John Berry Fishing Report 10/29/2009

[John Berry]

JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 10/29/2009

During the past week, we have had a seemingly never ending succession of rain events and very windy conditions. The lake levels on the White River system have risen significantly. The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam rose three feet to rest at sixteen and seven tenths of a foot above power pool of 654.00 feet. This is twenty four and three tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Up stream, Table Rock Lake fell one and nine tenths of a foot to rest at one and nine tenths feet above power pool or fourteen and one tenth feet below the top of flood pool. The Corps of Engineers are aggressively drawing down Table Rock and dumping the water into Bull Shoals, which is rising quickly. Beaver Lake rose five tenths of a foot to rest at six and five tenths feet above power pool or three and one tenth feet below the top of flood pool. On the White, we have had light but steady generation around the clock with slightly higher flows in the afternoon. There has been precious little wadable water. Norfork Lake rose three and five tenths of a foot to rest at eleven and eight tenths feet above power pool of 552.00 feet or sixteen and two tenths feet below the top of flood pool. There have been significant periods of no generation every day with moderate generation the rest of the day. This has created some great wading conditions.

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 been excellent. With the low level flows we had this week; 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. The hot flies have been brightly colored San Juan worms (cerise, hot fluorescent pink and red) and egg patterns (orange and peach). This section is scheduled to close on November 1, 2009 for the brown trout spawn. It will remain closed until January 31, 2010. The section from the bottom of this Catch and Release section downstream to the wing wall at the State park is seasonal Catch and Release for the same time period.

When we receive large rain events, like we have lately, both rivers muddy up and do not fish well. The best strategy is to head up stream until you find clear water. The Catch and Release Section below Bull Shoals Dam on the White and Quarry Park above Dry Run Creek on the Norfork are often your best bets when the water is unfishable elsewhere.

The stretch from Wildcat Shoals to Rim Shoals has fished well. The moderate flows we have received this past week have been perfect for drift fishing. The hot flies have been San Juan worms and Y2Ks. Small mayfly nymphs like pheasant tails and copper johns have also been effective.

Rim Shoals has been red hot for another week. The go to flies have been Y2Ks and cerise San Juan worms. In the afternoon, we have been getting some good baetis (small may flies) hatches. Most of the action was with nymphs. Flashback pheasant tails and copper Johns in size 14 have been very effective. There has been limited top water action particularly against the bank. Try size 20 or 22 parachute Adams dry flies. If you encounter high water, Rim Shoals Trout Dock maintains a water taxi and will ferry you to wadable water for a nominal fee.

Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River are running high and muddy. The White River below them is very off color and not fishing well.

The Norfork River has continued to receive quite a bit of pressure due to round the clock generation on the White but has still fished well. Midge patterns have been the go to flies on the lower flows. The most productive patterns were black zebra midges with silver wire and silver beads, black Norfork midges and Dan’s turkey tail emergers. Other effective flies have been olive woolly buggers and soft hackles (partridge and orange soft hackles and green butts). On the higher flows hot fluorescent pink San Juan worms and orange egg patterns have been the most effective way to fish. There are some spawning rainbows in the Catch and Release section. You should avoid fishing for them to allow them to reproduce naturally. We could use some more wild rainbows. Also avoid walking through the redds (spawning beds). They will appear as light colored depressions in the gravel.

Dry Run Creek has fished well this past week. There are some big browns that have begun moving up into the creek to spawn. The hot fly, as always, has been the sowbug. During heavy rain events, Dry Run Creek can get off color like any other stream due to siltation from run-off. The key to success in conditions like this is to use brightly colored San Juan worms (red, fluorescent pink, and cerise) and brightly colored egg patterns (yellow, orange and red).

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. Many manufacturers are now making rubber soled wading boots that are easier to clean and are not as likely to harbor didymo. I have recently purchased a pair.

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.

[bobber]

the new habitat structures recently installed by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and the Corp??? are they big?..or wide... whats the waves like at flow, (big standing waves??)

[John Berry]

They are big. Whether there are standing waves depends on the flows. At low flows you really have to keep your eyes open. I have not observed at flows over four full units.

[bobber]

THANKS for the reply