May 22, 2020 - White River - Submitted by Berry
Brothers Guides - JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 5/22/2020
During the past week, we have had several rain events (combined for a bit over two inches and it is still raining as I write this), cooler temperatures and moderate winds. This is the same thing that I wrote last week. The lake level at Bull Shoals rose three and one tenths feet to rest at thirty and one tenth feet above seasonal power pool of 662 feet. This is five and one tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Upstream, Table Rock rose seven and one tenth feet to rest at nine and two tenths feet above seasonal power pool and five and one tenth feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell one and one tenth feet to rest at seven and two tenths feet above seasonal power pool and one and four tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the White, we had moderate generation and significant wadable water. Norfork Lake rose seven and six tenths feet to rest at twenty five and two tenths feet above seasonal power pool of 556.75 feet and one foot below the top of flood pool. On the Norfork, we had moderate flows and reliable wadable water.
Seasonal power pool has been reset for the lakes in the White River system. The lakes are very near the top of flood pool. As soon as the flooding clears downstream we can expect heavy generation and no wadable water for some to come.
The White has fished well. The hot spot has been Rim Shoals. The water below Crooked Creek and the Buffalo is high and off color. The hot flies were olive woolly buggers (#8, #10), Y2Ks (#14, #12), prince nymphs (#14), zebra midges (black with silver wire and silver bead or red with silver wire and silver bead #16, #18), pheasant tails (#14), ruby midges (#18), root beer midges (#18), pink and cerise San Juan worms (#10), and sowbugs (#16). Double fly nymph rigs have been very effective (my current favorite combination is a size fourteen pheasant tail with a size eighteen ruby midge suspended below it).
The Buffalo National River and Crooked Creek are high and off color. My favorite fly is a Clouser minnow. 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.
The Norfork is fishing better. Navigate this stream with caution as things have changed a bit during the recent flooding. There has been major gravel recruitment at the bottom of Mill Pond and the dock hole. The most productive flies have been small midge patterns (#18, #20, #22) like ruby midges, root beer midges, zebra midges (black or red with silver wire and silver bead) and soft hackles (#14, #16) like the green butt. Egg patterns have also been productive. Double fly nymph rigs have been very effective. Try a small ruby midge (#18) suspended eighteen inches below a red fox squirrel and copper. The fishing is better in the morning.
Dry Run Creek is fishing very well. With the Caronavirus there is little pressure. The hot flies have been sowbugs (#14), Y2Ks (#12), various colored San Juan worms (worm brown, red, hot fluorescent pink and cerise #10) and mop flies.
The Spring River is high and off color. This is a great place to wade fish, when they are running water on the White and Norfork Rivers. Canoe season is coming soon. 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 (#10), cerise and hot pink San Juan worms (#10) and Y2Ks (#10).
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 soles that are easier to clean and are not as likely to harbor didymo.
John Berry is a fly fishing guide in Cotter, Arkansas and has fished our local streams for over thirty five years.
A DRIFT TOO FAR
BY JOHN BERRY
During the last few months of being hunkered down because of the Caronavirus my wife, Lori, and I have escaped the tedium of the lock down by going fishing as often as we can. Fresh air, sunshine and the excitement of fighting trout has been just what the doctor ordered.
Last Saturday was another chance to get out of the house. It had been raining for a few days and we worried that the water could be off color. However the predicted flows for low wadable water drew us to try. When we arrived at the access, we were pleasantly surprised to see that the water was fairly clear.
I launched the boat and checked our fly rods. We stayed with the same flies (size 14 pheasant tails with a size 18 ruby midge) as we had used the last time we fished. We did adjust the strike indicator to accommodate the lower flows.
The weather was a bit cool with light winds and cloudy skies. We began fishing and were into some nice trout almost immediately. The fishing was phenomenal. We had three doubles on the first two drifts. We fished for a couple of hours and landed around forty trout. Unlike recent trips that featured small stocker trout, on this trip the average fish was in the fourteen to sixteen inch range. An eighteen inch rainbow was the big fish.
