John Berry Fishing Report 8/13/2009

[John Berry]

JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 8/13/2009

We have had a rain event and cooler temperatures. The lakes on the White River system continue their fall. The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam fell one and six tenths feet to rest nine tenths of a foot above power pool of 654.00 feet. This is forty and one tenth feet below the top of flood pool. Up stream, Table Rock Lake rose eight tenths feet to rest at two feet above power pool or fourteen feet below the top of flood pool. The rise on Table Rock is due to the draw down of Beaver Lake, which fell two and seven tenths of a foot to rest at nine tenths of a foot above power pool or eight and seven tenths 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 significantly lower flows. The flows have been much heavier in the afternoon during peak power demand. This created some excellent conditions for drift fishing and limited wade fishing. Norfork Lake has fallen one and one tenth foot to rest at one and six tenths feet above power pool of 552.00 feet or twenty six and four tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Generation on the Norfork has declined, which has created some quality wading. The current estimate for all lakes to be at power pool is August 17, 2009.

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 Arkansas Game and Fish Commission in conjunction with the Corps of Engineers was scheduled to begin installing fish habitat designed to provide cover for juvenile trout in the Catch and Release section below Bull Shoals Dam on or around August 1, 2009. This project has been postponed until August 17, 2009 in order for the lakes to be drawn down. This work will be done at low water levels and is scheduled to take forty five days to complete. It should provide reliable wadable water on the White River during this time. There is some concern that the habitat will create navigational hazards for river boats at low levels of generation. At this time, we do not know how high the new habitat structures will sit in the water. They have begun staging construction materials and have put a construction trailer office on site. It looks like this project should on schedule.

The fishing in the Catch and Release section below Bull Shoals Dam has been quite good for the last week. We have had some low flows that lasted through the morning that have fished particularly well. Midge patterns have been the ticket on lower flows. The hot fly has been the black zebra midge with silver wire and silver bead. Later in the day, when we get heavier flows, the most effective technique has been to fish brightly colored San Juan worms (cerise, hot pink and red) and egg patterns (orange) below strike indicators. Use long 4X tippets and large split shot (AAA) to get the flies down to the bottom. The habitat work is to begin on Monday and I do not know how that will affect fishing in this area.

Rim Shoals has been red hot this past week. The lower flows have lasted until late afternoon and have been fishing particularly well. The hot fly has been the zebra midge with silver wire and silver bead in size sixteen. The lower flows have also been near perfect for fishing grasshoppers. The trout are certainly looking up and keying in on these large morsels. Try Dave’s hoppers in size 10 or Rainey’s hoppers in size 8. Use a stiff nine foot six weight rod to cast these larger flies. A nine foot leader tippet combination will turn the fly over easily. While the fly is drifting downstream twitch it occasionally to trigger a vicious strike. As the flows increase, the action has moved to the lower section of the area, White Shoals. The hot flies have been San Juan worms in cerise and hot pink.

Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River have cleared some and are fishing well. The hot flies have been Clouser minnows, Barr’s Meat whistles and large woolly buggers. If we get much rain, these streams muddy and rise quickly.

The Norfork River has fished a bit better this week. We have been getting a substantial period of wadable water daily. Generation for the rest of the day was near maximum levels. On low water, small midge patterns have been the ticket. Try black zebra midges, Norfork beadheads in black or olive and Dan’s turkey tail emerger. Soft hackles like the green butt and the partridge and orange have also been effective. Grasshoppers have been producing. The upper river at Quarry Park has fished particularly well. On high water, the most effective tactic is to fish brightly colored San Juan worms or egg patterns under an indicator.

Dry Run Creek has fished well this past week. The hot fly, as always, has been the sowbug. Other hot flies have been worm brown San Juan worms and egg patterns (orange). The Dry Run Creek enhancement project was dedicated this week. This is a major project designed to enhance the fish holding capacity, increase the access for children and make the creek more accessible for the handicapped. At certain times, the fishing will be adversely affected during this construction.

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.