John Berry Fishing Report 07/03/2008

[John Berry]

JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 7/03/2008

We have had yet another significant rain event and overall the reservoir levels on the White River have risen a bit. The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam rose five tenths of a foot to rest at thirty seven and nine tenths feet above power pool of 654.00 feet. This is three and one tenth feet below the top of flood pool. Up stream, Table Rock Lake rose one and four tenths of a foot to rest 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 fell two tenths of a foot to settle at eight feet above power pool or one and six 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 both day and night. While these flows made for excellent boating, there have been few safe wading opportunities on the White. Norfork Lake has fallen four tenths of a foot to rest at twenty three and two tenths feet above power pool of 552.00 feet or four and eight 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 and occasionally during the morning. This made for some limited wading conditions. On the higher water, boating conditions have been excellent. It should be noted that three and a half months after the beginning of our spring floods, little progress has been made in reducing the lake levels.

Overall, the fishing has been excellent on the White River, 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), and brightly colored marabou jigs. Jigs have the added advantage of riding hook point up which makes them virtually weed less. Other hot flies have been midge larva patterns (like black zebra midges) in larger sizes such as fourteens. The better fishing has definitely been in the morning. The bite seems to slow midday and picks up again in late afternoon.

Another hot spot was Rim Shoals. Here again the most action was encountered using brightly colored San Juan worms and eggs. There have been some promising reports of anglers having success wading at the second island below the walk-in access. The have been utilizing Gary Flipin’s water taxi. For a nominal fee Gary will ferry you down there in a river boat and pick you up when you are ready to go. For details you should check at Rim Shoals Trout Dock.

The Norfork has been fishing well in the morning on low water. Anglers reported great success with black zebra nymphs, olive scuds, and black Norfork bead heads all in size eighteen. Other good flies were olive woolly buggers, partridge and orange soft hackles, and Dan’s turkey tail emerger. The top producer was the green butt soft hackle. There have been some sparse sulphur and midge hatches in mid morning and this was the key to success. In the afternoon, on higher water, fishing slows quite a bit. Use conventional high water techniques and if you are not fishing in the Catch and Release area consider using a dropper tied to the lead fly. Black zebra midges and copper johns are great flies for this purpose. They should be fairly large (size fourteen).

Dry Run Creek has fished well. I have been pleasantly surprised by quality of fishing of late. I had expected it to be much more crowded during the summer. The top producer is still the sowbug followed closely by the San Juan worm. My favorite San Juan worm is a small one in worm brown. Do not be afraid to try some thing completely different. The other day my client took two nice rainbows on a size eight Chernobyl ant. I was also pleased to see a wildlife enforcement officer. When I talked to him, he said that he tried to tour the creek daily.

Crooked Creek has cleared up and is fishing well. The best way to fish it is by canoe so that you can access spots a bit further from the access that do not receive as much fishing pressure. My favorite section is the float from Kelly Slab to the park in Yellville. There are a lot of nice deep pools and some very interesting structure to work. I find a nine foot six weight with a sink tip line to be the best way to fish it. The top flies have been brown woolly buggers, crawfish, and Clouser minnows.

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.