Spectacular but not to last much longer
Bull Shoals Lake is falling down towards the TOP of flood pool, and its likely we are in the last days of heavy flows unprecedented since the Dam was built.
Spillway releases were cutback at Beaver Dam midweek, Table Rock releases have been slowed since Friday, which has helped Bull Shoals drop 1′ in the last 48 hours. By lunchtime tomorrow (Monday) we should be back at the full level of 695′, and at the current rate of release the lake can drop faster as inflow reduce further.
But the USACE this morning at least was suggesting that the high flows from Bull Shoals could last through most of the week, though the forecast is clear for the week ahead, perhaps to clear some breathing room in the largest lake in the system.
We also want to offer our support to all our friends, and colleagues hit by the flood waters, homes have been flooded, private docks damaged and the docks and buildings of several resorts, campgrounds and other facilities have been inundated. You are all in our thoughts.
But the spirit we have heard is tremendous, people enduring heartbreak and loss, yet remarking it was nothing like the horrors experience by our friends in Joplin, and showing the faith to endure. We have also had customers coming in to buy flies to fish in their backyards and even around their houses.
There is also plenty y’all, our friends in faroff places, can do to help this area recover, number 1 being come back and have some fun.
Reschedule your trips, or book another, book a guide, dial in a pizza, buy some gas or a handful of locally tied flies or rigs no matter whether you are fly fishing, spinfishing or just hanging out on the White River. The fishing is sure to be spectacular, we have heard of trout coughing up handfuls of worms washed out of the flooded banks. And even on the highest flows we have had friends banging fish on the periodic cicada pattern on the Norfork and White.
Big dry flies, big trout and big water, its going to be a spectacular summer in the Ozarks and your presence and smiles are going to mean a bunch.
Watch Bull Shoals Lake level decline (red line)
Click to enjoy a few more pictures of the high flows, this is once in a lifetime water that wont last much longer.
Click to view each pic in larger sizes
The Wildcat Access last nightThis isn't the first flood Hurst Dock has enduredCotter AccessRoundhouse Shoals Dock endures
