The White River has been low and fishing hot and we are getting good reports off Norfork.
WHITE RIVER: Moderate flows on the White were broken up Wednesday with a bunch of low water. Those who were lucky enough to be on the water slayed them. But all week we have had relatively low flows in the AM which have opened up some wading throughout the system.
Black and silver zebras, Clint’s black tungsten midge, and Davy Wotton’s super midges and white tails have been doing very well. In bright sun conditions you can add the Rainbow Warrior and Blue Poison Tung. In overcast conditions add some black and copper, or coppr brown midges.
Sowbugs too have been very good. Davy’s Sows un 16 and 18, Clint’s Sowbug, Tailwater Sowbugs and McLellan’s Woven V-Rib Sowbug all have been popular.
We have been hearing reports of some very good rainbows in the system 20″+, and some quality browns are there as well. Streamers still are doing well, try Whitlock’s Near Nuff Tan Sculpin in #6 or #8, or Rainy’s Carp Sculpins. Zoo Cougars (try the new tan) Woolhead Sculpins and Matuka Sculpins are also good bets in the higher flows.
Dry flies have been hot on low water. To be honest the fish are surface oriented in these flows and while there are plenty of Sulphurs coming off you patterns seem less important than getting the fly in front of a feedign fish. Elk Hair Caddis, Hi Vis Ants and Parachute Adams have been doing as well as the Sulphur patterns.
NORFORK: Norfork continues to offer plenty of wading and some great fishing despite some reports you may have seen. Last weekend, we had a visit from Rick from Tx, who we packed off to Norfork with a few patterns including some dries, since he had a fetish for fine cane rods and dry flies.
He came back hopping and grinning and buzzing about fishing dry flies all day, something about one his best days ever. Sometimes I think we tend to overlook some of the really fun stuff going on.
Norfork has been fishing well with zebra midges and sowbugs, and swung soft hackles. But don’t leave home without som dries. Parachute Adams are the obvious, but some parachute Midges, Morgan’s Midge, Hi Vis Ants and Sprouts are also woorth carrying.
