John Berry Fishing Report 9/03/2009

[John Berry]

JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 9/03/2009

During the past week we have had a minor rain event and unseasonably cool temperatures. The lakes on the White River system continue their fall. The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam held steady at 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 fell seven tenths of a foot to rest at five tenths of a foot above power pool or fifteen and five tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell three tenths of a foot to rest at nine tenths of a foot below power pool or ten and five tenths feet below the top of flood pool. The pattern on the White has been difficult to pin down. Over the weekend there were very low flows (around 2/3 of a full generator) and then during the past week we have had some days with moderate generation and some days with a significant period of no generation. This created some excellent conditions for wade fishing. On some days, drift fishing was very limited. Norfork Lake has fallen one tenth of a foot to rest at six tenths of a foot above power pool of 552.00 feet or twenty seven and four tenths feet below the top of flood pool. There has been little generation on the Norfork with plenty of wadable available. All of the lakes in the White River system are at or near power pool. If cool temperatures and little or no rainfall continue, I predict wadable water in the near future.

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. I noticed a photo of an obviously undersized brown trout with a stringer in its mouth displayed in this week’s Baxter Bulletin. This was a clear violation and could subject the angler to a serious fine. You need to carefully measure brown (Minimum 24 inches), brook (minimum 14 inches) and cutthroat trout (minimum 16 inches) and immediately release them, if they are undersize.

The fish habitat project in the Catch and Release section at the base of Bull Shoals Dam that was constructed by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission in conjunction with the Corps of Engineers is now complete. The project was finished in a fraction of the time allotted. There is still some legitimate concern that the habitat will create navigational hazards for river boats at low levels of generation. Please be careful when boating in this area.

The fishing in the Catch and Release section below Bull Shoals Dam has slowed the last week. We have had substantial periods of no generation on some days that fished well. Midge patterns have been the ticket on lower flows. The hot flies have been the black zebra midge with silver wire and silver bead and Dan’s turkey tail emerger.

The Narrows has fished well this past week. The hot fly was the black zebra midge but the olive woolly bugger came in a close second. The construction of the new public access is near completion. This will include restroom facilities and a picnic table. Access is much easier than in the past.

Wildcat Shoals has been productive. While the black zebra midges have been the go to nymph, the hot flies have been the partridge and orange soft hackle and the green butt. Dan’s turkey tail emerger was also effective.

Rim Shoals has fished well this past week. There were several days with wadable water. The water was gin clear and 6X tippet or smaller was the key to success. The hot flies has been the black zebra midge with silver wire and silver bead in size sixteen, prince nymphs in size sixteen and beadhead sowbugs size fourteen. Other flies, specifically red San Juan worms and grasshoppers accounted for some large fish. On some days there were low flows that were also productive. Here again the zebra midge and the grasshopper were the most effective flies.

Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River have cleared and are fishing well. The cooler temperatures have moderated the water temperature. The hot flies have been Clouser minnows and crayfish patterns.

The Norfork River has fished a bit better this week. With wadable water on the White, the crowding here has substantially decreased. 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 been effective. Grasshoppers have also been producing. The upper river at Quarry Park has fished particularly well.

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). There is little room to cast. The most effective technique is to high stick nymphs. While you are there be sure and tour the adjacent National Fish Hatchery. Be sure and remove your waders before entering to avoid transferring aquatic diseases.

With a holiday week coming up, we will have several anglers visiting the Twin Lakes area. Remember that the White and Norfork Rivers are infected with didymo, an invasive alga. Be sure and thoroughly clean and dry your waders (especially the felt soles on wading boots) before using them in your home water.

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.