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Your Virtual Guide to Flyfishing Arkansas' Blue-ribbon Trout Waters
About GenerationMost of Arkansas' trout fisheries are the result of dams constructed mid-century by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for hydro-electric power generation and flood control. Trout were introduced below the dams to replace the smallmouth bass and other warm-water species that could no longer tolerate the frigid water's flowing from the depths of the new lakes. Consistent water temperature and clarity are some benefits of tail-water trout fisheries, but there is a downside. Frequent generation causes constant fluctuation of the river levels making fishing conditions somewhat unpredictable. Shoals and gentle riffles fished with great success one day can be drowned beneath strong and dangerous currents the next. Local anglers adapt to changing conditions by being prepared for whatever the "Dam Gods" send our way, but still it can be frustrating to have to change plans or cancel a trip due to high water. As a general rule, the Norfork and White fish pretty good on high water. All you need is a boat w/motor and a slightly different selection of flies. Zonkers, white woolly-buggers, big bead-head sowbugs, glo-bugs (large egg patterns), san juan worms, and micro-jigs are a few of patterns you may want to carry. These flies are typically fished several feet below a strike indicator, or with a "sink-tip" line, to get them down into the strike zone. During periods of high water, trout tend to hang close to the bottom anywhere they can get relief from the strong currents above. Because of its slightly more silty bottom, the Little Red tends to cloud up some when water is high, making fly fishing all but impossible. There are a handful of anglers who can catch fish here when the water is high, but so far it has eluded yours truly. Usually when generation heavy I go elsewhere, so it wouldn't be prudent for me to discuss this brand of fly fishing. Local fly shops can such The Ozark Angler in Little Rock, Two-Rivers fly shop in Norfork, and Blue Ribbon Flies of Mountain home can advise anglers on the best tactics for high-water flyfishing. I do however provide some information on how quickly water releases move down the river. Because of its relatively short length, the entire Norfork becomes unwadable within about 2 hours after generation begins but on the longer rivers such as Little Red and The White, it is possible to move up and down the river to avoid high water. For example, if generation occurs in the morning and lasts for two hours, you can fish lower parts of the river until the water begins to rise, then jump in the car and head upstream where chances are the water has already fallen. The following charts give an estimate of how long it takes the surge of released water to get to various points along the rivers. CAUTION, these times are merely estimations and SHOULD NOT BE RELIED UPON to predict safe water conditions. Variables such as beginning river levels and the amount of water released causes significant variances in the time it takes for the surge to travel downstream. Always keep an eye on the water level, and make sure you know how you're going to get out should the water begin to rise.
Typically, the water falls at about half the speed at which it rose at any given location. To obtain information on current generation status call: White and Norfork Rivers: (870)431-5311 Little Red River: (501)362-5150 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||