John Berry Fishing Report 5/22/2008

[John Berry]

JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 5/22/2008

We have had yet another rain event and the reservoir levels on the White River have eased up a bit. The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam has come up four tenths of a foot to rest at forty feet above power pool of 654.00 feet. This is one foot below the top of flood pool. Up stream, Table Rock Lake rose five tenths of a foot to rest at fifteen and one tenth feet above power pool or nine tenths of a foot below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake remained steady at eight and four tenths feet above power pool or one and two tenths of a foot below the top of flood pool. The pattern on the White has been to run around the clock with higher flows during the day and lower flows at night. The White was turned off for a few hours on some nights allowing for brief periods of wading. Norfork Lake has risen seven tenths of a foot to rest at twenty six and eight tenths feet above power pool of 552.00 feet or one and two tenths of a foot below the top of flood pool. The pattern has been to run one or two generators with substantial periods of no generation at night. There have been a few wading opportunities on the Norfork River during the night. On the higher water, boating conditions have been excellent.

It should be noted, that some two months after the first flood this year we are just one foot below the maximum capacity on all of our reservoirs. A substantial rain event could cause the flood gates to be opened again. We have had a bit of low water during the past couple of weeks while there is still flooding down stream from us. It will take several months of maximum generation to get the lake levels down. I do not foresee any reliable wading for quite a while. Now is the time to hone your high water skills.

The fishing on the White has remained red hot during the past week. The flows during the past week have been predictable and the trout have been on the feed.

The upper river from the Catch and Release section at the base of Bull Shoals dam to Cane Island Shoals has been fishing very well. On high water the hot flies here have been brightly colored San Juan worms and egg patterns. On lower flows the hot flies have been black zebra midges and caddis pupa.

Rim Shoals has been another hot spot. On the lower water, midge nymphs in a bit larger size than you would use for wade fishing (size 14 and 16) have been the ticket. Caddis pupa, copper johns, olive scuds and zebra midges have also been quite productive. On the rising water the hot flies have been brightly colored San Juan worms. Cerise and hot fluorescent pink have been the most productive for me. Just up stream, in the Red Bud area, anglers were doing well fishing the banks with white marabou jigs and San Juan worms. Down stream from Rim Shoals, all the way to Buffalo Shoals has also fished well.

On the Norfork, the big story has been the walleye. Up at Quarry Park, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission biologists report that several walleye have come through the flood gates during the previous flooding and they are stacked near the confluence of Dry Run Creek and the Norfork. They are asking that anglers help catch and remove these tasty predators before they do too much damage. During the past week, there has been an absolute army of anglers trying to harvest a few of these toothy fish both day and night. I have not heard of any significant walleye catches on a fly rod. The fishing has been good for trout on high water. The best techniques have been to drift brightly colored San Juan worms (cerise and hot fluorescent pink) and egg patterns.

Dry Run Creek has been very productive during the past week. There have been numerous reports of successful young anglers tagging the trout of a life time. One particular hot spot has been the waterfall which is located down the steps that are across the road from the National Trout Hatchery in Quarry Park. The hot flies have been sowbugs, San Juan worms, and egg patterns.

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.