What generation level is wadeable water for White and Norfork?

[jonbo]

Hi everybody. I live about 6 hours from the Bull Shoals area. I've gotten up there to fish just a couple of times since I began fly fishing in 2011. I plan to make my 3rd trip next week. I notice that they've been generating just about continuously for at least the past couple of weeks on both the White and Norfork rivers. Of course, I know it's impossible to predict how long this will continue. There might be times next week where one or both of the rivers is wadeable, or there may not be. I'm wondering a couple of things, though. I do have a guided float booked, but that's just one day. Meanwhile, might there be times I can wade during the rest of the week, or not.

So, I have a couple of questions. 1) At what generation level is either river wadeable? The BSD has been running 150-220 (MW?). From what I've gathered, that's about 3 or 4 generators. I'm sure that's way too much water for safe wading anywhere. But what is the MW(?) level at which the White is wadeable. From the last time I fished the White, there was "minimum flow" and MW's never went to 0, but minimum flow was something like 50 MW's, or something like that. Does that still apply? The NFD, meanwhile, has been sitting at 40 MW's. I'm assuming again that on the Norfork, that 1 generator(?) running makes it unwadeable. Am I right? Does the Norfork become wadeable only at 0 Mw, or no generator running?

2) What does anyone think are the chances that there may be any wadeable water at either river next week. Looking at the tables and graphs put out by USACE Little Rock, Bull Shoals Lake is sitting at just over 659 feet for the past couple of weeks. This, if I'm right, puts the lake just into Flood Pool(?). That means the Corps is in charge(?). Now, does that mean that they'll release continually until the lake reaches Power Pool(?) If that's the case I imagine that doesn't look good for next week. They've been releasing continually for at least a couple of weeks and the lake has only dropped a fraction of a foot. I'm guessing that's partly because there's a lot of releasing going on at the upstream dams, as well.

Anyhow, any answers to these questions will be appreciated. Thanks, everyone, and tight lines!

(?) = I'm not sure I'm using the right terms or know what I'm talking about. That's partly why I ask!😉

[Ham]

There are wadable areas on the White when they are generating. They might not be where you want to fish are large enough for your time, but you can catch fish. See below.

There is wadable water up by the dam. You need to follow the Special regs carefully.

There is wadable water off Denton Ferry Road.

There is wadable water at Cotter. 

There is wadable water at Buffalo City. 

Minimal areas that you can wade when they are running water on the Norfork. Sorry. it is what it is. 

You could easily rent a boat on the White and use it as a water taxi to motor to a spot. Anchor the boat. Get out and wade. Too many spots to list.

You could always get a guide, but I know that is expensive and not always possible for everyone. 

Get the COE app (Little Rock District). It will give you "real time" water levels and release rate. You should figure on water heading downstream at 4 miles an hour. It can take a while to drain down depending on how much they were running. Err on the side of caution always. The water is very cold and you might not have anyone around that can help. 

[sfiser]

minimum flow on the white is 7mw on the chart, 50 mw is the equivalent to 1 unit of water (which you can wade on).  The above recommendations by Ham are good and you are just limited on where you can fish at those levels.  I see a lot of people park at the wildcat shoals ramp and walk downstream and fish the grass beds oh high water and some do well.  Just stay by the water line and you can fish that area without having to worry about trespassing in folks backyards (its public if you are next/in the water and those homeowners are used to people fishing there).  There are ways to catch fish at those levels, it's just different than fishing the low flows.

As for next week, its a crap shoot. With a lot of rain moving in today/tomorrow if the Buffalo and Crooked creek flood, bull shoals will have to cut generation down a lot to allow those rivers to crest and recede so downstream farm land isn't flooded.  If we don't get as much rain as predicted I would expect generation to continue like it has the last week or so. 

Remember, when wading higher water DO NOT get any deeper than knee deep

[Gavin]

Do your time and learn what is comfy for you. Only you can set your limits. It's always a crap shoot on a tailwater. 

 

 

[jonbo]

Thanks a lot you guys. That's extremely helpful! I'll probably try it at Wildcat as I've been there before, and fish the grass beds with small streamers, ie, wooly buggers, and such. But thanks!