John Berry Fishing Report 05/21/2009

[John Berry]

JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 5/21/2009

This past week we have finally gotten a respite from the rain and we even had several beautiful sunny days with light winds. Some of the lakes in the White River system have continued their rise and all remain above power pool. We have had a couple of very windy days, complete with lake wind advisories. The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam rose three and three tenths feet to rest at fifteen and seven tenths of a foot above power pool of 654.00 feet. This is twenty five and three tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Up stream, Table Rock Lake has fallen one and two tenths of a foot to rest at one and eight tenths feet above power pool or fourteen and two tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake rose four tenths of a foot to rest at eight and eight tenths of a foot above power pool or eight tenths of a foot below the top of flood pool. The pattern on the White was for round the clock generation of moderate flows. This created some excellent conditions for drift fishing and then some limited wading. Norfork Lake has risen three and seven tenths of a foot to rest at nine feet above power pool of 552.00 feet or nineteen feet below the top of flood pool. Generation on the Norfork has been very limited, which has created some excellent wading. The Corps of Engineers has been holding back water to relieve flooding down stream. When that flooding abates, we can expect some much higher levels of generation.

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 been fishing extremely well this past week. With the lower flows we have been getting, anglers reported 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. Other hot patterns have been pheasant tails and egg patterns.

Wildcat Shoals has been another hotspot. Anglers have reported great success on low flows. The hot flies have been soft hackles. Try green butts, partridge and orange soft hackles and partridge and green soft hackles. Anglers have also done well with black zebra midges and olive woolly buggers.

Rim Shoals has fished extremely well this past week. The hot flies were black zebra midges, prince nymphs and pheasant tail nymphs. Other successful flies have been brightly colored San Juan worms (cerise, hot fluorescent pink, and red), egg patterns, and Y2Ks. Some anglers have reported success stripping olive woolly buggers in deeper runs. The best way to do this is with a fast sinking sink tip or a full sinking line.

This past week some sulphurs were observed coming off. This is our major mayfly hatch of the year. They are yellow or orange insects. The hatch generally begins with size fourteen and ends next month with size eighteens. The best way to fish them is with copper john or pheasant tail nymphs before the hatch begins, when the nymphs are more active. When the nymphs rise to the surface and begin to emerge, switch to partridge and orange or partridge and yellow soft hackles. When the trout begin keying in on the adults, switch to sulphur parachute dry flies. Be sure and apply a fly floatant to the dry fly before you begin fishing it.

Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River are starting to clear. With lower flows the bass fishing should start picking up. Try Clouser minnows and crawfish patterns and concentrate on working structure like rock shelves and fallen trees.

The overall quality of fishing on the Norfork River remains poor. There has been little generation on it recently and it has been pounded with near constant pressure. This river receives more fishing pressure per river mile than any other trout stream in Arkansas. You can escape some of the crowd by fishing during the week or by fishing very early or late. You should expect some very heavy pressure this holiday weekend. On lower flows concentrate on midge nymph patterns like the black zebra midge or Norfork bead head in size eighteen or twenty. Midge emergers like Dan’s turkey tail emerger are also effective. On higher flows brightly colored San Juan worms and egg patterns are the go to flies. Be on the look out for a good sulphur hatch here also.

Dry Run Creek continues to fish well. The hot fly is the sowbug and the San Juan worm in red. I expect there to be a lot of young anglers and their parents on the creek this holiday weekend. Don’t worry, if it seems crowded, there are fish everywhere. The secret to success is to work a short line and use heavy tippet (at least 4X). Bring the biggest net you can lay your hands on and carry a camera. Don’t forget to take a tour of the adjacent National Fish hatchery. Be sure to remove your waders before entering 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.

[jefly77]

I know you are a fly fishing guide, but could you maybe add what kind of lures the spinning guys have been catching them on? Great report regardless.

[FishinCricket]

I know you are a fly fishing guide, but could you maybe add what kind of lures the spinning guys have been catching them on? Great report regardless.

Try taking the flies and patterns and colors he suggests and putting them on a fly spinner or adjusting his advice about matching the hatch and just modify it. The concept is still the same. Right?

John,

Thanks for the report sir, you don't know how much it helps me to read a fishermans thoughts.. Doesn't matter that I fish small streams like the niangua, I still soak up every word of your reports, even taking the time to comprehend the water level stuff..

[John Berry]

Thank you for the kind comments. I try to let folks know what is happening. As far as lures go, I can only tell you what I am finding I find small rapalas especially with trout coloration. There are usually little Cleos in gold and Mepps spinners in gold.