Special Note
Gearing up for a start to the spring season in late February. I'll be speaking at the White River Chapter of TU on February 6th and the North Arkansas Fly Fishers on February 21st. Come on out. I hope to see many of you.
We continue to have mild weather and occasional, brief cold spells. We've had some great winter fishing opportunities, but anglers by-and-large have not been taking advantage of them. The spring booking season, however, is looking good.
The catch and release area below Bull Shoals dam is open again, and brown trout will be scattering back downriver to their territorial homes and will be putting on weight. We'll start to see some very healthy fish by March. March through June is my favorite time for brown trout fishing on the White.
We've seen good streamer fishing water the past couple of weeks with the higher flows. With rains coming back into the picture every few days, the Corps will increase generation if the reservoirs rise even slightly into the flood pools until lake levels drop back to conservation levels.
Ozark Fly Flinger
Fishing Reports and Water Conditions
National Weather Service Forecast for Rogers, AR
National Weather Service Forecast for Mountain Home, AR
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Reader assumes all risk and responsibility. Warning—these are tailwaters that have widely fluctuating levels and currents. Please make yourself aware of the safety concerns involved in fishing or boating in these waters. Don't become a statistic.
Scott's Fly-fishing Forecast
Weather - We had a good rain Friday. Cooling back down but still nice weather ahead into the new week. Enjoy.
Generation - Reservoirs edging up again after we received 3/4 to 1.5 of rain 1/3. Any let up in generation this weekend will probably be short lived. Most powerhouses are peaking generation in the morning and/or in the evening.
General Hatch Info - Midges rule through the winter. An occasional Tiny Blue Winged Olive hatch can be expected on Bull Shoals tailwater through the winter months sporadically on the calm weather afternoons. Some localized caddis may continue to show up periodically through the winter months.
Flies to Try - Scuds, sowbugs, and attractor nymphs are the focus for winter nymph fishing: Streamers are productive with higher flows. Patterns to have in your box this winter:
Natural Deer Hair Caddis (#18-20), Caddis pupa (#14-20), Crackleback (#12-16), Royal Wulff (#14), Griffith's Gnat (#20), Olive WD-40 (#18-20), Zebra Midge (#16-20), Rubber Legged Copper John (#12-16), Epoxy Back Hare's Ear (#12-16), Red Fox Squirrel Nymph (#10-14), Sparrow Nymph (#10), Prince Nymph (#12-16), Flashback Pheasant Tail Nymph (#12-18), Beadhead Pheasant Tail Nymph (#14-18), Scud (#12-16); Sow Bug (#16-18), Beadhead Brassie, Y2K Bug (#12), Black, Olive, or Brown Beadhead Woolly Bugger (#2-10), Layered Marabou Sculpin (#8), Muddler Minnow (#6-10), Olive or Black Lead-Eyed Rabbit Leech (#6), Arkansas Beadhead (#8-10), White Zonker (#8-10).
Beaver/Table Rock tailwaters - Beaver powerhouse has been peaking both units morning and evening and cutting back to one unit during the day the past week. Table Rock powerhouse has been following a similar pattern peaking all four units morning and evening and cutting back to one or two mid-day.
Bull Shoals/Norfork tailwaters - Bull Shoals powerhouse generation has been running around-the-clock. Flows have been ranging from 8,000 cfs overnight and mid-day with peaks of up to 22,000 cfs. Stronger peaks have been in the morning. Watch for changes.
At Norfork tailwater, generation has been peaking both units morning and evening and cutting back to one unit during the mid-day
Greers Ferry tailwater - Greers Ferry generation likewise has been nearly around-the-clock with peaks morning and/or evening and cutbacks during the middle of the day. Watch for changes.
Beaver Tailwater - (Click image for realtime data. Click here for explanation. Click here for realtime data in tabular form.)
Beaver Dam has two generating units. Normal flows can range daily from 20 CFS at low water to over 8,800 CFS with both units in full operation. The current flow status of Beaver Tailwater can be obtained by calling 417-336-5083.
Table Rock Tailwater (Lake Taneycomo) - (Click image for realtime data. Click here for explanation. Click here for realtime data in tabular form.)
Table Rock Dam has four generating units. Normal flows can range daily from 40 CFS at low water to 15,100 CFS at full discharge. The current flow status of Table Rock Tailwater (Lake Taneycomo) can be obtained by calling 417-336-5083.
Bull Shoals Tailwater - (Click image for realtime data. Click here for explanation. Click here for realtime data in tabular form.)
Because of the length of this tailwater and the delay of tailout and rising water downstream, wade fishers should call the current status number periodically to know when generation has started and how many units have been brought on-line. Be aware of changing water conditions. Bull Shoals Dam has eight generating units, and flows can range daily from 50 CFS at low water to 26,400 CFS with all eight units running. The current flow status of Bull Shoals Tailwater can be obtained by calling 870-431-5311.
Estimated Flow Times by Location
Norfork Tailwater - (Click image for real time data. Click here for explanation. Click here for realtime data in tabular form.)
Norfork Dam has two generating units. Normal flows can range daily from 20 CFS at low water to 7,200 CFS at full discharge. The current flow status of Norfork Tailwater can be obtained by calling 870-431-5311.
Greers Ferry Tailwater (Little Red River) - (Click image for realtime data. Click here for explanation. Click here for realtime data in tabular form.)
Greers Ferry Dam has two generating units. Normal flows can range daily from 20 CFS at low water to 7,900 CFS at full discharge. The current flow status of Greers Ferry Tailwater can be obtained by calling 501-362-5150.
Quick Links
Water Resource Information for White River Tailwaters and Related Streams
See the "Links" button on the menu at the top for my complete links listing.
Southwestern Power Administration
SWPA posts estimated power generation schedules for Beaver, Table Rock, Bull Shoals, Norfork, and Greers Ferry dams.
US Army Corps of Engineers - Little Rock District
USACE provides access to current conditions, realtime data, daily lake and river reports and forecasts below all the White River system dams.
USGS Hydrographs for Calico Rock
These USGS hydrographs gives flow and stage levels of the White River at Calico Rock (sixty-two miles below Bull Shoals dam).
USGS Hydrographs for King's River
USGS Hydrographs for Crooked Creek
USGS Hydrographs for Buffalo River at St. Joe