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Additional White River Area Information
Davy Wotton's Web Site | White River Home Page | White River Lodging Directory
Davy Wotton's
White River & North Fork River Fly Fishing Report
Updated about once per month, or as conditions change.
Current Report: November, 2005
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Hello Fly Fishers!
Low water here for sure here on the White River with at times very low flows of 1 to 2
units, and many days with a total shut down.
Norfork river at this time will push some water during the day, can be low rate flows or
heavy water.
Either way for you guys that like to get out and wade you have a ton of options, and so
far as the White is concerned the opportunity to walk long distances without the fear of
rising water. But it goes without saying check with the dam at 1 870 431 5311. For update
on current and previous flow rates.
The last few days at Bull shoals dam before the shut down for some was very slow for
others, they did well.
Two notable fish that l saw caught were, a superb conditioned hen Bow of 26ins caught by
Mr.Ron Ford, who l guided on that day.
And a 28ins Brown caught by my friend and guide Duane Hada, in fact l netted that fish for
Duane.
Ok, for the fishing. Low water of course concentrates fish in zones they do prefer which
are normally those that do have some flow and agitated water. Typically around shoals and
structure, but saying that there are many fish to be found in the slow deep water zones as
well as those zones that are more shallow.
Needless to say at these times fish will become very spooky and generally will not
tolerate for long being bombarded with human presence, continual disturbance of the water
and all else that goes with a approach that is not a cautious one.
I know l have said it many times before and l will say it again. If you are in a zone and
doing no good it may well be that the fish have become wised up to that you are doing.
Give em a break. Take time out and rest the water. And then go back again. To remain in
the same place doing the same thing will almost be a negative factor so far as you
catching fish. A bunch of stockers may tolerate that a little more than the fish that have
become some what acclimatized, even stockers will eventually wise up.
I recently guided to guys that for two days previous had zero fish caught. And there are
reasons why that would have happened.
So l am going to give you guys some pointers how to deal with the tuff days. As l have
already stated. If you are doing no good in the zone you are fishing then rest the water.
That may not be possible if you are fishing amongst the crowds, If you are l would suggest
that you move to a new location.
You may well find at these low water times also periods when fish are active and others
when they are not. As of now early morning and late afternoon to dark are prime time for
feeding activity, and when there is a rise of water, at least before it becomes to trashy
to fish. There fore is you know there is likely to be some water flow increase get to that
zone before it gets to you. Make sure of course that you are in a safe zone to get out as
water levels rise.
Fishing in zones that have good moving water is one thing, fishing those that are very
slow, almost still are a very different matter. And bear in mind that the water will be
gin clear in such places.
Here are my tips to fish the real slow/slack water zones. I look at those as if they are a
lake scenario.
1. Fish long leader/tippet configurations. 12 to 15ft. Disturbance or visibility of the
fly line will spook those fish.
Add to your leader long sections of straight tippet in fine diameter 5/6x
Use Florocarbon material and not regular mono. It will sink and allow for very small flies
to be fished at depth.
2. Do not use strike indicators, you really do not need them. Use the visuals of either
seeing the fish take the fly or grease the leader/tippet at some point related to how you
wish the fly used to fish, to detect takes.
Any surface disturbance caused by indicators being moved or fly line drag will nearly
always spook fish in this situation. You must avoid lining fish at all costs.
3. Use small flies, 16s to 20, as a rule those that imitate scuds, sowbugs, midges and
small soft hackles.
4.Avoid using additional weight such as split shot. If you use FCarbon, even a small fly
will sink, if you give it time to do so, and you will have plenty of that fishing this
kind of water.
5. Fish found in these locations will often cruise around and not remain in the same
place, you may be able to see them or not, either way it amount to this.
Your fly must in some way resemble a natural bug and that will not be moving around in a
hurry. Often a cruising fish will pick up your fly without you doing a thing if he sees it
the right way.
I know it is a hard one to do but you must avoid at all costs the urge to move your fly
more than a snails pace.
There should be zero disturbance caused on the water surface by your fly line movement.
The trick is simply this make a good delicate cast, give the fly plenty of time to sink
and then at a snail pace retrieve the fly and watch for the indication of the take using
the leader/tippet to see it. Often the take will be very subtle and not a hard pull. The
fish will take your fly as he would a natural.
If there is some wind caused surface disturbance then try a dry fly. This past week we
have nailed a number of fish using hoppers when the water surface is well agitated, ants
and some other generic dries.
Double up with a hopper as the dry and a nymph suspended below. Not allowed in the trophy
zones of course.
That can be a deadly tactic at times.
Typically if you are fishing the shallow moving water zones, in and around shoals and
structure, then go fine and small, and use micro size indicators. I can assure you that at
times large fluorescent bobbers will spook fish. Either they see it or you spook em when
you cast or lift off the water surface.
This time of the year when the sun is up and the skies are clear the fish can see a mile
below the water surface. !!
Same here avoid the fish knowing you are there. That is number one priority !!!
Late evening dusk time, if you have good water, then go for a streamer or a wooly bugger,
often at this time the fish will hit hard. At this time light conditions diffuse your
presence and you can get away with things that during the day periods you probably will
not.
For you guys that like to get out in the boat, goes without saying make sure you know how
to navigate low water levels, going downstream is one thing, getting back up is another !!
Do not leave it too late if you know you are going to have a problem. Cell phones are of
little use in many area of the river system.
Enjoy this great fall weather we have at this time, and have a great month of fishing.
Davy WottonAbout
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.
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Additional
White River Area Information
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© Copyright 2003-2005 Davy Wotton and the Ozark
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