Intro | Tactics | Seasons | Patterns | Tackle

The White's Four Seasons

There's no closed season on the White's tailwater system. All year, weather and water temperatures are excellent for trout and fly fishing, and all four seasons produce almost equal fishing success.

Spring. From about the first week in March to mid-June, water temperatures range from 45 to 65 degrees F, ranging from coldest near the dams and gradually warming downstream. This is the best time of the year for aquatic insect hatches consisting mainly of caddis and mayflies. Expect mildly variable water levels unless major rains flood the lakes, causing lots of high-water conditions on the river.

Though the White does have hatches, subsurface patterns (above) consistently produce the best. Dense populations of sowbugs and other macro-invertebrates live in the White's tailwaters.

Mid- to late spring is a beautiful time to experience the Ozark Mountains' blooming trees and wildflowers. Because trout are least fished in the winter, the spring population is at the highest, with trout that are well rested and aggressive to flies throughout the river and stream tributaries. Fishing pressure is usually moderate, increasing by June.

Summer. We consider the summer season to begin in June and end in September to correspond with our school session. Water temperatures range from 55 degrees at the dam to 70 degrees downstream; air temperatures and humidity range from 70 to 100 degrees. As temperatures rise, by midsummer the better fishing will be on the upper and middle sections of the White below Bull Shoals and the entire sections below Norfork, Beaver, and Table Rock dams.

Due to increased air-conditioning needs, daily water releases are usually high. Aquatic insect hatches are not significant, except for a few small PMDs and midges hatching near the dams. Summer fish are taken mostly on attractor and terrestrial dry flies, nymphs, Woolly Buggers, and sculpin imitations. Wet wading helps keep you cool when daily summer humidity and air temperatures are high.

The best chance to escape the crowded conditions of summer is to fish during midweek, at night, or at sunup and sundown. Otherwise you'll need patience to cope with all the river users.

Fall. Fall conditions start in mid-September and can last through early December. Frost may hit a little in late October, but midday air temperatures range from 50 to 70 degrees F, and the hill- and riverside colors can be magnificent. The water begins to chill from the dams downstream (50-55 degrees), triggering the spawning urges of first the rainbows, then brook and brown trout. The bigger fish begin to sneak out of their deep ledge-hole sanctuaries and move upstream into schools to pair up and spawn.

Water levels are usually the most stable at this time, due to the lake levels being low after summer hydroelectric generation and lack of rainfall. However, water directly below the dams can be almost void of oxygen until late fall, so the better fishing is often several miles downstream where there are hatches of microcaddis, midges, and early Blue-winged Olives. Fish will rise nicely throughout fall to floating terrestrials, especially sizes 12 and 10, such as Dave's Hoppers and Crickets. Scuds, sowbugs, nymphs, streamers, Woolly Buggers, San Juan Worms, and egg flies are all good late-fall flies.

By mid-fall, most tourist fishing has dwindled and hunting season has lured many of the retirees and locals off the water. The trout docks close by late November. On weekends, however, the shoals, especially those in catch-and-release sections and on good spawning shoals, are so congested that you may have to take a number and get in line to fish.

Formerly, fly fishers crowded almost shoulder to shoulder onto the spawning shoals directly below Bull Shoals Dam in the mile-long catch-and-release area. In one fall/winter period, the excessive catching, handling, and releasing of the magnificent 20- to 38-inch, wild brown trout spawners resulted in a nearly 50 percent mortality from fungus and stress. This one-mile section of the major brown and rainbow spawning sites is now closed to all fishing from November 1 to January 31, so there is a brighter future for these big, precious wild fish.

Winter. This season runs from mid-December through about the first week of March and is often mild and sunny. Nighttime freezing temperatures often rise into the 40s and 50s by afternoon. The Ozark Mountains buffer much of the winter winds and the tailwaters' temperatures seldom drop below 45-52 degrees. In the winter, the warmest water will be in sections directly below the dams or where springs, which flow at 52 degrees all year, enter the river.

There's a serenity and special beauty in the hills and river at this time. The rocky bluffs and beauty of the terrain are much more visible, as is the wildlife. Mink, beaver, raccoons, and deer frequent the river and its banks and the sounds of ducks, geese, eagles, gulls, and herons replace human noise. This is a perfect time for snowbound fly fishers to come to the Ozarks.

You can catch fish during low-water periods all winter on midges, Blue-winged Olives, sowbugs, scuds, Woolly Buggers, sculpins, and egg patterns. When the winters are cold enough, tons of thermally-shocked threadfin shad often pass through the generators during January and February. When this happens, large numbers of trout are drawn miles upriver to this massive shad chum line, congregating heavily in the first miles below each dam. This in turn creates some fast and furious fly fishing from boats using dead-drifted shad imitations and white flesh flies.

I love the quiet winter, because there are times, especially during the week or when the weather is dark, cold, and damp that good shoals aren't occupied by an angler. That's my favorite time to pick a vacant run or pool and peacefully midge-fish to big, relaxed risers with a 1- or 2-weight outfit.

Dave and Emily Whitlock live near Mountain Home, Arkansas, where they conduct the Whitlock Fly Fishing School (www.davewhitlock.com). Dave is an author, wildlife artist, world-renowned fly designer, and conservationist. Emily is a fly-fishing instructor, photographer, and active conservationist. See also their story on fly-fishing for carp: "Stalking the Golden Ghost."

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