Minimum flow has been a notion of the past, at least during the last seven days.
For the first time in what feels like forever, generation on the White never dipped below 1,000 cfs. 20-45 megawatts has been typical with only the rarest of bumps between 100-200 megs.
It stands to reason that consistent low water will eventually get those long-awaited caddis popping.
We are seeing more and more caddis skittering about, especially along the river in Roundhouse Shoals and below, but that famous caddis bite hasn’t caught fire yet.
Lots of cloud cover and chilly days this week have once again delayed the chaos, but time is on our side as we wait with bated breath for browns to start looking skyward.
As we wait, occasional browns are being caught sub-surface by working tight to the bank with nymph rigs.
Caddis bugs like Nick’s Fat Caddass, Sunday Specials, Graphic Caddis, Holy Grails, and Splatte Rollers are turning heads.
Partner these caddis flies with midges for a productive day. Dally’s Tailwater Jigs in Zebra or Black/Copper, Knowles’ Ruby Midges, Root beer Midges, Egan’s Rainbow Warriors, Lightning Bug Jigs, Zebra Midges, and Wotton’s Super Midges are all solid options to get bit.
In pushes, Mop Flies and Girdle Bugs along the banks will help you find a few fish.
Long bouts of good streamer water have been scarce, but opportunities still exist to toss some meat for big browns. Galloup’s Bangtails and Alex’s White River Deceivers have been productive, as well as olive/white Dally’s Twerking Minnows and olive/white CJ’s Sluggos.
For low water streamer fishing, Sparkle Minnows, Game Changers, and Mike’s Pecs will bring fish to the net.
The ‘Fork returned to its pattern of weekend floodgate water with no generation and a Monday to Thursday ritual of 40 megawatts supplemented by a little floodgate water. Those low water days in the warmer floodgate flow has helped entice fish to the surface in search of caddis.
A dry/dropper setup with an E/C Caddis or Elk Hair Caddis trailed by either a Dally’s Mother’s Day Caddis Soft Hackle or Knowles’ Ruby Midge has been fun to fish on sunny days when caddis are everywhere. Caddis pupa flies like the Holy Grail, Graphic Caddis, and Nick’s Fat Caddass are great under an indicator.
When the Norfork is running 40 megawatts, nymphing about 8 feet deep with split shot and two tungsten flies will help get down to where the fish are. Slush Eggs, Blobs, Mop Flies, Mega Worms, size 14 Dally’s Tailwater Jigs, and size 10-12 Sunday Specials are good lead flies for this situation. Nick’s Fat Caddass, Dally’s Tailwater Jigs in black/copper or zebra, size 16 Ruby Midges, Holy Grails, and Mercer’s Jiggy Caddis are good dropper flies.
The upcoming week looks like we will finally warm up for a substantial duration of time. As it stands, we will see 80 degrees for six straight days. This could very well be the week it all begins to come together.
Caddis will hopefully begin to emerge with a fervor with long days of sunshine and low water.
Gather up all the above-mentioned caddis flies to come well-prepared for some fun days on the river.
The arrival of long, warm days will also kick the smallmouth bite into overdrive as they emerge from their winter holds and look to put the feed bags on before they spawn.
If you need me, you’ll know where to find me. This month is already flying by as we are nearly two weeks deep into April.
That much talked about 13-year cicada will be here before you know it as it mixes with our late caddis and early mayflies (depending on temperatures).
Talk about a sensory overload. I, for one, am incredibly excited and intrigued by what this spring and summer is going to bring to the Mighty White. See you out there.
by Tadd Fore
The Ozark Fly Fisher Journal 
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