John Berry Fishing Report 11/10/2011

[John Berry]

JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 11/10/2011

During the past week, we have had a significant rain event, cooler temperatures and very windy conditions (to include lake wind advisories). The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam rose eight tenths of a foot to rest at two feet below power pool of 654.00 feet. This is forty three feet below the top of flood pool. Upstream, Table Rock Lake one and one tenth of a foot to rest at five tenths of a foot above power pool or fifteen and five tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake rose one and four tenths feet to rest at two and four tenths feet below power pool or twelve feet below the top of flood pool. On the White, we have had low levels of generation with significant wadable water most days. Norfork Lake fell nine tenths of a foot to rest at three and two tenths of a foot below power pool of 552.00 feet or thirty one and two tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the Norfork, we have had light generation with less wadable water. This week they are to perform maintenance on Norfork dam and there should be significant periods of wadable water daily.

The Catch and Release section below Bull Shoals Dam will close from November 1, 2011 to January 31, 2012 to accommodate the brown trout spawn. The State Park from the bottom of the Catch and Release section down to the wing wall will be seasonal Catch and Release for the same period.

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 substantial wadable water on the White River. The best place to fish was the section from White Hole down to Cotter. The hot flies were pink San Juan worms with copper Johns and green zebra midges in size fourteen or sixteen as droppers. Y2Ks and beadhead hare’s ears were also responsible for some nice fish. Rim Shoals has also been hot. The hot flies have been pink worms and red zebra midges (size twenty).

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 low and stained. 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.

The Norfork has fished well. 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 browns are stacked in the creek like a cord of wood. Take care when photographing the large trout caught here. Keep them in the net until you are ready to take the picture. Handle them carefully and return them to the water as soon as possible. Carefully revive them before release.

The water level on the Spring River is a bit higher 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.

[Ham]

My last three trips to the White River have been really frustrating. My last trip in the boat was screwed by lots of debris in the water from a sudden burst of pretty high flows.

I made a wade trip to Rim om Monday. It was cloudy and the bite was wildly inconsistent. I caught fish on a whole lot of flys,, but not a whole lot of fish on any particular fly. I thought that maybe the heavy clouds screwed me up.

Today was clear and cool and windy as hell. I barely caught any fish at all. I finally learned my lesson and quit trying to fish a multi-fly rig. It took multiple horrible tables for me to clue in though. Wing made streamersbthe easiest fly to fish, but I couldn't get bit on it. Egg patterns were all I could get bit on today. I think the bite was off and the heavy wind was just an obnoxious icing on the cake. Lots of fishermen. Not a whole lot of fish being caught.

Maybe White Hole should be my next trip. IF I get a shot at em with 1-2 units and wind of 10 mph or so, I'm gonna knock em dead.

[John Berry]

The wind has really been tough this week. I have done better at Wildcat Shoals on falling water than anywhere else this week.