John Berry Fishing Report 3/04/2010

[John Berry]

JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 3/04/2010

During the past week, we have had warmer temperatures and no precipitation. The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam fell two tenths of a foot to rest at one tenth of a foot below power pool of 654.00 feet. This is forty one and one tenth feet below the top of flood pool. Up stream, Table Rock Lake fell nine tenths of a foot to rest at one tenth of a foot below power pool or sixteen and one tenth feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell three tenths of a foot to rest at two tenths of a foot below power pool or nine and eight tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the White, we have had fairly steady levels of moderate generation and a few periods of no generation. Norfork Lake fell one tenth of a foot to rest at one tenth of a foot below power pool of 552.00 feet or twenty eight and one tenth feet below the top of flood pool. On the Norfork, we have had several windows of no generation. All of the lakes on the White River system are now below power pool. We have received lower levels of generation and wadable water. It is time to go fishing!

There were significant changes to trout fishing regulations effective January 1, 2010. The Catch and Release section on the Norfork River will be increased from it current size of 1.1 miles to a new total of approximately two miles. The new upper boundary will be the bottom of long hole and the new lower limit will be the Ackerman access. The new regulations will also allow for multiple hook points in Catch and Release sections on the White and Norfork Rivers. Up to three treble hooks will be allowed. All hook points must be barbless. Of interest to fly fishers, is that the new regulations will allow the use of droppers, multiple fly rigs and articulated multiple hook streamers.

The Catch and Release section below Bull Shoals Dam, which was closed from November 1, 2009 through January 31, 2010 for the brown trout spawn, has now reopened. Remember that there are numerous spawning beds (redds) containing freshly laid and fertilized eggs. Please avoid dragging chains through these areas. Now that we have some wadable water, avoid walking through them. The redds will appear as clean depressions in the gravel.

The hot spot has been the Catch and Release section below Bull Shoals Dam. Warmer temperatures and reduced levels of generation have pretty much brought the shad kill to a close. The trout will still key on shad patterns, however. On the lower levels the hot flies have been midges (various colors of zebra midges) and Dan’s turkey tail emergers. On higher flows the best bet has been brightly colored San Juan worms (red, hot fluorescent pink and cerise) and egg patterns (peach and orange).

The flows we have received this past week on the White River have fished well. One hot spot was Wildcat Shoals. On the higher flows the most productive flies have been Y2Ks, brightly colored San Juan worms (cerise, hot fluorescent pink and red) and egg patterns (peach and orange). On the lower flows the hot flies have been olive woolly buggers, partridge and orange soft hackles and black zebra midges with silver wire and silver bead.

Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River are running fairly clear. The water temperatures (48 degrees) are too cold for the smallmouth to be active. Smallmouth are generally not active when the water temperatures fall below 55 degrees. There were anglers that reported success fishing for trout in the mouth of Crooked Creek. The hot flies were olive woolly buggers.

The Norfork has received low wadable water every day. It was the only wadable water around and got a bit crowded at times, particularly on the weekends. Now that we are getting some wadable water on the White, we should see reduced pressure here. On the low flows, the hot flies were olive scuds, sowbugs and black zebra midges with silver wire and silver beads. Other anglers reported success with partridge and orange soft hackles and olive woolly buggers. We have been getting some midge hatches late in the afternoon. Gray midge dry flies in size twenty four have been the key to success. On the high flows, brightly colored San Juan worms (red, cerise and hot fluorescent pink) and egg patterns (peach and orange) have been the go to flies. Long leader tippet combinations and heavy weight have been the secret to success. Work the banks and submerged weed beds.

Anglers fishing the Norfork last Tuesday reported extremely muddy conditions below Otter Creek. At this time, it appears that construction in the area caused a significant amount of soil to be dumped into Otter Creek. On Wednesday the river was clear.

Dry Run Creek has fished well. The hot fly has been sow bugs in size fourteen. Worm brown San Juan worms and egg patterns have also done well. The recent stream improvements made by the Friends of the Norfork Fish Hatchery have had a positive effect on fishing on Dry Run Creek. If you haven’t seen the creek lately, you should go by and check it out.

The Spring River has been fishing well. The water level is still a bit high and off color. This makes for challenging wading. Be sure and wear cleated boots and carry a wading staff. There is a lot of bedrock that can get very slick. The hot flies have been Y2Ks, olive woolly buggers, cerise San Juan worms and cotton candy.

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.

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.