John Berry Fishing Report 6/11/2009

[John Berry]

JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 6/11/2009

Despite a recent rain event, the lakes in the White River system have begun to fall, though all remain above power pool. The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam fell six tenths of a foot to rest at seventeen and two tenths feet above power pool of 654.00 feet. This is twenty three and eight tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Up stream, Table Rock Lake has fallen one tenth of a foot to rest at one foot above power pool or fifteen feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell three tenths of a foot to rest at eight feet above power pool or one and six tenths of a foot below the top of flood pool. The pattern on the White was for round the clock generation of moderate flows. There was one significant period of no generation. This created some excellent conditions for drift fishing and some limited but excellent wading. Norfork Lake has fallen one tenth of a foot to rest at ten and three tenths feet above power pool of 552.00 feet or seventeen and seven tenths 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 a significant period of high generation 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 Catch and Release section below Bull Shoals Dam has been fishing extremely well this past week. There have been some significant sulphur hatches particularly during the period of no generation we recently had. Anglers reported success with sulphur parachutes and partridge and orange soft hackles during the hatch and copper Johns and pheasant tails before and after the hatch. With the constant flows we have been getting, anglers reported success on midge larva 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.

This past week the sulphur hatches moved up stream. They were sighted from the Dam to the Narrows in numbers but were thinning a bit in the Rim Shoals to Cotter area. This is our major mayfly hatch of the year. They are yellow/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 pheasant tail soft hackles. When the trout begin keying in on the adults, switch to sulphur parachute dry flies. The best fishing has been on the nymphs and emerging insects.

The Narrows has fished extremely well. There have been some prolific sulphur hatches here especially in the afternoon. Though there has been some limited dry fly fishing, the most productive technique has been to swing soft hackles when the trout are keying in on the emerging sulphurs. The most productive flies for this situation have been partridge and orange and pheasant tail soft hackles. Other effective flies have been the olive woolly bugger.

Rim Shoals has fished particularly well this past week. The sulphur hatch is still coming off on most days, but is diminished. The trout have not keyed in on the adults but have been very active on the emergers. The best fly for this situation has been the partridge and orange soft hackle. The most productive way to fish the hatch however has been to fish copper John nymphs before during and after the hatches. With the slightly higher flows we have been getting take advantage of the Water Taxi. For a nominal fee the folks at Rim Shoals Trout Dock will ferry you to wadable water and pick you up when you are ready to go.

Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River are beginning to clear. There has been some nice smallmouth caught on Clouser minnows.

The Norfork River fished a bit better this past week. There were a few less people on it and some nice fish were caught. The most productive flies have been small black zebra midges, Norfork beadheads and red micro San Juan worms. On higher water fish brightly colored San Juan worms and egg patterns. Olive woolly buggers accounted for several nice trout.

Dry Run Creek is fishing well as always. As the creek receives more pressure from vacationing families, remember that there are fish everywhere. To avoid the crowds, fish early or late or better yet during the week. The hot fly has been the sowbug with the red San Juan running a close second. Use heavy tippet (4X) and work a short line. There is precious little room to cast. While you are there take a few minutes to visit the adjacent National Fish Hatchery. Be sure and remove your waders before entering to prevent the spread of aquatic diseases. Do not forget the camera.

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.