9 Spill gates open 4/3

[netboy]

I took the boat up to the dam this morning and just before I got there they opened 9 spill gates. Water was running pretty hard and I only had my fly rods rod with me. I anchored in the calmer water (which was still moving pretty fast) and caught four using the heaviest white shad flies I had with me. Only stayed about 2 hours so it was slow for me. I did not see any shad coming through but the shad flies were the heaviest stuff I had with me.

My guess is that they will continue to run water to lower the lake as much as possible before the April 15th agreement with the rice farmers downstream kicks in... but who knows????
 

[netboy]

Just checked the flows and Norfork also opened some spill gates today. 

[Terrierman]

As much as I hate to admit it, the world needs rice more than trout.  BTW, I love your straight up reporting posts and photos.  Maybe someday we can share a boat.

[Phil Lilley]

There's not a ton of rain in the 20 day forecast so may be just may be BS may have a low water summer.  I mean kinda normal.

[Phil Lilley]

16k cfs isn't going to do it though.  I just looked.  We're running 18k here.  But they might kick it back shortly.

[bryanrob]

Netboy, I love reading your reports. Can you explain more about "before the April 15th agreement with the rice farmers downstream kicks in." I would love to hear a more detailed explanation on this. 

Thanks,

Bryan

[netboy]

22 hours ago, bryanrob said:

Netboy, I love reading your reports. Can you explain more about "before the April 15th agreement with the rice farmers downstream kicks in." I would love to hear a more detailed explanation on this. 

Thanks,

Bryan

Here is a link to the COE agreement...

COE agreement

[Quillback]

Tomorrow being the 15th, if they hold to the agreement, should be a significant drop in the release.

[netboy]

3 hours ago, Quillback said:

Tomorrow being the 15th, if they hold to the agreement, should be a significant drop in the release.

This year may be different as the agreement has a clause that states "only when the 4-lake system flood storage exceeds 50% full."

I don't think the lakes are currently that high, so the argeement may be a moot point.

[Quillback]

12 hours ago, netboy said:

This year may be different as the agreement has a clause that states "only when the 4-lake system flood storage exceeds 50% full."

I don't think the lakes are currently that high, so the argeement may be a moot point.

I read it that if does not exceed 50% full then they have to follow the agreement, which means regulate it to 14 feet at the Newport gauge, maybe I am misunderstanding it.   I have no idea how they measure "flood storage".