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Gabe Cross

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  1. I'm still alive, despite my recent lack of reports. Sickness, work, and decent fishing have all taken up my time as of late (I know: excuses). Anyway, like I always say: "If you need a report (or any info) right away, just call or email me." Since my last report, fishing has remained relatively similar: low water means slower fishing, high water equals lots of fish. The only place I'm fishing now is the Norfork. It has been a great year for oxygen (relative to other years) over there, but oxygen has been low enough that they haven't stocked much. This means most fish (especially near the dam) are running very nice size (quality over quantity). Still, with this year's better water, the fishing has been fickle and tough at times. Instead of reiterating my recent trips, I will talk a little bit about how to catch some trout on our rivers when things get tough. Both lakes are very low right now, so looking down the road, we need lots of rain if we're going to have a shad kill this upcoming winter/spring. Norfork is running water every day at various points, and some days they run all day with the water fluctuating between one and two units. The White is running very little except on cold mornings and evenings, for short periods. I heard the fishing is decent to poor over there, depending on who you talk to and what they think "decent"means. As I've tried stressing, fall fishing is very tough and you often must use techniques and flies geared towards the specific conditions. The first thing someone will notice when looking at the Norfork right now when the water is low is how green it is. This abnormal color (the water is crystal clear most of the year) is a result of a deep algae-bloom in Lake Norfork. Although the river isn't as pretty to look at, I feel that the bigger fish feel more secure when this occurs. Now midges (very small insects that look like mesquitoes) hatch every day of the year that the water is low, but during fall and winter times, it really means something. When "midge activity" is happening you will see pupa/schucks on the water, fish will be boiling near the surface, and some trout will be sipping the adult bugs off the surface. This is easiest to read in slower water. Now most anglers feel that they should fish on or near the surface, and in some cases this is true, but for every rise/slurp you see, there are at least a100 fish near the bottom gorging on pupa and larva. The best time to fish a pupa pattern near the surface (either dropping it or below a small indicator) is when it looks like rain with all the dimples on the surface (usually in calm conditions before dark)...otherwise, a deep presentation will almost always catch more fish. Since water clarity is low, I like to use two flies this time of year in slow water...one (a sow bug or scud) to get the fly down and attract attention, and then a small pupa fly (#18 or #20) below to "match the hatch". I put the midge dropper about 8-10 inches from the point fly in most cases. Now I hate fishing this way with light tippett, but it really makes a huge difference in the numbers of fish you will catch. Hopefully this helps, and I will try and be more descriptive in my future reports in explaining how things are done. I feel that I must produce action all day as a guide, if possible, and this can only happen through countless days on these ever-changing rivers. Little changes will make a big impact when the fishing is tough, and this crede has turned many "hopeless" days into very productive ones. Look for water to continue on Norfork until the lakes turn over, with your best bet on low water being the White. Even though the catch and release area below Bull Shoals Dam is closed until Febuary, the State Park below it has special regulations for the winter that result in more and bigger fish than normal. Big browns move through there on their way to the dam, so you never know what you'll hook. Once the lakes do turn over (mid December is my guess), a gradual improvement will happen and the "normal" bite will be back by January. I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and I'll try and do a better job of keeping you informed. Gabe http://arkansastrophytrout.com
  2. I've never heard of the "Shite" River...is that in Arkansas? Just kidding, but this shows how one letter misspelled can change a lot of meaning. Back on topic: Rim Shoals is in a catch and release area with good walk-in access, but the overall quality of the fish there is only slightly better than the unrestricted areas due to it being "open-ended" and "sandwhiched" within miles of harvest waters. Still, it is a beautiful place to fish, water quality is usually decent (on low water...rising water trashes up for hours if enough is kicked on), and the habitat is such that lots of really big fish have become residents of that area. But like Jimmy T. says, there is good fishing everywhere. Water conditions, hatches/food availability, and weather are what influence where most regulars and guides fish. Gabe
  3. After seeing that fish for months living below Charlie's Rainbow Trout Resort's dock (near Norfork Dam), Patrick Murphy (resident guide, helper, and fisherman) hooked into something really big last Thursday while pitching a Zig Jig (http://zigjig.net) during rising water. The fish tried to tangle up in every boat motor on the dock, and a friend finally helped him land the pig from a boat. Although some thought the big brown would have weighed more, this behemoth weiged 20.5lbs. and was 34.5 inches long. After very carefully monitoring the fish during some photo sessions, she was released back into her home for someone else to agaonize over (Patrick was borderline "obsessed" with trying to hook that fish for awhile...I think he had given up hope when it finally struck). I will post a picture once I get my hands on one. Gabe
