We have had two significant rain events and unseasonably cool temperatures (the high was 71 degrees one day). The lakes on the White River system are continuing to fall but at an ever decreasing rate. The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam fell one and two tenths feet to rest at six and three tenths feet above power pool of 654.00 feet. This is thirty four and seven tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Up stream, TableRockLake fell six tenths feet to rest at nine tenths of a foot above power pool or fifteen and one tenth feet below the top of flood pool. BeaverLake fell five tenths of a foot to rest at six and two tenths feet above power pool or three and four tenths feet below the top of flood pool. The pattern on the White was for round the clock generation. During the night and morning we have been getting slightly lower flows. The flows have been heavier in the afternoon during peak power demand. This created some challenging conditions for drift fishing and very limited wade fishing.  NorforkLake has fallen one and one tenth foot to rest at four and three tenths feet above power pool of 552.00 feet or twenty three and seven tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Generation on the Norfork has declined, which has created some limited wading in the morning. The recent rains have slowed my prediction for wadable water. My best guess is that there will be wadable water in two weeks.

Remember that there is a new size limit on Brown trout. All browns less than twenty four inches must be released immediately no matter where they are caught on the White and NorforkRivers. Only one brown trout may be kept in the daily limit of five trout.

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission in conjunction with the Corps of Engineers is scheduled to begin installing fish habitat designed to provide cover for juvenile trout in the Catch and Release section below Bull Shoals Dam on or around August 1, 2009. This work will be done at low water levels and should take about two months to complete. It should provide some wadable water on the White River during this time. There is some concern that the habitat will create navigational hazards for river boats at low levels of generation. At this time, we do not know how high the new habitat structures will sit in the water.

The Catch and Release section below Bull Shoals Dam has fished well this past week.  There were a few days when the White was muddied from runoff caused by the recent rains. The best place to always find clear water is directly below Bull Shoals dam. The flows have been a bit lower this week due to higher water levels down stream. On these flows, the hot flies have been brightly colored San Juan worms (cerise, hot pink and red) and egg patterns (orange).

The section from White Hole to Cotter has been fishing well this week. The most effective technique has been to bang the bank with large streamers. The hot flies have been Kelly Gallop zoo cougars and other similar oversized streamers. The secret is to get the fly down. With the heavier flows, you must use heavy full sinking or sink tip lines. To cast these huge flies and heavy lines, most anglers are using eight weight or larger rods. Another effective technique has been to bang the bank with grass hoppers. The secret is to get the fly close to the bank and to achieve a perfect drag free float. Twitch the fly occasionally to initiate violent takes.

Rim Shoals has fished well this past week. The lower flows have been fishing particularly well. As the flows increase, the action has moved to the lower section of the area, White Shoals. The hot flies on lower flows have been black zebra midges with silver wire and silver beads. On higher flows the hot flies have been San Juan worms in cerise and hot pink.