John Berry Fishing Report 5/26/2011

[John Berry]

JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 5/26/2011

During the past week, we have had heavy rain, warm temperatures and heavy winds (to include lake wind advisories, flash flood warnings and severe thunder storm warnings). The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam rose three and seven tenths of a foot to rest at forty two feet above power pool of 654.00 feet. This is one foot above the top of flood pool. Upstream, Table Rock Lake rose six and one tenth feet to rest at nineteen feet above power pool or three feet above the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake remains at eight and eight tenths feet above power pool or eight tenths of a foot below the top of flood pool. On the White, we had heavy generation with additional flows through the flood gates to compensate for two generators being offline for repairs and large inflows from Beaver and Table Rock. There has been no wadable water. The level of outflow is at flood stage and is extremely dangerous to navigate. Norfork Lake rose one and seven tenths of a foot to rest at twenty seven and three tenths of a foot above power pool of 552.00 feet or seven 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 is the equivalent of maximum generation or two full generators and there has been no wadable water.

All of the lakes on the White River System have risen are all are over or near the top of flood pool. The Corps of Engineers have opened the flood gates on all of the dams to prevent their failure. All of the ramps on the White are flooded. The water levels are too high for angling of any kind. It is not considered safe until the river level is lowered to its normal high water level of approximately 26,000 cubic feet per second or the equivalent of eight full generators.

With the flood gates open on the White, there are numerous warm water species that are coming through the flood gates.

Before the huge releases from Bull Shoals Dam, the best place to fish was the Catch and Release section below Bull Shoals Dam. The key to fishing the high flows has been to fish long leader/tippet combinations (twelve to fourteen feet), very heavy weight (two AAA split shot) and a large strike indicator set at the top of the leader. The go to flies have been brightly colored San Juan worms (red, hot fluorescent pink and cerise) and egg patterns in pink or orange.

Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River are high and 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 heavy flow. The ramp at Quarry Park was severely damaged when the flood gates were opened significantly to relieve the dam and is not usable. With the ramp at the confluence flooded some anglers have been launching their boats from the road near Roses Trout Dock. This should be done with great care.

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 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. Use a sow bug dropper on the upper river and a copper John on the lower river to increase your hookups.

Dry Run Creek has fished well. The hot flies have been sowbugs and various colored San Juan worms (worm brown, red, hot fluorescent pink and cerise). There is precious little room to cast and the most effective technique has been to high stick a nymph under an indicator. Use heavy tippet (at least 4X). Most fish are lost at the net. Bring a big net (a boat net is perfect). Take your time and do not try to rush the fish. Carefully revive and quickly release all trout.

The water level on the Spring River is 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 Dam Three 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.