John Berry Fishing Report 2/14/2008

[John Berry]

JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 2/14/2008

We have had a recent rain and ice event and the lake levels on the White River system have risen a bit. The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam rose on tenth of a foot to rest at one and nine tenths feet below power pool at 654.00 feet. Up stream, Table Rock Lake rose two tenths of a foot to settle at three and four tenths of a foot below power pool. Beaver Lake rose three tenths of a foot to settle at six and two tenths of a foot below pool. There generation pattern on the White has been a bit of a mixed bag. On some days, there have been one or two spikes of heavy generation followed by periods of low generation. On other days, there have been long periods of low level generation. This has created very limited wading opportunities and some excellent boating opportunities. The weather has been cold and windy. Norfork Lake has risen four tenths of a foot to rest three and three tenths feet below power pool of 552.00 feet. The pattern on the Norfolk has been for very little generation. We had a few days with no generation at all and some days with one or two brief spikes of heavy generation. This has created some excellent wading conditions every day. The forecast is for the weather to remain cold with the possibility of precipitation. With the existing conditions, we should have some wadable water on both rivers.

The attention has still been concentrated in the upper river specifically in the recently opened Catch and Release section below Bull Shoals Dam. The generation pattern has severely limited wading and most of the action has been from a boat. At low levels of generation, the hot flies have been midge patterns. Zebra midges in black with silver wire and silver beads and brown with copper wire and copper beads have been particularly effective. On higher levels of generation San Juan worms in bright colors and peach eggs have been the ticket.

I still want to caution all wading anglers to please avoid walking through the Redds (spawning beds recently filled with fertilized eggs by brown trout). Now is a particularly vulnerable time for the eggs and they need to be left alone so that they can hatch. The redds can easily be identified as clean light colored depressions in the gravel bottom.

Every one is still on the look out for shad coming through the turbines at Bull Shoals and Norfork Dams. The recent rain and cold front should help create the conditions necessary for this natural phenomenon. The shad kill usually occurs during extremely cold weather and high generation. As yet, there have been no shad observed. It should be noted that, the shad kill does not necessarily happen every year.

Anglers wishing to avoid the crowds at Bull Shoals Dam headed down stream to find a bit of solitude. One of the better spots was Wildcat Shoals. This area is wide and fairly shallow. It is therefore fairly easily waded at the lower levels of generation that we had at times. Hot flies here were partridge and orange soft hackles, green butts, and olive woolly buggers. On higher water, brightly colored San Juan worms and egg patterns did the trick.

Rim Shoals was fishing very well. On lower levels of generation the area around White Shoals was productive. Gary Flipin at Rim Shoals Trout Dock runs a river shuttle from his dock to access this remote area for a nominal fee. On high water, the section below the first island has fished particularly well. The hot fly has been the San Juan worm in cerise.

The Norfork has fished a bit better. There have been few anglers here because of the inclement weather. Some really nice fish were caught on brown zebra midges with copper wire and copper bead. The bigger fish were caught on falling water. The river in general does not fish as well when there has been no generation for over twenty four hours. Anglers have also done well with Dan’s turkey tail emerger when the fish were keying in on the midge emergers in the film.

There were a few kids at Dry Run Creek this past week and predictably they did well. While sowbugs are the dominant food source, try fishing a Y2K or big San Juan worm. They generate a lot of strikes and the larger hook helps to land some of these big fish. The majority of big fish are lost at the net. Take your time and do not rush the process. Of course a big net helps.

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 twenty five years.