John Berry Fishing Report 3/05/2009

[John Berry]

JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 3/05/2009

Over the past week, we have had a light snow, some very heavy winds and some cold and then warm temperatures. All of the lakes in the White River system have continued their fall and are currently at or below power pool. The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam fell eight tenths of a foot to rest at three tenths of a foot below power pool of 654.00 feet. This is forty one and three tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Up stream, Table Rock Lake fell four 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 power pool or nine and four tenths feet below the top of flood pool. The pattern on the White was for low levels of generation around the clock with a couple of high level spikes during the day. Norfork Lake has fallen eight tenths of a foot to rest at one tenth of a foot below power pool of 552.00 feet or twenty eight and one tenth feet below the top of flood pool. There has been limited generation on the Norfork with several windows of no generation that has created some excellent wading. With the current lake levels and possible mild weather, I would predict wadable water in the near future on both rivers.

Remember that there is a new slot limit on Brown trout. All browns less than twenty four inches must be released immediately no matter where they are caught on the White and Norfork Rivers. Only one brown trout may be kept in the daily limit of five trout.

This year’s shad kill is basically over. The lower levels of generation and higher temperatures have conspired to end it. Trout are still hitting shad patterns. The most effective flies have been white marabou jigs and white bead head woolly buggers. For fishing this area during high levels of generation, I generally use long 4X tippets (a twelve foot leader tippet combination). Use plenty of lead to get the fly down and a big strike indicator to float it all. When fishing floating shad patterns use stout tippet (4X) to cast these heavy flies. There have been reliable reports of excellent fishing on shad patterns from Bull Shoals down to Rim Shoals.

The upper river from the Bull Shoals Dam Catch and Release area down stream to Cain Island has been a real hot spot. The lower flows were perfect for drift fishing and, with the trout still keying in on shad patterns, the bite was on. Other effective patterns were zebra midges and San Juan worms.

When you are fishing in this area, please be careful and do not drag chains through the redds. Disturbing them could destroy the wild brown trout eggs recently deposited there. We do not want to eliminate the next generation of wild brown trout. In addition, dragging chains in high water is dangerous. If the chain grabs the bottom, it could easily swamp the boat.

The big story this past week has been the spectacular streamer fishing. Several anglers have been drifting in the upper river from Bull Shoals down to Cotter. They were banging the bank with huge streamers (sculpin and bait fish patterns five to seven inches long). They were using eight weight fly rods with three hundred grain sink tip lines. This technique resulted in several trophy browns.

Crooked Creek is still not fishing well. The water is low and clear but still a bit cold for the smallmouth to be active. As the weather warms and the water temperature reaches fifty five degrees we can expect the smallmouth action to improve.

With the hot action centered on the upper White River, the fishing pressure has been much lighter on the Norfork of late. That coupled with lower flows and reliable wadable water has created some greatly improved fishing. Though I have not heard any reports of a shad kill here, anglers have reported success with white jigs and white woolly buggers. The better fishing has been on the lower river below the Ackerman Access. The fish seem to be running a bit larger there. Another hot spot has been Quarry Park below Norfork dam. There have been some spectacular midge hatches on sunny days. The best fly for this hatch has been Dan’s turkey tail emerger is size eighteen through twenty two.

Dry Run Creek has fished particularly well during the past week. We had some nice warm days that were perfect for youngsters. There is quite a bit of tree cover here and the key to success is to have your young angler work a short line. Hot flies during the past week have been sowbugs, egg patterns and San Juan worms. Use heavy tippet (at least 4X), carry a very big net and take great care when releasing fish. Do not forget to take a camera. While you are there take the time to visit the adjacent National Fish Hatchery. The tour is fascinating. Be sure and remove your waders before entering the hatchery to prevent the transfer of aquatic diseases.

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.