John Berry Fishing Report 1/15/2009

[John Berry]

JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 1/15/2009

Once again we have had alternately cold and warm temperatures, some very heavy winds but no measurable precipitation during the past week; the lakes in the White River system are all below flood pool and continue their steady fall. The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam fell one and two tenths of a foot to rest at one and nine tenths of a foot below power pool of 654.00 feet. This is forty two and nine tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Up stream, Table Rock Lake remained steady at one tenth of a foot below power pool or sixteen and one tenth feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell four tenths of a foot to rest at four tenths of a foot below power pool or ten feet below the top of flood pool. The pattern on the White was for light to heavy generation around the clock. Norfork Lake has fallen three tenths of a foot to rest at five tenths of a foot below power pool of 552.00 feet or twenty eight and five tenths feet below the top of flood pool. There has been high generation on the Norfork with significant periods of no generation every day. Last weekend the Norfork was off for over forty eight hours. This again created some truly spectacular wading.

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. It is only two weeks until the Catch and Release section below Bull Shoals Dam opens for fishing. The brown trout have been spawning in this area (they do not feed during the spawn) for the last three months and they have not been fished over in that period.

It is nearing time for the shad kill. This is a natural phenomenon where threadfin shad are drawn through the turbines on the dams. The shad are tasty morsels to the spawned out browns just below the dam and are welcome food. The shad kill produces a feeding frenzy that has to be seen to be believed. For the shad kill to occur we must have very cold conditions coupled with high generation. The first tell tale signs are gulls feeding on them just below the dam.

The State Park is fishing well. The hot fly here has been the peach egg and various midge patterns. Be careful on lower flows to avoid walking through redds in the seasonal Catch and Release section. On higher flows, try brightly colored San Juan worms with an egg dropper. Some anglers have done well fishing streamers on sink tip and full sinking lines. The hot streamers have been sculpins and white zonkers.

The Catch and Release section at Rim Shoals is fishing well. The hot fly on lower water has been the Y2K. You should also try sowbugs, olive scuds and midges (size 14). Olive woolly buggers stripped over weed beds have accounted for some large brown trout. Anglers have also done well on higher flows. The hot flies for this water were cerise San Juan worms 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 spotty. One day is poor and the next is excellent. The Norfork continues to get heavy pressure as it is the only wadable water available. The most productive times have been during the week when it is not as crowded. My favorite time to fish it is on Sunday afternoon when the out of town anglers have headed home. Remember that Monday is a national holiday so they will stay a day longer this week. The go to flies have been olive scuds, sowbugs and orange micro eggs. Worm brown San Juan worms have also produced fish. On the higher water, try San Juan worms in bright colors (hot fluorescent pink, cerise and red) with substantial amounts of weight. If you are not in the Catch and Release section try fishing a sowbug or scud as the dropper under a San Juan worm.

Dry Run Creek has been fishing well as always. With the projected cold weather, be sure and bundle your youngster up. When my daughter was of age, the best day we ever had in terms of trophy trout was at this time of year. The temperature was fourteen degrees and Katherine landed a twenty seven inch rainbow. Take a break occasionally to drink some hot chocolate and warm up. The hot flies are sowbugs and worm brown San Juan worms. Do not forget to take your camera.

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.

[DaddyO]

John,

I've never fished a shad kill. What flies do you recommend for this and what is the best way to fish them?

[kayaker]

I have had good luck during periods of shad coming through with white woolly buggers stripped and dead drifted. I would be interested also in how others fish it.

[John Berry]

I tie white woolly buggers on 1/32 ounce jig heads. White marabou jigs can also be effective. You shouhd also tie some floating flies (unweighted woolies with some white foam on them) to imitate dead shad on the surface. I read a report on another forum that a shad did occur last night.