November 25, 2008 | FISHING REPORT - LITTLE RED RIVER
Little Red Fishing Report: November 5, '08
The water releases being conducted at the Greers Ferry Power House are being controlled by Southwestern Power Administration in Tulsa, Oklahoma. They have limited the amount of water being released in an effort to increase the dissolved oxygen levels in our lake and, therefore, in the river. The DO has been fluctuating between 3.1 mg/l and 6.1 mg/l. At the lower figure, a fish kill is possible. The higher number is the state DO standard and is acceptable. The longer the water stays in the lake, the higher the dissolved oxygen level due to wave action and aquatic vegetation. The temperature of the lake water flowing through the turbines is averaging 57 degrees fahrenheit. Our lake is due to turn over in the next month or so and the problem with low DO should be eliminated at that time.
Little or no releases have occurred between October 29th until November 3rd. Releases began again on the 4th of November continuing through the 6th. As I prepare this report, the amount of water is scheduled to be about 3500 CFS (almost one full generator) 24 hours per day with no releases scheduled for Friday through Sunday. Wadeable water has been the norm for several days and the fishing has been very good. Stories of one angler catching and releasing 40-50 trout before lunch have been fairly common. Fishing at JFK Park down to Cow Shoal has been spotty due to the low DO in that part of the Little Red. The DO is so low that, for the first time ever, trout stocking in that stretch has been stopped until further notice. River water absorbs dissolved oxygen from the habitat as it flows over rocks and logs. Aquatic vegetation, such as our hydrilla (coon tail moss), also exudes oxygen in the water which helps the situation. The DO at Winkley shoal and below is okay.
The brown trout spawn is so close to occurring that I can almost hear it. Juvenile male browns have moved onto the shoals. They have kiped jaws (hooks on their lower jaw) and when released, are ejecting milt. The next and final phase of the spawn is for the egg laden females to appear on the shoals and begin making their redds (nests). This could occur at any hour now. There are small redds at Winkley Shoal (Swingin' Bridge) but I believe they are from spawning rainbows. Yes, rainbows spawn in our river year round but not sufficient to sustain the species without stockers from our trout hatchery.
I am not the spawn police but there are some regulations that must be followed and common courtesies that should be extended. Please keep in mind that all trout caught that are in the slot (16"-24" body length) are to be released immediately unharmed to the stream. This means no handling of the trout other than to remove the hook and, technically speaking, no holding the trout for photographs. Remember, all trout caught at Cow Shoal must be released no matter what their size. Please watch where you put your feet. Do not walk in the redds (clean areas of river bed specially prepared by the female trout for egg laying). Try hard not to wade through fishable water. Stay at least one long cast from the nearest angler. We had a fist fight at Cow Shoal last year over that one. Do not stake out a honey hole and stay there for hours. Enjoy the beauty of nature, be your usual courteous self and smile a lot.
We finally have caddis! I have been anticipating the arrival of caddis flies for a week or two and I am glad to see them. In my experience, trout will rise to a horde of caddis spinners like no other insect. The ones I am seeing are size #18 - #20 and tan. Their hatches are occuring mid-afternoon until dusk and trout are occassionally rising to them. Other aquatic insect activity includes blue winged olive mayflies and midges with PMD and sulphur hatches ending. In low water, dry flies are exciting and effective. Good dries to use include tan elk hair caddis (#18-#20), BWO (#16-#18), adams (#14-#16), crackleback (#12-#14) and midge (#22 or smaller in cream or black). Below the surface, try a sowbug (#14-#16 uv tan, uv gray, olive or peacock), red @ss soft hackle (#14-#18), zebra midge (#16-#22 red or black), pheasant tail (#16), gold ribbed hare's ear (#14-#16), copper john (#14-#16 red, copper or green) or woolly bugger (#8-#12 olive, brown or black).
If you have questions about anything in this report, please direct them to me at the Little Red Fly Shop of Heber Springs, Arkansas. My numbers are #888-442-4022 toll free or #501-887-9988. You can send an e-mail to me at shop@littleredflyshop.com. I'm Jed Hollan, mgr.
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