John Berry Fishing Report 3/06/2008

[John Berry]

JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 3/06/2008

We have had a major rain event and the lake levels on the White River system have risen significantly. The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam rose five and six tenths feet to rest at five and seven tenths of a foot above power pool at 654.00 feet. Up stream, Table Rock Lake rose two feet to settle at two and three tenths feet above power pool. Beaver Lake rose three and seven tenths of a foot to settle at nine tenths of a foot above pool. The pattern this week has been erratic. Early in the week, there was no generation due to a drowning down stream. After that, there was a brief period of high generation followed by a long period of lesser generation. This has created some excellent wading opportunities early and some excellent boating opportunities later. The weather has been warm then cold and very windy including snow, heavy rain and lake wind advisories. Norfork Lake has risen four and one half feet to rest at four and four tenths of a foot above power pool of 552.00 feet. The pattern on the Norfolk has been similar to that on the White. We had a few days with no generation at all and some days with heavy generation. This has created some excellent wading conditions. The forecast is for the weather to remain cold with the possibility of precipitation. With the existing conditions above power pool, I would expect heavy generation and little or no wading on both rivers.

With higher water conditions you will need to employ different techniques. The fish will be in different areas. In low water, they tend to congregate in the main channel. In high water, they will be closer to the shore and around weed beds and sunken islands. The best flies for this type of fishing will be brightly colored San Juan worms. The best colors are red, hot fluorescent pink, cerise and fire orange. One fly that has been particularly effective lately is the Y2K. Be sure and weight them heavily so they get down to the bottom. This will necessitate using a larger strike indicator to support the added weight.

I still want to caution boaters to avoid dragging chains during high water. They can get easily get caught and sink the boat. Also avoid anchoring in heavy water as this could also result in sinking. I would recommend wearing your personal flotation device when on the water especially during high levels of generation.

This past week, during the low water, the action moved down stream a bit. The Narrows was a real hot spot. There were several reports of hundred fish days with some really nice fish caught. The hot flies were olive woolly buggers, worm brown San Juan worms and olive scuds. The big news was the first sighting of the rhyancophilia caddis. The best flies for this, our most important hatch of the year, are the green butt soft hackle when they are emerging and the elk hair caddis in size fourteen when they have hatched.

Anglers have also done well fishing at Rim Shoals. Over the weekend, there were a lot people fishing in the area, and the action was hot. The most productive flies in this section have been Y2Ks, zebra midges in brown with copper wire and copper beads, olive scuds (size sixteen) and worm brown San Juan worms (San Juan worms are killer patterns after heavy rain or high levels of generation).

Another hot spot has been Buffalo Shoals. Anglers have been walking up the tracks from Buffalo City or boating up. This area is holding a lot of trout. Good flies in this area are Y2Ks, olive scuds, zebra midges and olive woolly buggers. The caddis were also seen in this area in the past week.

The Norfork has fished a bit better. There have been few anglers here. There has been good fishing on the high water days, particularly on Y2Ks and San Juan worms. The fishing in the Catch and Release area has been a bit slower and has been mostly midges. Try brown zebra midges with copper wire and copper bead and Dan’s turkey tail emergers in this section. I like to mix it up and switch to large attractors like Y2Ks and San Juan worms from time to time even when the trout are keying in on midges.

Dry Run Creek, fished particularly well this past week. The hot action was on Y2Ks and egg patterns. Also try olive woolly buggers fished below a large strike indicator or sow bugs fished the same way. Another fly that is always effective is the San Juan worm. Good colors are red and worm brown. Be sure and carry the biggest net that you can lay your hands on and a camera.

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.

[catman]

John, Have you started using your Green Butt fly yet? It's March..

A very nice fly I might add.

[John Berry]

I never quit fishing the green butt!