Arkansas Trophy Trout Report for 11/9/05

[Gabe Cross]

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