Fly Fish Arkansas | Labor Day Weekend: Fishing Report

Terrestrials: These are the little creatures that end up in the water and are taken by fish and they have been on fire since we began getting this weak flow water. The picture to the right is of just a few that Fly Fish Arkansas has been fishing with the past two months. On the left is a parachute hopper and on the top is a Daves’ hopper and to the right is a bulbous bi-visible and at the bottom is the chernobyl ant. Other terrestrials such as foam ants, beetles and large spiders would also work on the White River. This past weekend on Saturday I took a local gentleman fishing and tied on (4) terrestrials. I soon learned it was not so easy to cast and was envisioning one heck of a tangle either via a bad cast or a trout taking the first fly. I cut off two of them which made it much easier to cast and easier to take out of a fishes mouth.

This fish was hooked with a parachute hopper which I’ve had much luck with. The water this morning was fluctuating rapidly with fish taking flies on the rise and slowing down on the drop which is normal. Dean and I continued fishing after changing to a dropper below the hopper. Fisherman coming into the shop this week have been using various types of midges with a black, purple copper zebra type midges producing well under chernobyl ants. Generation this week has been heavy in the afternoons with little flows in the mornings when the terrestrial action is the best. This past monday generation was off till 1:00 and yesterday it was off till 1:00 p.m. as well. This morning there is one unit on and it is scheduled to be on like this the rest of the day. We did have a front come in and bring us some much needed rain which soaked in nicely taking us off of our burn ban. We were a tender box. I don’t have a clue what will happen with generation this weekend but the past two holiday weekends saw generation so who knows what will happen this weekend. Temps are much lower- 62 f at this time with highs predicted in the upper 70’s and lows in the morning in the lower 50’s. Saturdays highs will be around the mid 80’s with lows in the 60’s and on labor day highs in the 90’s and lows in the mid 60’s. I wouldn’t think there would be much power demand. By 5:00 P.M. this afternoon though we should have our answer.

There is no rain in the forecast until much later in the week so it looks as though a good week is in store for the Ozark Mountains and for fishing this week. Drop by the shop for fishing info or flies or just to say hello.