John Berry Fishing Report 6/12/2008

[John Berry]

JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 6/12/2008

Though we have had yet another rain event, the reservoir levels on the White River continue to fall, albeit slowly. The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam has fallen nine tenths of a foot to rest at thirty eight and one tenth foot above power pool of 654.00 feet. This is two and nine tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Up stream, Table Rock Lake fell one and two tenths of a foot to rest at twelve and eight tenths feet above power pool or three and two tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake rose four tenths of a foot to settle at eight and seven tenths feet above power pool or nine tenths of a foot below the top of flood pool. The pattern on the White has been to run around the clock with high flows during the day and night. These flows made for excellent boating. There was one exception to the pattern last Sunday when they turned the White off for six hours to accommodate the ladies participating in Casting for Recovery. Norfork Lake has fallen one foot to rest at twenty four and nine tenths feet above power pool of 552.00 feet or three and one tenth 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 were several occasions where they left the water off until twelve noon or one o’clock in the afternoon. This made for excellent wading conditions. On the higher water, boating conditions have been excellent.

During that brief period of no generation on Sunday the fishing was spectacular, particularly at the Catch and Release section at Bull Shoals Dam and the state park. Midge patterns and midge emergers were definitely the ticket. Other fly patterns that were hitting were olive woolly buggers and pheasant tail nymphs size fourteen.

The real hot spot was the Narrows. There was a prolific sulphur hatch. Because of strong winds, the trout did not key in on the adults. Instead, they were concentrating on the nymphs. The most effective fly was the copper john in size fourteen. It is a dead on imitation of the sulphur nymph, it is durable and it sinks like a rock. Other effective flies were olive woolly buggers and black with silver wire and silver bead zebra midges.

The water flows on the White have been consistently high. It has not fished as well as it has in previous weeks. The ticket to success as always on high water has been to fish brightly colored San Juan worms and large brightly colored eggs. If you are not fishing catch and release water, tie a dropper on at the bend of the hook. A good choice would be a copper john or a zebra midge both in size fourteen.

The Norfork has been spectacular on low water. Anglers reported great success with pheasant tail nymphs in size fourteen and black zebra nymphs in size eighteen or twenty. Other good flies were olive woolly buggers, partridge and orange soft hackles and worm brown San Juan worms. In the afternoon, when they fired up the generators, fishing slowed a bit. Use conventional high water techniques and if you are not fishing Catch and Release consider using a dropper tied to the lead flies. A good choice for this would be a black zebra midge or copper john both in size fourteen. My most productive fly for high water on the Norfork has been the hot fluorescent pink San Juan worm.

Dry Run Creek has fished well of late. There have been few youngsters taking advantage of this remarkable fishery during the last week, which has surprised me. The major food source on the creek is sowbugs size fourteen. Anyone considering taking a youngster fishing there should take along a good supply. Be sure and use at least 4X tippet because the fish here are huge. Most of the fish hooked are lost at the net. Take the biggest net you can lay your hands on and do not forget the camera.

If you are tired of watching high water, give Crooked Creek a try. The water is a bit lower and the water temperature is perfect. My wife, Lori, and I floated it yesterday in a canoe. We found the fishing good, but the canoeing was quite challenging. Unless you are an accomplished canoeist, I would recommend fishing around the accesses. While conventional smallmouth flies like Clouser Minnows, crayfish, and big streamers are effective, we did well with olive or brown woolly buggers.

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.