John Berry Fishing Report 9/10/2009

[John Berry]

JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 9/10/2009

During the past week, we have had unseasonably cool temperatures and a couple of significant rain events. Both, of which, were slow soakers and had little effect on lake levels. The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam fell one tenth of a foot to rest at eight tenths of a foot above power pool of 654.00 feet. This is forty and two tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Up stream, Table Rock Lake remained steady at five tenths of a foot above power pool or fifteen and five tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake remained steady at nine tenths of a foot below power pool or ten and five tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Over the weekend, there were very low flows (around 2/3 of a full generator) and then during the past week we have had moderate generation with a spike of higher generation in the afternoon. This created some very limited wading. On some days, drift fishing was very limited. Norfork Lake rose seven tenths of a foot to rest at one and three tenths of a foot above power pool of 552.00 feet or twenty six and seven tenths feet below the top of flood pool. There has been little generation on the Norfork with plenty of wading 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.

The fishing in the Catch and Release section below Bull Shoals Dam has remained slow this past week. With the low level flows, it was difficult to navigate around all the new habitat structures recently installed by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and the Corps of Engineers. Midge patterns have been the ticket on most days. The hot flies have been the black zebra midge with silver wire and silver bead and Dan’s turkey tail emerger.

Wildcat Shoals has been quite 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 and the olive woolly bugger were also effective. This is a broad shallow shoal that can provide limited wading on low levels of generation. Be very careful, as there is a lot of bedrock in this area, which can be treacherous to wade. Studded boots are highly recommended.

Rim Shoals has fished well this past week. 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 hot pink fluorescent San Juan worms and olive woolly buggers accounted for some large fish. On sunny windy days the grasshopper has been particularly effective. Use nine foot 4X leaders and carefully work the banks. Drop the fly on the water with a plop and give the fly a twitch from time to time, to initiate a vicious strike. The best patterns have been Dave’s hoppers and Rainey’s hoppers.

Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River are a bit high and off color. The cooler temperatures have moderated the water temperature. The hot flies have been Clouser minnows and crayfish patterns.

The Norfork River has been a zoo this past week. With little if any wadable water on the White, this was the only show in town and it was especially crowded over the holiday weekend. 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 and olive woolly buggers have also been producing. The upper river at Quarry Park has fished a bit better. At least, there was a place to park there.

Dry Run Creek has fished well this past week, despite the holiday crowding. The hot fly, as always, has been the sowbug. Other hot flies have been worm brown San Juan worms and egg patterns (orange). The fish here are huge. Be sure and use heavy tippet (at least 4X) and carry a huge net. Most big fish are lost at the net. Do not forget to pinch down the barbs on any flies used on Dry Run Creek or better yet use flies tied on factory barbless hooks. Not only is it required by law but you will be glad you did, if your youngster hooks themselves or you.

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 any other 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.