John Berry Fishing Report 4/25/2013

[John Berry]

JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 4/25/2013

During the past week, we have had a significant rain event (a bit over an inch in Cotter), warmer then cooler temperatures and heavy winds (to include lake wind advisories). The lake level at Bull Shoals rose four and one tenth feet to rest at four feet above power pool of 654.00 feet. This is thirty seven feet below the top of flood pool. Upstream, Table Rock Lake rose three tenths of a foot to rest at three tenths of a foot above power pool and fifteen and seven tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake rose one and five tenths feet to rest at nine tenths of a foot below power pool or ten and five tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the White, we have had significantly more generation and no wadable water. Norfork Lake rose one and seven tenths feet to rest at one and five tenths feet above power pool of 553.75 feet or twenty four and seven tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the Norfork, we have had wadable water most days. The lakes in the White River system are at or above the top of power pool and we are getting much more generation than we have been receiving. I expect this trend to continue for the next few weeks.

Our most prolific hatch of the year, the Rhyacophilia caddis, is still active, though on the wane a bit. This is a size fourteen bright green aquatic insect. Before the hatch, concentrate on fishing caddis pupae patterns in green (size fourteen). My favorite is the fluttering caddis. When you observe fish feeding near the surface but see no insects, the trout are keying in on the emergers. The best fly for this phase is my green butt (size fifteen). Then, when you observe insects on the surface of the water and trout keying in on them, you switch over to the adult insect fly. My hands down choice is the elk hair caddis in green (size fourteen).

On the White, we have had no wadable water. The hot spot has been the Catch and Release section below Bull Shoals Dam. The best time to fish is early morning or late in the afternoon. Midday can be slow. The hot flies were prince nymphs, 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 hare’s ears and sowbugs. 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).

Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River are navigable. With spring here, the smallmouth are beginning to get active. Look for water temperatures over 55 degrees. 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 almost every day. The action has picked up somewhat. With no wadable water on the White, it has been very crowded, particularly on the weekends. You should fish early or late to avoid the crowds. The most productive flies have been small (size 20 or smaller) midge patterns like zebra midges (black or red with silver wire and silver bead) and Dan’s turkey tail emerger or soft hackles like my green butt or the partridge and orange. There has also been a sparse hatch of very small mayflies; reliable hatches of midges (try a size 22 parachute Adams for both) and some smaller caddis (size 16). The crane flies have also been active (try a size fourteen light Cahill or a partridge and yellow soft hackle). Olive woolly buggers have also accounted for a lot of trout. The fishing is much better in the morning and late afternoon and tapers off midday.

Dry Run Creek has fished well. Spring break is mostly over and the stream is not too crowded. Now is a good time to fish there. 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. Use at least 4X tippet to increase your chances of landing these big fish. Carefully handle and release all trout. Take the biggest net that you can lay your hands on. Some of these fish are huge. While you are there, take a tour of the adjacent Norfork National Fish Hatchery. It is fascinating. Be sure and remove your waders before entering to prevent the spread of aquatic diseases.

The water level on the Spring River is fishable. This is a great place to wade fish when they are running water on the White and Norfork Rivers. Canoe season has not begun 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. John can be reached at (870) 435-2169 or http://www.berrybrothersguides.com.

[Phil Lilley]

John, This caddis hatch- is it THE hatch of the spring? I fished the caddis hatch last year- thought it was in May. Lots of white caddis flying around. Is that still to come?