John Berry Fishing Report 7/04/2009

[John Berry]

JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 7/04/2009

We have had precious little rain and slightly cooler temperatures (low nineties). The lakes on the White River system continue their fall. The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam fell two and four tenths feet to rest at thirteen and two tenths feet above power pool of 654.00 feet. This is twenty seven and eight tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Up stream, Table Rock Lake rose one tenth of a foot to rest at one and seven tenths feet above power pool or fourteen and three tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell five tenths of a foot to rest at seven and six tenths feet above power pool or two feet below the top of flood pool. The pattern on the White was for round the clock generation. During the night and morning we have been getting slightly lower flows. The flows have been much heavier in the afternoon during peak power demand. This created some challenging conditions for drift fishing and very limited wade fishing. Norfork Lake has fallen one and six tenths feet to rest at eight and nine tenths feet above power pool of 552.00 feet or nineteen and one tenth feet below the top of flood pool. Generation on the Norfork has increased substantially, which has severely limited wading. With the more aggressive generation, I predict wadable water in less than five weeks.

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 a mixed bag this past week. While some days have been excellent, others have been a bit slow. On the higher flows we have been getting, the ticket to success has been to fish brightly colored flies under an indicator. The hot patterns have been hot pink or red San Juan worms and orange egg patterns. With the water this high, you need to use long tippet/ leader combinations (twelve to fourteen feet). Don’t forget to fish with plenty of lead, I use AAA splitshot and a heavily weighted fly. I also use heavy tippet (4X) to handle the additional weight. This rig is not going to be easy to cast. Open up your loop and try to keep it away from your head. Concentrate along the banks and over any sunken islands or weed beds.

The sulphurs are greatly diminished. We are still seeing a few in the afternoon but their significance to the trout is about over for the year.

The section from White Hole to Cotter has been very popular for float trips. The preferred technique in this section is to bang the bank with large streamers. The hot flies have been Kelly Gallop zoo cougars and other similar oversized streamers. The secret is to get the fly down. With the heavier flows, you must use heavy full sinking or sink tip lines. To cast these huge flies and heavy lines, most anglers are using eight weight or larger rods.

Rim Shoals has fished particularly well this past week. The water has been lower in the morning and the hot flies have been black zebra midges with silver wire and silver bead. The most productive size has been fourteen to sixteen. The heavier flows have been reaching here around one to two o’clock, when it is best to switch to brightly colored San Juan worms and egg patterns. If you must wade, there is usually a bit of wadable water as long as the generation is less than 17,000 cubic feet per second. Contact Rim Shoals Trout Dock to arrange a water taxi to shuttle you to wadable water and pick you up when you are ready to go.

Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River have fished extremely well this week, particularly on Clouser minnows, Barr’s meat whistles and crawfish patterns. The water has reached a much safer level and has cleared substantially. This is a reliable place to do a little wade fishing.

The Norfork River has received much less pressure this week. The wadable water in the morning is a thing of the past. There is some low water at night. If you choose to fish at night, please be very careful and carefully plan your escape. The water can rise at any time. Once generation begins around seven or eight o’clock drift fishing from a boat is the only option. Employ classic high water tactics. Fish brightly colored San Juan worms or egg patterns under an indicator with plenty of weight.

Dry Run Creek has been busy this past week. School is out and the traffic on the creek has increased significantly. It is less crowded during the week and, strangely enough, late in the afternoon (after four o’clock). I expect a lot of young anglers over the Fourth of July weekend. The main food source on the creek is sowbugs. After a rain, worm patterns are particularly effective. Other productive flies are Y2Ks and woolly buggers. Work a short line as there is a lot of tree cover. Don’t forget to carry the camera and the biggest net you can lay your hands on.

Practice water safety and always check conditions before you leave home.