John Berry Fishing Report 7/24/2008

[John Berry]

JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 7/24/2008

We have had very little rain and the reservoir levels on the White River have fallen quite a bit for a change. The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam fell one and four tenths of a foot to rest at thirty five and five tenths feet above power pool of 654.00 feet. This is five and five tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Up stream, Table Rock Lake fell two and two tenths of a foot to rest at nine feet above power pool or seven feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell three tenths of a foot to settle at eight and three tenths feet above power pool or one and three tenths feet 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 nine tenths of a foot to rest at twenty two and five tenths feet above power pool of 552.00 feet or five and five tenths of a foot below the top of flood pool. The pattern has been to run two generators with brief periods of no generation at night. This made for some limited wading conditions at night. If you choose to fish at night be very careful and always be on the lookout for rising water. On the higher water, boating conditions have been excellent.

Overall, the fishing has been excellent on the White River and numerous hot spots were noted. The perpetual hot spot has been the Catch and Release section at Bull Shoals Dam and the adjacent state park. While this area gets quite a bit of fishing pressure, it has consistently been producing some nice fish. The better fishing is in the morning when the flows are a bit lower than in the afternoon. Most are caught on midge or worm patterns fished under an indicator with a lot of weight to get it down to the bottom. Hot flies have been black zebra midges with silver wire and silver bead, San Juan worms in bright colors (cerise, hot pink and red), and egg patterns.

The section from Wildcat Shoals to Cotter has been very productive. This section has received less pressure of late and the fishing is more relaxed than further up stream. Trout have been taken on a variety of flies including scuds, sowbugs and trout crack. The more traditional high water flies like San Juan worms and egg patterns are also effective. This is a great area to do some streamer fishing. Try woolly buggers, sculpin patterns and kiwi muddlers on a sink tip line for the bigger fish. This is a lot of work but the rewards can be great.

Another hot spot has been the Rim Shoals Catch and Release section. It too has received little pressure of late. Anglers fishing there have reported some great fishing and some big trout. This is one place where there is some limited wading. Gary Flippin at Rim Shoals trout Dock can take you to the bottom of the second island and pick you up with his water taxi service. Hot flies in this area have been olive woolly buggers and sowbugs. San Juan worms are the ticket to float fishing in the area. I have had the most success with cerise and hot pink worms.

The great low water we have had recently on the Norfork seems to have come to an end. The Norfork is receiving quite a bit of pressure from boat traffic. If you go there use conventional high water techniques. The flies of choice will be San Juan worms in bright colors and various midge patterns.

Dry Run Creek is still producing some really big fish. The hot fly this week has been the sowbug in size fourteen fished with a strike indicator. There have been instances where people have been observed fishing with bait. Bait of any kind is illegal. Help protect this jewel form poaching. Please report any illegal activity to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. The hot line to report poaching is 1 800 482-5262

Crooked Creek has cleared and the water levels are great for wading or canoeing. It is fishing well. Streamers fished on sink tip lines have been the ticket. Look for rock ledges and other cover. For a change of pace, you should try fishing hoppers. Dave’s hoppers and Rainey’s hoppers are great choices. 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.