Jojn Berry Fishing Report 3/11/1020

[John Berry]

JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 3/11/2010

During the past week, we have had warmer temperatures, two rain events and heavy winds (to include lake wind advisories. The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam remained steady 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 three tenths of a foot to rest at four tenths of a foot below power pool or sixteen and four tenths of a foot below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake rose one tenth of a foot to rest at one tenth of a foot below power pool or nine and seven 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 rose one tenth of a foot to rest at power pool of 552.00 feet or twenty eight 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 at or below power pool. We are receiving lower levels of generation and wadable water.

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 section from White Hole to the Narrows. The lower flows have been perfect for drift fishing this area. The hot flies have been cerise and hot fluorescent San Juan worms. Y2Ks have also accounted for good fish.

The dry fishing season has begun. Several anglers have reported seeing caddis hatch on the White River. The rhyacophylia caddis is our best hatch of the year. They are plentiful and begin as a righteous size fourteen. Later in the hatch they will decrease to sixteen and then eighteen. The most effective flies are a green elk hair caddis to imitate the adult, a fluttering caddis for the pupa and a green butt for the emerging insect. Fish the fluttering caddis before the hatch and the green butt when you see fish keying in on the top but you see no insects. When you observe fish keying in on hatching insects, switch to the elk hair caddis.

Another hot spot has been Rim Shoals. We have had precious little wadable water but it fished well and produced some really fine trout. On the rare lower flows, the hot flies were black zebra midges with silver wire and silver bead. Red San Juan worms also accounted for some good fish. On the higher flows, the hot flies were cerise San Juan worms and Y2Ks.

Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River are a bit high and off color. 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. We have been getting some nice midge hatches every afternoon and anglers have reported success with small hare’s ear soft hackles (size sixteen) and Dan’s turkey tail emerger. 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. Be on the lookout for caddis.

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 new boardwalk is scheduled to open on Saturday, March 13. This is the major project of the Friends of the National Fish Hatchery and was done in conjunction with bank stabilization and habitat improvements. Stop by and see what the excitement is all about. I think you will be impressed.

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.