John Berry Fishing Report 12/28/2012

[John Berry]

JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 12/28/2012 During the past week, we have had a dusting of snow (it is already gone), cold temperatures and heavy winds (to include lake wind advisories). The lake level at Bull Shoals fell two tenths of a foot to rest at seven and nine tenths feet below power pool of 654.00 feet. This is forty eight and nine tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Upstream, Table Rock Lake fell six tenths of a foot to rest at nine and nine tenths feet below power pool and twenty five and nine tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell four tenths of a foot to rest at eleven and four tenths feet below power pool or twenty one feet below the top of flood pool. On the White, we have had light generation with little wadable water. Norfork Lake rose two tenths of a foot to rest at twelve and two tenths feet below power pool of 553.75 feet or thirty eight and five tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the Norfork, we have had wadable water every day. All of the lakes in the White River system are well below flood pool and we should receive more wadable water. The Catch and Release section below Bull Shoals Dam will close from November 1, 2012 to January 31, 2013 to accommodate the brown trout spawn. The State Park will be seasonal Catch and Release for the same period. All brown trout must be immediately released. In addition, night fishing is prohibited in this area during this period. On the White, we have had much less wadable water. The most productive water has been from the State Park down to Cain Island with the State Park being the hot spot. The best time to fish is early morning or late in the afternoon. Mid day can get slow. The hot flies were zebra midges (black with silver wire and silver bead or red with silver wire and silver bead), pheasant tails, copper Johns, pink and cerise San Juan worms, gold ribbed hares ears and olive scuds. Egg patterns have accounted for many trout. Double fly nymph rigs have been very effective. Try a small bead headed nymph (zebra midge, copper John or pheasant tail) suspended eighteen inches below a brightly colored San Juan worm (hot fluorescent pink or cerise). The trout have also been active on soft hackles like my green butt or the partridge and orange. With the colder weather we begin to think about a shad kill. At this time ,there are low lake levels and light generation patterns on the White and Norfork Rivers. This is not considered to be conducive for a substantial shad kill. Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River are low and barely navigable. You will have to drag your boat through several spots. With our colder weather, the water temperature has dropped and the smallmouth are much less 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. There has been some wadable water on the Norfork every day and the action has slowed somewhat. It has received a lot of fishing pressure. Fish early or during the week to avoid the crowds. The most productive flies have been small midge patterns like zebra midges (black or red with silver wire and silver bead) and Dans turkey tail emerger or soft hackles like my green butt or the partridge and orange. Some local dry fly enthusiasts have had great success by keying in on small mayfly hatches that are best imitated with a size 24 parachute Adams. Olive woolly buggers have also accounted for a lot of trout. The fishing is much better in the morning and tapers off in the afternoon. 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). Small orange or peach eggs have been very effective. Large numbers of brown trout have moved up into the creek to spawn. Carefully handle and release all trout. With the colder temperatures, Dry Run Creek is much less crowded and now is a great time to fish there. If you take your youngster, dress them well and take a thermos of cocoa. Take frequent breaks and keep them warm. The water level on the Spring River is low and clear. This is a great place to wade fish when they are running water on the White and Norfork Rivers. Canoe season is over and the few boaters still around should not prove to be a problem. The hot spot is the Dam Three Access. Be sure to wear cleated boots and carry a wading staff. There is a lot of bedrock that can get very slick. 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 and Dry Run Creek 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. Dont forget to sign up for my fly tying class at Arkansas State University Mountain Home beginning January 12, 2013. 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 thirty years.