Lori turned and noticed some storm clouds forming south east of us. She was so concerned that she pulled out her IPhone and checked her weather app. The radar feature would not come up. She decided it was time to head home. She had caught plenty of fish and wanted to avoid the coming storm. I ran the boat over to the ramp to drop her off. She gathered up her fishing gear and walked over to her car. She drove home and arrived just as it began to rain.
I was so stoked from the phenomenal fishing (we were fishing right in front of a front which is always good fishing) that I stayed for a few more drifts. It started to sprinkle. Though I had a complete rain suit, I opted to just wear my rain jacket leaving my rain pants in my boat locker. It turned out to be a bad idea. The rain increased and I decided to take one more drift. It turned out to be a drift too far.
All of a sudden lightning began popping accompanied by very loud thunder. I turned toward the ramp just as the bottom dropped out. I was immediately deluged by an extremely heavy rain. The water quickly rose in my boat as I reached the ramp. I got my boat on the trailer as fast as I could and pulled the plug in my boat to drain it. My bottom was soaked as were my feet. I headed home but took the back roads to avoid traffic because I had trouble seeing the road in the heavy rain. By the time I got home the rain quit. It took me an extra day to dry my gear out.
I should have left with Lori. John Berry
May 15, 2020 - White River - Submitted by Berry
Brothers Guides - JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 5/15/2020
During the past week, we have had several rain events (combined for a bit over two inches and it is still raining as I write this), cooler temperatures and heavy winds (to include wind advisories). The lake level at Bull Shoals rose one and six tenths of feet to rest at twenty four and eight tenths feet above seasonal power pool of 662 feet. This is eight and two tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Upstream, Table Rock rose one and nine tenths feet to rest at two and three tenths feet above seasonal power pool and twelve and two tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake rose one tenth of a foot to rest at eight and three tenths feet above seasonal power pool and three tenths of a foot below the top of flood pool. On the White, we had heavy or moderate generation and no wadable water. Norfork Lake rose one and two tenths feet to rest at fifteen feet above seasonal power pool of 556.75 feet and eight and seven tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the Norfork, we had heavy flows and some wadable water.
Seasonal power pool has been reset for the lakes in the White River system. The Corps of Engineers has opened the spillway gates on Beaver Dam in an effort to lower the water level on this lake quicker.
The White has fished well. The hot spot has been Rim Shoals. The water below Crooked Creek and the Buffalo is high and off color. The hot flies were olive woolly buggers (#8, #10), Y2Ks (#14, #12), prince nymphs (#14), zebra midges (black with silver wire and silver bead or red with silver wire and silver bead #16, #18), pheasant tails (#14), ruby midges (#18), root beer midges (#18), pink and cerise San Juan worms (#10), and sowbugs (#16). Double fly nymph rigs have been very effective (my current favorite combination is a size fourteen pheasant tail with a size eighteen ruby midge suspended below it).
The Buffalo National River and Crooked Creek are high and off color. My favorite fly is a Clouser minnow. 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.
The Norfork is fishing better. Navigate this stream with caution as things have changed a bit during the recent flooding. There has been major gravel recruitment at the bottom of Mill Pond and the dock hole. The most productive flies have been small midge patterns (#18, #20, #22) like ruby midges, root beer midges, zebra midges (black or red with silver wire and silver bead) and soft hackles (#14, #16) like the green butt. Egg patterns have also been productive. Double fly nymph rigs have been very effective. Try a small ruby midge (#18) suspended eighteen inches below a red fox squirrel and copper. The fishing is better in the morning.
Dry Run Creek is fishing very well. With the Caronavirus there is little pressure. The hot flies have been sowbugs (#14), Y2Ks (#12), various colored San Juan worms (worm brown, red, hot fluorescent pink and cerise #10) and mop flies.
