John Berry

JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 2/03/2011 During the past week, we have had a minor ice/snow event, extremely frigid temperatures and ferocious winds (to include lake wind advisories and wind chill advisories). The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam remained steady at six and seven tenths feet below power pool of 654.00 feet. This is forty seven and seven tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Up stream, Table Rock Lake fell two tenths of a foot to rest at eight and seven tenths feet below power pool or twenty four and seven tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell two tenths of a foot to rest at ten feet below power pool or nineteen and six tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the White, we had a significant period of no generation (five days) followed by heavy generation punctuated with brief periods of wadable water. Norfork Lake fell eight tenths of a foot to rest at ten and three tenths feet below power pool of 552.00 feet or thirty eight and three tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the Norfork, we have had a similar pattern with heavy generation and significant wadable water. All of the lakes on the White River System are lower than we have seen them for several years and we should receive more wadable water. The heavy generation we had for the past few weeks was due to the increased power demands brought on by the frigid temperatures. The Catch and Release section below Bull Shoals Dam was closed from November 1, 2010 to January 31, 2011 to accommodate the brown trout spawn. The State Park from the bottom of the Catch and Release section down to the wing wall was seasonal Catch and Release for the same period. These sections are now open. These trout have not been fished over for three months; they have finished their spawn and are ready to feed. There are spawning beds in various locations. Please try to avoid these areas. On high water, do not drag chains through them. On low water, carefully wade around them. The fishing has been good for those anglers willing to brave the elements. The hot spot has been Rim Shoals on low water. On sunny afternoons there have been some excellent midge hatches. Before the hatch, the hot fly has been red zebra midges in size 18-20. Once they start coming off, the hot fly has been Dan’s turkey tail emerger. Once the water rose the hot fly was a pink San Juan worm with a midge dropper. With the cold weather, the lake temperatures are near those required for a shad kill. The lake levels are much lower than the last few years at this time, which could affect generation levels. Our best bet for a shad kill will be mid to late February. On the higher flows, the most consistent technique to catch the big browns has been to bang the bank and any heavy cover with large streamers. The hot flies have been zoo cougars, circus peanuts and sex dungeons cast on two hundred fifty grain lines or heavier. Be sure and pinch down the barbs on these big flies. If you duff a cast and have to remove one of them from yourself, it could be painful.To toss this rig all day is heavy work and you will need a stiff eight weight rod and heavy tippet, at least 3X. Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River are low and clear. The water temperature is low and the small mouths are not active. Carefully check the water level before entering Crooked Creek or the Buffalo River. There are no dams on these streams. They both have large drainages and are prone to flooding during and following any rain event. The water can rise very quickly. The Norfork has continued to fish well this week. There have been few anglers. We have had wadable water just about every day but the weather has kept most anglers at home sitting by the fire. There have been some spectacular midge hatches. Try black zebra midges in size twenty or olive Norfork bead heads the same size. Dan’s turkey tail emerger has been the hot fly and several anglers have had substantial success with size twenty parachute Adams. On high water, try brightly colored San Juan worms (cerise and hot pink) or egg patterns (orange and peach). Dry Run Creek has been abandoned. The brutal weather has kept everyone from fishing here. It has been too cold to take the kids out. Wait for some nice weather before bringing the out. It is important that your first efforts be positive ones. The water level on the Spring River is very low and clear. Be sure and wear cleated boots and carry a wading staff. There is a lot of bedrock that can get very slick. The hot spot has been downstream from the dam Three access. The hot flies have been olive woolly buggers with a bit of flash, cerise San Juan worms and pheasant tail nymphs. Remember that the White and Norfork Rivers are infected with didymo, an invasive alga. Be sure and thoroughly clean and dry your waders (especially the felt soles on wading boots) before using them in any other water. Many manufacturers are now making rubber soled wading boots that are easier to clean and are not as likely to harbor didymo. Practice water safety and always check conditions before you leave home. John Berry is a fly fishing guide in Cotter, Arkansas and has fished our local streams for over twenty five years.

It is legal (with proper navigation lights) but not a good idea. The White is the 6th most dangerous body of water in the United States. There are loads of rocks, trees and other obstacles just under the water level, which is constantly changing. Many people get in trouble when they can see where they are going.

JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 1/29/2011 During the past week, we have had a minor snow event, frigid temperatures and milder winds. The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam fell six tenths of a foot to rest at six and seven tenths feet below power pool of 654.00 feet. This is forty seven and seven tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Up stream, Table Rock Lake fell one and one tenth of a foot to rest at eight and five tenths feet below power pool or twenty four and five tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell six tenths of a foot to rest at nine and eight tenths feet below power pool or nineteen and four tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the White, we had an erratic schedule with a substantial period of heavy water in the morning and again in the afternoon with lower water in between and some brief periods of wadable water. Norfork Lake fell eight tenths of a foot to rest at nine and five tenths feet below power pool of 552.00 feet or thirty seven and five tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the Norfork, we have had a similar pattern with less generation and more wadable water. All of the lakes on the White River System are lower than we have seen them for several years and we should receive more wadable water. The heavy generation we had for the past few weeks was due to the increased power demands brought on by the frigid temperatures. The Catch and Release section below Bull Shoals Dam will close from November 1, 2010 to January 31, 2011 to accommodate the brown trout spawn. The State Park from the bottom of the Catch and Release section down to the wing wall will be seasonal Catch and Release for the same period. This section will reopen on February 1, 2011. These trout have not been fished over for three months; they have finished their spawn and should be ready to feed. There are spawning beds in various locations. Please try to avoid these areas. On high water, do not drag chains through them. On low water, carefully wade around them. The fishing has been good for those anglers willing to brave the elements. The hot spot has been the section from Wildcat down to Cotter. There are large numbers of good fish including some nice browns. The key to success has been to effectively fish the constantly changing water levels. It was necessary to constantly adjust the strike indicators and split shot to keep the fly on the bottom. There are reports that the bite was better on falling water. Hot flies have been brightly colored San Juan worms and egg patterns. Nymphs like sowbugs, scuds, zebra midges and Norfork beadheads suspended below them also accounted for some good fish. Despite the cold weather, the lake temperatures are still too high for a shad kill. In addition, the lake levels are much lower than the last few years at this time, which could affect generation levels. Our best bet for a shad kill will be mid to late February. On the higher flows, the most consistent technique to catch the big browns has been to bang the bank and any heavy cover with large streamers. The hot flies have been zoo cougars, circus peanuts and sex dungeons cast on two hundred fifty grain lines or heavier. Be sure and pinch down the barbs on these big flies. If you duff a cast and have to remove one of them from yourself, it could be painful.To toss this rig all day is heavy work and you will need a stiff eight weight rod and heavy tippet, at least 3X. Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River are low and clear. The water temperature is low and the small mouths are not active. Carefully check the water level before entering Crooked Creek or the Buffalo River. There are no dams on these streams. They both have large drainages and are prone to flooding during and following any rain event. The water can rise very quickly. The Norfork has continued to fish well this week. There have been few anglers. We have had wadable water here every day but the weather has kept most anglers at home sitting by the fire. There have been some spectacular midge hatches. Try black zebra midges in size twenty or olive Norfork bead heads the same size. Dan’s turkey tail emerger has been the hot fly and several anglers have had substantial success with size twenty parachute Adams. Thanks to a new emergency exit it is now much safer to fish below the Ackerman access. Remember, this exit is located on private land and is for egress only. On high water, try brightly colored San Juan worms (cerise and hot pink) or egg patterns (orange and peach). Dry Run Creek has fished well. The hot flies have been sowbugs and worm brown San Juan worms. Be sure to handle the fish carefully and return them to the water as quickly as possible. If you take a photograph, leave the fish in the water in the net until you are set up and ready. Carefully revive any fish that has put up a long struggle. Cradle the trout in your hands point them up stream and gently move the back and forth to force water through their gills. It is best to do this in quiet water so they can get their bearings before they have to fight heavy current. The water level on the Spring River is very low and clear. Be sure and wear cleated boots and carry a wading staff. There is a lot of bedrock that can get very slick. The hot spot has been downstream from the dam Three access. The hot flies have been olive woolly buggers with a bit of flash, cerise San Juan worms and pheasant tail nymphs. Remember that the White and Norfork Rivers are infected with didymo, an invasive alga. Be sure and thoroughly clean and dry your waders (especially the felt soles on wading boots) before using them in any other water. Many manufacturers are now making rubber soled wading boots that are easier to clean and are not as likely to harbor didymo. Practice water safety and always check conditions before you leave home. John Berry is a fly fishing guide in Cotter, Arkansas and has fished our local streams for over twenty five years.

JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 1/15/2011 During the past week, we have had a couple of minor snow events, frigid temperatures and heavy winds (to include lake wind advisories and wind chill advisories). The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam fell nine tenths of a foot to rest at five and four tenths feet below power pool of 654.00 feet. This is forty six and four tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Up stream, Table Rock Lake fell nine tenths of a foot to rest at six and nine tenths feet below power pool or twenty two and nine tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell five tenths of a foot to rest at eight and four tenths feet below power pool or eighteen feet below the top of flood pool. On the White, we had an erratic schedule with a substantial period of heavy water in the morning and again in the afternoon with lower water in between and only one short period of wadable water for the week. Norfork Lake fell six tenths of a foot to rest at seven and six tenths feet below power pool of 552.00 feet or thirty five and six tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the Norfork, we have had a similar pattern with less generation and reliable wadable water. All of the lakes on the White River System are significantly below power pool and we should receive more wadable water. The heavy generation we had this week was due to the increased power demands brought on by the frigid temperatures. The Catch and Release section below Bull Shoals Dam will close from November 1, 2010 to January 31, 2011 to accommodate the brown trout spawn. The State Park from the bottom of the Catch and Release section down to the wing wall will be seasonal Catch and Release for the same period. On the White, the browns are in spawn. There are spawning beds in various locations. Please try to avoid these areas. On high water, do not drag chains through them. On low water, carefully avoid them when wading. The fishing has been good for those anglers willing to brave the elements. The hot spot has been the upper White River from the State Park down to White Hole. The key to success has been to effectively fish the constantly changing water levels. It was necessary to constantly adjust the strike indicators and split shot to keep the fly on the bottom. There are reports that the bite was better on falling water. Hot flies have been brightly colored San Juan worms and egg patterns. Various midge nymphs suspended below them also accounted for some good fish. On the higher flows, one of the more productive techniques has been to bang the bank with large streamers. The hot flies have been zoo cougars and circus peanuts cast on two hundred fifty grain lines or heavier. To toss this rig all day is heavy work and you will need a stiff eight weight rod and heavy tippet, at least 3X. Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River are low and clear. The water temperature is low and the small mouths are not active. Carefully check the water level before entering Crooked Creek or the Buffalo River. There are no dams on these streams. They both have large drainages and are prone to flooding during and following any rain event. The water can rise very quickly. The Norfork has continued to fish well this week. There have been few anglers. We have had wadable water here every day but the weather has kept most anglers at home. There have been some good midge hatches. Try black zebra midges in size twenty or olive Norfork bead heads the same size. Dan’s turkey tail emerger has been the hot fly. There have been substantial changes to the section below Norfork Dam there due to the recent work on the ramp area. It has been built up and at low water the current is now directed to the far bank. Thanks to a new emergency exit it is now much safer to fish below the Ackerman access. Remember, this exit is located on private land and is for egress only. On high water, try brightly colored San Juan worms (cerise and hot pink) or egg patterns (orange and peach). Dry Run Creek has fished well. With the extreme we had this week, there have been few young anglers fishing there. The hot flies have been sowbugs and worm brown San Juan worms. If you have an adventurous youngster that has plenty of cold weather gear, now would be a great time to visit Dry Run Creek. The creek is teeming with large trout and there is plenty of room to fish. Be sure to take a camera to record the fish of a life time. While you are there, take a few minutes to visit the adjacent National Fish Hatchery. It is fascinating. Please remove your waders before entering to prevent the spread of aquatic diseases. The water level on the Spring River is low and clear. Be sure and wear cleated boots and carry a wading staff. There is a lot of bedrock that can get very slick. The hot spot has been downstream from the dam Three access. The hot flies have been olive woolly buggers with a bit of flash, cerise San Juan worms and pheasant tail nymphs. Remember that the White and Norfork Rivers are infected with didymo, an invasive alga. Be sure and thoroughly clean and dry your waders (especially the felt soles on wading boots) before using them in any other water. Many manufacturers are now making rubber soled wading boots that are easier to clean and are not as likely to harbor didymo. Practice water safety and always check conditions before you leave home. John Berry is a fly fishing guide in Cotter, Arkansas and has fished our local streams for over twenty five years.

JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 1/06/2011 During the past week, we have had a minor rain event, cooler temperatures and heavy winds. The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam rose eight tenths of a foot to rest at four and five tenths feet below power pool of 654.00 feet. This is forty five and five tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Up stream, Table Rock Lake remained steady at six feet below power pool or twenty two feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell seven tenths to rest at seven and nine tenths feet below power pool or seventeen and five tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the White, we had a significant period of low water over the New Years’ Holiday followed by an erratic schedule with a burst of heavy water in the morning and again in the afternoon with wadable water in between. Norfork Lake rose two tenths of a foot to rest at seven feet below power pool of 552.00 feet or thirty five feet below the top of flood pool. On the Norfork, we have had a similar pattern with less generation and reliable wadable water. All of the lakes on the White River System are significantly below power pool and we have received more wadable water. The Catch and Release section below Bull Shoals Dam will close from November 1, 2010 to January 31, 2011 to accommodate the brown trout spawn. The State Park from the bottom of the Catch and Release section down to the wing wall will be seasonal Catch and Release for the same period. On the White, the browns are in spawn. There are spawning beds in various locations. Please try to avoid these areas. On high water, do not drag chains through them. On low water, carefully avoid them when wading. Overall the fishing has been much better, particularly on the low water. There here have been more anglers but it is nowhere near crowded. The fishing has centered on some pretty reliable midge hatches, our most prolific insect this time of year. The hot fly has been Dan’s turkey tail emerger, when there is active feeding on the surface. If there is no top water action, concentrate on midge larva or pupa imitations. The hot flies have been red or black zebra midges with silver wire and silver beads in size twenty or twenty two. The other productive flies have been Y2Ks and olive woolly buggers. On the higher flows, one of the more productive techniques has been to bang the bank with large streamers. The hot flies have been zoo cougars and circus peanuts cast on two hundred fifty grain lines. To toss this rig all day is heavy work and you will need a stiff eight weight rod and heavy tippet, at least 3X. The hot spot has been the section from White Hole down to down to Wildcat Shoals. The midge activity has been heavy at times and midge emergers have been the key to success. Small soft hackles (size eighteen) like partridge and orange or green butts have also been effective. Olive woolly buggers with a bit of flash have also accounted for some good fish. Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River are low and clear. The water temperature is low and the small mouths are not active. Carefully check the water level before entering Crooked Creek or the Buffalo River. There are no dams on these streams. They both have large drainages and are prone to flooding during and following any rain event. The water can rise very quickly. The Norfork has continued to fish well this week. There have been few anglers. This was due to substantial periods of low water on the White that provided some needed relief. There have been some good midge hatches. Try black zebra midges in size twenty or olive Norfork bead heads the same size. Dan’s turkey tail emerger has been the hot fly. There have been substantial changes to the section below Norfork Dam there due to the recent work on the ramp area. It has been built up and at low water the current is now directed to the far bank. Thanks to a new emergency exit it is now much safer to fish below the Ackerman access. Remember, this exit is located on private land and is for egress only. On high water, try brightly colored San Juan worms (cerise and hot pink) or egg patterns (orange and peach). Dry Run Creek has fished well. The hot flies have been cerise San Juan worms and sowbugs. With the milder weather we have had lately, it has been a great time to visit the creek. There have been some huge fish caught, particularly browns. When you stop for a picture, leave the fish in the net in the water until you are ready to take the picture. Handle the fish carefully and return the trout to the water as quickly as you can. The water level on the Spring River is low and clear. Be sure and wear cleated boots and carry a wading staff. There is a lot of bedrock that can get very slick. The hot spot has been downstream from the dam Three access. The hot flies have been olive woolly buggers with a bit of flash, cerise San Juan worms and pheasant tail nymphs. Remember that the White and Norfork Rivers are infected with didymo, an invasive alga. Be sure and thoroughly clean and dry your waders (especially the felt soles on wading boots) before using them in any other water. Many manufacturers are now making rubber soled wading boots that are easier to clean and are not as likely to harbor didymo. Practice water safety and always check conditions before you leave home. John Berry is a fly fishing guide in Cotter, Arkansas and has fished our local streams for over twenty five years.

JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 1/01/2011 During the past week, we have had a couple of minor precipitation events and slightly warmer temperatures. The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam fell eight tenths of a foot to rest at five and three tenths feet below power pool of 654.00 feet. This is forty six and three tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Up stream, Table Rock Lake fell three tenths of a foot to rest at six feet below power pool or twenty two feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell five tenths to rest at seven and two tenths feet below power pool or sixteen and eight tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the White, we had an erratic schedule at the beginning of the week with a burst of heavy water in the morning and again in the afternoon with some wadable water in between. Later in the week, when the temperatures warmed up, we got more wadable water. Norfork Lake fell six tenths of a foot to rest at seven feet below power pool of 552.00 feet or thirty five feet below the top of flood pool. On the Norfork, we have had a similar pattern with less generation and reliable wadable water. All of the lakes on the White River System are significantly below power pool and we have received more wadable water. The Catch and Release section below Bull Shoals Dam will close from November 1, 2010 to January 31, 2011 to accommodate the brown trout spawn. The State Park from the bottom of the Catch and Release section down to the wing wall will be seasonal Catch and Release for the same period. On the White, the browns are in spawn. There are spawning beds in various locations. Please try to avoid these areas. On high water, do not drag chains through them. On low water, carefully avoid them when wading. Overall the fishing has been slow and there here have been few anglers. The fishing has centered on some pretty reliable midge hatches, our most prolific insect this time of year. The hot fly has been Dan’s turkey tail emerger, when there is active feeding on the surface. If there is no top water action, concentrate on midge larva or pupa imitations. The hot flies have been red or black zebra midges with silver wire and silver beads in size twenty or twenty two. The erratic flows we have received have been challenging to deal with. As the flows change, you will need to constantly adjust your weight and strike indicator. With the spawn, egg patterns have been the go to flies along with various midge patterns. Fish them with a bit of lead eighteen inches above the fly and a strike indicator set at the depth of the water. Nymphs suspended below an egg or San Juan worm with eighteen inches of 5X tippet tied to the bend of the hook by an improved clinch knot have been particularly effective. The hot spot has been the section from Wildcat Shoals down to Roundhouse Shoals. The midge activity has been heavy at times and midge emergers have been the key to success. Small soft hackles (size eighteen) like partridge and orange or green butts have also been effective. Olive woolly buggers with a bit of flash have also accounted for some good fish. Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River are low and clear. The water temperature is low and the small mouths are not active. Carefully check the water level before entering Crooked Creek or the Buffalo River. There are no dams on these streams. They both have large drainages and are prone to flooding during and following any rain event. The water can rise very quickly. The Norfork has fished well this week. There have been few anglers and some good midge hatches. Try black zebra midges in size twenty or olive Norfork bead heads the same size. Dan’s turkey tail emerger has been the hot fly. There have been substantial changes to the section below Norfork Dam there due to the recent work on the ramp area. It has been built up and at low water the current is now directed to the far bank. Thanks to a new emergency exit it is now much safer to fish below the Ackerman access. Remember, this exit is located on private land and is for egress only. On high water try brightly colored San Juan worms (cerise and hot pink) or egg patterns (orange and peach). Dry Run Creek has fished well. The hot flies have been cerise San Juan worms and sowbugs. With the milder weather we have had lately, it has been a great time to visit the creek. There have been few visitors over the holidays and there are plenty of quality fish. Be sure and take a big net and use at least 4X tippet to improve your child’s chances to land these huge trout. Do not forget your camera to record the fish of a life time. The water level on the Spring River is low and clear. Be sure and wear cleated boots and carry a wading staff. There is a lot of bedrock that can get very slick. The hot spot has been downstream from the dam Three access. The hot flies have been olive woolly buggers with a bit of flash, cerise San Juan worms and pheasant tail nymphs. Remember that the White and Norfork Rivers are infected with didymo, an invasive alga. Be sure and thoroughly clean and dry your waders (especially the felt soles on wading boots) before using them in any other water. Many manufacturers are now making rubber soled wading boots that are easier to clean and are not as likely to harbor didymo. Practice water safety and always check conditions before you leave home. John Berry is a fly fishing guide in Cotter, Arkansas and has fished our local streams for over twenty five years.

