John Berry Fishing Report 10/22/2011

[John Berry]

JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 10/22/2011

During the past week, we have a rain event, much cooler temperatures, mostly sunny skies and very windy conditions (to include lake wind advisories). The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam fell seven tenths of a foot to rest at one and seven tenths feet below power pool of 654.00 feet. This is forty two and seven tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Upstream, Table Rock Lake remained steady at power pool or sixteen feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell eight tenths of a foot to rest at two and three tenths feet below power pool or eleven and nine tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the White, we have had much lower levels of generation around the clock. There has been some wadable water. Norfork Lake fell seven tenths of a foot to rest at one foot below power pool of 552.00 feet or twenty nine feet below the top of flood pool. On the Norfork, we have had light generation and reliable periods of wadable water every day. All of the lakes on the White River system are at or below power pool. We can expect lower flows and more wadable water.

The dissolved oxygen level has dropped below the state minimum standard of six parts per million on the White and Norfork Rivers. At Bull Shoals and Norfork Dams, the vacuum breakers have been blocked open to allow more oxygen to mix with the water. Trout stocking has been eliminated on the upper Norfork River (above the Ackerman Access). Those fish have been diverted to the lower river. Stocking has also been eliminated on the upper White River (above White Hole) with those fish diverted to the lower White River. If you are fishing on the upper river of either the White or Norfork River, be very careful when handling trout. Land them quickly and revive them fully before releasing them.

The big story has been several windows of wadable water on the White River. The best place to fish was Rim Shoals. The hot flies were pink San Juan worms with copper Johns and red zebra midges in size fourteen or sixteen as droppers. Y2Ks were also responsible for some nice fish. Wildcat Shoals is also hot. Here again the hot flies have been pink worms and green or red copper Johns.

A technique that has been effective has been to bang the bank with large articulated streamers. The hot flies have been Zoo Cougars, Sex Dungeons and Butt Monkeys. The trick to presenting these flies is to use a long fast sinking sink tip (250 grain or heavier). Don’t use a leader. Attach the fly to the line with a three foot 2X fluorocarbon tippet to prevent the fly from riding up. You will need a stiff eight rod to cast this rig. This is hard work but can be very rewarding.

Grasshopper season is still with us. They provide us with some of the best and most reliable dry fly fishing of the year. These are large tempting morsels that can tempt big fish. You need a nine foot 2X leader and a stiff rod (a six weight would be perfect). The trick is to bang the bank and imitate the action of a grasshopper that has fallen into the water and is struggling. Many takes occur as soon as the fly hits the water. The most effective patterns are Dave’s hoppers or big western foam hoppers (both in tan). To increase your catch, use a small nymph as a dropper. Effective nymphs would be pheasant tails or copper Johns. The most effective section of the river for this technique has been the section from Rim Shoals to Buffalo Shoals.

Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River are very low and gin clear. Navigation on Crooked Creek is difficult with the low water. Several anglers have reported success with Clouser minnows and grass hoppers. 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.

On the Norfork River, we have had some significant periods of wadable water and the fishing has been spectacular. On lower water the hot flies have been red copper Johns, scuds, red zebra midges (size 20 and smaller), and Dan’s turkey tail emerger. Soft hackles like the partridge and orange or the green butt have accounted for a lot of fish. On higher flows the best technique has been to drift brightly colored San Juan worms (red, hot fluorescent pink and cerise) and egg patterns (pink and orange).

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). The big browns have started moving into the creek and many nice browns are being caught. When photographing the trout, keep them in the water until you are ready to take the picture. Handle them carefully with wet hands and fully revive them before release.

The water level on the Spring River is low and lightly stained. This is a great place to wade fish. Canoe season is finally over and we should have much less traffic on stream. 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 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.