The Spring River is high and off color. This is a great place to wade fish, when they are running water on the White and Norfork Rivers. Canoe season is coming soon. 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 (#10), cerise and hot pink San Juan worms (#10) and Y2Ks (#10).
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 soles that are easier to clean and are not as likely to harbor didymo.
John Berry is a fly fishing guide in Cotter, Arkansas and has fished our local streams for over thirty five years.
GUIDELINES FOR A SAFE GUIDETRIP
BY JOHN BERRY
It has been a lean spring with no guide trips for me and my fellow guides. The Caronavirus has had a severe impact on my life as well. My wife, Lori, and I have been hunkered down for weeks with fishing trips as our only breaks from the monotony. Now our Governor, Asa Hutchison, has opened the state up to outside visitors, which will allow us to once again work as fishing guides.
As the trips have started coming in, I have had to think about how to protect my health and the health of my clients. We have been fortunate here in Baxter County to only have five cases of Caronavirus all of which have recovered. This could change as visitors from outside the state begin coming in. At seventy three years old, I have no desire to get this infection or take it home to my wife. Though she is much younger than I am she also has no desire to catch it.
Therefore I have developed guidelines for a safe guide trip to protect me, my wife and my clients. These guidelines would also be useful for fishing trips with friends and family. A fishing trip is a healthy way to get some sunshine and fresh air. These are a few suggestions to make it as safe as possible.
Chat with your clients before you meet with them. Do they have fever, a severe sore throat, and a dry cough or have they been around someone who is infected with the virus? Make sure they are reasonably healthy before you start your day.
Meet them at the ramp or access. In the past I would often pick my clients up at their lodge, hotel or home and take them to the river in my car. This could infect you and your car. If you should drive them in your car you should wear a mask, have them wear a mask and disinfect your car afterwards.
Maintain your social distance at six feet where possible. This is going to be difficult in a river boat. My boat is twenty feet long and my clients can maintain a proper social distance from each other but I will be about five feet from the client in the back seat. Therefore, I will wear my Buff (a face covering designed to protect you from the sun but also a functional face mask) when in a social distance of less than six feet. Invite your clients to do likewise. Carry hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes and use them often.
Lunch is a problem. Instead of preparing sandwiches and sharing condiments and chips at the picnic table buy prepared lunches with everything proportioned and separately wrapped beforehand. Sit away from your clients to maintain proper social distance, maybe in the boat. Wash your hands before and after lunch. Bag and dispose all waste properly.
After the trip is over wash your hands and carefully sanitize your boat.
By following these simple guidelines you and your clients will be much safer.John Berry
May 8, 2020 - White River - Submitted by Berry
Brothers Guides - ARKANSAS IS OPEN FOR FISHING
BY JOHN BERRY
This week the Governor, Asa Hutchison, reopened the state of Arkansas to non-resident recreational visitors. It has been a couple of months that we have unable to have out of state anglers and Lori and I have missed it. Here in Baxter County (that includes Mountain Home and Cotter) we have been very safe with only five cases of Coronavirus all of whom have fully recovered. The trout are still here and the weather is nice. It is a good time to visit.
JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 5/08/2020
During the past week, we have had several rain events (combined for about one and a half inches), cooler temperatures and heavy winds (to include wind advisories). The lake level at Bull Shoals rose three and tenths of feet to rest at nineteen and and one tenth feet above seasonal power pool of 661.14 feet. This is nine and eight tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Upstream, Table Rock fell one and and four tenths feet to rest at six tenths of a foot above seasonal power pool and fourteen and one tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake rose eight tenths of a foot to rest at nine and two tenths feet above seasonal power pool and four tenths of a foot below the top of flood pool. On the White, we had heavy generation and no wadable water. Norfork Lake fell one tenth of a foot to rest at fourteen and two tenths feet above seasonal power pool of 555.9 feet and nine and nine tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the Norfork, we had heavy flows and no wadable water.
