John Berry Fishing Report 9/04/2008

[John Berry]

JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 9/04/2008

Gustav has brought us plenty of rain this week. The White River continues to fall. The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam fell two and six tenths feet to rest at twenty four and six tenths feet above power pool of 654.00 feet. This is sixteen and four tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Up stream, Table Rock Lake fell one tenth of a foot to rest at one and seven tenths feet above power pool or fourteen and three tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell four tenths of a foot to rest at six and one tenths feet above power pool or three and five tenths feet below the top of flood pool. The pattern on the White has been to run all eight generators around the clock with slightly higher flows in the afternoon. Gustav dumped a lot of rain on the area and the Corps of Engineers turned off the generators. Norfork Lake has fallen one foot to rest at fourteen and three tenths feet above power pool of 552.00 feet or thirteen and seven tenths of a foot below the top of flood pool. The pattern has been to run one generator around the clock. The Corps has also turned off the Norfork, for how long?

As I write this, it is raining and there is no generation at Bull Shoals or Norfork Dam. The forecast is for us to receive five or more inches of rain. We have already received three. There are flash flood warnings in the area. How will this affect lake levels? I would think that the lake levels will rise and that it will take longer to get them down to wadable levels. How long will the lower levels last? It depends on how much flooding there is down stream. My recommendation is to go fishing now and enjoy. I would think that the rivers are muddy, so I will head up stream. The sudden drop in water level has stranded literally thousands of trout along the banks of the river. Most were small browns and rainbows. This is unfortunate but a reality of life.

The upper river from Bull Shoals Dam, through the State Park down to Cane Island Shoals has been a perpetual hot spot for months and the past week has not been different. On high water the hot flies remain brightly colored San Juan worms and egg patterns. The most productive colors have been red, cerise, hot pink and fire orange. On lower water try black zebra midges, scuds and sow bugs. Soft hackles like green butts should also be effective. Remember to down size to 6X tippet for the lower flows.

The Narrows has remained hot during the past week. On high water, the key to success has been to fish a brightly colored San Juan worm with a nymph on a dropper. The most popular nymphs have been zebra midges, trout crack, sowbugs, scuds, and bead head hares ears. On lower water try the same nymphs in size eighteen. Olive woolly buggers have been killer in slightly deeper water.

Another hot spot has been the Rim Shoals Catch and Release section. I have done well with brightly colored San Juan worms, the hot colors have been cerise, hot pink and red. I have noted several anglers take advantage of Gary Flipin’s water taxi to deliver them to the bottom of the second island for some wade fishing and pick them up later. Check by Rim Shoals Trout Dock to take advantage of the service.

The Norfork is fishing a bit better this week particularly on the low water. The hot spot has been Quarry Park just below the dam. Hot flies have been sowbugs, San Juan worms and zebra midges (black with silver wire and silver bead and brown with copper wire and copper beads) all in smaller sizes (eighteen or twenty). On higher flows, the same midges in size fourteen have been effective in this area.

Dry Run Creek continues to receive little pressure. School is back in session. No one is there during the week. The weekends are seeing more traffic. The hot fly is a gray sowbug size fourteen and small worm brown San Juan worms. Be sure and take your camera. This is the place to capture the memory of a life time. I would suggest that you make sure that the camera has a flash. The creek has a lot of tree cover and there are low light conditions.

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.