John Berry Fishing Report 4/03/2008

[John Berry]

JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 4/03/2008

We have had two major rain events and the reservoirs on the White River system continue to rise. The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam rose nine and eight tenths feet to rest at twenty eight and two tenths feet above power pool of 654.00 feet and continues to rise. This is twelve and eight tenths feet below the top of flood pool and it continues to rise. Up stream, Table Rock Lake remained steady at twelve and five tenths of a foot above power pool or three and five tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake rose five tenths of a foot to settle at nine and two tenths feet above pool or four tenths of a foot below the top of flood pool. At the time of this writing the flood gates are open at Beaver. 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 three and eight tenths feet to rest at twenty five and three tenths of a foot above power pool of 552.00 feet or two and seven tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Norfork Lake is nearing capacity and the Corps of Engineers will begin drawing it down first, running at max capacity of around 7,000 cubic feet per second until it is at power pool. There is a possibility that they will open the flood gates and run even more water. As flooding clears down stream, the Corps of Engineers will begin drawing down the Dams on the White River. The weather has been cool and very wet. There have been several days with lake wind advisories. There have been no wading opportunities on the Norfork River and precious few on the White. Boating conditions have been excellent. 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 White River is fishing particularly well. We have had 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. The Catch and Release section below Bull Shoals dam has been a real hot spot.

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.

On the Norfork River, they have been running a couple of generators and it has been fishing well. High water tactics have been the secret to success here. Be sure and use long leaders, plenty of lead and large strike indicators. Brightly colored San Juan worms along the weed beds have produced some nice fish. The hot colors have been red, hot pink, pale pink, and cerise. Other effective flies have been Y2Ks, black zebra midges, and egg patterns.

Dry Run Creek is still producing trophy trout at a prodigious rate. It must have been spring break this week because there were a lot of kids fishing there this week particularly on the nice warm days. There were a few kids there on the wet cold days and they were rewarded with some true trophy trout. The hot flies have been sowbugs, San Juan worms (worm brown and red were the hot colors), olive woolly buggers, egg patterns and Y2Ks. Be sure and carry a big net and do not forget the camera. The fish in this creek are huge. The trout of a lifetime lives here and is waiting to have his picture taken.

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.