John Berry Fishing Report 3/19/2009

[John Berry]

JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 3/19/2009

Over the past week, we have had some warmer spring like temperatures and gentler winds. The lakes in the White River system have fallen slightly and all are currently below power pool. The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam fell nine tenths of a foot to rest at one and two tenths feet below power pool of 654.00 feet. This is forty two and two 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 remained steady at two tenths of a foot below power pool or nine and eight tenths feet below the top of flood pool. The pattern on the White was for low levels of generation around the clock with a spike of heavy generation during the day. Norfork Lake has fallen one tenth of a foot to rest at one tenth of a foot below power pool of 552.00 feet or twenty eight feet and one tenth feet below the top of flood pool. There has been limited generation on the Norfork with several days of no generation. This has created some excellent wading. With the current lake levels, I would expect wadable water on both rivers.

Remember that there is a new size 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.

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. Effective patterns were zebra midges, San Juan worms and egg patterns. When you are fishing in this area, please be careful and do not drag chains or walk 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.

Rim Shoals has been quite a hot spot. On the lower flows, anglers have been doing well with black zebra midges in size fourteen. On higher flows the go to flies have been brightly colored San Juan worms (hot pink, cerise and red) and orange patterns. The most productive pattern for me has been the Y2K in yellow and orange. Remember that, if they are running water on the White and you want to wade, there is a water taxi service at Rim Shoals Trout Dock. They will ferry you to wadable water and pick you up for a nominal fee.

It is that time of year, when we begin having our major insect hatches. The first is our rhyancophilia caddis. They have an insect green body and are a righteous size fourteen at the beginning of the hatch. As it goes on, they will get progressively smaller, down to size sixteen and then eighteen. For this hatch I carry green elk hair caddis in those sizes. The best fishing can be before the hatch starts when the caddis larvae get more active. The best nymph for this is the pulsating caddis in size fourteen. When they rise to the surface and begin emerging, switch to the green butt soft hackle. When the trout begin keying in on the adults, switch to the elk hair caddis. I have observed these insects on both the White and Norfork Rivers in the last week and they are becoming more prolific. I have noticed a few risers that have begun keying on the hatch.

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 round the clock generation on the White and lots of anglers in town for the Sowbug Roundup, the Norfork has been packed. If you plan on fishing there be sure and take your own rock so that you will have a place to stand. The better fishing has been on the lower river just below the Ackerman Access. The fish seem to be running a bit larger there. Another hot spot has been Quarry Park below Norfork dam. The Catch and Release section has been particularly crowded. Several anglers have been walking up to McClellan’s. Be very careful! This is a long walk and, if the water comes up, it is a dangerous wade out in rising water. It would be much safer to launch a personal watercraft at the dam; float down to McClellan’s and exit at the confluence. Rose’s Trout Dock will arrange a shuttle for a nominal fee.

Dry Run Creek, as always, has fished particularly well during the past week. We had some nice warm days that were perfect for an outing. There have been a few more young anglers on the creek particularly on the weekends. Hot flies during the past week have been sowbugs, worm brown San Juan worms and egg patterns. While there are several places to fish from the bank, it is more productive to outfit your youngster with waders or hip boots in order to access more of the creek.

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.