John Berry Fishing Report 10/30/2008

[John Berry]

JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 10/30/2008

There has been no rain during the past week and the lakes in the White River system continue their decline. The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam fell three and two tenths feet to rest at eighteen and nine tenths feet above power pool of 654.00 feet. This is twenty two and one tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Up stream, Table Rock Lake fell three tenths of a foot to rest at power pool or sixteen feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell five tenths of a foot to rest at seven feet above power pool or two and six tenths feet below the top of flood pool. The pattern on the White is for heavy generation around the clock. Norfork Lake has fallen one and three tenths of a foot to rest at ten and five tenths feet above power pool of 552.00 feet or seventeen and five tenths feet below the top of flood pool. The pattern has been to run one generator around the clock. Boating conditions on the White and Norfork have been uniformly good. There has been no safe wading.

The White River is currently dropping a bit over three feet per week and the lake is about nineteen feet above power pool. If the lake were to continue dropping at the same rate it should be at power pool in approximately six weeks or the middle of December. Conversely the Norfork is currently dropping a bit over a foot a week and the lake is about ten feet above power pool. If it continues to fall at the same rate it should reach power pool in eight weeks or late December. These are my estimates and are based on no major rain events occurring during this period.

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.

The fishing on the White River has been a really slow during the past week. The dissolved oxygen levels in the upper river has dropped to two parts per million (the state standard is six parts per million). This is a caused by a natural phenomenon, the breakdown of organic matter in the lake, and occurs every year. The lake turnover is in full swing and the river is heavily stained. This year we also have slightly higher than normal water temperatures that may also be affecting the trout feeding patterns. These conditions have had the greatest effect on the upper river from Bull Shoals down to White Hole.

The section from Cotter to the bottom of Rim Shoals has fished a bit better than the upper river. This area has a slightly higher dissolved oxygen level than you may encounter up stream below Bull Shoals. The hot flies for this area have been hot pink San Juan worms and brightly colored egg patterns.

Crooked Creek continues to fish well. Hot flies have been Clouser minnows and crayfish patterns. The creek is low and clear. The section from Kelly Slab down to Yellville Park as well as the lower section near the confluence with the White River have been fishing particularly well.

The Norfork has fished poorly the last week. It is suffering through even lower dissolved oxygen levels than the White. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission has suspended stocking operations for the time being. Once dissolved oxygen levels have returned to normal they will continue their stocking program. If you do fish the Norfork, concentrate on fast riffles where the dissolved oxygen may be a bit higher. Do not over play fish. Land them quickly and revive them carefully.

Dry Run Creek is fishing well as always. A lot of brown trout have moved up in the creek and it is absolutely choked with fish. There were plenty of large trout in the creek already. The dissolved oxygen level is much higher here than the Norfork and the trout are more comfortable here. The hot flies as always are sow bugs, San Juan worms (worm brown has been the hot color) and egg patterns (peach). There have been few anglers here and it is the perfect time to introduce the young anglers out there to trout fishing.

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.