait crowd…

For the flyfishers, San Juan worms in blood red and hot pink, weighted heavy and drifted deep under an indicator seemed to work the best.

And for Lure chuckin’?  Get those Size 9 Countdowns and Size 10 Extreme Action Slashbaits out of your tackle boxes and throw ‘em TIGHT to the bank…  did I mention TIGHT to the bank???

That’s all for now…

See you on the River!

Your White River Trout Diva

Lots of people have been calling to ask us what’s going on with the River?  Well, I’ve decided this; Dams are Good, and I’m glad I’m near one.

Yes, there has been rain and severe weather in the region, but the worst has missed us for the most part.  No, we haven’t had any tornadoes here, thank God…  Wind did knock down a couple of our trees just the other night.  It’s been lovely the last 2 days, and went back to somewhat overcast today.

The White River in our stretch was muddy for 2 days, and we did have sticks, grass, logs, etc., floating past us on and off for that time, but it cleared up quickly.  They’ve been running 1 to 3 generators for the last couple of days, and the fishing is good.

Folks wonder why our conditions are better up here.  It’s simply just our location.  We’re only 15 miles down from Bull Shoals Dam.  There are only a few minor creeks between us and there.  (The larger undammed tributaries, Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River, are about 11 and 17 river miles down from us, respectively.)

“Dirty” or “Trashy” water conditions are cumulative.  In other words, the farther down a river from the dam you go, the more mud & debris enters it from the creeks and other tributaries.  Today (4/30/2011), you can see from our Live River Cam shot we have excellent conditions.

4/30/2011 Live River Cam Shot

But what is going to happen in the near future in regards to river flow?  For those who would like a really in-depth view, look at http://www.hisplaceresort.net/River-flow.htm.

But let me give you the Reader’s Digest version.  Beaver Lake and Table Rock Lake are on their way down, therefore, Bull Shoals is on it’s way up, expecting to crest around 5/11/2011.

So, they will be, at some point, running more water than the 1 – 3 or 4 they have been.  This is great news for you trophy fishermen and boaters!  I guarantee I’m going to be taking advantage of it…  Trout Diva needs some new fishing photos to share with you! The last time we had high water was some of the best trout fishing we’ve ever seen.

Give us a call and we’ll be happy to set you up with a guide.  The last time we had high spring flows, people who have never caught Brown Trout before were catching them right and left…  from 18 to 26 inches.  It was crazy!

And now that we’ve had 2 years with the new restrictions on Browns, we fully expect more of the same…    The trout don’t quit biting because of high water, they have to eat more!  It leaves them fewer places to feed efficiently, and makes the larger fish much less spooky, and somewhat more predictable.  It’s an opportunity you’ll want to take advantage of!

If you’re used to wading, it’s time to learn how to fish from a boat!  I have a video, Big Water Fishing (look here) showing you how high-water fly fishing is done!  We can also set you up with our top notch fly fishing guides.  Don’t let higher water prevent you from some of the best trout fishing you can experience.

We’ll keep you posted…

As the habitat restoration project at Bull Shoals Dam comes to a close, the generation patterns are beginning to change slightly over the last few days.

What you can see from the graphs above, is that the pattern of letting the water below Bull Shoals Dam begin to fall out around midnight, and not be turned on again until the afternoon has been replaced with almost 2 days now of a relatively solid flow of approximately 2000 CFS, and negligible spikes.  

In our area, a somewhat wider portion of the river, there is good wade access at 2000 CFS.  That is also enough water to navigate by boat, although some shoals might require short stretches of having to drag.

Fishing, both spin & fly, has been very good. 

For the bait fishermen, soft-shell crawdads, sculpin, shrimp & redworms have given the best results.  Hot pink Nitro worms have been working well, too.  

For those who like to fish artificials, the smaller Bouyant spoons in nearly any color, and Size 3 & 5 Rapala countdowns in Silver/Black and Gold/Black have been the top producers. 

For fly-fishing, bead-head prince nymphs, around a size 12, have really worked well for quite a few of our guests, and the White River staple, the olive woolly bugger, has also been a go-to fly — either beadhead or non-beadhead.  A few guests also reported that brown woolly buggers were working for them as well. 

My prediction for water flow for the next week or so is as follows:  The lakes are not particularly high, even with Bull Shoals Lake up 0.9 ft.  to 654.9.  However, you have to remember this time of year, decisions are made off the SEASONAL pool level, which is 656, not 654.  In other words, the Corps doesn’t have to run water just to get the Bull Shoals Lake down.  

Under these circumstances, control is back in the hands of SWPA for the time being, who will only run it for power demand.  With the moderate temperatures we’re experiencing in the region, chances are the demands will be relatively light.  So my guess is we’ll see similar levels for this week, anyway. 

Remember, you can always get up to the minute information and explanations to help you interpret it at http://www.hisplaceresort.net/River-flow.htm.  

We look forward to serving you! 

Your White River Trout Diva