John Berry Fishing Report 12/17/2008

[John Berry]

JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 12/17/2008

Though there has been a bit of snow, ice and some frigid temperatures during the past week, the lakes in the White River system are finally all below flood pool. The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam rose three tenths of a foot to rest at one tenth of a foot below power pool of 654.00 feet. This is forty one and one tenth feet below the top of flood pool. Up stream, Table Rock Lake fell one tenth of a foot to rest at five tenths of a foot below power pool or sixteen and five tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell one and two tenths feet to rest at five tenths of a foot below power pool or ten and one tenth feet below the top of flood pool. The pattern on the White was for light to heavy generation with at least one period of no generation each day. Norfork Lake has fallen three tenths of a foot to rest at three tenths of a foot below power pool of 552.00 feet or twenty eight and three tenths feet below the top of flood pool. There has been heavy generation on the Norfork with periods of no generation every day. Last weekend the White and Norfork were both off for over forty eight hours. This created the best wading scenario we have seen all year.

We are at power pool at all of the lakes on the White River system. Control over generation passed 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 and 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 Narrows has been a real hot spot during the last week. There has been no wading in this section for months and it is red hot. The hot flies have been Y2Ks, egg patterns, sowbugs, and olive woolly buggers. When in this section be aware for rising water. It comes up fast here.

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. The hot flies on this water level were sowbugs, olive scuds and brown zebra midges with copper wire and copper beads in size sixteen. Y2Ks and olive woolly buggers also accounted for a lot of fish. The trail from the walk in access down stream is a little rough. It was not used much this summer and could use some clearing. Be careful and look out for hazards when walking it. 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 Norfork has been fishing well. The most productive times have been on low water. The go to flies have been olive scuds. Orange egg patterns have also done very well. Once again several anglers have been walking into McClellan’s from the Ackerman access. Be very careful when doing so. If the water comes out it is a very long walk out in a rising river. On the higher water, try San Juan worms in bright colors (hot pink, cerise and red) 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, this is a great time to take the kids to Dry Run Creek. You will have it to yourself. Carry the biggest net that you can lay your hands on as most trophy fish are lost at the net. Use heavy tippet (at least 4X) and check your knots carefully and pinch down the barbs. The fish are huge! Do not forget the camera. You child might catch the fish of a life time and you will want a photograph to show grandma.

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.

[kayaker]

My friends and I want to do our annual trip from Kansas City sometime around the end of January. Do you fore see wading conditions improving by then if you don't get any major rain events.

[John Berry]

The way things are looking now I would expect some pretty good wading if we do not get a bunch of rain. The wading is currently excellent.