Ozark Fly Flinger

Special Notes

Table Rock powerhouse resumed heavier generation Monday around mid-afternoon after being shut down to part of one unit over the weekend to replace the flashboards at PowerSite dam. Table Rock Lake is expected to be to normal pool this weekend.

Meanwhile the river stage at Newport is still above the 12 feet regulating stage (12.8 as of Tuesday morning) and some slight generation reduction at Bull Shoals and Norfork powerhouses has occurred over the weekend and at the start of this week. Flows on Bull Shoals tailwater have ranged from around 12,000 to 20,000 cfs the past week with an average flow of around 16,000-17,000 cfs.

Fishing Reports and Water Conditions

National Weather Service Forecast for Rogers, AR

National Weather Service Forecast for Mountain Home, AR

Weather.com radar

Tuesday, August 19, 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 - Heavy rainfall potential is forecast for Tuesday night and most of the day Wednesday. A chance of thunderstorms remains in the forecast every day well into next week.

Generation - All the White River reservoirs are being managed for flood control and flood pool evacuations are ongoing at most of the powerhouses.

Flies to Try - Crayfish and olive colored woolly buggers have been working pretty well recently on the tailwaters.

General Hatch Info - Hopper season is upon us. There may be a few sporadic hex hatches and white mayflies on lower Bull Shoals tailwater over the next few weeks also. The mayfly hatch may not be fishable with the high water.

Beaver/Table Rock tailwaters - Beaver tailwater has been dropping daily. Beaver powerhouse is running both units from mid-afternoon until evening. The tailwater is becoming more wader friendly day by day. Wade anglers should be extremely careful until Table Rock gets down to 915 as there will be a lot of unknowns as far as stream bed changes and hazards. Table Rock is forecast to be normal springtime pool (917.0) August 23.

Bull Shoals/Norfork tailwaters - Bull Shoals powerhouse has been running 8 units since June 8th. Releases have been averaging around 16,000 to 17,000 cfs.

Norfork powerhouse has been shutting down briefly at night. Expect both units running during the day.

Greers Ferry tailwater - The flood pool is now empty. The powerhouse has returned to a normal summertime generation pattern during the afternoon and evening.

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

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

Thursday, August 14 - Tom Cannava and his father John fished with me. We floated a lot of water. Fishing in the morning hours was slow. Fish were not chasing streamers very well. But we saw some slight action. John fished spinning gear. A Rebel Crawfish produced for him. Tom did fairly well in the early afternoon hours on flies. Large crayfish woolly buggers worked best for us today. Fish ignored white streamers. After noon, Tom started getting a few fish in deep pockets, and by mid-afternoon fish were coming to the surface chasing streamers in areas. Still, a rather short window today of action. But no doubt a really fine day on the water.

Rainbows in the tailwater are fat and healthy.

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