Seasonal power pool has been reset for the lakes in the White River system. The Corps of Engineers has opened the spillway gates on Beaver and Norfork Dams in an effort to lower the water level on these lakes quicker.
The White has fished well. The hot has been the Catch and Release section below Bull Shoals Dam. The hot flies were olive woolly buggers (#8, #10), Y2Ks (#14, #12), prince nymphs (#14), zebra midges (black with silver wire and silver bead or red with silver wire and silver bead #16, #18), pheasant tails (#14), ruby midges (#18), root beer midges (#18), pink and cerise San Juan worms (#10), and sowbugs (#16). Double fly nymph rigs have been very effective (my current favorite combination is a deep water worm with a weighted egg suspended below it).
The Buffalo National River and Crooked Creek are high and off color. My favorite fly is a Clouser minnow. 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.
The Norfork is fishing better. Navigate this stream with caution as things have changed a bit during the recent flooding. There has been major gravel recruitment at the bottom of Mill Pond and the dock hole. The most productive flies have been small midge patterns (#18, #20, #22) like ruby midges, root beer midges, zebra midges (black or red with silver wire and silver bead) and soft hackles (#14, #16) like the green butt. Egg patterns have also been productive. Double fly nymph rigs have been very effective. Try a small ruby midge (#18) suspended eighteen inches below a red fox squirrel and copper. The fishing is better in the morning.
Dry Run Creek is fishing very well. With the Caronavirus there is little pressure. The hot flies have been sowbugs (#14), Y2Ks (#12), various colored San Juan worms (worm brown, red, hot fluorescent pink and cerise #10) and mop flies.
The Spring River is high and off color. This is a great place to wade fish, when they are running water on the White and Norfork Rivers. Canoe season is coming soon. 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 (#10), cerise and hot pink San Juan worms (#10) and Y2Ks (#10).
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 soles that are easier to clean and are not as likely to harbor didymo.
John Berry is a fly fishing guide in Cotter, Arkansas and has fished our local streams for over thirty five years.
LUCKY TO BE HERE
BY JOHN BERRY
A few weeks ago I wrote an article about how my business and that of others in the fishing industry had been adversely impacted by the Caronavirus. This is a problem for just about everyone in the world not just those of us in fishing. When I look at the big picture I come to realize just how lucky we are to live here.
Here in rural Arkansas we live in a much less crowded area and have few Covid-19 cases. We do not have a stay at home order, for the state. While most businesses are closed, we do have a reasonable amount of freedom, in our personal lives. In other states, things are much worse.
Places like New York are very crowded and the disease has raged through the state. Hospitals are at capacity and first responders and medical workers are over worked and very susceptible to disease. The federal government has had to come in and build hospitals, furnish ventilators and personal protective gear.
There are states that limited shopping to essential items and they determined what an essential item is. There was one state that has severely limited what is essential and what is not. Their citizens were not allowed to purchase things like hardware or lawn and garden items. Last week my wife, Lori, and I went to Lowe’s and bought plants for our garden and some hardware to make a simple plumbing repair to our home. We wore our surgical masks and strictly observed a proper social distance. The important thing was that we could do it.
There is a state that does not allow recreational fishing. Are you kidding me? I find this one to be exceptionally troubling. I moved here for the spectacular fishing and the thought of not being able to do it is disturbing. In my mind, there are not many things that are as safe as fishing. There is plenty of room to maintain your distance, lots of fresh air and something to do to break up the monotony. Lori and I are going out on a regular basis and truly enjoying it. We are careful particularly when we are on the ramp to keep our social distance from other anglers.
Another state will allow you to use a kayak but not a motor boat. How is a kayak safer than a motor boat? This one is pretty ridiculous to me. I own two kayaks, a canoe and a motor boat.
I use my motor boat (a White River Jon Boat) much more than the others. There are many people who are not physically fit or skilled enough to use a kayak but could easily use a motor boat to access our lakes and rivers for an outing.
