John Berry Fishing Report 3/25/2010

[John Berry]

JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 3/25/2010

During the past week, we have had two significant rain events and very heavy winds (to include lake wind advisories) which have caused all of the lakes in the White river system to rise. The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam rose two and four tenths of a foot to rest at two feet above power pool of 654.00 feet. This is thirty nine feet below the top of flood pool. Up stream, Table Rock Lake rose one and six tenths of a foot to rest at two feet above power pool or fourteen feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake rose one and six tenths of a foot to rest at one and three tenths of a foot above power pool or eight and three tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the White, we have had a long period of no generation followed by a period of heavy generation. Norfork Lake rose one and five tenths of a foot to rest at one and four tenths of a foot below power pool of 552.00 feet or twenty six and six tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the Norfork, we have had a long period of no generation followed by a period of moderate generation. All of the lakes on the White River system are now above power pool. The Corps of Engineers is aggressively drawing down the lakes and we should return to wadable conditions in a week or two providing we receive no further rain.

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.

On the higher flows we received later in the week, the key to success was to fish brightly colored San Juan worms (cerise, hot fluorescent pink and red) and egg patterns (peach and orange). On water this high, you must use long leader/tippet combinations (fourteen feet) and a lot of lead. You must tick the bottom. Use a large strike indicator and 4X tippet. The most productive area for this technique has been the Catch and Release Section below Bull Shoals Dam.

The hot spot has been Roundhouse Shoals in Cotter. There was some great top water action on prolific caddis hatches, on the lower flows. 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. On the low water, it was very productive to fish caddis pupa and green butt soft hackles. There were some pretty nice caddis hatches in the afternoon. On the high flows you can obtain the services of the water taxi at Rim Shoals Trout Dock. For a nominal fee they will ferry you to wadable water and pick you up when you are finished.

Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River are high and muddy.

The Norfork received low water last week. 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. Be on the lookout for caddis. 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.

Dry Run Creek has fished well. There was a lot of pressure last week from anglers visiting last weeks Sowbug Roundup. The hot fly has been sow bugs in size fourteen. Worm brown San Juan worms and egg patterns have also done well. There is precious little casting room down on the creek. The most effective technique is to high stick nymphs in deep fast water. Use at least 4X tippet, so that your youngster has a good chance of landing the bigger fish. Take a large net.

The water level on the Spring River is high and the water is stained from the recent rains. 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 olive woolly buggers, cerise San Juan worms and pheasant tail nymphs.

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.