Great Fishing on the White River...
While wading levels have been scarce, the fishing is really great. The water is cold and clear and the trout are thriving. It's been over a month since the floodgates were closed and anglers are still reporting catches of walleye, bass & catfish that came in from the lake. This is a great place to enjoy a summer trip.

The Ozarks offer many great fishing opportunities. In addition to the White and North Fork rivers and both lakes, there is Crooked Creek, Buffalo River and the upper North Fork of the White River. The drive from Rim to any of these is 40 minutes or less. 

Corp operates at the edge of plan.
...from the Baxter Bulletin 5/24/08

Rains measuring 23-26 inches that fell across the White River watershed in March and April created a water-management scenario that pushed the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' White River Basin Water Control Plan to its limits. The rain also set high-water records on all five of the Corps' managed reservoirs in the White River Basin, according to Jan Jones, chief of Corps' Little Rock Reservoir Control Branch. "There was nothing of this magnitude modeled in the plan," said Jones.

Jones was one in a delegation from the Corps' Little Rock District Headquarters visiting Mountain Home on Tuesday. With Jones was Andrea Lewis, deputy chief of Operations for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Little Rock District, and John Kielczewski, White River System engineer.

The three met with area officials and dock and resort owners to discuss the historic flood, the Corps' response and how the body of information derived from it might change the scope of the water-management plan. Jones said five Corps' reservoirs remain full from the March and April flooding, and the Corps continues to operate at "the extreme edge" of the plan, said Jones.

Kielczewski, an engineer of 27 years with the Corps, provided the group a glimpse of the water-management plan aimed at regulating the flow of water measured by a gauge on the river near Newport.

He said original intent of the dams to control flooding and protect farmlands along the river has remained largely unchanged since the dams were built a half-century ago. The management plan contains no provisions for manipulating flows to accommodate recreational concerns on the lakes or rivers, he said. Jones said the record rains presented variables not seen before, such as the volume of waters flowing into the White River from the Buffalo River, Crooked Creek and other smaller streams.

Kielczewski said he and coworkers considered seven scenarios, all in accordance with the water-management plan, for water releases from Norfork Lake before the emergency floodgates were opened early on April 9. All scenarios had a common thread - to hold water as long as possible so tributaries on the lower White could recede and diminish the potential for property losses down river from the flood.

"I have never in my tenure in reservoir control had to spill four lakes at one time," said Kielczewski. "And, thank God, I didn't have to open up Bull Shoals and Norfork at the same time. "We are in an extreme event," the engineer said. "This has been provided for because there are gates on those dams. You cannot hold all the water. You cannot stop all the flooding. You cannot satisfy and protect all the people."

Kielczewski confronted concerns about lost campsites and destroyed and disheveled resorts on the rivers.
To drain the lakes and uncover campsites is to "induce a flood on the farmer," he said.

Jones said the balance is "between making your summer better and the farmer's summer worse."

"Thousands and thousands of acres (of agricultural lands) are still underwater, just like campsites are underwater," said Kielczewski. The engineer was visibly emotional as he recounted visits with a homeowner twice flooded in this year's events.

Jim Gaston, owner of Gaston's on the White River and a life member of the Arkansas Department of Tourism Board of Directors, said he and the public at-large still have trouble comprehending the magnitude of the flood and big spill into the North Fork tailwaters.

Lewis said the 80,000 cubic-foot-per-second spill into the North Fork may be compared to a 70,000 cfs flow on the Arkansas River through Pulaski County.

At 70,000 cfs on the Arkansas River, the Corps issues a small (boat) craft advisory, she said.
"What we've been through will be looked at to determine what's changed over time," Kielczewski said.
Lewis said efforts to re-examine the water-management plan were under way before the floods.
The document has been amended in 1963 and 1998 to become a large dictionary-sized volume of regulations. The information gathered during the historic flood will be valuable for future flood control, she said.

All three said it would be a mistake to discard the existing plan.

fwallis@baxterbulletin.com

Our Expectations at Rim Shoals...

With all the lakes in the White River system extremely high, we expect to see continuous generating throughout the summer.  Patterns are developing at Bull Shoals and generation is consistently 3-5 units daily, often accompanied with a shut-down as well as spikes of 7-8 units for a few hours each day. 0-2 units of water at Bull Shoals will be considered a treat, rather than the norm this summer.

For the foreseeable future, wade fishermen may have some opportunity to walk/wade into the middle of the river. Wade fishing the islands via our river taxi may also be an option most days.

Anglers in boats will enjoy great fishing. Spin casting guests will find the river very productive during this high water. Stick baits, large rapala's and jigs are the popular choices for artificial lures. Red worms and crayfish are hot live bait right now.

Fly fishers may want to consider a little heavier rod, 7 or 8 wt, with a sinking tip line in 8+ units.

It is probably a good time to hire a guide, and we will gladly arrange that for you.  April - June is also prime bass fishing in Crooked Creek. There are several public accesses in our area for wading. You can also motor up the mouth of the creek which is just 2 miles downriver from Rim.

We cannot predict or guarantee the water conditions. We can predict that you will still have a great cabin, a beautiful river view, and lots of quiet and relaxation. As an incentive to visit this summer, we have added some special discounts.

Below is our cancellation policy. If there are sudden/drastic changes in conditions, you will not be forced to honor your reservation. But, in general, if you make a reservation, we expect you to honor it. Call Wendy to discuss your concerns and we'll come up with a plan.  Thank you.

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