John Berry Fishing Report 10/11/2007

[John Berry]

JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 10/11/2007

There has been a little rain in the twin lakes area and overall the lake levels have fallen. The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam has fallen one and one tenth of a foot to rest at three and four tenths of a foot below power pool at 654.00 feet. Up stream, Table Rock Lake has risen three tenths of a foot to two and nine tenths feet below power pool. Beaver Lake has remained fallen four tenths of a foot to rest at five and one tenth of a foot below pool. The pattern on the White River has been for low levels of generation in the morning and then to spike it with a bit more water in the afternoon and early evening, when there is peak demand for electricity. This has severely limited wading on the White. Norfork Lake has fallen four tenths of a foot to rest at five and two tenths feet below power pool of 552.00 feet. The pattern has been for no generation in the morning and limited generation in the afternoon. There have been substantial periods of no generation with excellent wading conditions. The forecast is for cooler weather and sunny skies. With the existing conditions, we should have low water on both rivers.

On the Norfork, the dissolved oxygen levels have dropped significantly. This is most critical during periods of no generation. The dissolved oxygen level was around six tenths parts per million. There was one instance where it dropped below four tenths of a part per million. On the White River the dissolved oxygen has declined slightly. It has averaged three parts per million most of the time but did drop to two and six tenths parts per million on one occasion. The oxygen level is at the critical stage on the Norfork. Great care should be taken to prevent stressing the trout particularly near the dam where the dissolved oxygen will be the lowest. Fish should be quickly landed and carefully revived before release.

The fishing on the White while good was not excellent like the previous week. The lack of wading limited the number of fly fishers on the river. Those anglers fishing from a boat did well. The Bull Shoals Dam area fished well in the morning on low water but not as well in the high water in the afternoon. The hot nymphs were black zebra midges with silver wire and silver beads and red San Juan worms. Terrestrials such as grass hoppers and Chernobyl ants have been very productive. Be sure and use 4X tippet and pretty stiff rods to fish these flies. The takes can be vicious. Wildcat Shoals has also fished well. Zebra midges and San Juan worms have been the hot flies there.

Rim Shoals has fished particularly well. On the lower flows small zebra midges black with silver wire and silver bead and brown with copper wire and copper bead in size eighteen have done well. Olive scuds and gray sow bugs in size sixteen and eighteen have also been productive. Dry flies have also done well. Dave’s hoppers in size ten and yellow stimulators in size ten have accounted for some fine fish. On the higher flows, San Juan worms in hot pink, fire orange and blood red all in size eight have produced fish.

The Norfork was very crowded because it had the only wadable water during conclave. Despite the pressure, the fishing has been surprisingly good. I recommend avoiding the area directly below Norfork Dam because of the low dissolved oxygen. The handicap access has been fishing well. It is best to wade up stream. That way, if they begin generating you can walk out with the rising water not against it. Hot flies have been the Norfork bead head in black, olive, and amber size twenty. Small bead head olive woolly buggers have also been effective.

Dry Run Creek has been fishing extremely well. During conclave a number of trophy trout were landed at the youth conclave. The most effective technique is to work a very short line and dead drift sowbugs. Make sure that you use heavy tippet so that the kids have a chance to land the trout they hook. A shorter rod is a plus here as there is quite a bit of tree cover and little room to cast. Also try red San Juan Worms and egg patterns in various colors. Do not forget to carry the biggest net you can lay your hands on and a camera.

Practice water safety and always check conditions before you leave home.

John Berry is a fly fishing guide in Cotter, Arkansas. He has fished the local streams for over twenty five years.