We are lucky because our area has a low level of infection and reasonable limitations on our activities. I am glad to be here.
DOUBLE UP
BY JOHN BERRY
Last Saturday was a chance for my wife, Lori, and I to go fishing. We have been stuck at home like everyone else. We have been spending most of our time working in the yard. We put in a garden, extended our side patio and put in some new plantings. It is looking good but we were ready for something that was a bit more fun.
I checked the generation schedule and noted that they were scheduled to run about 6,500 cubic feet per second or the equivalent of two full generators. This is a perfect level for easy fishing from the boat. I also checked the weather report and saw that we would have a cool start with a gentle warming. The winds were to be light and variable and there was to be plenty of sun. It all looked good to me. I discussed the conditions with Lori and she was all in.
As is my habit, I left the house about 7:30 AM and launched my boat. I put a couple of fly rods in the boat that were still rigged from my last trip. I had a size fourteen pheasant tail nymph with a size eighteen ruby midge and an AB split shot. I adjusted the strike indicator, so that it was seven feet from the strike indicator to the bottom fly.
I caught a nice trout on the third cast. By the time Lori arrived, I had landed eight rainbows. Lori had stayed home to feed and walk our beloved Labrador Retrievers, Tilley and Ghillie. She also quickly used our weed eater on the grass that grows under my boat that I cannot reach with my lawn mower, before she left the house.
Lori was soon on the score board, when she caught a nice one in front of the ramp. We continued fishing for a few hours and by 11:00 AM we had landed around thirty trout. Most were small.
About that time I hooked an eleven inch stocker and didn’t think much about it. I was standing and had a good view of the trout as it struggled in. I noticed another fish near it. It was a big fish. It was apparent to me that a large brown trout was stalking my fish. How big was the brown? It was big enough to swallow the small rainbow whole. I had told Lori what was happening and she also saw the take.
She dropped her rod, grabbed her boat net and rushed to my side. We were both stoked and relished the struggle. As the fish inched toward the boat, she leaned forward to net it. As luck would have it the hook slipped from the little rainbows mouth. The brown leisurely swam away.
I had wanted to land the brown but I was not really that disappointed. It was something I had never personally encountered and was truly fascinating to watch. I stopped fishing. There was nothing that would top that. We did another pass and Lori landed another trout.
We headed home and to make it a perfect day she picked up a couple of pork shoulder sandwiches at KT’s Barbeque on the way home.
Life is good!
John Berry
April 13, 2020 - White River - Submitted by Berry
Brothers Guides - JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 4/13/2020
During the past week, we have had two rain events (combined for a little less than two inches), cooler temperatures and heavy winds (to include wind advisories). The lake level at Bull Shoals rose three tenths of a foot to rest at twenty two and seven tenths feet above seasonal power pool of 659 feet. This is thirteen and three tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Upstream, Table Rock fell two and one tenth feet to rest at three and three tenths feet above seasonal power pool and twelve and seven tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake rose one tenths of a foot to rest at eight and four tenths feet above seasonal power pool and one and two tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the White, we had heavy generation no wadable water. Norfork Lake fell nine tenths of a foot to rest at sixteen and four tenths feet above seasonal power pool of 553.75 feet and nine and eight tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the Norfork, we had heavy flows and no wadable water.
Seasonal power pool has been reset for the lakes in the White River system. The Corps of Engineers has opened the spillway gates on Table Rock, Bull Shoals and Norfork Dams in an effort to lower the water level on these lakes quicker.
The White has fished well. The hot has been the Catch and Release section below Bull Shoals Dam. The hot flies were olive woolly buggers (#8, #10), Y2Ks (#14, #12), prince nymphs (#14), zebra midges (black with silver wire and silver bead or red with silver wire and silver bead #16, #18), pheasant tails (#14), ruby midges (#18), root beer midges (#18), pink and cerise San Juan worms (#10), and sowbugs (#16). Double fly nymph rigs have been very effective (my current favorite combination is a deep water worm with a weighted egg suspended below it).
