Now that flow levels are down some days to zero, 1 or 2, then you will need to scale down with your rigs, as a rule when no generation is the deal then small scuds sows and midge patterns. 5 or 6 x tippet with long leaders is the way to go here. And use micro indicators, you do not need at this time haystacks on the water surface as they will spook fish l can assure you. A size 20 micro red midge larva scored real well the other day at the dam zone.

Best fishing will be early morning and late evening if you can get there at that time. Wade fishing can be done here also when 1 or 2 units are running and that will due to the flow get the fish feeding well, and they will be far less spooky at that time with the cover of moving water and not a flat calm situation.

I have to say when l looked at the dam zone the other evening at low water it looked awful, reminded me more of a Stillwater than a moving river scenario.

In any event all of you should add your support for the min flow, sure it may have some downsides, but overall there are far more that are more positive and for the better of the river as a whole, and the fish.

As a general rule for the White river the faster moving water found in the shoals will concentrate the fish more so than the slower moving water zones, found over clear gravel bottom. Fishing over rock and weed beds can be very productive in slow water, as these zones will provide fish with both food and cover.

Evening fishing will pick up well now if the temperature does not drop too low.
Could be a good time to nail a trophy Brown also. They will take small flies as well as larger types such as streamers and woolly buggers. In fact many of my better fish are caught using small flies in the size 12 to 14 hook range.

For the Norfork river, fishing has been some days very good and other slow. Depending on how water flows have been. I have been very surprised at the number of Brook trout in the days catches recently, perhaps a stocking took place. Some very good Cutthroats have been showing up on low water on this river along with class Bows and Browns.

If you have low water on the river, fish with caution. Fish are very vary if all of a sudden they find the cover of water depth and structure gone, but they may well feed better at such times. Here again if it is the trophy fish you are after then fish small and fine, particularly if a midge hatch takes place. Avoid if you can the crowds. Early morning and late evening can be the best times here to fish.

One good option you will have on this river is to sight fish for a trophy trout. I can tell you that at times it will pay you to get on the shoreline and sit still, you may well then locate a very good fish and from that point on figure out how you are going to fish for it, with out spooking it.

Many times l have done exactly this. Watched and waited for a good fish to move in and start to feed. Which they will often do if they feel comfortable, in very shallow water at times also. To some extent you will have to ignore fishing for the stockers if you wish to capitalize fishing for single trophy fish.
As often a hooked fish will put a better fish down, or it will take off.

Overall my favorite set up is to fish a sowbug, size 18 to these fish. They will not often refuse if it is the right pattern of fly and you present it at the correct depth.

Other than that then the general generics of scuds and sows will be a good choice along with midge patterns, pupa, emerger and dry, if fish are seen feeding in the surface.

The lower section of the White below Norfork should start to fish well now that the lower water flows are taking place, but you may have some dirty water days if any water is rising at that time. You only have two choices here, leave or at least fish with dead drift tactics and very colorful flies, the fish have to be able to see your fly amongst the garbage that will be in the water at this time.

Lake levels are pretty good at this time, so l would hope that we will not see big flow rates on the White but that may not be the case for the Norfork river, you just have to check it out.

If the situation changes then l will update the report before the end of the month.

Good fishing for the month and see you on the river,
Tight lines for now,
Davy Wotton

About Davy Wotton
Davy has been making his living as a full time fly fisher in one capacity or another for over 30 years. He has written many articles for all of the fly fishing magazines, created several unique flies and fly tying materials which he developed into a full scale manufacturing operation in his native country of Wales, and is a much-sought speaker around America at fly fishing functions and shows. Over the years Davy has fished in over 40 countries around the world but his choice for base of operation is right here on the White River. Davy operates his American International Schools of Fly Fishing in Flippin, Arkansas.