Grasshoppers can bring in monster trout

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Grasshoppers can bring in monster trout

Written by admin on July 11, 2009 – 1:49 pm -

John Berry, Baxter Bulletin, Mountain Home, Arkansas

We have had a little rain (a tenth of an inch) and slightly cooler temperatures (mid 80s to low 90s). The lakes on the White River system are continuing to fall at an increasing rate.
The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam fell 3 feet to rest at 10.2 feet above power pool of 654 feet. This is 30.8 feet below the top of flood pool.

Upstream, Table Rock Lake held steady at 1.7 feet above power pool or 14.3 feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell 0.4 of a foot to rest at 7.2 feet above power pool or 2.4 feet below the top of flood pool.

The pattern on the White was for round-the-clock generation. During the night and morning we have been getting slightly lower flows. The flows have been much heavier in the afternoon during peak power demand. This created some challenging conditions for drift fishing and very limited wade fishing.

Norfork Lake has fallen 2 feet to rest at 6.9 feet above power pool of 552 feet or 21.1 feet below the top of flood pool. Generation on the North Fork has increased substantially, which has virtually eliminated wading.

With the more aggressive generation we have been getting, I predict wadable water in three weeks on the White and a few days later on the North Fork. This is all dependent on the dry weather conditions continuing.

July 4 was the unofficial beginning of 'hopper season. The most exciting dry-fly fishing of the year is supplied by grasshoppers. They are a big bite and can move big fish. With a fly this big, you need to shorten your leader/tippet to about 9 feet and use pretty heavy tippet (3X or 4X) to turn it over.

Use the big western foam patterns because they float like corks and don't have to be dressed. Dave's 'hoppers and stimulators are also a good choice. With the high water we have been getting lately, concentrate along the banks. Make sure you get a perfect drag-free drift. The best presentation is to let the fly land with a splash to imitate a grasshopper falling into the water. From time to time twitch the fly to imitate the insect struggling. This can trigger a vicious strike.

The catch-and-release section below Bull Shoals Dam has been a mixed bag this past week. While some days have been excellent, others have been a bit slow. On the higher flows we have been getting, the ticket to success has been to fish brightly colored flies under an indicator.

The hot patterns have been hot-pink or red San Juan worms and orange egg patterns. With the water this high, you need to use long leader/tippet combinations (12-14 feet). Don't forget to fish with plenty of lead (AAA splitshot) and a heavily weighted fly. Use heavy tippet (4X) to handle the additional weight. This rig is not going to be easy to cast. Open up your loop and try to keep it away from your head.

Concentrate along the banks and over any sunken islands or weed beds.
Rim Shoals has fished well this past week. The best fishing was in the morning when the water was lower. The hot flies have been hot-pink San Juan worms and orange eggs. The heavier flows have been reaching there around 1-2 p.m., when it is best to add longer tippets and more weight. Heavily weighted flies are a plus.

If you must wade, there is usually a bit of wadeable water as long as the generation is less than 17,000 cubic feet per second. Contact Rim Shoals Trout Dock to arrange a water taxi to shuttle you to wadeable water and pick you up when you are ready to go.
Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River have fished well this week, particularly on Clouser minnows, Barr's meat whistles and crawfish patterns. The water is low and clear. This is a reliable place to do a little wade fishing.

The North Fork River has received much less pressure this week. The only wadeable water has been from midnight to 6 a.m. Generation for the rest of the day is near maximum levels. On high water the most effective tactic is to fish brightly colored San Juan worms or egg patterns under an indicator.

Another effective technique is to bang the bank with large streamers. The hot flies have been Kelly Gallop zoo cougars and other similar oversized streamers. The secret is to get the fly down. With the heavier flows, you must use heavy full-sinking or sink-tip lines. To cast these huge flies and heavy lines, most anglers are using eight-weight or larger rods.

Dry Run Creek was very busy over the Fourth of July weekend. It is less crowded now especially during the week and, strangely enough, late in the afternoon on weekends (after 4 p.m.). The main food source on the creek is sowbugs. Other productive flies are San Juan worms, Y2Ks and woolly buggers.

Be very careful when handling these fish. Wet your hands beforehand and be as quick as possible. Leave the fish in the net until you are ready to take any pictures. Carefully revive the trout afterwards. The longer the fight, the longer it will take to revive the trout.