John Berry Fishing Report 4/02/2009

[John Berry]

JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 4/02/2009

Over the past week, we have had a mixed bag of weather conditions. There were some warmer spring like temperatures and a few cold days. We had a few rain events and some particularly heavy winds (complete with lake wind advisories). The lakes in the White River system have all risen and all are currently above power pool. The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam rose three tenths of a foot to rest at four tenths of a foot above power pool of 654.00 feet. This is forty and six tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Up stream, Table Rock Lake rose one and one tenth of a foot to rest at one and three tenths of a foot above power pool or fourteen and seven tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake rose five tenths of a foot to rest at one and one tenth of a foot above power pool or eight and five tenths feet below the top of flood pool. The pattern on the White was for heavy generation around the clock. Water levels for boating have been excellent. Norfork Lake has risen one tenth of a foot to rest at three tenths of a foot above power pool of 552.00 feet or twenty seven and seven tenths feet below the top of flood pool. There has been heavy generation on the Norfork with some brief periods of no generation. There was no generation on Sunday.

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 big story this past week has been the return of high water. The caddis are still coming off but with six or seven generators going on the White and two running on the Norfork, there is little if any top water action. Local anglers reluctantly put away their four weight rods and dry flies and pulled their heavier rods and high water flies out once again. It is imperative that you not fish with a chain on water this high. It could grab the bottom and swamp your boat.

The most effective way to fish during the past week has been to drift brightly colored San Juan worms and egg patterns. The trick is to fish them deep. Make sure that you are banging the bottom. To accomplish this you will have to use very long leaders and a lot of lead. Forget the small split shot. Use AAAs and heavily weighted flies. If you are not occasionally hanging up on the bottom, you are not doing it right. Of course, if you are using a lot of additional weight, you will need to use a very large strike indicator.

The other killer technique is to bang the bank with large streamers on sink tip or full sinking lines. Several anglers have reported success with large streamers (up to seven inches long and equipped with up to three hooks). Remember that, if you are fishing in Catch and Release water, you can only use one hook point. The secret here is to use the heaviest and fastest sinking fly line that you can. Heavy flies and fly lines like this require big rods, eight weights or better. This is not delicate work and a day casting these rigs will wear you out.

The upper river at the Bull Shoals Dam Catch and Release area has been productive. There has been a lot of traffic here especially on the days after significant rainfall. When the water down stream is muddy or stained, you can always find clear water at the base of the dam.

Rim Shoals has also been productive. Remember that this is the one place that has wadable water as long as the flows are below 17,000 cubic feet per second. The only way to access them is by boat. Arrange for a shuttle by water taxi at Rim Shoals Trout Dock. There is a nominal charge.

The water below Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River has been muddy and has not fished well.

Fishing on Crooked Creek has improved as water temperatures climbed to fifty eight degrees. However, our recent rain events have muddied up the creek and it will take several days to clear.

The fishing on the Norfork has been slow. When the water was down last Sunday, the White was high and the Norfork was backed up far up stream from the Ackerman Access. Quarry Park fared a bit better and was fishing well. On the higher water, use the same high water tactics as we have on the White River.

Dry Run Creek, as always, has fished particularly well during the past week, even when it was high and muddy. The key to success under those conditions was hot pink San Juan worms and Y2Ks. When the water was low and clear, the most productive fly was a sowbug. The best way to fish on the creek is to high stick nymphs with a strike indicator. There is just not enough room to cast with all of the trees along the stream. It is imperative that it the kids fishing here and not their parents. Adults can help land fish by netting them and of course take pictures.

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.