White vs Norfork

[tbone]

 Have next  week off my 18 year old  daughter  wants to go fishing. Arkansas trout fishing came to mind  and was thinking about the White  River up by Cotter or  the Norfork River or open to suggestions for  fishing and lodging. Heard the water is up  so   I guess that will have an effect. Looks like some rain  in the forecast  but she say's  we are fishing rain or shine. looking at using spinning gear.

 Thanks Scott

[cmcclu]

 With kids and boat fishing personally I tend to prefer the Cotter area. Both are great rivers but just my person opinion Cotter area seems less stressful than being on the Fork with running water. In fact White flows have been great, reduced for downstream flooding but with the lake levels approaching capacity things can change quickly. Keep in touch with the water releases, plan on fishing out of a boat, and if need be change locations and should have a great trip. Maybe someone else can chime in on lodging suggestions. Good luck and give us a report on the trip. 

[snagged in outlet 3]

Safety wise with kids, white is better than norfork if boat fishing.  Jmho 

[mojorig]

I would suspect flood gates will be open at Norfork Lake  and likely Bull Shoals Lake by Monday. In fact, they have been cracked open at Norfork. I would, personally, consider finding somewhere else to fish under these conditions. 

https://www.ktlo.com/2020/05/22/corps-begins-spillway-release-on-lake-norfork/

 

[snagged in outlet 3]

On 5/20/2020 at 8:45 AM, tbone said:

 Have next  week off my 18 year old  daughter  wants to go fishing. Arkansas trout fishing came to mind  and was thinking about the White  River up by Cotter or  the Norfork River or open to suggestions for  fishing and lodging. Heard the water is up  so   I guess that will have an effect. Looks like some rain  in the forecast  but she say's  we are fishing rain or shine. looking at using spinning gear.

 Thanks Scott

You should not risk it at this time.  IMHO.  50 years experience Going there.  

[Ham]

14 hours ago, mojorig said:

I would suspect flood gates will be open ... likely Bull Shoals Lake by Monday. 

https://www.ktlo.com/2020/05/22/corps-begins-spillway-release-on-lake-norfork/

 

Mojo, will there be any advance warning before they open Spillway on BSL? I’d rather not be on the White for that one. Waldo has demonstrated that 26,000 CFS on White is not uncomfortable BUT a man has to know his limitations 

[Phil Lilley]

Looks like BS isn't going to hit flood pool so no changes to this pattern.

Amazing the amount of water BS can take, esp at the upper end of the pool.

[mojorig]

Phil is correct that it doesn't appear they will be opening up Bull at this time. However, if they do at some point, I am not sure the protocol for warning anglers.