John Berry Fishing Report 12/04/2008

[John Berry]

JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 12/04/2008

Despite a minor rain event during the past week, the lakes in the White River system continue their speedy decline. The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam fell three feet to rest at power pool of 654.00 feet. This is forty one feet below the top of flood pool. Up stream, Table Rock Lake rose eight tenths of a foot to rest at one and three tenths of a foot below power pool or seventeen and three tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell one and five tenths feet to rest at three and four tenths feet above power pool or six and two tenths feet below the top of flood pool. The pattern on the White was for heavy generation around the clock. Now that power pool has been reached the generation has been ramped down significantly. Norfork Lake has fallen three and three tenths of a foot to rest at two and one tenth feet above power pool of 552.00 feet or twenty five and nine tenths feet below the top of flood pool. There has been heavy generation on the Norfork around the clock. Boating conditions on the Norfork has been good.

Now that power pool has been reached and generation has decreased, there is some quality wading available on the White. They are drawing down Beaver and it should reach power pool in one and a half weeks. Table rock is below power pool. The Norfork is dropping over three feet a week and the lake is about two feet above power pool. If it continues to fall at the same rate, it should reach power pool this week. These are my estimates and are based on no major rain events occurring during this period.

When the lakes reach power pool, control over generation passes from the Corps of Engineers to South West Power Administration. When in power pool generation is based on electrical demand. With mild weather, and a slow economy, we could expect reduced flows if not an occasional period of no generation. Most generation would occur during peak usage hours. This is generally on week day afternoons.

The Catch and Release section below Bull Shoals Dam closed to all fishing on November 1, 2008. It 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.

With the lower flows on the White, there has been more challenging boat navigation. All of the rocks we have been flying over for the last several months are now poking out and looking for your boat. It is time to put your low water propeller back on and slow down a bit. Be on the look out for navigation hazards. Remember that the river will be changed, from the flooding this spring. This will be the first time we see several spots that have been under a lot of water since then.

The river from the state park down to White Hole has been fishing well in the lower water. The go to flies during the past week have been brightly colored egg patterns. The best color seems to change every day. Be sure and carry a variety of colors that include pink, peach and orange. Other productive flies have been sowbugs, olive scuds and zebra midges. Olive woolly buggers on sink tip lines are also producing some nice fish.

The Catch and Release section at Rim Shoals is also fishing well. The fishing has been better in the morning. With the current level of generation, there is a significant amount of wading available. While a significant amount of it is available by trail even more is accessible by boat. If you do not have access to a boat, stop by Rim Shoals Trout Dock and take advantage of their water taxi. For a nominal fee they will drop you off at one of the spots available and pick you up later in the day.

Crooked Creek has slowed considerably. The water temperature has dipped below fifty five degrees and the Smallmouth have pretty much shut down.

The fishing on the Norfork has been a bit spotty. One day it is excellent and the next day slow. The better fishing has been in the afternoon and the upper river seems to be fishing better than the lower river. The go to flies have been micro San Juan worms in pink and worm brown. Orange egg patterns have also done very well. In the higher water, you will have to fish with substantial amounts of weight. Concentrate on fishing the banks and grass beds. If you are not in the Catch and Release section try a two fly rig with a sowbug or scud as the dropper.

Dry Run Creek is fishing well as always. The hot flies have been sowbugs, San Juan worms, egg patterns and olive woolly buggers. Take the biggest net that you can lay your hands on. Most big fish are lost at the net. I have found my long handled boat net to be the perfect for Dry Run Creek. Don’t forget the camera. Since your youngster will probably catch the biggest fish of their life, you will want to record that memory. My daughter and I still cherish the photos we took there many years ago.

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.

[laker67]

John,

As always a very informative report. Thanks! I ran into a very knowledgable fisherman from your part of the country on Tuesday. His name was Quinn Berry. Any relationship? He was fishing Taneycomo, I think he said for the first time. I was unable to talk to him at the end of the day to see how he liked our waters.

[John Berry]

Quin is my cousin and an accomplished fly fisherman and fly tyer.

[laker67]

Quin is my cousin and an accomplished fly fisherman and fly tyer.

Thanks John. I had a most enjoyable conversation with Quin.