Wish I could say they closed the flood gates today, but they did not.  I can say that they have shut them down to a 1/2 foot opening.  This is down from the 2-1/2 feet which were open 2 days ago.  The affect we are seeing is water receding to almost the level it normally be with four generators running hard.  The tailwater level stayed at 713.1 most of today.  With the inflow we are receiving from Beaver Lake and the possibility of more rain, they are evaluating whether they will actually close down the floods gates in the near future or not. 

Glad to say I looked out the window this morning and the water that was over the Boardwalk at the Landing had gone down.  From looking at the charts, it would appear that they cut the flood gates back yesterday around noon.  The tailwater level dropped from 722 feet to around 718.5.    They still have 10 gates open, but must have closed them down a little.  The projection is that they will close the gates some time later today. 

Once the gates close and we make certain conditions are safe, we will start drifting the river again!  Yeah! 

Even better though, all the folks in our area who were chased out of their homes due to the high water will be able to get back home.   Everyone is not out of the woods yet.  Bull Shoals lake was just about at flood pool (695.0) this morning at 5:00.  It will be a careful balance for several days, even weeks to get everything back or normal with the least amount of damage throughout the White River chain.

Due to the heavy rainfall we had Wednesday night and early Thursday morning, Beaver Lake reached floodpool and Table Rock Lake is expected to crest above floodpool Saturday.  Floodpool is 931 feet and they are projecting 933 feet by Saturday.  Bottom line, LOTS OF WATER.   The current projection is that the spillway releases will continue until midday on Tuesday, April 15.   In the meantime, don’t forget we are here.  Can’t do trips right now, but we are here to take care of your fly fishing needs. 

Well, another day of heavy downpours.  Think we will start selling water wings instead of fly rods.  However, the forecast through Wednesday of next week does not include any more rain!  Let’s hope.

Stan was on the water all day yesterday with Phil and Frank from Colorado Springs, CO.  Had a good day and caught fish.  Same old story, but it is working….the red tungsten beadhead size 16 midge with the Primrose & Pearl, size 18 dropper.  Fishing about 5-1/2 feet in the various layups.  The two students I had out the other day caught a few fish on the Holographic Green crackleback using the sink-tip line.  Had several hits on the Golden Variant sculpin but never hooked up.

Stan and I had a day off yesterday.  It was such a beautiful day, light breeze, sun shining, and the river just down the road…..we went fishing!  Hooked up the drift boat and went out to play for a little while.  We had a wonderful day.  Caught quite a few rainbows, mostly on the size 18 Primrose & Pearl as a dropper under the size 16 Red Tunghead midge.  Did find a spot where I could throw a sink tip with the golden variant scuplin and picked up a couple fish real fast on this.  We were trying out different things and looking for more spots to fish, so we moved on down after I caught these.  At the last lay up we caught another 10-12 fish and decided to call it a perfect day.

Had four boats on the water Tuesday with people from the various Orvis Endorsed Lodges, and other sports related activities such as dog training, wing shooting, etc.  Two of the boats had never fly fished before people and the one of the other two boats had a couple from a lodge in Alaska where they guided, and one boat with a pair from Montana where they guided.  We had a quick two hours on the water.  Almost everyone boated at least one fish and some several more. 

Wednesday, Stan took Dave Perkins, the Vice Chairman of Orvis on a quick, short outing to give him a look at our abnormally high river.  Dave caught fish on the Primrose & Pearl midge and the Bug-Eyed Bugger using a sink tip.  He was quite amazed we were catching fish in this high water.

Lots of Orvis people were staying at Big Cedar Lodge where they attending the annual Orvis Endorsed Lodge award for 2007.  The award went to Eagle Nest Lodge on the Bighorn River in Hardin, Montana.  This lodge was the first lodge in the world to be dual-endorsed by Orvis for both fly fishing and wing shooting.

Hate to say this, but we are getting more rain.  They dropped Table Rock almost a foot yesterday, but today’s rain will probably make short work of that. 

Had a boat on the water yesterday, but it was a miserable day with the rain the high water.  They caught some fish, but I think they were ready to "wring out" when they got off the water.  We are all looking forward to the days when we only have to fish four generators!

Stan had Bill and Chan from Minnesota on the water yesterday and the day before.  They had a great time.   Yesterday could even be called a very good day on the water.  They caught lots of fish, but best of all, they were able to catch over half of them on the holographic green crackle back.  They both really liked this way of fishing.  Over the two days, they fished the size 16 red tunghead midge, a peach egg pattern and the holographic green crackleback, size 14 

Gina and Carolyn were both on the water yesterday.  Gina had Joe from Minnesota out for half a day.  Gina warned him about the unsual conditions but he wanted to go out and "prospect" with Gina.  Joe is a good fisher and fishes a lot of lakes and some streams in Minnesota.  They had a respectable day on the water, caught some fish and he had a good time.  What more can one ask for.

Carolyn had a couple from Louisiana, Ron and Kathy.  They are both good fishers.  Kathy would probably rather fish than eat.  They fish Taneycomo on their own every chance they get.  Although yesterday was not as good as when they have been able to wade fish we made a good showing and also had a good time. 

Our best flies for the day were the Pink Lady egg pattern in the a.m., the red size 16 tungsten midge, copper dun, size 18 midge in the afternoon and the Bug-Eyed Bugger under a sink tip.  The Bugger also worked best in the afternoon. 

Five Flood Gates – March 19, 2008 – 10:00 a.m.

Had two boats on the water yesterday.  Water was very dirty and really moving.  They all caught a few fish, but nothing like we were doing before they opened the flood gates!  Fishing will get better as the water clears up and the fish get acclimated to the higher water and start moving into any calmer areas they can find.  Stan is on the water today and at 10:00 a.m. they had already done as well as all day yesterday.  They are fishing a sink tip line with a Bug-Eyed Olive Bugger.

Last we heard, the flood gates will be open until April 8, unless we get alot more rain.  Let’s hope we don’t.