John Berry Fishing Report 11/11/2008

[John Berry]

JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 10/09/2008

Despite a night of rain, the lakes in the White River system have continued their decline. The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam fell two and seven tenths feet to rest at twenty eight feet above power pool of 654.00 feet. This is thirteen feet below the top of flood pool. Up stream, Table Rock Lake fell four tenths of a foot to rest at one and six tenths feet above power pool or fourteen and four tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell five tenths of a foot to rest at eight and one tenth feet above power pool or one and one half feet below the top of flood pool. The pattern on the White is for heavy generation around the clock. Norfork Lake has fallen nine tenths of a foot to rest at fourteen feet above power pool of 552.00 feet or fourteen feet below the top of flood pool. The pattern has been to run one generator most of the day and to turn it off for a couple of hours at night. There have been limited wading opportunities on the Norfork. Boating conditions on the White have been uniformly good.

The Catch and release section below Bull Shoals Dam will close to all fishing on November 1, 2008 and will remain closed until February 1, 2009 for the brown trout spawn. The section from the bottom of this Catch and Release section downstream to the wing wall at the State park is seasonal Catch and Release for the same time period. Some anglers have reported that the brown trout in the area are starting to “color up” in preparation for the spawn.

Due to low dissolved oxygen levels (below three parts per million) on the upper sections of the White and Norfork Rivers, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission has suspended stocking in these areas. There will be no stocking for the time being above Cotter on the White and above Roses trout dock on the Norfork. The affected trout will be held at the state trout hatchery until the oxygen levels are acceptable. They will then be stocked in the affected sections.

The upper river below Bull Shoals Dam down to Cane Island has been producing well despite constant pressure from local anglers and visitors to the state park located in the middle of this section. While a lot of anglers have been doing well banging the bank with big streamers like kiwi muddlers and Jim Mengle’s Ozark sculpin, the top technique for this level of water is to fish brightly colored San Juan worms under a strike indicator. Hot colors have been red, cerise and hot pink. Other effective flies have been black zebra midges in size fourteen and egg patterns in peach and pink.

One hot spot has been the Cotter area from the new bridge down to the bottom of Roundhouse Shoals. This section does not get as much pressure as you may encounter up stream below Bull Shoals Dam. In addition to fishing San Juan worms and midge patterns, be sure and try sow bugs in this area. As this is not catch and release, you can use droppers here. My favorite method is to rig a San Juan worm in the usual way and then attach a foot and a half section of 5X tippet to the bend of the hook and then tie a small nymph to the tippet. My favorite nymphs for this technique are small scuds, sow bugs or copper johns.

Rim Shoals has been fishing extremely well. The hot fly has been the San Juan worm in hot pink and cerise. This section has not received as much pressure of late and has been producing some large trout. Remember that there is some limited safe wading in the vicinity of the second island during high water. Stop by Rim Shoals Trout dock and have them ferry you down there for a nominal fee.

Crooked Creek has fished well during the last week. Hot flies have been Clouser minnows and crayfish patterns. Successful anglers have been fishing early in the morning. This is a great alternative for anglers that are tired of being in the boat and would prefer to wade. The section below the Snow access, as well as the lower creek near the confluence with the White River, have been hot spots.

The fishing on the Norfork has been good. The flows during the day have been moderate. The hot flies have been San Juan worms in hot pink and brightly colored eggs. There has been a bit of wading at Quarry Park below the dam along the parking lot for the ramp. There are new signs posted around the mouth of Dry Run Creek that severely limit fishing there.

Dry Run Creek is fishing well as always. With the brown trout spawn approaching, some of the browns are beginning to move up in the creek. There are plenty of large trout in the creek already. The hot flies are sow bugs, San Juan worms and egg patterns (peach would be the best color). Be sure to carry the biggest net you can lay your hands on and bring a camera. This is where memories are made.

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.