Here is the best photo that I have.

JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 12/25/2010 During the past week, we have had no rain, cold temperatures and heavy wind (to include lake wind advisories). The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam fell four tenths of a foot to rest at four and five tenths feet below power pool of 654.00 feet. This is forty five and five tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Up stream, Table Rock Lake fell seven tenths of a foot to rest at five and seven tenths feet below power pool or twenty one and seven tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell six tenths to rest at six and seven tenths feet below power pool or sixteen and three tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the White, we had an erratic schedule with a burst of heavy water in the morning and again in the afternoon with some wadable water in between. Norfork Lake fell five tenths of a foot to rest at six and four tenths feet below power pool of 552.00 feet or thirty four and four tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the Norfork, we have had a similar pattern with less generation and reliable wadable water. All of the lakes on the White River System are significantly below power pool and we should have more wadable water. This week’s heavy generation is considered to be the result of our frigid temperatures. The Catch and Release section below Bull Shoals Dam will close from November 1, 2010 to January 31, 2011 to accommodate the brown trout spawn. The State Park from the bottom of the Catch and Release section down to the wing wall will be seasonal Catch and Release for the same period. On the White, the browns are in spawn. There are spawning beds in various locations. Please try to avoid these areas. On high water, do not drag chains through them. On low water, carefully avoid them when wading. Overall the fishing has been a bit slow and there here have been few anglers. The fishing has centered on some pretty reliable midge hatches, our most prolific insect this time of year. When there is no top water action concentrate on midge larva or pupa imitations. The hot flies have been red or black zebra midges with silver wire and silver beads in size twenty or twenty two. When there is active feeding on the surface, try midge emergers. Dan’s turkey tail emerger has been very productive. The erratic flows we have received have been challenging to deal with. As the flows change, you will need to constantly adjust your weight and strike indicator. With the spawn, egg patterns have been the go to flies along with various midge patterns. Fish them with a bit of lead eighteen inches above the fly and a strike indicator set at the depth of the water. Nymphs suspended below an egg or San Juan worm with eighteen inches of 5X tippet tied to the bend of the hook by an improved clinch knot have been particularly effective. If you wish to wade during heavy generation take advantage of the water taxi at Rim Shoals Trout Dock. For a nominal fee, they will ferry you to wadable water and pick you up when you are finished. You can take advantage of this ferry with flows up to 17,000 cubic feet per second. Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River are low and clear. The water temperature is low and the small mouths are not active. Carefully check the water level before entering Crooked Creek or the Buffalo River. There are no dams on these streams. They both have large drainages and are prone to flooding during and following any rain event. The water can rise very quickly. The Norfork has fished well this week. There have been few anglers and some good midge hatches. Try black zebra midges in size twenty or olive Norfork bead heads the same size. Dan’s turkey tail emerger has accounted for a lot of fish. There have been substantial changes to the section below Norfork Dam there due to the recent work on the ramp area. It has been built up and at low water the current is now directed to the far bank. Thanks to a new emergency exit it is now much safer to fish below the Ackerman access. Remember, this exit is located on private land and is for egress only. On high water try brightly colored San Juan worms (cerise and hot pink) or egg patterns (orange and peach). Dry Run Creek has fished well. The hot flies have been cerise San Juan worms and sowbugs. With the cold weather the creek has been virtually abandoned. Take a break over the holidays and give your kids a treat. It will be cold so bundle them up and take a thermos of hot chocolate. While you are there take a tour of the adjacent National Fish Hatchery. Don’t forget to remove your waders before entering to prevent the spread of aquatic diseases. The water level on the Spring River is low and clear. Be sure and wear cleated boots and carry a wading staff. There is a lot of bedrock that can get very slick. The hot spot has been downstream from the dam Three access. The hot flies have been olive woolly buggers with a bit of flash, cerise San Juan worms and pheasant tail nymphs. Remember that the White and Norfork Rivers are infected with didymo, an invasive alga. Be sure and thoroughly clean and dry your waders (especially the felt soles on wading boots) before using them in any other water. Many manufacturers are now making rubber soled wading boots that are easier to clean and are not as likely to harbor didymo. Practice water safety and always check conditions before you leave home. John Berry is a fly fishing guide in Cotter, Arkansas and has fished our local streams for over twenty five years.

JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 12/16/2010 During the past week, we have had a minor rain event, frigid temperatures and extremely heavy wind (to include lake wind advisories). The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam fell six tenths of a foot to rest at four and one tenth feet below power pool of 654.00 feet. This is forty five and one tenth feet below the top of flood pool. Up stream, Table Rock Lake fell seven tenths of a foot to rest at five feet below power pool or twenty one feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell seven tenths to rest at six and one tenth feet below power pool or fifteen and seven tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the White, we had an erratic schedule with a burst of heavy water in the morning and again in the afternoon with no wadable water. Norfork Lake fell eight tenths of a foot to rest at five and nine tenths feet below power pool of 552.00 feet or thirty three and nine tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the Norfork, we have had less generation with wadable water. All of the lakes on the White River System are significantly below power pool and we should have more wadable water. This week’s heavy generation is considered to be the result of our frigid temperatures. There were significant changes to trout fishing regulations effective January 1, 2010. The Catch and Release section on the Norfork River will be increased from it current size of 1.1 miles to a new total of approximately two miles. The new upper boundary will be the bottom of long hole and the new lower limit will be the Ackerman access. The new regulations will also allow for multiple hook points in Catch and Release sections on the White and Norfork Rivers. Up to three treble hooks will be allowed. All hook points must be barbless. Of interest to fly fishers, is that the new regulations will allow the use of droppers, multiple fly rigs and articulated multiple hook streamers. The Catch and Release section below Bull Shoals Dam will close from November 1, 2010 to January 31, 2011 to accommodate the brown trout spawn. The State Park from the bottom of the Catch and Release section down to the wing wall will be seasonal Catch and Release for the same period. On the White, the browns are in spawn. There are spawning beds in various locations. Please try to avoid these areas. On high water, do not drag chains through them. On low water, carefully avoid them when wading. Overall the fishing has been a bit slow. There have been few anglers. The erratic flows we have received have been challenging to deal with. As the flows change, you will need to constantly adjust your weight and strike indicator. With the spawn, egg patterns have been the go to flies. Copper Johns, black or red zebra midges and cerise San Juan worms have also been very productive. Fish them with a bit of lead eighteen inches above the fly and a strike indicator set at the depth of the water. Nymphs suspended below an egg or San Juan worm with eighteen inches of 5X tippet tied to the bend of the hook by an improved clinch knot have been particularly effective. If you wish to wade during heavy generation take advantage of the water taxi at Rim Shoals Trout Dock. For a nominal fee, they will ferry you to wadable water and pick you up when you are finished. You can take advantage of this ferry with flows up to 17,000 cubic feet per second. Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River are low and clear. The water temperature low and the small mouths are not active. Carefully check the water level before entering Crooked Creek or the Buffalo River. There are no dams on these streams. They both have large drainages and are prone to flooding during and following any rain event. The water can rise very quickly. The Norfork has been virtually abandoned this week. The bitterly cold temperatures have kept many anglers at home. The section below Norfork Dam has fished a bit better than the Ackerman Access. There have been substantial changes there due to the recent work on the ramp area. It has been built up and at low water the current is now directed to the far bank. The hot flies have been hot pink San Juan worms and sow bugs. Thanks to a new emergency exit it is now much safer to fish below the Ackerman access. Remember, this exit is located on private land and is for egress only. On high water try brightly colored San Juan worms (cerise and hot pink) or egg patterns (orange and peach). Dry Run Creek has fished well. There are a number of large brown trout that have moved up into the creek. The hot flies have been cerise San Juan worms and sowbugs. With the bitter weather the creek has been virtually abandoned. This is a great time to take your youngsters there. Bundle them up and take a break when they get chilled. The water level on the Spring River is low and clear. Be sure and wear cleated boots and carry a wading staff. There is a lot of bedrock that can get very slick. The hot spot has been the Bayou access. The hot flies have been olive woolly buggers with a bit of flash, cerise San Juan worms and pheasant tail nymphs. Remember that the White and Norfork Rivers are infected with didymo, an invasive alga. Be sure and thoroughly clean and dry your waders (especially the felt soles on wading boots) before using them in any other water. Many manufacturers are now making rubber soled wading boots that are easier to clean and are not as likely to harbor didymo. Practice water safety and always check conditions before you leave home. John Berry is a fly fishing guide in Cotter, Arkansas and has fished our local streams for over twenty five years.

I fished the Ackerman Access yesterday and there were only five people there. Nothing like some cold weather to thin the herd!

JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 12/09/2010 During the past week, we have had no rain, frigid temperatures and extremely heavy wind (to include lake wind advisories). The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam rose nine tenths of a foot to rest at three and five tenths feet below power pool of 654.00 feet. This is forty four and five tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Up stream, Table Rock Lake fell nine tenths of a foot to rest at four and three tenths of a foot below power pool or twenty and three tenths of a foot below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell three tenths to rest at five and four tenths feet below power pool or fifteen feet below the top of flood pool. On the White, we had an erratic schedule with a burst of heavy water in the morning and again in the afternoon with no wadable water. Norfork Lake fell four tenths of a foot to rest at five and one tenth feet below power pool of 552.00 feet or thirty three and one tenth feet below the top of flood pool. On the Norfork, we have had less generation with wadable water. All of the lakes on the White River System are significantly below power pool and we should have more wadable water. There were significant changes to trout fishing regulations effective January 1, 2010. The Catch and Release section on the Norfork River will be increased from it current size of 1.1 miles to a new total of approximately two miles. The new upper boundary will be the bottom of long hole and the new lower limit will be the Ackerman access. The new regulations will also allow for multiple hook points in Catch and Release sections on the White and Norfork Rivers. Up to three treble hooks will be allowed. All hook points must be barbless. Of interest to fly fishers, is that the new regulations will allow the use of droppers, multiple fly rigs and articulated multiple hook streamers. The Catch and Release section below Bull Shoals Dam will close from November 1, 2010 to January 31, 2011 to accommodate the brown trout spawn. The State Park from the bottom of the Catch and Release section down to the wing wall will be seasonal Catch and Release for the same period. On the White, the browns are in spawn. There are spawning beds in various locations. Please try to avoid these areas. On high water, do not drag chains through them. On low water, carefully avoid them when wading. Overall the fishing has been a bit slow. The erratic flows we have received have been challenging to deal with. As the flows change, you will need to constantly adjust your weight and strike indicator. With the spawn, egg patterns have been the go to flies. Copper Johns, black or red zebra midges and cerise San Juan worms have also been very productive. Fish them with a bit of lead eighteen inches above the fly and a strike indicator set at the depth of the water. Nymphs suspended below an egg or San Juan worm with eighteen inches of 5X tippet tied to the bend of the hook by an improved clinch knot have been particularly effective. If you wish to wade during heavy generation take advantage of the water taxi at Rim Shoals Trout Dock. For a nominal fee, they will ferry you to wadable water and pick you up when you are finished. You can take advantage of this ferry with flows up to 17,000 cubic feet per second. There have been some prolific blue wing olive hatches in the afternoon. If you are lucky enough to catch this hatch and do not have an exact imitation of the insect, try a size twenty parachute Adams. Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River are low and clear. The water temperature low and the small mouths are not active. Carefully check the water level before entering Crooked Creek or the Buffalo River. There are no dams on these streams. They both have large drainages and are prone to flooding during and following any rain event. The water can rise very quickly. The Norfork has been less crowded this week. The cold temperatures have kept many anglers at home. The section below Norfork Dam has fished a bit better than the Ackerman Access. The hot flies have been small black zebra midges and Dan’s turkey tail emergers. Use 6X tippet or smaller. You will need a rod with a sensitive tip to protect these small tippets. On higher water try cerise San Juan worms or peach eggs. There have been some blue wing olive hatches in the afternoon. Try size twenty parachute Adams and 8X tippet. Thanks to a new emergency exit it is now much safer to fish below the Ackerman access. Remember, this exit is located on private land and is for egress only. Dry Run Creek has fished well. There are a number of large brown trout that have moved up into the creek. The hot flies have been cerise San Juan worms and sowbugs. With cooler weather the creek has been virtually abandoned. This is a great time to take your youngsters there. Bundle them up and take a break when they get chilled. The water level on the Spring River is low and clear. Be sure and wear cleated boots and carry a wading staff. There is a lot of bedrock that can get very slick. The hot spot has been the Bayou access. The hot flies have been olive woolly buggers with a bit of flash, cerise San Juan worms and pheasant tail nymphs. Remember that the White and Norfork Rivers are infected with didymo, an invasive alga. Be sure and thoroughly clean and dry your waders (especially the felt soles on wading boots) before using them in any other water. Many manufacturers are now making rubber soled wading boots that are easier to clean and are not as likely to harbor didymo. Practice water safety and always check conditions before you leave home. John Berry is a fly fishing guide in Cotter, Arkansas and has fished our local streams for over twenty five years.

It is a set of concrete steps on the River Ridge Road side of the river (same as the Ackerman Access) a few hundred yards down stream. AGFC is planning another one further downstream on land from a conservation easement donated by Jim and Liz Smith the owners of River Ridge Inn.

JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 12/02/2010 During the past week, we have had several rain events, cold temperatures and a lot of extremely heavy wind (to include lake wind advisories). The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam rose six tenths of a foot to rest at two and six tenths feet below power pool of 654.00 feet. This is forty three and six tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Up stream, Table Rock Lake fell six tenths of a foot to rest at three and four tenths of a foot below power pool or nineteen and four tenths of a foot below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake remained steady at five and one tenth feet below power pool or fourteen and seven tenths of a foot below the top of flood pool. On the White, we had an erratic schedule with a burst of heavy water in the morning and precious few periods of no generation for the week. Norfork Lake rose three tenths of a foot to rest at four and seven tenths feet below power pool of 552.00 feet or thirty two and seven tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the Norfork, we have had significant generation with some wadable water. All of the lakes on the White River System are significantly below power pool and we should have more wadable water. There were significant changes to trout fishing regulations effective January 1, 2010. The Catch and Release section on the Norfork River will be increased from it current size of 1.1 miles to a new total of approximately two miles. The new upper boundary will be the bottom of long hole and the new lower limit will be the Ackerman access. The new regulations will also allow for multiple hook points in Catch and Release sections on the White and Norfork Rivers. Up to three treble hooks will be allowed. All hook points must be barbless. Of interest to fly fishers, is that the new regulations will allow the use of droppers, multiple fly rigs and articulated multiple hook streamers. The Catch and Release section below Bull Shoals Dam will close from November 1, 2010 to January 31, 2011 to accommodate the brown trout spawn. The State Park from the bottom of the Catch and Release section down to the wing wall will be seasonal Catch and Release for the same period. On the White, the browns are in spawn. There are spawning beds in various locations. Please try to avoid these areas. On high water, do not drag chains through them. On low water, carefully avoid them when wading. The erratic flows we have received have been challenging to deal with. As the flows increase, you will need to add more weight and adjust your strike indicator. With the spawn, egg patterns have been the go to flies. Copper Johns, black or red zebra midges and cerise San Juan worms have also been very productive. Fish them with a bit of lead eighteen inches above the fly and a strike indicator set at the depth of the water. Nymphs suspended below an egg or San Juan worm with eighteen inches of 5X tippet tied to the bend of the hook by an improved clinch knot have been particularly effective. The hot spot has been Rim Shoals. The go to fly has been the Y2K but plenty of fish are also being caught on hot pink San Juan worms and egg patterns on higher water. On the lower flows, zebra midges in red or black with silver wire and silver bead in size twenty have been particularly effective. Some anglers have reported great success with olive woolly buggers with a bit of flash. If you wish to wade during heavy generation take advantage of the water taxi at Rim Shoals Trout Dock. For a nominal fee, they will ferry you to wadable water and pick you up when you are finished. There have been some prolific blue wing olive hatches in the afternoon at Roundhouse Shoals in Cotter. If you are lucky enough to catch this hatch and do not have an exact imitation of the insect, try a size twenty parachute Adams. Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River are a bit off color. The water temperature is dropping and the small mouths are much less active. Carefully check the water level before entering Crooked Creek or the Buffalo River. There are no dams on these streams. They both have large drainages and are prone to flooding during and following any rain event. The water can rise very quickly. The Norfork has been very crowded. For most of the week, this was the only wadable water and it was absolutely slammed. If possible, fish there during the week. The hot flies have been small black zebra midges and Dan’s turkey tail emergers. Use 6X tippet or smaller. You will need a rod with a sensitive tip to protect these small tippets. On higher water try cerise San Juan worms or peach eggs. Thanks to a new emergency exit it is now much safer to fish below the Ackerman access. Remember, this exit is located on private land and is for egress only. Dry Run Creek has fished well. There are a number of large brown trout that have moved up into the creek. The hot flies have been cerise San Juan worms and sowbugs. With cooler weather the creek is not as crowded and now is a great time to fish there. Bring a thermos of hot chocolate and take breaks when your youngster gets chilled. The water level on the Spring River is a bit higher and a little off color. Be sure and wear cleated boots and carry a wading staff. There is a lot of bedrock that can get very slick. The hot spot has been the Bayou access. The hot flies have been olive woolly buggers with a bit of flash, cerise San Juan worms and pheasant tail nymphs. Remember that the White and Norfork Rivers are infected with didymo, an invasive alga. Be sure and thoroughly clean and dry your waders (especially the felt soles on wading boots) before using them in any other water. Many manufacturers are now making rubber soled wading boots that are easier to clean and are not as likely to harbor didymo. Practice water safety and always check conditions before you leave home. John Berry is a fly fishing guide in Cotter, Arkansas and has fished our local streams for over twenty five years.

Mikey, During the brown trout spawn (November 1 through January 31), there is a seasonal catch and release section from the bottom of the Catch and Release area down to the wing wall at the State Park Boat Dock. The river in the State Park below this is unaffected.

JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 11/25/2010 During the past week, we have had a minor rain event, cooler temperatures and a lot of extremely heavy wind (to include lake wind advisories). The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam rose one tenth of a foot to rest at three and two tenths feet below power pool of 654.00 feet. This is forty four and two tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Up stream, Table Rock Lake fell six tenths of a foot to rest at two and eight tenths of a foot below power pool or eighteen and eight tenths of a foot below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell two tenths of a foot to rest at five and one feet below power pool or fourteen and seven tenths of a foot below the top of flood pool. On the White, we had an erratic schedule with a burst of heavy water in the morning and precious few periods of no generation for the week. Norfork Lake fell six tenths of a foot to rest at five feet below power pool of 552.00 feet or thirty three feet below the top of flood pool. On the Norfork, we have had significant generation with some wadable water. All of the lakes on the White River System are significantly below power pool and we should have more wadable water. There were significant changes to trout fishing regulations effective January 1, 2010. The Catch and Release section on the Norfork River will be increased from it current size of 1.1 miles to a new total of approximately two miles. The new upper boundary will be the bottom of long hole and the new lower limit will be the Ackerman access. The new regulations will also allow for multiple hook points in Catch and Release sections on the White and Norfork Rivers. Up to three treble hooks will be allowed. All hook points must be barbless. Of interest to fly fishers, is that the new regulations will allow the use of droppers, multiple fly rigs and articulated multiple hook streamers. The Catch and Release section below Bull Shoals Dam will close from November 1, 2010 to January 31, 2011 to accommodate the brown trout spawn. The State Park from the bottom of the Catch and Release section down to the wing wall will be seasonal Catch and Release for the same period. On the White, the browns are beginning to spawn. There are spawning beds that are beginning to appear in various locations. Please try to avoid these areas. On high water, do not drag chains through them. On low water, carefully avoid them when wading. The erratic flows we have received have been challenging to deal with. As the flows increase, you will need to add more weight and adjust your strike indicator. With the spawn, egg patterns have been the go to flies. Copper Johns, black or red zebra midges and cerise San Juan worms have also been very productive. Fish them with a bit of lead eighteen inches above the fly and a strike indicator set at the depth of the water. Nymphs suspended below an egg or San Juan worm with eighteen inches of 5X tippet tied to the bend of the hook by an improved clinch knot have been particularly effective. The hot spot has been the section, White Hole down to Cotter. Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River are very low and clear. The water is at a comfortable temperature and the small mouths are active. Try Clouser minnows or crawfish patterns. Fall is approaching and these streams will soon be too cold for effective fishing. Carefully check the water level before entering Crooked Creek or the Buffalo River. There are no dams on these streams. They both have large drainages and are prone to flooding during and following any rain event. The water can rise very quickly. The Norfork has been very crowded. For most of the week, this was the only wadable water and it was absolutely slammed. If possible, fish there during the week. The hot flies have been small black zebra midges and Dan’s turkey tail emergers. Use 6X tippet or smaller. You will need a rod with a sensitive tip to protect these small tippets. On higher water try cerise San Juan worms or peach eggs. Dry Run Creek has fished extremely well. There are a number of large brown trout that have moved up into the creek. The hot flies have been cerise San Juan worms and sowbugs. With cooler weather the creek is not as crowded and now is a great time to fish there. This would be the perfect spot to take your youngster over the holidays for an outing. The water level on the Spring River is very low and clear. Be sure and wear cleated boots and carry a wading staff. There is a lot of bedrock that can get very slick. The hot spot has been the Dam 3 access. The hot flies have been olive woolly buggers with a bit of flash, cerise San Juan worms and pheasant tail nymphs. Remember that the White and Norfork Rivers are infected with didymo, an invasive alga. Be sure and thoroughly clean and dry your waders (especially the felt soles on wading boots) before using them in any other water. Many manufacturers are now making rubber soled wading boots that are easier to clean and are not as likely to harbor didymo. Practice water safety and always check conditions before you leave home. John Berry is a fly fishing guide in Cotter, Arkansas and has fished our local streams for over twenty five years.

JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 11/18/2010 During the past week, we have had a couple of minor rain events and cooler temperatures. The skies have been generally sunny with a lot of extremely heavy wind (to include lake wind advisories). The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam fell three tenths of a foot to rest at three and three tenths feet below power pool of 654.00 feet. This is forty four and three tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Up stream, Table Rock Lake fell six tenths of a foot to rest at two and two tenths of a foot below power pool or eighteen and two tenths of a foot below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell two tenths of a foot to rest at four and nine feet below power pool or fourteen and five tenths of a foot below the top of flood pool. On the White, we had an erratic schedule with a burst of heavy water in the morning and a few periods of no generation for the week. Norfork Lake fell one foot to rest at four and six tenths feet below power pool of 552.00 feet or thirty two and six tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the Norfork, we have had significant generation with precious little wadable water. All of the lakes on the White River System are significantly below power pool and we should have more wadable water. There were significant changes to trout fishing regulations effective January 1, 2010. The Catch and Release section on the Norfork River will be increased from it current size of 1.1 miles to a new total of approximately two miles. The new upper boundary will be the bottom of long hole and the new lower limit will be the Ackerman access. The new regulations will also allow for multiple hook points in Catch and Release sections on the White and Norfork Rivers. Up to three treble hooks will be allowed. All hook points must be barbless. Of interest to fly fishers, is that the new regulations will allow the use of droppers, multiple fly rigs and articulated multiple hook streamers. The Catch and Release section below Bull Shoals Dam will close from November 1, 2010 to January 31, 2011 to accommodate the brown trout spawn. The State Park from the bottom of the Catch and Release section down to the wing wall will be seasonal Catch and Release for the same period. On the White, the browns are beginning to spawn. There are spawning beds that are beginning to appear in various locations. Please try to avoid these areas. On high water, do not drag chains through them. On low water, carefully avoid them when wading. The erratic flows we have received have been challenging to deal with. As the flows increase, you will need to add more weight and adjust your strike indicator. With the spawn, egg patterns have been the go to flies. Copper Johns, black or red zebra midges and cerise San Juan worms have also been very productive. Fish them with a bit of lead eighteen inches above the fly and a strike indicator set at the depth of the water. Nymphs suspended below an egg or San Juan worm with eighteen inches of 5X tippet tied to the bend of the hook by an improved clinch knot have been particularly effective. The hot spot has been the section, Wildcat Shoals down to Rim Shoals. Try brightly colored San Juan worms or egg patterns. This is one of the few spots where you can wade when they are running water. Rim Shoals Trout Dock runs a water taxi that will ferry you to wadable water and pick you up for a nominal fee. Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River are very low and clear. The water is at a comfortable temperature and the small mouths are active. Try Clouser minnows or crawfish patterns. Fall is approaching and these streams will soon be too cold for effective fishing. Carefully check the water level before entering Crooked Creek or the Buffalo River. There are no dams on these streams. They both have large drainages and are prone to flooding during and following any rain event. The water can rise very quickly. The Norfork has been very crowded. For most of the week, this was the only wadable water and it was absolutely slammed. If possible, fish there during the week. The hot flies have been small black zebra midges and Dan’s turkey tail emergers. The construction at the ramp at Quarry Park below Norfork Dam is still ongoing. You should launch your boat at the public ramp at the confluence of the White and Norfork Rivers. Dry Run Creek has fished extremely well. There are a number of large brown trout that have moved up into the creek. The hot flies have been cerise San Juan worms and sowbugs. With cooler weather the creek is not as crowded and now is a great time to fish there. The water level on the Spring River is very low and clear. Be sure and wear cleated boots and carry a wading staff. There is a lot of bedrock that can get very slick. The hot flies have been olive woolly buggers with a bit of flash, cerise San Juan worms and pheasant tail nymphs. Remember that the White and Norfork Rivers are infected with didymo, an invasive alga. Be sure and thoroughly clean and dry your waders (especially the felt soles on wading boots) before using them in any other water. Many manufacturers are now making rubber soled wading boots that are easier to clean and are not as likely to harbor didymo. Practice water safety and always check conditions before you leave home. John Berry is a fly fishing guide in Cotter, Arkansas and has fished our local streams for over twenty five years.

JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 11/11/2010 During the past week, we have had no rain and cool temperatures. The skies have been generally sunny with a lot of extremely heavy wind (to include lake wind advisories). The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam fell five tenths of a foot to rest at three feet below power pool of 654.00 feet. This is forty four feet below the top of flood pool. Up stream, Table Rock Lake fell five tenths of a foot to rest at one and six tenths of a foot below power pool or seventeen and six tenths of a foot below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell one tenths of a foot to rest at four and seven tenths feet below power pool or fourteen and three tenths of a foot below the top of flood pool. On the White, we had an erratic schedule with a burst of heavy water in the morning and a few periods of no generation for the week. Norfork Lake fell nine tenths of a foot to rest at three and six tenths feet below power pool of 552.00 feet or thirty one and six tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the Norfork, we have had significant generation with precious little wadable water. All of the lakes on the White River System are below power pool and we should have more wadable water. There were significant changes to trout fishing regulations effective January 1, 2010. The Catch and Release section on the Norfork River will be increased from it current size of 1.1 miles to a new total of approximately two miles. The new upper boundary will be the bottom of long hole and the new lower limit will be the Ackerman access. The new regulations will also allow for multiple hook points in Catch and Release sections on the White and Norfork Rivers. Up to three treble hooks will be allowed. All hook points must be barbless. Of interest to fly fishers, is that the new regulations will allow the use of droppers, multiple fly rigs and articulated multiple hook streamers. The Catch and Release section below Bull Shoals Dam will close from November 1, 2010 to January 31, 2011 to accommodate the brown trout spawn. The State Park from the bottom of the Catch and Release section down to the wing wall will be seasonal Catch and Release for the same period. On the White, the browns are beginning to spawn. There are spawning beds that are beginning to appear in various locations. Please try to avoid these areas. On high water, do not drag chains through them. On low water, carefully avoid them when wading. We are still experiencing some great grasshopper fishing, which should continue until the first frost. Use a six weight with a stout leader. Work the bank and any significant cover carefully. Use a Dave’s hopper or a large western foam hopper with rubber legs. Increase your catch by adding a dropper to the bend in the hook. Small bead head nymphs like copper Johns or zebra midges are your best bet. The erratic flows we have received have been challenging to deal with. As the flows increase, you will need to add more weight and adjust your strike indicator. With the impending spawn, egg patterns have been the go to flies. Copper Johns, black or red zebra midges and cerise San Juan worms have also been very productive. Fish them with a bit of lead eighteen inches above the fly and a strike indicator set at the depth of the water. Nymphs suspended below an egg or San Juan worm with eighteen inches of 5X tippet tied to the bend of the hook by an improved clinch knot have been particularly effective. The hot spot has been the section from the State Park down to White Hole. There are a lot of big fish staging for the spawn at various locations. Try San Juan worms or egg patterns. Sight casting large streamers on heavy sink tip lines can also be effective. This requires a big rod (an eight weight) and some advanced casting skills. Try zoo cougars and sculpin patterns. Once they have settled on the redds you should avoid fishing for them. It is important that they are left to reproduce. Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River are very low and clear. The water is at a comfortable temperature and the small mouths are active. Try Clouser minnows or crawfish patterns. Fall is approaching and these streams will soon be too cold for effective fishing. Carefully check the water level before entering Crooked Creek or the Buffalo River. There are no dams on these streams. They both have large drainages and are prone to flooding during and following any rain event. The water can rise very quickly. The Norfork has been very crowded. Over the weekend, this was the only wadable water and it was absolutely slammed. If possible fish there during the week. The hot flies have been small black zebra midges and Dan’s turkey tail emergers. The construction at the ramp at Quarry Park below Norfork Dam is still ongoing. You should launch your boat at the public ramp at the confluence of the White and Norfork Rivers. Dry Run Creek has fished extremely well. The weather is perfect, especially in the afternoon. There are a number of large brown trout that have begun to move up into the creek. The hot flies have been cerise San Juan worms and sowbugs. If possible, fish there during the week, as it can get a bit crowded over the weekend. The water level on the Spring River is very low and clear. Be sure and wear cleated boots and carry a wading staff. There is a lot of bedrock that can get very slick. The hot flies have been olive woolly buggers with a bit of flash, cerise San Juan worms and pheasant tail nymphs. Remember that the White and Norfork Rivers are infected with didymo, an invasive alga. Be sure and thoroughly clean and dry your waders (especially the felt soles on wading boots) before using them in any other water. Many manufacturers are now making rubber soled wading boots that are easier to clean and are not as likely to harbor didymo. Practice water safety and always check conditions before you leave home. John Berry is a fly fishing guide in Cotter, Arkansas and has fished our local streams for over twenty five years.

I fish a Shawnee 48 with a Mercury 15 and I love it!

JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 11/04/2010 During the past week, we have had no rain and cooler temperatures. The skies have been generally sunny with a lot of extremely heavy wind (to include lake wind advisories). The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam fell eight tenths of a foot to rest at two and five tenths of a foot below power pool of 654.00 feet. This is forty three and five tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Up stream, Table Rock Lake fell seven tenths of a foot to rest at one and one tenth of a foot below power pool or seventeen and one tenth of a foot below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell two tenths of a foot to rest at four and six tenths feet below power pool or fourteen and two tenths of a foot below the top of flood pool. On the White, we had an erratic schedule with a burst of heavy water in the morning with one period of no generation for the week. Norfork Lake fell seven tenths foot to rest at two and seven tenths feet below power pool of 552.00 feet or thirty and seven tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the Norfork, we have had significant generation with precious little wadable water. All of the lakes on the White River System are below power pool and we should have more wadable water. There were significant changes to trout fishing regulations effective January 1, 2010. The Catch and Release section on the Norfork River will be increased from it current size of 1.1 miles to a new total of approximately two miles. The new upper boundary will be the bottom of long hole and the new lower limit will be the Ackerman access. The new regulations will also allow for multiple hook points in Catch and Release sections on the White and Norfork Rivers. Up to three treble hooks will be allowed. All hook points must be barbless. Of interest to fly fishers, is that the new regulations will allow the use of droppers, multiple fly rigs and articulated multiple hook streamers. The Catch and Release section below Bull Shoals Dam will close from November 1, 2010 to January 31, 2011 to accommodate the brown trout spawn. The State Park from the Catch and Release section down to the wing wall will be seasonal Catch and Release for the same period. On the White, the browns are beginning to pod up from below Rim Shoals to the dam in preparation for their run to the spawning beds in November. There are spawning beds that are beginning to appear in various locations. Please try to avoid these areas. On high water, do not drag chains through them. On low water, carefully avoid them when wading. We are still experiencing some great grasshopper fishing, which should continue until the first frost. Use a six weight with a stout leader. Work the bank and any significant cover carefully. Use a Dave’s hopper or a large western foam hopper with rubber legs. Increase your catch by adding a dropper to the bend in the hook. Small bead head nymphs like copper Johns or zebra midges are your best bet. The erratic flows we have received have been challenging to deal with. As the flows increase, you will need to add more weight and adjust your strike indicator. With the impending spawn, egg patterns have been the go to flies. Copper Johns and black zebra midges have also been very productive. Fish them with a bit of lead eighteen inches above the fly and a strike indicator set at the depth of the water. Nymphs suspended below an egg with eighteen inches of 5X tippet tied to the bend of the hook by an improved clinch knot have been particularly effective. The hot spot has been the section from the State Park down to White Hole. There are a lot of big fish staging for the spawn at various locations. Try San Juan worms or egg patterns. Sight casting large streamers on heavy sink tip lines can also be effective. This requires a big rod (an eight weight) and some advanced casting skills. Try zoo cougars and sculpin patterns. Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River are very low and clear. The water is at a comfortable temperature and the small mouths are active. Try Clouser minnows or crawfish patterns. Fall is approaching and these streams will soon be too cold for effective fishing. Carefully check the water level before entering Crooked Creek or the Buffalo River. There are no dams on these streams. They both have large drainages and are prone to flooding during and following any rain event. The water can rise very quickly. The Norfork has been productive. There are numerous large trout that have moved into the Norfork. The most productive nymphs have been zebra midges and Norfork bead heads. Others have reported success by fishing deeper holes with olive woolly buggers. On higher flows try brightly colored San Juan worms and egg patterns. Dry Run Creek has fished extremely well. The weather is perfect, especially in the afternoon. There are a number of large brown trout that have begun to move up into the creek. The hot flies have been cerise San Juan worms and sowbugs. Use at least 4X tippet. Carefully handle and release all trout. Do not forget the camera. The water level on the Spring River is low and clear. Be sure and wear cleated boots and carry a wading staff. There is a lot of bedrock that can get very slick. The hot flies have been olive woolly buggers with a bit of flash, cerise San Juan worms and pheasant tail nymphs. Remember that the White and Norfork Rivers are infected with didymo, an invasive alga. Be sure and thoroughly clean and dry your waders (especially the felt soles on wading boots) before using them in any other water. Many manufacturers are now making rubber soled wading boots that are easier to clean and are not as likely to harbor didymo. Practice water safety and always check conditions before you leave home. John Berry is a fly fishing guide in Cotter, Arkansas and has fished our local streams for over twenty five years.

JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 10/28/2010 During the past week, we have had a bit of rain and cooler temperatures. The skies have been generally sunny with a lot of extremely heavy wind (to include lake wind advisories). The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam fell six tenths of a foot to rest at one and seven tenths of a foot below power pool of 654.00 feet. This is forty two and seven tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Up stream, Table Rock Lake fell five tenths of a foot to rest at four tenths of a foot below power pool or sixteen and four tenths of a foot below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell one tenth of a foot to rest at four and four tenths feet below power pool or fourteen feet below the top of flood pool. On the White, we had an erratic schedule with a burst of heavy water in the morning and again in the afternoon with one period of no generation for the week. Norfork Lake fell one foot to rest at two feet below power pool of 552.00 feet or thirty feet below the top of flood pool. On the Norfork, we have had significant generation with precious little wadable water. All of the lakes on the White River System are at or below power pool and we should have wadable water. There were significant changes to trout fishing regulations effective January 1, 2010. The Catch and Release section on the Norfork River will be increased from it current size of 1.1 miles to a new total of approximately two miles. The new upper boundary will be the bottom of long hole and the new lower limit will be the Ackerman access. The new regulations will also allow for multiple hook points in Catch and Release sections on the White and Norfork Rivers. Up to three treble hooks will be allowed. All hook points must be barbless. Of interest to fly fishers, is that the new regulations will allow the use of droppers, multiple fly rigs and articulated multiple hook streamers. The dissolved oxygen levels on the White and Norfork Rivers have dropped below the State standard of six parts per million. This problem will be more prevalent near either dam. Please be careful when fighting and releasing fish to avoid stressing them in these areas. Carefully revive and release all trout caught. The Catch and Release section below Bull Shoals Dam will close from November 1, 2010 to January 31, 2011 to accommodate the brown trout spawn. The State Park from the Catch and Release section down to the wing wall will be seasonal Catch and Release for the same period. On the White, the browns are beginning to pod up from below Rim Shoals to the dam in preparation for their run to the spawning beds in November. There are spawning beds that are beginning to appear in various locations. Please try to avoid these areas. On high water, do not drag chains through them. On low water, carefully avoid them when wading. We are still experiencing some great grasshopper fishing, which should continue until the first frost. Use a six weight with a stout leader. Work the bank and any significant cover carefully. Use a Dave’s hopper or a large western foam hopper with rubber legs. Increase your catch by adding a dropper to the bend in the hook. The erratic flows we have received have been challenging to deal with. As the flows increase, you will need to add more weight and adjust your strike indicator. With the impending spawn, egg patterns have been the go to flies. Copper Johns and black zebra midges have also been very productive. Fish them with a bit of lead eighteen inches above the fly and a strike indicator set at the depth of the water. The hot spot for the last week has been the Catch and Release section below Bull Shoals Dam. There are some big fish being caught. The hot flies are various midge patterns, San Juan worms and egg patterns. Remember that the dissolved oxygen is dangerously low in this section. Do not fight the trout too long or stress them in any way. Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River are very low and clear. The water is at a comfortable temperature and the small mouths are active. Try Clouser minnows or crawfish patterns. Fall is approaching and these streams will soon be too cold for effective fishing. Carefully check the water level before entering Crooked Creek or the Buffalo River. There are no dams on these streams. They both have large drainages and are prone to flooding during and following any rain event. The water can rise very quickly. The Norfork has been productive. There are numerous large trout that have moved into the Norfork. The most productive nymphs have been zebra midges and Norfork bead heads. Others have reported success by fishing deeper holes with olive woolly buggers. Remember that the section below the dam has dangerously low dissolved oxygen levels. Do not fight the trout too long or stress them in any way. Dry Run Creek has fished extremely well. The weather is perfect, especially in the afternoon. There are a number of large brown trout that have begun to move up into the creek. The hot flies have been cerise San Juan worms and sowbugs. Use at least 4X tippet. While you are there, take a tour of the adjacent National Fish Hatchery. Be sure and remove your waders to prevent the spread of aquatic diseases. The water level on the Spring River is low and clear. Be sure and wear cleated boots and carry a wading staff. There is a lot of bedrock that can get very slick. The hot flies have been olive woolly buggers with a bit of flash, cerise San Juan worms and pheasant tail nymphs. Remember that the White and Norfork Rivers are infected with didymo, an invasive alga. Be sure and thoroughly clean and dry your waders (especially the felt soles on wading boots) before using them in any other water. Many manufacturers are now making rubber soled wading boots that are easier to clean and are not as likely to harbor didymo. Practice water safety and always check conditions before you leave home. John Berry is a fly fishing guide in Cotter, Arkansas and has fished our local streams for over twenty five years.

JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 10/21/2010 During the past week, we have had no measurable rain and cooler temperatures. The skies have been generally sunny with a bit of wind. The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam fell three tenths of a foot to rest at one and one tenth of a foot below power pool of 654.00 feet. This is forty two and one tenth feet below the top of flood pool. Up stream, Table Rock Lake fell six tenths of a foot to rest at one tenth of a foot above power pool or fifteen and nine tenths of a foot below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell one tenth of a foot to rest at four and three tenths feet below power pool or thirteen and nine tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the White, we had constant generation over last weekend. During the week we had an erratic schedule with a burst of heavy water in the morning and again in the afternoon with few periods of no generation. Norfork Lake fell four tenths of a foot to rest at one foot below power pool of 552.00 feet or twenty nine feet below the top of flood pool. On the Norfork, we have had significant periods of no generation most days which has created some reliable wading. All of the lakes on the White River System are at or below power pool and we should have wadable water. There were significant changes to trout fishing regulations effective January 1, 2010. The Catch and Release section on the Norfork River will be increased from it current size of 1.1 miles to a new total of approximately two miles. The new upper boundary will be the bottom of long hole and the new lower limit will be the Ackerman access. The new regulations will also allow for multiple hook points in Catch and Release sections on the White and Norfork Rivers. Up to three treble hooks will be allowed. All hook points must be barbless. Of interest to fly fishers, is that the new regulations will allow the use of droppers, multiple fly rigs and articulated multiple hook streamers. The dissolved oxygen levels on the White and Norfork Rivers have dropped below the State standard of six parts per million. This problem will be more prevalent near either dam. Please be careful when fighting and releasing fish to avoid stressing them in these areas. Carefully revive and release all trout caught. The public ramp on the Norfork River at Quarry Park (at Norfork Dam) will be closed for repairs from Monday, October 4 through Saturday, October 23. There will be limited walk-in access but all boat traffic should use the public ram at the confluence of the White and Norfork Rivers. On the White, the browns are beginning to pod up from below Rim Shoals to the dam in preparation for their run to the spawning beds in November. There are spawning beds that are beginning to appear in various locations. Please try to avoid these areas. On high water, do not drag chains through them. On low water, carefully avoid them when wading. We are still experiencing some great grasshopper fishing, which should continue until the first frost. Use a six weight with a stout leader. Work the bank and any significant cover carefully. Use a Dave’s hopper or a large western foam hopper with rubber legs. Increase your catch by adding a dropper to the bend in the hook. The lower flows we have received have been perfect for fishing nymphs. Small zebra midges, black or red with silver wire and silver bead in size sixteen or fourteen have been the go to flies. Copper Johns and Y2Ks have also been very productive. Fish them with a bit of lead eighteen inches above the fly and a strike indicator set at the depth of the water. When the flows increase, go to a hot fluorescent pink worm with a zebra midge or copper John dropper. The hot spot for the last week has been the Catch and Release section below Bull Shoals dam. There are some big fish being caught. The hot flies are various midge patterns zebra midges, small soft hackles and Dan’s turkey tail emerger. The erratic generation pattern has created some significant periods of wadable water here. Remember that the dissolved oxygen is dangerously low in this section. Do not fight the trout too long or stress them in any way. Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River are very low and clear. The water is at a comfortable temperature and the small mouths are active. Try Clouser minnows or crawfish patterns. Fall is approaching and these streams will soon be too cold for effective fishing. Carefully check the water level before entering Crooked Creek or the Buffalo River. There are no dams on these streams. They both have large drainages and are prone to flooding during and following any rain event. The water can rise very quickly. The Norfork has been on fire. There are numerous large trout that have moved into the Norfork. The most productive nymphs have been zebra midges and Norfork bead heads. Small soft hackles and Dan’s turkey tail emerger have also produced well. Others have reported success by fishing deeper holes with olive woolly buggers. Remember that the section below the dam has dangerously low dissolved oxygen levels. Do not fight the trout too long or stress them in any way. Dry Run Creek has fished extremely well. The weather is perfect, especially in the afternoon. There are a number of large brown trout that have begun to move up into the creek. The hot flies have been cerise San Juan worms and sowbugs. Use at least 4X tippet. Handle any fish you catch with care. Carefully revive and release them as soon as possible. Do not forget to carry a big net and your camera. The water level on the Spring River is low and clear. Be sure and wear cleated boots and carry a wading staff. There is a lot of bedrock that can get very slick. The hot flies have been olive woolly buggers with a bit of flash, cerise San Juan worms and pheasant tail nymphs. Remember that the White and Norfork Rivers are infected with didymo, an invasive alga. Be sure and thoroughly clean and dry your waders (especially the felt soles on wading boots) before using them in any other water. Many manufacturers are now making rubber soled wading boots that are easier to clean and are not as likely to harbor didymo. Practice water safety and always check conditions before you leave home. John Berry is a fly fishing guide in Cotter, Arkansas and has fished our local streams for over twenty five years.

JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 10/14/2010 During the past week, we have had no measurable rain and cooler temperatures. The skies have been generally sunny with a bit of wind. The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam fell one tenths of a foot to rest at eight tenths of a foot below power pool of 654.00 feet. This is forty one and eight tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Up stream, Table Rock Lake fell six tenths of a foot to rest at seven tenths of a foot above power pool or fifteen and three tenths of a foot below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell two tenths of a foot to rest at four and two tenths feet below power pool or thirteen and eight tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the White, we have had light generation over night and in the morning with slightly heavier generation in the afternoon (during peak power demand) with a few precious periods of no generation. Norfork Lake fell three tenths of a foot to rest at six tenths of a foot below power pool of 552.00 feet or twenty eight and six tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the Norfork, we have had significant periods of no generation daily which has created some reliable wading. All of the lakes on the White River System are near or below power pool and we should have more wadable water. There were significant changes to trout fishing regulations effective January 1, 2010. The Catch and Release section on the Norfork River will be increased from it current size of 1.1 miles to a new total of approximately two miles. The new upper boundary will be the bottom of long hole and the new lower limit will be the Ackerman access. The new regulations will also allow for multiple hook points in Catch and Release sections on the White and Norfork Rivers. Up to three treble hooks will be allowed. All hook points must be barbless. Of interest to fly fishers, is that the new regulations will allow the use of droppers, multiple fly rigs and articulated multiple hook streamers. The dissolved oxygen levels on the White and Norfork Rivers have dropped below the State standard of six parts per million. This problem will be more prevalent near either dam. Please be careful when fighting and releasing fish to avoid stressing them in these areas. Carefully revive and release all trout caught. The public ramp on the Norfork River at Quarry Park (at Norfork Dam) will be closed for repairs from Monday, October 4 through Saturday, October 23. There will be limited walk-in access but all boat traffic should use the public ram at the confluence of the White and Norfork Rivers. On the White, the browns are beginning to pod up from below Rim Shoals to the dam in preparation for their run to the spawning beds in November. Now is a good time to key in on a trophy trout. Approach them with stealth and try a big streamer like a sculpin or zoo cougar. Watch your presentation and try not to spook them. The lower flows we have received have been perfect for fishing nymphs. Small zebra midges, black or red with silver wire and silver bead in size sixteen or fourteen have been the go to flies. Copper Johns and Y2Ks have also been very productive. Fish them with a bit of lead eighteen inches above the fly and a strike indicator set at the depth of the water. When the flows increase go to a hot fluorescent pink worm with a zebra midge or copper John dropper. The hot spot for the last week has been the Catch and Release section below Bull Shoals dam. There are some big fish being caught. The hot flies are various midge patterns zebra midges, small soft hackles and Dan’s turkey tail emerger. Remember that the dissolved oxygen is dangerously low in this section. Do not fight the trout too long or stress them in any way. Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River are low and clear. The water is at a comfortable temperature and the small mouths are active. Try Clouser minnows or crawfish patterns. Fall is approaching and these streams will soon be too cold for effective fishing. Carefully check the water level before entering Crooked Creek or the Buffalo River. There are no dams on these streams. They both have large drainages and are prone to flooding during and following any rain event. The water can rise very quickly. The Norfork has been on fire. There are numerous large trout that have moved into the Norfork. The most productive nymphs have been zebra midges and Norfork bead heads. Small soft hackles and Dan’s turkey tail emerger have also produced well. Others have reported success by fishing deeper holes with olive woolly buggers. Remember that the section below the dam has dangerously low dissolved oxygen levels. Do not fight the trout too long or stress them in any way. Dry Run Creek has fished extremely well. The weather is perfect, especially in the afternoon. There are a number of large brown trout that have begun to move up into the creek. The hot flies have been cerise San Juan worms and sowbugs. Handle any fish you catch with care. Carefully revive and release them as soon as possible. Do not forget to carry a big net and your camera. The water level on the Spring River is low and clear. Be sure and wear cleated boots and carry a wading staff. There is a lot of bedrock that can get very slick. The hot flies have been olive woolly buggers with a bit of flash, cerise San Juan worms and pheasant tail nymphs. Remember that the White and Norfork Rivers are infected with didymo, an invasive alga. Be sure and thoroughly clean and dry your waders (especially the felt soles on wading boots) before using them in any other water. Many manufacturers are now making rubber soled wading boots that are easier to clean and are not as likely to harbor didymo. Practice water safety and always check conditions before you leave home. John Berry is a fly fishing guide in Cotter, Arkansas and has fished our local streams for over twenty five years.

JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 10/07/2010 During the past week, we have had no measurable rain and cooler temperatures. The skies have been generally sunny with quite a bit of wind. The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam fell two tenths of a foot to rest at seven tenths of a foot below power pool of 654.00 feet. This is forty one and seven tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Up stream, Table Rock Lake fell five tenths of a foot to rest at one and three tenths of a foot above power pool or fourteen and seven tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell two tenths of a foot to rest at four feet below power pool or thirteen and six tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the White, we have had light generation over night and in the morning with slightly heavier generation in the afternoon (during peak power demand) with a few precious periods of no generation. There were a couple of days where they spiked generation with a spurt of heavy generation (10,000 to 12,000 CFS) for one hour in the morning. There was wadable during the Southern Council of the Federation of Fly Fishers Conclave. Norfork Lake fell six tenths of a foot to rest at three tenths of a foot below power pool of 552.00 feet or twenty eight and three tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the Norfork, we have had significant periods of no generation daily which has created some reliable wading. All of the lakes on the White River System are near or below power pool and we should have more wadable water. There were significant changes to trout fishing regulations effective January 1, 2010. The Catch and Release section on the Norfork River will be increased from it current size of 1.1 miles to a new total of approximately two miles. The new upper boundary will be the bottom of long hole and the new lower limit will be the Ackerman access. The new regulations will also allow for multiple hook points in Catch and Release sections on the White and Norfork Rivers. Up to three treble hooks will be allowed. All hook points must be barbless. Of interest to fly fishers, is that the new regulations will allow the use of droppers, multiple fly rigs and articulated multiple hook streamers. The dissolved oxygen levels on the White and Norfork Rivers have dropped below the State standard of six parts per million. This problem will be more prevalent near either dam. Please be careful when fighting and releasing fish to avoid stressing them in these areas. Carefully revive and release all trout caught. The public ramp on the Norfork River at Quarry Park (at Norfork Dam) will be closed for repairs from Monday, October 4 through Saturday, October 23. There will be limited walk-in access but all boat traffic should use the public ram at the confluence of the White and Norfork Rivers. On the White, the browns are beginning to pod up from below Rim Shoals to the dam in preparation for their run to the spawning beds in November. Now is a good time to key in on a trophy trout. Approach them with stealth and try a big streamer like a sculpin or zoo cougar. Watch your presentation and try not to spook them. The lower flows we have received have been perfect for fishing nymphs. Small zebra midges, black or red with silver wire and silver bead in size sixteen or fourteen have been the go to flies. Copper Johns and Y2Ks have also been very productive. Fish them with a bit of lead eighteen inches above the fly and a strike indicator set at the depth of the water. When the flows increase go to a hot fluorescent pink worm with a zebra midge or copper John dropper. Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River are low and clear. The water is at a comfortable temperature and the small mouths are active. Try Clouser minnows or crawfish patterns. Fall is approaching and these streams will soon be too cold for effective fishing. Carefully check the water level before entering Crooked Creek or the Buffalo River. There are no dams on these streams. They both have large drainages and are prone to flooding during and following any rain event. The water can rise very quickly. The Norfork has been on fire. There are quite a few big fish being caught. The most productive nymphs have been zebra midges and Norfork bead heads. Soft hackles and Dan’s turkey tail emerger have also produced well. Others have reported success by fishing deeper holes with olive woolly buggers. Dry Run Creek has fished extremely well. The weather is perfect, especially in the afternoon. There are a number of large brown trout that have begun to move up into the creek. Handle any fish you catch with care. Carefully revive and release them as soon as possible. Do not forget to carry a big net and your camera. The water level on the Spring River is low and clear. Be sure and wear cleated boots and carry a wading staff. There is a lot of bedrock that can get very slick. The hot flies have been olive woolly buggers with a bit of flash, cerise San Juan worms and pheasant tail nymphs. Remember that the White and Norfork Rivers are infected with didymo, an invasive alga. Be sure and thoroughly clean and dry your waders (especially the felt soles on wading boots) before using them in any other water. Many manufacturers are now making rubber soled wading boots that are easier to clean and are not as likely to harbor didymo. Practice water safety and always check conditions before you leave home. John Berry is a fly fishing guide in Cotter, Arkansas and has fished our local streams for over twenty five years.

JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 9/30/2010 During the past week, we have had no measurable rain and cooler temperatures. The skies have been generally sunny with quite a bit of wind. The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam fell eight tenths of a foot to rest at five tenths of a foot below power pool of 654.00 feet. This is forty one and five tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Up stream, Table Rock Lake rose three tenths of a foot to rest at one and eight tenths of a foot above power pool or fourteen and two tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell two tenths of a foot to rest at three and eight tenths of a foot below power pool or thirteen and four tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the White, we have had light generation over night and in the morning with slightly heavier generation in the afternoon (during peak power demand) with a few precious periods of no generation. This made for limited wading and some great drift fishing conditions. Norfork Lake remained steady at three tenths of a foot above power pool of 552.00 feet or twenty seven and seven tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the Norfork, we have had significant periods of no generation daily which has created some reliable wading. All of the lakes on the White River System are near or below power pool and we should have wadable water. There were significant changes to trout fishing regulations effective January 1, 2010. The Catch and Release section on the Norfork River will be increased from it current size of 1.1 miles to a new total of approximately two miles. The new upper boundary will be the bottom of long hole and the new lower limit will be the Ackerman access. The new regulations will also allow for multiple hook points in Catch and Release sections on the White and Norfork Rivers. Up to three treble hooks will be allowed. All hook points must be barbless. Of interest to fly fishers, is that the new regulations will allow the use of droppers, multiple fly rigs and articulated multiple hook streamers. The dissolved oxygen levels on the White and Norfork Rivers have dropped below the State standard of six parts per million. This problem will be more prevalent near either dam. Please be careful when fighting and releasing fish to avoid stressing them in these areas. Carefully revive and release all trout caught. On the White, the browns are beginning to pod up from below Rim Shoals to the dam in preparation for their run to the spawning beds in November. Now is a good time to key in on a trophy trout. Approach them with stealth and try a big streamer like a sculpin or zoo cougar. Watch your presentation and try not to spook them. Though they are still working, grasshoppers are on the wane this past week. The cooler temperatures, particularly in the morning, seem to have slowed them down. If you catch a sunny, windy afternoon give them a try. Increase their productivity by suspending a dropper. Try a zebra midge or copper John. The lower flows we have received have been perfect for fishing nymphs. Small zebra midges, black or red with silver wire and silver bead in size sixteen or fourteen have been the go to flies. Copper Johns and Y2Ks have also been very productive. Fish them with a bit of lead eighteen inches above the fly and a strike indicator set at the depth of the water. When the flows increase go to a hot fluorescent pink worm with a zebra midge or copper John dropper. The Catch and release section below Bull Shoals Dam remains the hot spot. The most effective technique has been to swing soft hackles on low water. The best patterns have been partridge and orange or Dan’s turkey tail emerger. There has also been success reported with Chernobyl ants near the dam. Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River are low and clear. The water is at a comfortable temperature and the small mouths are active. Try Clouser minnows or crawfish patterns. Fall is approaching and these streams will soon be too cold for effective fishing. Carefully check the water level before entering Crooked Creek or the Buffalo River. There are no dams on these streams. They both have large drainages and are prone to flooding during and following any rain event. The water can rise very quickly. The Norfork has been fishing well. With a lot of generation on the White, it has received quite a bit of pressure. The most productive nymphs have been zebra midges and Norfork bead heads. Soft hackles and Dan’s turkey tail emerger have also produced well. Others have reported success by fishing deeper holes with olive woolly buggers. Dry Run Creek has fished extremely well. The most productive flies are sowbugs and worm brown San Juan worms. With a lot of fly fishers coming into town for the conclave, Dry Run can get a bit crowded. The Youth Conclave will be here on Saturday afternoon. If you have no plans, go down there to help the kids catch some big ones. Do not forget to carry a big net and your camera. The water level on the Spring River is low and clear. Be sure and wear cleated boots and carry a wading staff. There is a lot of bedrock that can get very slick. The hot flies have been olive woolly buggers with a bit of flash, cerise San Juan worms and pheasant tail nymphs. Remember that the White and Norfork Rivers are infected with didymo, an invasive alga. Be sure and thoroughly clean and dry your waders (especially the felt soles on wading boots) before using them in any other water. Many manufacturers are now making rubber soled wading boots that are easier to clean and are not as likely to harbor didymo. Practice water safety and always check conditions before you leave home. John Berry is a fly fishing guide in Cotter, Arkansas and has fished our local streams for over twenty five years.

I had my clients finish the day fishing hoppers at Rim Shoals this afternoon and we caught several on tan foam hoppers with rubber legs. They were definately smacking it today.