John Berry Fishing Report 6/19/2008

[John Berry]

JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 6/19/2008

The reservoir levels on the White River continue to fall. The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam has fallen nine tenths of a foot to rest at thirty seven and two tenth foot above power pool of 654.00 feet. This is three and eight tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Up stream, Table Rock Lake fell two tenths of a foot to rest at twelve and six tenths feet above power pool or three and four tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake rose one tenth of a foot to settle at eight and eight tenths feet above power pool or eight tenths of a foot below the top of flood pool. The pattern on the White has been to run all eight generators around the clock with high flows during the day and night. While these flows made for excellent boating, there have been no safe wading opportunities on the White. Norfork Lake has fallen six tenths of a foot to rest at twenty four and three tenths feet above power pool of 552.00 feet or three and seven 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 were several occasions where they left the water off until noon. This made for excellent wading conditions. On the higher water, boating conditions have been excellent. The reservoirs are falling at an incredibly slow rate. With the current flows we cannot anticipate reliable wadable water until fall.

Overall, the fishing has greatly improved on the White River. It has at times been spectacular, particularly at the Catch and Release section at Bull Shoals Dam and the adjacent state park. The hot flies have been San Juan worms (in tan, orange and red), sow bugs and zebra midges. This area receives quite a bit of pressure and there have been angler complaints of rude boat operators. Remember to observe proper boat etiquette at all times.

Another hot spot was Rim Shoals. Here again the most action was encountered using brightly colored San Juan worms and eggs. Those fishing above and below the Catch and Release sections had good results with black zebra midge and copper john droppers.

With the consistently high water flows on the White River, the ticket to success as always on high water has been to fish brightly colored San Juan worms and large brightly colored eggs. Another tactic that has produced some trophy trout has been to fish the bank with large streamers fished on a sink tip or full sinking lines. Use a four foot 3X tippet in lieu of a leader. Cast the fly as near to the bank as possible and strip it back toward the boat. The takes can be vicious. This is challenging and can burn a lot more energy that drift fishing, but the rewards can be great. For both techniques, use at a six weight rod. The four weight that you prefer for low water just cannot handle the heavy flies and weighted lines you need for high water.

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, on higher water, fishing slows 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.

Dry Run Creek has fished particularly well lately. With school out, there has been a bit more fishing pressure on the creek. Young anglers have been reporting success fishing sowbugs, San Juan worms, woolly buggers and Y2Ks. While a lot of the creek can be fished from the bank, a pair of waders or hip boots can greatly increase the amount of water that can be successfully covered. Be sure and use at least 4X tippet because the fish here are huge. Remember to pinch down the barbs. This is Catch and Release water. Always use barbless hooks when fishing with children no matter where you fish.

A pleasant alternative to fishing high water on the White and Norfork Rivers is to fish the Spring River. The down side to fishing the Spring during warm weather is the presence of massive numbers of canoes, particularly on the weekends. The canoeists can be avoided by fishing up stream at Mammoth Spring State Park below the dam or at the Lassiter’s access. Both are well above the section favored by canoe outfitters. Effective flies for the Spring are olive woolly buggers, red San Juan worms and pheasant tail nymphs.

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.