John Berry Fishing Report 4/28/2011

[John Berry]

JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 4/28/2011

During the past week, we have had six days of unrelenting storms that resulted in widespread flooding, generally cooler temperatures and extremely heavy winds (to include lake wind advisories almost every day). The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam rose twenty three and seven tenths of a foot to rest at twenty three and seven tenths of a foot above power pool of 654.00 feet. This is seventeen and three tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Upstream, Table Rock Lake rose twenty one and one tenth feet to rest at twenty and one tenth feet above power pool or four and one tenth feet above the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake rose twelve and five tenths feet to rest at nine feet above power pool or six tenths of a foot below the top of flood pool. On the White, we had light generation with some wadable water. Norfork Lake rose twenty four and seven tenths feet to rest at twenty five and five tenths feet above power pool of 552.00 feet or two and five tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the Norfork, the generators are down for repair and the flood gates are open to lower the lake level. The outflow is the equivalent of two full generators.

All of the lakes on the White River System have risen significantly and are all near or above the top of flood pool. Beaver and Table Rock are particularly high, are generating at high levels and have flood gates open to draw their levels down quickly. The water is being held by Bull Shoals Dam. With severe flooding downstream there will be low levels of generation below Bull Shoals Dam until the flooding clears. We will have much higher levels of generation on the White at that time.

After the heavy rain we received this past week, the river was severely stained. The best place to fish was the Catch and Release section below Bull Shoals Dam. The water is always clear there, when the rest of the river is unfishable. The hot flies have been various midge patterns. The hottest flies have been black or silver zebra midges and Dan’s turkey tail emerger

As the water clears, the fishing should be good. One of the best flies to use after heavy rain is the San Juan worm. During heavy rain many worms are flushed into the river and the trout are accustomed to feeding on them. The best colors are worm brown, red, hot fluorescent pink and cerise.

Our big hatch of the year, the Rhyacophilia caddis is still going on. This is a fairly large caddis fly that is bright green. Before the hatch, try bright green caddis larva patterns like the fluttering caddis (in size 16 or 14). When the caddis rises to the surface of the water to emerge, switch to a partridge and green or green butt soft hackle (in size sixteen or fourteen). When you see trout taking adults on the surface, you should switch to green elk hair caddis (also in size sixteen or fourteen). This is our absolute best and most prolific hatch of the year. It can can be sparse at times.

Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River are very high and heavily stained. The recent rains have resulted in heavy flooding on both streams and the White River below Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River is very muddy and unfishable. The water temperature is right on and the small mouths are getting active. Carefully check the water level before entering Crooked Creek or the Buffalo River. There are no dams on these streams. They both have large drainages and are prone to flooding during and following any rain event. The water can rise very quickly.

The Norfork has had a fairly constant but heavy flow. With the flood gates open there have been reports of warm water species like stripers that have escaped into the river. They have been spotted in the area of the outflow from Dry Run Creek. The lower river is backed up from the confluence with the White River due to the flooding there. Fishing should be limited to the upper river. The best technique under these conditions is to drift brightly colored San Juan worms (hot fluorescent pink and cerise) and egg patterns (yellow and orange) below an indicator.

Dry Run Creek has been the bright spot. The water is clear and at a fishable level. This is the place to go now. The hot flies have been sowbugs and worm brown San Juan worms. Remember to use heavy tippet (at least 4X) and carry a big net. Do not forget the camera. This is where memories are created.

The water level on the Spring River is very high and heavily stained. If you do fish there, be sure and wear cleated boots and carry a wading staff. There is a lot of bedrock that can get very slick. The hot spot has been the Lassiter Access. The hot flies have been olive woolly buggers with a bit of flash, cerise and hot pink San Juan worms and Y2Ks.

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.