Fishing Reports 12-20-09

[ZackHoyt]

Beaver Tailwaters - generation has been sporadic, but there is some low water wading at some point during the day. During periods of low water, try swinging small soft hackles (sizes 14-18) or stripping small streamers such as wooley buggers, .56ers, slump busters or sparrows (sizes 8-12). Also, try nymphing with small scuds, sowbugs, pheasant tails and zebra midges (sizes 14 - 20) using 6x or 7x tippet with a 9 to 12 foot leader. Use as small an indicator as possible in natural colors like white, blue or black to spook fewer fish. During periods of high water, drift fishing from a boat is the best option. Try high water nymph tactics with larger flies such as San Juan worms, scuds, sow bugs, zebra midges and pheasant tails (sizes 12 - 16). Concentrate your drifts along the slower current seams along channel banks and drop offs. Also, try high water streamer fishing using type 4 or 5 sink-tips or full sinking lines. Vary your retrieve as you fish to find what the
 fish want. Wooley buggers, slump busters and zonkers (sizes 4 - 10) are patterns to try here.

Norfork Tailwaters - generation has been around the clock as the Corp. lowers the lake to power pool. Drift fishing from a boat is the only option during this period of high water. Use high water nymph tactics with larger flies; San juan worms, scuds, sow bugs, pheasant tails and zebra midges (sizes 12 - 16). Also, high water streamer fishing with type 4 or 5 fast sink-tips or full sinking lines. Try wooley buggers, slump busters, zoo cougars or various sculpin patterns in sizes 4 - 8. Utilize safe boating procedures while fishing the extremely high water levels.

Bull Shoals tailwater - Generation is around the clock with 7 or 8 units running and several flood gates open slightly. Use high water nymph tactics from a boat with San Juan worms, scuds, sow bugs, Pheasant tails and zebra midges (sizes 10 - 14). Concentrate your drifts over flooded grass beds. Also try high water streamer fishing using wooley buggers, slump busters, zoo cougars and various sculpin patterns (sizes 4 -8) on fast type 4 or 5 sink-tips or full sinking lines. Concentrate on various bank structure such as boulders, root wads and lay downs.