The Buffalo National River and Crooked Creek are high and off color. My favorite fly is a Clouser minnow. 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.
The Norfork is fishing better. Navigate this stream with caution as things have changed a bit during the recent flooding. There has been major gravel recruitment at the bottom of Mill Pond and the dock hole. The most productive flies have been small midge patterns (#18, #20, #22) like ruby midges, root beer midges, zebra midges (black or red with silver wire and silver bead) and soft hackles (#14, #16) like the green butt. Egg patterns have also been productive. Double fly nymph rigs have been very effective. Try a small ruby midge (#18) suspended eighteen inches below a red fox squirrel and copper. The fishing is better in the morning.
Dry Run Creek is fishing very well. With the Caronavirus there is little pressure. The weekends can be pretty busy. The hot flies have been sowbugs (#14), Y2Ks (#12), various colored San Juan worms (worm brown, red, hot fluorescent pink and cerise #10) and mop flies.
The Spring River is navigable. This is a great place to wade fish, when they are running water on the White and Norfork Rivers. Canoe season is officially over. 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 (#10), cerise and hot pink San Juan worms (#10) and Y2Ks (#10).
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 soles that are easier to clean and are not as likely to harbor didymo.
John Berry is a fly fishing guide in Cotter, Arkansas and has fished our local streams for over thirty five years.
HARD TIMES ON THE RIVER
BY JOHN BERRY
Last week I had one of my regular clients cancel his scheduled guide trip due to fear of the Caronavirus (his wife would not let him come). Based on what is happening in our country it was the best thing to do. I can honestly say that I was a bit concerned about the trip. I am seventy three years old and am in the group of people most at peril with the disease.
This has been a common occurrence over the past few weeks as I have had almost all of my trips this month canceled. When I talk to other guides (carefully maintaining a social distance of at least six feet), they all tell me they are in the same boat. I still have a few trips scheduled for May that I fully expect to lose any day. To make things tougher, Governor Hutchison has closed the state to temporary visitors from other states. Anybody that would want to fish here now has no where to stay. I do not disagree with his decision
Guides are in financial trouble. If we don’t work we don’t eat. We are all independent contractors not employees. We work for ourselves. If we do a guide trip for a lodge, trout dock or fly shop, they take a percentage of the fee but do not provide any benefits. We do not have provided health insurance, retirement or sick pay. If we do not have any trips, we cannot draw unemployment. It is our responsibility to pay for our health insurance, retirement and plan for hard times. Some do this better than others.
I see a radical change in our business. I do not see a return to normal for a long time. The Caronavirus will have to run its course so that our citizens can move freely.
I am fortunate. I am a conservative retired CPA (Certified Public Accountant) who was raised by parents that survived the great depression and World War II. I have been taught to live a simple life and save money for hard times. I live in a small house, drive a used twenty one year old Suburban and work out of a used fifteen year old Supreme with a fifteen horse prop motor.
The reality of the situation is that we are not alone. Everyone that I know is feeling pain. I know a lot of people that have lost their jobs. Local businesses are closed or offering very limited services. There is no rainbow in sight. I can only recommend that we all hunker down and survive this plague and be ready to get back to work on the other side.
We are all in this together. I look forward to fishing with my friends and clients again.
John Berry
March 23, 2020 - White River - Submitted by Berry
Brothers Guides - JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 3/23/2020
During the past week, we have had several rain events (combined for about three inches), cool temperatures and moderate winds. The lake level at Bull Shoals rose nine and eight tenths feet to rest at eleven and four tenths feet above seasonal power pool of 659 feet. This is twenty four and six tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Upstream, Table Rock rose seven and three tenths feet to rest at eight and six tenths feet above seasonal power pool and six and four tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake rose two and nine tenths feet to rest at eight and seven tenths feet above seasonal power pool and nine tenths of a foot below the top of flood pool. On the White, we had heavy generation with a small bit of wadable water. Norfork Lake rose nine and eight tenths feet to rest at thirteen and two tenths feet above seasonal power pool of 553.75 feet and fourteen and one tenth feet below the top of flood pool. On the Norfork, we had heavy flows and no wadable water.
