White River Trip 05/15-05/18

[kux99]

Hey everyone. I am pretty new to this site still, but I have been checking this site everyday for the past 3 months on the water level and fishing reports for the White River. We will be staying at the Rainbow Drive Resort; I believe in Cotter, AR, and would like to know any suggestions on that area for fly fishing. Our stay will be 05/15-05/18. This is the first time ever on that river system.

I would rather be wading in the water for fishing, but understand high waters can lead to unwadeable waters. If the water is high, any suggestions on where else I can go in the area? Is flyfishing from the shoreline still an option, or does it have to be from boat under high water conditions? In low water conditions, if there is low water conditions any of those days, where are some wadeable areas and will produce some fish?

Has the rising water affected Rainbow Drive Resort very much?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions and comments.

[John Berry]

Right now Bull Shoals lake is forty feet higher than last year. They currently have the flood gates on and the current river level is fifty percent higher than the normal maximum level. I do not forsee any wading in the month of May. People like me are fishing and catching fish. It is limited to boat fishing. To my knowledge Rainbow Drive Resort is up and running. Crooked Creek may be fishable at that time. Good luck!

[taxidermist]

105.5 saud they close the flood gates on BSD today. Still running 8 generators.

[Mud Dauber 1]

There are some good Shoals right in front of the campground but i doubt if you will be able to wade them with all this water, you can always hope that they will slow down the generation by then. I would fish the wildcat shoals area (1/2 mile from the dock) from a boat. I have had luck in the past using large san juan worms under a strike indicator. Usually when the water is this high though I will spin fish using a weighted "river rig" with a plastic trout worm or live bait. The people at Rainbow drive are really great, The dock hand is a great guy and he will take care of you (Clinton) although they don't really know much about fly fishing. Have fun you will catch alot of fish.

[kux99]

Thanks for the suggestions. They are all much appreciated.