Special Notes
Have a great Independence Day weekend. Be safe and good fishing!
Bull Shoals powerhouse has stepped up generation the past few days, and the lake level is dropping nearly half a foot a day now. Norfork and Greers Ferry powerhouses are also running heavy for about 18 hours a day. This is heavy generation and boaters should be extremely careful.
Currently, Table Rock and Beaver tailwaters have wadeable water for anglers during the morning hours.
Ozark Fly Flinger
Fishing Reports and Water Conditions
National Weather Service Forecast for Rogers, AR
National Weather Service Forecast for Mountain Home, AR
Friday, July 3, 2009
(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 - A chance of thunderstorms over the Fourth of July weekend, otherwise nice weather with highs only in the upper 80s into next week. Enjoy.
Generation - Most of the reservoirs continue to be into the flood pools, except for Table Rock. The Corps has been able since the first of July to start making good progress on bringing them down.
Flies to Try - Now is the early terrestrial season where ants, beetles and other insects can be a factor. With heavy generation, terrestrial patterns in the backwater areas can be productive. Otherwise, streamer fishing is good.
General Hatch Info - Watch for opportunities to fish terrestrial patterns. Grasshoppers will start to become a factor, but those patterns do not provide reliable fishing until mid-August.
Beaver/Table Rock tailwaters - Beaver powerhouse has been running 1-2 units starting mid-afternoon. The Corps anticipates having Beaver Lake down to conservation pool by August 5th. If that forecast holds, look for generation with both units running 24/7 starting sometime after July 20th. Until then enjoy the status quo with some good wade fishing opportunities in the mornings. Table Rock generation schedule has allowed some wade fishing recently, primarily in the morning hours.
Bull Shoals/Norfork tailwaters - Both reservoirs are well into the flood pool. Bull Shoals is forecast to have flood storage empty by July 29th. Expect around-the-clock heavy releases until then. Norfork powerhouse continues to run both units for about 18 hours a day. Flood storage is forecast to be empty July 26th.
Greers Ferry tailwater - The powerhouse has been running both units about 18 hours a day. Flood storage is forecast to be empty July 12th.
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.
Beaver Tailwater Trout Management Advisory Group
Saturday, June 13 - Randy Cole and Donna Acorn fished Beaver tailwater for the first time. Donna caught her "first fish in twenty years" and first one on a fly. Randy boated several very nice sized rainbows. Nymphing was fair in the morning and streamers produced later in the afternoon in deeper water. Weather was great today and although there was a fair amount of boat traffic, everyone was courteous. A great day for floating, fishing, and occasional reading/lounging.
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 Tailwater Trout Management Plan
Monday, June 22 - Don Batchelor and his father Tom came to fly fish the White for the first time. We had hot weather (high of 94° F and high humidity), but we started early and got off the water by 15:00. Fishing was very good early in the morning. Tom spin fished with small spinners and woolly buggers while Don tried an assortment of streamers and learned techniques for an upcoming Alaska trip. Fishing slowed in the afternoon, but we still found the occasional fish. Drift boat flows have been great recently. Had the river to ourselves most of the day.
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.
Suggested Flies
Patterns to Have in Your Box This Winter/Early Spring
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).
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
SPA posts estimated power generation schedules for Beaver, Table Rock, Bull Shoals, Norfork, and Greers Ferry dams.
USACE provides access to realtime data, daily lake and river reports, and from June 1 through December 1, temperature and dissolved oxygen levels 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