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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: January, 2008
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Hello Fly Fishers!
OK, Looking back on this past year. Overall the White River system has provided us with
some great fishing. The early season caddis hatches seem to increase every year, and to
say the least it is a time that if you have not experienced the fishing here, then you
should endeavor to do so. During this time many Trophy Browns can be caught dry fly
fishing, fish anything from 20 ins or more, l personally caught many fish in the 3 to 6lb
range and saw many of my customer do same.
This year also saw greater number of the larger species of stonefly, if that continues we
may well see a salmon fly hatch on the scale that many of the western rivers do who knows.
I for one would look forward to that.
Along with the stonefly and caddis, may fly hatches were also very good, the appearance of
the yellow may species, again gave us great top water action with dry fly fishing and
emergers.
September period also gave us great top water action with hoppers, ants, and many other
dry flies that anglers chose to use at that time, with many fine trophy Browns being
caught.
Bull shoals dam one of my personal favorite zone to fish, held many fish through the
year,early on shad fishing was the deal and later midge fishing, which was as good as you
would find anyplace else in the country.
Sad to say the incidence of the rock snot has seriously reduced the main food base of
sowbugs and scuds at the dam zone, and that is very evident in so far as we do not see the
numbers of 20ins plus Bows there we at one time did and the trophy size Cutthroats. There
certainly are fish there in numbers. With the occasional Trophy Brown. Many of those fish
are now to be found lower down the river where there is a better food bases available.
There is no doubt we are seeing each year a higher percentage of Brown trout between 2 and
5lb. Interestingly also this year two Browns of 35 and 32 lb were found close to death in
the upper sections of the river. I would suspect old age was the deal here as those fish
showed no other reason that would have caused mortality.
The Norfork river continues to have its ups and downs, and for sure one of the main
reasons is the issue of water quality, which is of major concern, not only does it affect
the habitat of the river, it also causes problems for the hatchery.
It is a sad state of affairs when a fishery that at one time was the Jewel in the White
River system can no longer be classed as such.
Hopefully we will be able to bring pressure to have this situation dealt with in some way
to at least improve the situation.
I am given to understand from my sources that we may well see in this next year the
introduction of minimum flow for the rivers. I am well aware that there are some who
choose not to see that take place, and l for one do not understand why they think that
way.
The times when we see for days on end of no generation do nothing but harm to the resource
we have here.
Min flow, will increase both habitat for the fish and the food base, it will also reduce
water temperatures during the dog days of summer. It will provide way better options for
wade fishing and will allow to some extent better navigation up and down the river system.
The Friends of the Norfork National Fish Hatchery along with USFW celebrated the 50th year
anniversary of the hatchery. Despite the 100 degree temperature of the day, the event was
well attended at the hatchery. The evening event hosted by the Friends at Gaston's raised
further funds for the Friends to provide further facilities at the hatchery. The visitor
center and the Dry Run Creek project. Dry run as we all know is the place to take the
kids. All be it also as designated for disabled persons, to say the least access is very
limited, and for those who are wheel chair bound, more or less none.
The Friends have set up a special bank account for the Dry Run Creek Project. To enable
construction of a boardwalk at river level to allow for further access for disabled
persons. At this time we have accumulated funds in excess of $20,000. Estimated costs for
the project will be something in the order of $50.000. If there is a consideration for you
to help with the projected costs for the DRC project, as the President of the Friends l
would of course be very happy to receive a donation to ward this very worthwhile venture.
For further details here please go to http://www.norforkhatcheryfriends.org.
We are now the largest Friends group advocating for a FWS hatchery. Our hatchery is the
largest in the US, and one that the White river trout fishery is dependant on. Your
support as a member would be most welcome.
The Friends also will host the first One Fly tournament in June for the Bull Shoals
tailwater, it will be a fun event, prizes and a evening cook out at Rim Shoals are also on
the cards.
Winter Fishing
Some of the best days can be had here during the winter periods. Way less fishing pressure
to start with, and a high percentage of fish found through the system.
Hatches will primarily be midge and BWO, which certainly makes for some more technical fly
fishing when faced with fishing flies in the order of 18 to 26.
Remember that the colder water temps do tend to reduce periods of the day when fish may
not be so active, as temps rise by a few days, then expect more action.
Typically l will fish when there is no surface activity with chironomids in sizes 14 and
16, with and without bead heads, depending on water depth and speed.
Both the super midge and Prizm midges will most of the time do the business here, along
with the Black and silver spider,
Norfork river fishing, both scuds and sowbugs along with the various genetic version of
zebra midge will most of the time work, provided the DO levels are not so low as to quit
the fish from feeding.
Other flies of choice may include eggs, Y2k, San Juan worms and flies that exhibit color.
I have seen no evidence of Shad at this time. It could happen any day, when high water is
run, as of now flow rates have been zero or short periods of generation, you never know so
be prepared.
I am of course pleased to announce that the long awaited White river DVD, hosted by your
truly is now available. This is a DVD that took two years to complete that details from
Bull Shoals dam to Calico and the Norfork river all you need to know about the rivers.
Walk in and Boat access. The prime locations to fish, fishing techniques and a great deal
more within the 2hrs and 20mins of the production.
It is available as of now from the local fly shops, and l will add further details to my
web site in the New year.
It remains only for me to say at this time.
Have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
With thanks to Gary and Mary Cooley who host the WRR.
See you on the river guys.
Davy Wotton
American International Schools of Fly FishingAbout 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
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