Newsletter

[Phil Lilley]

Gabe wanted me to post his newsletter -

12-6-05

Winter winds blow hard in December

December is a time of flux in the Ozarks, and it always seems like the winds blow a little chillier this time of year because we are not used to these teperatures. But cold weather helps us in so many ways on these rivers by allowing the "yucky" water near the bottom of the lake to be replaced by better water from the surface of the reservoir. This process is called "turning over", and once it occurs water clarity and quality improves greatly on the rivers (Norfork especially). This fall has been a "5" on a 1-10 scale with respect to fishing, and this sure beats the "3's" and "2's" of year's past. I'll take "5-level" fishing any day in the fall. The fact that they ran a lot of water for the season really helped and oxygen levels never got extremely lethal because of these flows. Both the White and Norfork are in very good shape with respect to nice fish, and as winter progresses, there will be days where we catch lots of nice trout. But for right now, it is still "work" to catch 'em, but just as fun as any other time. Winter fly fishing attracts a different breed...one's who don't mind a little frost on the rod in the morning, and sadistically, most really nasty days offer up hot fishing. Plus, we always get warm stretches every winter that remind us that spring is really not that far off. If you've never seen this area with snow on the ground, it is definitely a site to see, but it doesn't happen all that often. All in all, winter is when everything slows down and you can often have a guide and/or the river all to yourself. This winter (unless we get lots of rain very quickly) should offer up plenty of wading opportunities due to low lake levels, so get in on it while you can.

Tips for my readers: Reading rises on the Norfork and White

Anyone who has ever fished the White or Norfork on low water has definitely noticed rising fish (most days), especially in the slower areas. This activity goes on throughout the year, and many people think that these rivers are probably best fished with dry flies at first glance. While that can be true, much of the time the trout rises on these rivers paint a picture of what is happening below the surface. Many times trout are "keying in" on midges. When you see bugs flying around, pay attention to two things. Number one: what size are these bugs (and do I have an imitation)? Number two: are any of these bugs actually on the water? Most midges are very small, and often the pupa and larva are eaten in much larger numbers than adults on the surface. During falling water (Norfork) and on dead low water (The White), it is common to see trout "boiling" and rising in a way where you don't see any of their mouth. This is a sure sign of trout feeding "in the film", right below the surface. During these times, what they are feeding on (pupa/larva) can be found throughout the water column, and deeper presentations will often catch more fish. If you notice fish taking midge emmergers in shallow water, often a small dry fly with a pupa dropped below it can be deadly (because it spooks fewer fish than an indicator), and you it's possible to get a huge fish to inhale the small dry. If you're lucky, you will see fish rising in a way where you can see much of their mouth, and they are visibly taking insects off the top of the water, then dry flies can be the best bet. In the winter we get "blue-winged olive" hatches where it can be hard to see the flies on the surface, but otherwise our hatches are somewhat easy to read (caddis, sulphurs/pmd's, midges). Now here's some inside knowledge: when there is a hatch, get into fast, shallow water instead of messing with the slow pools. Watch for insects, rises, and try and get your size and color close to the naturals...and don't be afraid to experiment. If people were, we would never know how well they could hit a #6 beetle pattern in the middle of winter.

Even though nymphing techniques often produce the most fish on these rivers, dry fly and emmerger fishing has its time and place. Good to expert anglers (with patience) can catch fish on most any day using dry flies. One more tip: the hatches on Norfork are better as you move away from the dam, and so is the water to fish dry flies. The shoal above McClellen's Dock is the start of the best surface activity (about 1.8 miles downstream from the dam), and there are some great stretches the rest of the way down. So in conclusion: don't come here expecting to dry fly fish, but do expect to see rising fish all year long. When the opportunity is there, these rivers can be some of the best places to hook a trophy trout on a dry anywhere, and some fish can be coaxed to the surface most any day of the year.

Winter Fishing 2006

Well, until the last six months we had been served with several years of high water, and this has made for more nice fish than usual on both rivers. Now that we are bone dry, there should be ample opportunities to get some wading in. Often in the winter the dams will release water in the mornings and evenings, leaving a nice window during the day. You can start wading below either dam (remember: the first mile below Bull Shoals Dam is CLOSED until 2/1/06) within an hour or less after the water "shuts off". As the day goes on, you can find "low tide" at various points down the rivers. Also, this is the time of year where they can go days without generating at all. These are great times to really see the White in its full character. There are big fish on the move in the winter, and this is the time of year where most of the huge trout caught on flies and artificials are taken. The average high temperature for January in Mountain Home is near fifty degrees, which is quite comfortable for fly fishing, and we often have stretches of 60's and even 70's. Rarely is there a day that does not get above freezing, but we still have some nasty ones now and again. Please feel free to ask me about any aspect of winter fishing, and most of the area's resorts and restaurants are open for business throughout the season. Best holiday wishes, and don't forget to get a Sage fly rod for Christmas!!!

Gabe Cross

(870) 435-6529 [h]

(870) 404-9027 [cell]

gcflyfsh@infodash.com

http://arkansastrophytrout.com