John Berry Fishing Report 3/27/2008

[John Berry]

JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 3/27/2008

The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam rose three and six tenths feet to rest at eighteen and four tenths of a foot above power pool of 654.00 feet and continues to rise. This is twenty two and one tenth feet below the top of flood pool. Up stream, Table Rock Lake remained steady at twelve and five tenths of a foot above power pool or three and one half feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell one half of a foot to settle at eight and seven tenths of a foot above pool or nine tenths of a foot below the top of flood pool. Beaver and Table Rock Lakes have been generating heavily. The water has been collected in Bull Shoals Lake which still has excess carrying capacity. Norfork Lake has risen two and seven tenths feet to rest at nineteen and five tenths of a foot above power pool of 552.00 feet or eight and one half feet below the top of flood pool. As flooding clears down stream, the Corps of Engineers will begin drawing down the Dams on the White and Norfork rivers. With round the clock generation at maximum capacity they estimate that it will take from now to May, 10 to return the lakes to power pool. This estimate is based on no further heavy precipitation. This will be a great time to hone your high water skills.

The flooding has receded from the upper White River and the Norfork. The Buffalo River and Crooked Creek are still high and off colored. The White River below these streams is stained and not fishing well.

The Upper River is fishing very well. Last weekend we had low water and the Catch and Release area below Bull Shoals Dam was red hot. There were several reports of large numbers of trout caught which included numerous trophy trout. The hot flies were black zebra midges, olive scuds, and red and worm brown San Juan worms. There were some very productive midge hatches which had a lot of trout feeding on the surface. The hot fly for this action was Dan’s turkey tail emerger.

Later in the week we had some low level generation (one to two generators). During this period the upper river from the Bull Shoals Dam Catch and Release area to White Hole fished well. The productive flies were black zebra midges, olive scuds and San Juan worms.

Another hot spot was Rim Shoals particularly the Jenkins creek area. The water was still lightly stained from the recent flooding but it did not affect the fishing. The hot flies were San Juan worms in bright colors (hot pink, fire orange, cerise and red). The water along the island and below it fished well with Y2Ks and olive woolly buggers. Some of the rhyacophilia caddis have been seen at Rim Shoals but the hatch was so sparse that the trout did not seem to key in on them.

The Norfork River has cleared up and all flooding has receded. They have been running a couple of generators and it has been fishing well. The area around McClellan’s has been a hot spot. Brightly colored San Juan worms along the weed beds have produced some nice fish. Other effective flies have been Y2Ks, black zebra midges, and olive woolly buggers.

Dry Run Creek is slightly stained but still producing trophy trout at a prodigious rate. The flooding has scoured the creek and rearranged a bit of the structure. The trout do not seem to mind. It must have been spring break this week because there were a lot of kids fishing there this week. The hot flies have been sowbugs, San Juan worms (brown and red), olive woolly buggers and Y2Ks. Be sure and carry the biggest net you can lay your hands on. The fish in this creek are huge. The trout of a lifetime lives here and is waiting to have his picture taken so carry 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.