  4. Although there is speculation on the oxygen levels on Norfork, I can say that in 6 years of reading the online gages, this year is the best with respect to DO (dissolved oxygen) in quite awhile. During high water, 5+ppm is the norm (4ppm is kind of a level they try to maintain on Norfork), and during low water I've seen 2.5ppm as the lowest reading lately. This may seem low, but I can remember 1ppm to .01ppm being the "norm" for several years. The Corp and Arkansas Game and Fish Commission are doing what they can to keep levels as high as possible. This is why the lake is historically low: they've used releases to keep oxygen levels decent. Once the lakes completely "turn over", oxygen levels will escalate to 8-10ppm . Now the water does seem greener than normal on Norfork for this time of year. This is a result of an algae-bloom in the lake (so I'm told). The water will clear up after the turn-over, and then all the excuses for slow fishing go out the window. Fishing is a little tough on the Norfork right now, but I think that's just fishing...it had to slow down at some point after an incredible year. Still, the fish are in great shape, and they are fighting strong most of the time...this doesn't happen during deplorable oxygen levels. Hope this helps. Gabe
  5. Sorry for my lapse in reporting... I have done several trips since my last update. Water conditions and the weather remain very inconsistent, but there is some good fishing to be had if you have patience. The weekend before Halloween I guided a guy who had a great day with me over the summer and his friend, who was a raw beginner. We decided on Norfork and started near the dam because the water was running. The fish didn't start biting at all until the water started dropping, but it ended up being a relatively good day for both guys...the more experienced one caught a lot of decent fish...the beginner had some success and plenty of opportunities. Crowds have been a nusiance, and this day was no exception. The next day (Saturday) I put in at the "confluence" with some water running on Norfork and we tried a few spots in the catch and release area. The water came up several feet in the first hour, and the river became quite trashy with moss. This never cleared up and the bite was tough aqll morning. Around 12:30pm they shut the water off, and we tried some wading right by the dam. It was packed with boats, but the fish were biting in the beginning. After the water dropped all the way down, the bite stopped and they were ready to call it a day. This is a tough time of year and you most likely will not have all-day action on low water. After a few more days off, I guided four out of five starting last Thursday (the 3rd of November). It was a very windy day, and the water was running on both rivers. The Norfork offers more protection, but it was still very tough controlling the boat. The water fluctuated all day but never shut off, and the fish were fairly steady on the bite which was great considering it was pretty empty all day. Lots of brook trout landed...the majority of fish were brookies. The next day I took out a couple brothers and the water was running in the morning but shut off at 9am. We started catching a few when the water really started falling out and we had decent action on midges once the water became wadeable. Around 1pm the water came up to a "small" one unit. The water stayed running the rest of the afternoon and we really got into some nice fish, including a 20-inch rainbow. The wind made drifting a challenge, but it all worked out. Last Sunday I worked a half day in the afternoon with some really nice people from Alabama. Unfortunately, McClellen's was dead and we caught very few. Not even many bites, but this can happen in the fall. There were plenty of fish there and conditions were decent, but it just wasn't meant to be. And I know they learned a lot and they definately saw how trout fishing can turn on you. The next day I took out the brothers from a few days before. We started out wading, then the horns blew, I put my boat in, and the water shut off. We decided to fish some areas near the dam, and the bite was tough, but still happening a little. These guys were very good at keeping the flies in productive water, and almost every fish they caught was very nice size (14 to 18-inches). The midge hatch was sporradic, and the fish just never got really hungry, but I'll take quality over quantity any time. Look for releases to be light for awhile as the lakes are in desperate need of water. Fishing will be hit or miss for most, and the White is offering lots of low water every day for the most part. Although action may be slow at times, the fish we're catching are worth it. I've heard the White is fishing well some days recently, but also there have been some tough times up and down the river. Sunday through Thurday is definitely less crowded than Saturday and Sunday, especially on Norfork near the dam. Gabe Cross http://arkansastrophytrout.com gcflyfsh@infodash.com
  6. I've noticed lots of bees down on the Norfork and White lately, but not as many as you're mentioning. I hate 'em!!!
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