John Berry Fishing Report 7/17/2008

[John Berry]

JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 7/17/2008

Despite yet another rain event, the reservoir levels on the White River have fallen a bit. The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam fell seven tenths of a foot to rest at thirty six and nine tenths feet above power pool of 654.00 feet. This is four and one tenth feet below the top of flood pool. Up stream, Table Rock Lake fell five tenths of a foot to rest at eleven and two tenths of a foot above power pool or four and eight tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell two tenths of a foot to settle at eight and six tenths feet above power pool or one 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 risen one tenth of a foot to rest at twenty three and four tenths feet above power pool of 552.00 feet or four and six tenths of a foot below the top of flood pool. The pattern has been to run two generators with substantial periods of no generation at night and during the morning. This made for some excellent wading conditions. On the higher water, boating conditions have been excellent.

We are now four months past our initial spring floods and we have made little if any progress on reducing the lake levels on the White River. They are basically four feet or less from the top of flood pool on all of the White River Reservoirs. A four inch rain could easily put us back in the flood gates. This has been caused by the heavy rain fall we have received and down stream flooding that prevents the Corps of Engineers from drawing down the reservoirs more aggressively. With the current generation and lake levels, I do not foresee any reliable wading conditions until mid fall.

With an unprecedented high water year, local guides and anglers have honed their high water skills. Not only have they developed new flies for the occasion but have concentrated on classic techniques for success in these conditions and created new ones.

Overall, the fishing has been very good on the White River. The perpetual hot spot has been the Catch and Release section at Bull Shoals Dam and the adjacent state park. While the recording for Bull Shoals Dam will say that they have eight units on, there can be a substantial amount of variation in the water levels. The trick to success is to key onto rising water and to stay with it as long as you can. This may result in a long drift down stream and a run back to your launch point. The most successful technique during the past week has been to drift nymphs over weed beds. The hot flies have been black zebra midges, olive scuds and San Juan worms. The larger fish have been caught on streamers cast against the bank with sink tip lines. Some guides recommend a slow retrieve while others suggest a very fast one. Vary yours to see what works best for you. Good patterns for this technique are sculpins, kiwi muddlers and big woolly buggers.

The Norfork has been fishing well in the morning on low water. The problem is with the constant high generation on the White this is the only place to wade and it can get pretty crowded, particularly on the weekends. The hot spots have been Quarry Park just below Norfork Dam and the Ackerman access. One way to avoid the crowds has been to float down from Quarry Park to McClellan’s. It is a rough pull in a river boat or a nice ride in a personal pontoon. Some anglers have been walking up from the Ackerman access. This is a dangerous proposition. I picked up an angler in my river boat who was stranded on a rapidly disappearing island last week. Anglers reported success with black zebra nymphs and olive Norfork bead heads both in size eighteen. Other good flies were olive woolly buggers, green butt soft hackles and Dan’s turkey tail emerger. In the afternoon, on higher water, fishing slows quite a bit. Use conventional high water techniques.

Dry Run Creek is still producing some really big fish. This is also a great place to escape the heat. It is always fifteen to twenty degrees cooler than on the river. Remember to have the kids fish short lines. There is precious little casting room with the over hanging trees. The hot fly this week has been the sowbug in size fourteen fished with a strike indicator.

Crooked Creek has cleared a bit and is fishing well. Streamers fished on sink tip lines have been the ticket. Look for rock ledges and other cover. Keep moving and cover a lot of water.

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.

[bigredbirdfan]

Browns, Browns Everywhere taking large baits is what has been reported to me. Lots of 18-22+ inches. Wish I was there every day!