John Berry Fishing Report 5/05/2011

[John Berry]

JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 5/05/2011

During the past week, we have had more rain with cool temperatures and mild winds. The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam rose twelve feet to rest at thirty five and seven tenths of a foot above power pool of 654.00 feet. This is five and three tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Upstream, Table Rock Lake fell three and five tenths feet to rest at sixteen and three tenths feet above power pool or three tenths of a foot above the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell one tenth of a foot to rest at eight and nine tenths feet above power pool or seven tenths of a foot below the top of flood pool. On the White, we had light generation with no wadable water. Norfork Lake rose one and six tenths feet to rest at twenty seven and one tenth feet above power pool of 552.00 feet or nine tenths of a foot 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 level of outflow has been significantly increased in the past week to lower the lake level below the top of flood pool.

All of the lakes on the White River System have risen significantly and are all near or above the top of flood pool. Beaver, Table Rock and Norfork 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 but has now cleared on the upper river (above Crooked Creek). 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, silver or purple zebra midges with silver beads and silver wire, brightly colored San Juan worms and egg patterns..

Another hot spot has been Rim Shoals. The flows have been perfect for fishing here and the water is clear. Several anglers have reported success with Y2Ks and brightly colored San Juan worms. Remember that Rim Shoals Trout Dock will ferry you to wadable water and pick you up for a modest fee.

As the water clears further downstream, 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 on the wane. 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 be sparse at times.

Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River are high and stained. The recent rains have resulted in heavy flooding on both streams and the White River below Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River is stained. 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 constant but extremely heavy flow. Be extremely careful when navigating the river. 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 fished well. The water is low and clear. Now is a great time to take your youngster there. The weather is great, the water is perfect and the trout are willing. The hot fly has been sowbugs and various colored San Juan worms (worm brown, red, hot fluorescent pink and cerise). While you are there take a few minutes to tour the adjacent National Fish Hatchery. It is currently suffering through a budgetary crisis. Let your congressman know how important it is to us and our economy.

The water level on the Spring River is still high and 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.