John Berry Fishing Report 12/11/2008

[John Berry]

JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 12/13/2008

Though there has been a minor rain event and a bit of snow during the past week, the lakes in the White River system continue their steady decline. The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam fell four tenths of a foot to rest at four tenths of a foot below power pool of 654.00 feet. This is forty one and four tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Up stream, Table Rock Lake rose nine tenths of a foot to rest at four tenths of a foot below power pool or sixteen and four tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell two and seven tenths feet to rest at seven tenths of a foot above power pool or eight and nine tenths feet below the top of flood pool. The pattern on the White was for light generation around the clock. There were a couple of incidents where there was no generation for several hours which created some quality wading. Norfork Lake has fallen two and one tenth feet to rest at power pool of 552.00 feet or twenty eight feet below the top of flood pool. There has been heavy generation on the Norfork during the day and periods of no generation at night. Boating conditions on the Norfork during the day have been good.

We are essentially at or near power pool at all of the lakes on the White River system (Beaver is just inches away). 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. We should experience more wadable water on both rivers.

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. Recent low water has revealed several new hazards on both the Norfork and White. Be extremely careful particularly on your first trip through recently lowered water.

The river from Wildcat Shoals down to Roundhouse has been fishing well in the lower water. The go to flies during the past week have been scuds, sowbugs and olive woolly buggers. The trout are literally stacked in this section. With the current cold conditions, we can expect blue wing olive hatches on sunny days. These small mayflies can be imitated with small (in size 20, 22) Adams parachutes. This hatch has also been spotted on the Norfork River.

The Catch and Release section at Rim Shoals is fishing extremely well, particularly in the morning. During the recent low water it was red hot. While short lived, there were reports of several trophy fish caught. The hot flies on this water were brown zebra midges with copper wire and copper beads in size sixteen. Y2Ks and olive woolly buggers also accounted for a lot of fish. On the lower flows the fishing was excellent. The hot flies for this water were cerise San Juan worms, peach eggs and Y2Ks.

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. Though the weather is cold, the creek is choked with fish. Be sure and bundle up the kids before you take them out. Take a break at lunch and visit a local restaurant to warm them up. Do not for get the camera. The best time to hang a big one is now, when there is virtually no pressure on the creek.

On December 20, 2008, there will be an organizational meeting of the Swallows Nest Fly Tyers call Mark Romero at (870) 431-8955 for details.

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.