Ozark Fly Flinger

Special Notes

Windvane

My neighbor's weathervane points to the darkening skies across Northwest Arkansas Saturday evening where several tornado warnings were issued. Only slight damage was reported in Bentonville, but killer tornados developed farther north in northeastern Oklahoma and southwestern Missouri. Over 20 deaths were reported by Sunday morning.

Rainfall totals look to be about an half-an-inch or so across northern Arkansas. Although, some places west of Mountain Home saw an inch to an inch-and-a-half. Lake levels have risen between .2 and .4 of a foot since Saturday.

Newport river stage continues to drop, and the regulating stage of 18-feet ought to be reached by Tuesday. Watch for increased generation from Bull Shoals and Norfork dams.

Fishing Reports and Water Conditions RSS

National Weather Service Forecast for Rogers, AR

National Weather Service Forecast for Mountain Home, AR

Weather.com radar

Sunday, May 11, 2008

(Times are in 24 hour time)

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 - Chance of thunderstorms Tuesday and Thursday. Otherwise, some nice weather perhaps this week.

Generation - All the White River reservoirs are being managed for flood control. Since reservoirs are full, this means any significant rainfall that occurs in the watershed will have to be passed on through hydropower, and perhaps, spillway releases. Please be aware as conditions can be fast changing.

Flies to Try - Crayfish colored woolly buggers have been working pretty well recently on the tailwaters as well as the natural rivers since there are a lot of crayfish displaced from the bottom gravels being moved around during flooding. Will update further when things stabilize.

General Hatch Info - Will update when things stabilize.

Beaver/Table Rock tailwaters - Watch for changes in tailwater releases. Generation ongoing at both powerhouses. Lighter generation from Beaver dam, but the tailwater is still exceptionally high due to Table Rock lake being full.

Bull Shoals/Norfork tailwaters - Watch for changes including increased generation on Bull Shoals and Norfork tailwaters this week.

Greers Ferry tailwater - Generation has been occurring daily with both units.

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.

Panorama of Beaver Tailwater

Old River Gauge (Picture)

Beaver Tailwater Trout Management Advisory Group

Monday, May 5 - Brian Unruh and Steve Mauer came to fish with me. We fished a half day. We had Saturday scheduled but the weather looked lousy then. Today was beautiful. Fishing was a little slow. Brian and Steve caught a couple of fish each and missed a few more. All decent rainbows, however. Crayfish woolly buggers worked well but you had to get them down deep. We did try fishing some small streamer jigs under an indicator at first and got several indications of takes, but the fish did not hold on to them as there was no current for the first couple of hours. Still it was an encouragement to catch a few fish with the water levels so high. Generation gave us just the right amount of current to help fishing. Steve had one really nice rod bender on for a little while before it became unstuck. Actually got a little warm in the early afternoon hours. Felt great.

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

Bull Shoals White River State Park Weather Station

Bull Shoals Dam Cam

Bull Shoals Tailwater Trout Management Plan

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.

Watch Norfork Lake Turnover

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.

Patterns to Have in Your Box This Spring

Elk Hair Caddis (#14-18), X-Wing Caddis, (#14-18), Natural Deer Hair Caddis (#18-20), Caddis pupa (#14-20), Crackleback (#12-16), Light Cahill parachute (#14-18), Pale Evening Dun (#14-18), 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, 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).

Quick Links

See the "Links" button on the side toolbar for my complete links listing.

Water Resource Information for White River Tailwaters and Related Streams

Southwestern Power Administration

Click above for estimated power generation schedules for Beaver, Table Rock, Bull Shoals, Norfork, and Greers Ferry dams.

US Army Corps of Engineers

Click above for access to realtime date, daily lake and river reports, and from June 1 - December 1, temperature and dissolved oxygen levels below all the White River system dams.

USGS Hydrographs for Calico Rock

Click above for flow and stage levels of the White River at Calico Rock (Bull Shoals Tailwater, 62 miles below the dam.)

USGS Hydrographs for King's River

USGS Hydrographs for Crooked Creek

USGS Hydrographs for Buffalo River at St. Joe

USGS Hydrographs for White River at Newport

Special Notes