Dry Run Creek - 18Aug17

[Johnsfolly]

Norfork Tailwater and the White River are great trout fisheries in Northern Arkansas. Both have great numbers of big rainbow and brown trout. Norfork also have brook and two species of cutthroat trout. The Dry Run Creek empties into the Norfork tailwater just below the national hatchery and receives a lot of its water from the hatchery outfalls. It is a tremendous trout fishing stream set up for children under the 16 years old. It is catch and release with only single barbless hooks. On Friday I was there with Ham and my daughter Livie. Livie has only caught rainbow trout while fishing the trout parks and urban trout lakes in Missouri and she has never fly fished before. She was looking forward to trying to catch a couple of new trout and possibly one of the giants that swim in this stream. We started fishing at a plunge pool at the lower end of the stream. Fishing a black and red Zig jig she was getting the attention of the multitude of brook trout in this hole. Livie mostly fishes with a float and was having trouble seeing / feeling the bites of the trout on her jig. The fish were all very cooperative and she landed her first brook trout and several more on the zig jig.

 In fact after we switched baits and fished them with a yellow float the trout kept busting the float itself. She also caught one each on a San Juan worm and orange/yellow egg with the fly rod. Never did get the brown trout hooked up from that hole. We headed to the upper part of the stream next. The next hole contained several giant rainbow and brown trout as well as loads of trout and many of them were actively feeding. She fished several baits and flies. We finally got a number of strikes on a John Deere microjig under a small white float. Livie landed a few rainbows.

Never was able to get the hook set on a couple of the bigger fish that struck her baits. She finally caught a small brown trout on an elk hair caddis with the fly rod. This guy slipped out of the net before we could get a better picture.

Every stretch of water held trout, often lots of trout, and most held a couple of giants. The fish were cooperative. Though she never got one of the giants, she caught two new species of trout and several rainbows including one that was 12 to 13" in length. Now she did have to put up with the peanut gallery telling her when she had a fish on the bait or that she just missed one of the big ones. I hope that she is able to get back down to fish this creek again. I have to get her practice on the fly rod to get the feel on how to read the fish's behavior, anticipate the take, and to set the hook. I would anticipate that there may be less "One's got it ... Oh boy that was a big one..." 

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[Johnsfolly]

Some parting shots.

I want to thank Ham for his help and bringing along his fishing rods and baits to use on this trip!

[Ham]

Wait just a minute John, she caught a couple much larger than 13 inches out of that tight spot with two outflows. She sure did have a lot of looks, but I understand that it is difficult when you haven't done much tightline fishing in flowing water.

I hope she can come back down and hook one of the monsters that live there. 

[Johnsfolly]

12 minutes ago, Ham said:

Wait just a minute John, she caught a couple much larger than 13 inches out of that tight spot with two outflows.

I thought one of those from that small run was at least 15". I thought that this was the picture of her largest and it did not seem as long in the photo. Didn't want to overestimate. And Thanks for the big net. My net would have a tough time handling those 8+ lb trout that we saw swimming in some of those pools.

[BilletHead]

     Good deal John, Livie and the Hamanator,

       Thanks for the pre report via texts. Was waiting for this official one. Ham is a good fellow to take folks fishing and we have discussed that before. Maybe he will feel sorry for an old want to be flyfisher and take him if he delivers a chestnut orchard or forest,

     Billethead

[Johnsfolly]

I can't say enough about this creek. We even had a huge brown trout porpoise right in front of us just to let us know it was there. I wish that I knew about this creek when my two other kids were below the age limit.

43 minutes ago, BilletHead said:

Maybe he will feel sorry for an old want to be flyfisher and take him if he delivers a chestnut orchard or forest,

BH - Maybe if you head the camper south and eastward, you will be able to go after the snakeriver and bonnevilles in Norfork! You'll have to fish the river though since it's unlikely that you will pass for <16 years old! Besides we didn't see any cutthroats in the creek.

[BilletHead]

1 minute ago, Johnsfolly said:

I can't say enough about this creek. We even had a huge brown trout porpoise right in front of us just to let us know it was there. I wish that I knew about this creek when my two other kids were below the age limit.

BH - Maybe if you head the camper south and eastward, you will be able to go after the snakeriver and bonnevilles in Norfork! You'll have to fish the river though since it's unlikely that you will pass for <16 years old! Besides we didn't see any cutthroats in the creek.

        Wasn't thinking of doing dry run. I know the rules .  Did Arkansas a couple times with the now gone Richard. The picture at his memorial service was one I took of him and a brown he caught down there. As far as catching the cuts down there yep it would be fun but I have to tell you it isn't the same as where they live in their native waters. I would go just to click my clicker with the Hamster .

  BilletHead

[Johnsfolly]

8 minutes ago, BilletHead said:

As far as catching the cuts down there yep it would be fun but I have to tell you it isn't the same as where they live in their native waters. I would go just to click my clicker with the Hamster

I would agree about the cutts. Hitting the clicks is a great past time whenever you get a chance!

[Ham]

7 hours ago, BilletHead said:

     Good deal John, Livie and the Hamanator,

       Thanks for the pre report via texts. Was waiting for this official one. Ham is a good fellow to take folks fishing and we have discussed that before. Maybe he will feel sorry for an old want to be flyfisher and take him if he delivers a chestnut orchard or forest,

     Billethead

Man, I had totally forgotten about the Chestnut trees until earlier today. I've got to pull it together. 

Yeah, Marty we need to make it happen. FTR, I encouraged Olivia to use the fly rod. What are the odds of that?

[BilletHead]

19 minutes ago, Ham said:

Man, I had totally forgotten about the Chestnut trees until earlier today. I've got to pull it together. 

Yeah, Marty we need to make it happen. FTR, I encouraged Olivia to use the fly rod. What are the odds of that?

          There is some hope for that young lady. John may have to take the bait from her though .

BilletHead