John Berry Fishing Report 1/17/2013

[John Berry]

JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 1/17/2013 During the past week, we have had a significant rain followed by a light snow, colder temperatures and moderate winds. There was little effect on lake levels. The lake level at Bull Shoals rose three tenths of a foot to rest at seven and seven tenths feet below power pool of 654.00 feet. This is forty eight and seven tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Upstream, Table Rock Lake rose one tenth of a foot to rest at ten feet below power pool and twenty six feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell one and one tenth of a foot to rest at twelve and nine tenths feet below power pool or twenty two and five tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the White, we have had light generation with more wadable water. Norfork Lake fell two tenths of a foot to rest at thirteen and three tenths feet below power pool of 553.75 feet or thirty nine and five tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the Norfork, we have had wadable water most days. 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. Opening day, February 1, is just a few days away. The thought of fishing over spawned out brown trout that have not fed or seen a fly for three months is on the minds of many anglers. It is usually very crowded for several days. The hot flies are egg patterns. On the White, we have had more wadable water. The most productive water has been from the State Park down to White Hole with the lower 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 ruby midges, 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, light generation patterns but much colder temperatures on the White and Norfork Rivers. While the colder temperatures are conducive to a shad kill, the lower lake levels and generation patterns are not. 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 wadable water on the Norfork most days. The action has slowed somewhat and with the colder temperatures it has been a bit less crowded. 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. Dry Run Creek is much less crowded and now is a great time to fish there. Dress your youngster carefully and keep them warm. Take frequent breaks and bring a thermos of warm cocoa with you. 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. 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.