Chuck Lane with a 25.5” White River Trophy brown trout
Its been a fun week around the Fly Shop this week with some visitors from Michigan in town, including a smiling Chuck Lane who picked up this 25.5” brown.
Chuck was fishing streamers with Chad and I’m told there was a fish at least a couple of longer lost at the boat. One of our regular visitors from Texas Vance Whatley scored this big brown trout below, estimated at over 30” this week in the Upper River.
And our new shop rat, Chris Franzen picked up a 2-footer after work last night. One one Aussie sports commentator was often heard to exclaim “its all happening”.
After a tough January the big fish bite is kicking into gear with the bulk of the spawn done and we have been hearing of some trophies being caught on low water nymphing. Kevin Brandtonies gave us taste of shad kill late last week and there’s been plenty of fun wading on Norfork.
And finally we are already seeing a few caddis kicking around on the warmer days. looks like its going to be a fun year. Now for the rest of the Dally’s Ozark Fly Fisher fly fishing report for the White and Norfork.
WHITE RIVER: Bull Shoals is holding above 72% of power pool capacity with some rain this week, we have been getting a mix of low water and low to moderate flows.
It definitely pays to be prepared to be flexible in your approach, according to conditions _ especially with the water flows and schedule down last weekend and ignored on Norfork today. Fish the best of the conditions no matter what they give you is our suggestion.
On the low water small midges, ruby midges and Wotton super midges have been very good and make sure you carry some Trout Crack. Soft Hackles have also been good, particularly Tailwater Soft Hackles and Anna Ks.
On the streamer front patterns like Schmidt’s 6” Double Deceiver, Cheech’s Leech, Granatos Chubby Muffin Sculpin and Galloups Fatheads have been fishing well.
NORFORK: Norfork still has reliable wading, heck the Princess has been off for a week and she’s probably appreciate a little water.
But by all reports she is still fishing nicely. We have had a bunch of bugger fishers coming through wanting either #8 & #10 or #14 & #16 olive woollies for the ‘Fork. The Midge fishers have also been doing well on smaller patterns like #18 Wotton Midges; Ruby Midges, Harvester Midges and Tungsten WD40s. Ive also been keen to try out the new Tube Midges.
Soft Hackles like Tailwater Soft Hackle, Anna K’s and regular Soft Hackles have been doing well.
The Ozark Fly Fisher Journal 