JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 8/09/2007

[John Berry]

JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 8/09/2007

Water levels continue their drop and every impoundment in the White River system is currently at or below power pool. There has been no rain in quite a while and the daily high temperatures have been soaring into the high nineties. The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam has dropped seven tenths of a foot to rest at one tenth of a foot above pool at 654.00 feet. Up stream Table Rock Lake has dropped six tenths of a foot and is currently one tenth of a foot below power pool. Beaver Lake has dropped nine tenths of a foot and is now at one and eight tenths of a foot below pool. The pattern on the White River is to run low levels of water in the morning (one to two generators) and then spike it with up to seven generators in the afternoon when there is peak demand for electricity. There was one major instance of no generation in the last week. Norfork Lake has dropped seven tenths of a foot and is now four tenths of a foot below power pool of 552.00 feet. The pattern is to turn the generators off in the morning and to run a full two generators in the afternoon and early evening. This has created some excellent wading opportunities on the Norfork early in the day. The weather is forecast to stay extremely hot. I predict that we will continue to see heavy generation on both rivers in the afternoon as temperatures rise and power usage spikes.

With daily high temperatures rising this high it is important for there to be regular generation to keep the water temperatures down. This is particularly important on the White River below the confluence with the Buffalo River.

On the Norfork, the dissolved oxygen levels are dropping. This is more critical during periods of no generation. There was one instance when the dissolved oxygen level dropped below three parts per million. The oxygen level will be the lowest just below the dam. As the water tumbles over rocks and riffles as it goes down stream, it will become more oxygenated. Trout will tend to locate in riffles because of the higher oxygen levels. They will be more vulnerable so you should land them as quickly as possible and take extra care when reviving them prior to their release.

The fishing on the White River has been excellent. The upper river from Bull Shoals Dam to Cane Island has been a hot spot. Small midge patterns, caddis emergers, San Juan worms and soft hackles have been the ticket on low water. When the water comes up in the afternoon be sure and fish the rise.

Wildcat Shoals has been another hot spot. This area fishes well with the low levels of generation we have been getting early in the day. It is a wide, shallow, easily waded shoal that holds a lot of good fish. Try the usual midge patterns and soft hackles. Do not be afraid to try a grasshopper particularly when the action slows in the afternoon. This is not Catch and Release water so you can rig a small nymph as a dropper here.

Cotter to Rim Shoals has fished especially well on low water. The hot fly here has been the zebra midge in black with a silver wire and bead and brown with copper wire and bead. The best size is eighteen. Small sowbugs have also been productive. This is another area that is a great place to fish grasshoppers. The high water has not been reaching here till quite late in the day.

The Norfork has been a bit spotty. The lower river has been fishing poorly. There has been a lot of pressure on it. With it’s consistently low water in the morning, wade fishers have had little choice but to go there. A lot of anglers are still wading up to the McClellan’s area. I consider this to be very dangerous. The water has been coming up very fast and very high. You should also be careful when wading down stream from the handicap access. The water rises fast there also. The safest place to wade is to go upstream from the Handicap access. The Norfork is still producing some large trout. The hot fly has been the Norfork bead head and the black zebra midge.

Dry Run Creek has been fishing well. This is a great place to escape the heat. When you are down in the creek, it feels like air conditioning. It is the best place to take a youngster on a hot summer day. Be sure and take some sowbugs, a big net, and a camera

Remember to practice water safety and always check conditions before you leave home.