John Berry Fishing Report 04/30/2009

[John Berry]

JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 4/30/2009

Last week we have had several rain events and some lakes in the White River system have risen and all are above power pool. The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam rose two and one tenth feet to rest at four and six tenths of a foot above power pool of 654.00 feet. This is thirty six and four tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Up stream, Table Rock Lake has been aggressively drawn down and fell one and eight tenths feet to rest at one foot above power pool or fifteen feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake rose one tenth of a foot to rest at one foot above power pool or eight and six tenths feet below the top of flood pool. The pattern on the White was for round the clock generation of moderate flows. This has created some excellent conditions for drift fishing. Norfork Lake has risen seven tenths of a foot to rest at two and five tenths of a foot above power pool of 552.00 feet or twenty five and five tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Generation on the Norfork has been very limited which has created some excellent wading.

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 Catch and Release section below Bull Shoals Dam has remained red hot this past week. There were numerous quality fish, both rainbows and browns, caught. The best fishing was on the higher water and the most productive flies were San Juan worms in hot fluorescent pink and red and egg patterns in orange and peach. On moderate generation, anglers reported substantial success on midge patterns. The most effective were zebra midges in black with silver wire and silver beads and red with silver wire and silver beads. The best sizes were sixteens and fourteens. As a result of the adjacent State Park and good fishing, this area gets a significant amount of fishing pressure. The best runs can get congested. It is imperative that boating courtesy be observed. Please be patient with others and try to give all anglers as much room as possible.

Wildcat Shoals has been another hotspot. Anglers have reported great success when fishing moderate flows. The hot fly has been an egg pattern in orange and hot fluorescent pink San Juan worms. This section does not get as much pressure as others and is a great place to seek a bit of solitude.

Rim Shoals has fished much better this past week. On higher flows, the hot flies have been San Juan worms in hot fluorescent pink and cerise. There are some caddis coming off. There is some top water activity near the banks. This requires an accurate cast and a good drift. Several anglers have had great success with green caddis larva ticked along the bottom under an indicator. The best flows have been in the morning when the levels have been a bit lower than the afternoon. There has not been much pressure here and there is plenty of water to fish.

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. It has been wadable on most days and the pressure has been extremely heavy. The upper river, at Quarry Park has fished a bit better than the lower river. The Norfork has not fished well on high water recently. If you must fish higher water, the hot fly has been a hot pink or cerise San Juan worm. On lower water, the hot flies have been sowbugs, black zebra midges and olive woolly buggers. There have been some good midge hatches in the afternoons on lower water. The hot midge fly has been Dan’s turkey tail emerger. Long 6X tippets are the key to success. There have also been caddis hatches in the afternoons but they have been sporadic. Here again the most effective fly for this hatch has been the caddis emerger. The hot pattern has been the green butt. Once again several anglers are walking upstream from the Ackerman access to McClellan’s. If they turn on the water this is a long treacherous walk out and is dangerous.

Dry Run Creek has fished well during the past week. The hot fly has been the sowbug. San Juan worms and woolly buggers have accounted for some nice fish. Carry a big net with a long handle. Most trout are lost at the net. Please handle the fish carefully and release them as soon as possible. While you are there, take advantage of the adjacent National Fish Hatch and take a tour. It is fascinating. Be sure and remove your waders before entering to prevent the spread of aquatic diseases.

We had two boating accidents last weekend. Fortunately no one was seriously hurt. Both were attributed to inexperience. Our rivers can be dangerous. If you are new to boating, I suggest that you obtain boating instruction from an experienced river guide. It could save your life.

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.