Seasonal power pool has been reset for the lakes in the White River system. The Corps of Engineers has opened the spillway gates on Beaver and Table Rock Dams in an effort to lower the water level on these lakes quicker.
The White has fished well. The hot has been Rim Shoals. The hot flies were olive woolly buggers (#8, #10), Y2Ks (#14, #12), prince nymphs (#14), zebra midges (black with silver wire and silver bead or red with silver wire and silver bead #16, #18), pheasant tails (#14), ruby midges (#18), root beer midges (#18), pink and cerise San Juan worms (#10), and sowbugs (#16). Double fly nymph rigs have been very effective (my current favorite combination is a cerise high water San Juan worm with an egg pattern suspended below it). Use long leaders and plenty of lead to get your flies down.
The Buffalo National River and Crooked Creek are high and off color. The smallmouths are much less active in the cold weather. My favorite fly is a Clouser minnow. 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.
The Norfork is fishing better. Navigate this stream with caution as things have changed a bit during the recent flooding. There has been major gravel recruitment at the bottom of Mill Pond and the dock hole. The most productive flies have been small midge patterns (#18, #20, #22) like ruby midges, root beer midges, zebra midges (black or red with silver wire and silver bead) and soft hackles (#14, #16) like the green butt. Egg patterns have also been productive. Double fly nymph rigs have been very effective. Try a small ruby midge (#18) suspended eighteen inches below a red fox squirrel and copper. The fishing is better in the morning.
Dry Run Creek is fishing very well. With school back in session it will be less crowded during the week. The weekends can be pretty busy. The hot flies have been sowbugs (#14), Y2Ks (#12), various colored San Juan worms (worm brown, red, hot fluorescent pink and cerise #10) and mop flies.
The Spring River is navigable. This is a great place to wade fish, when they are running water on the White and Norfork Rivers. Canoe season is officially over. 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 (#10), cerise and hot pink San Juan worms (#10) and Y2Ks (#10).
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 soles that are easier to clean and are not as likely to harbor didymo.
John Berry is a fly fishing guide in Cotter, Arkansas and has fished our local streams for over thirty five years.
DRY RUN CREEK
BY JOHN BERRY
Perhaps the best kept secret in Arkansas is Dry Run Creek. It is located, on the edge of The Norfork National Fish Hatchery, which sits below Norfork Dam, in North Central Arkansas near the town of Norfork. It is a small stream that receives the water discharge from the hatchery that provides the perfect conditions for trout to exist; consistent flows of cool, clean, highly oxygenated water. It has been a Catch and Release stream for over thirty years and is limited to children under sixteen years of age and mobility impaired adults (this requires a mobility impaired permit from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission).
A few years ago local conservation groups like Trout Unlimited, the Friends of the Hatchery and others raised about a quarter of a million dollars to enhance the fish holding ability of the stream. These improvements were designed by Dave Whitlock. Due to its Catch and Release regulations and near perfect water conditions, this stream has a large trout population that includes substantial numbers of trophy fish. Some of these trout are as big as your leg. When I guide there I expect my clients to catch at least one trophy.
If you have children, grandchildren, nieces or nephews, this is the ultimate place to introduce them to fly fishing. They will get lots of opportunities to hook, fight and land good trout. If you don’t get around as well as you used to or have parents, relatives or old fishing buddies in the same boat, this is the best place for them to relive to good old days, when they were able to wade on a great trout stream.
There is a boardwalk on the creek adjacent to the parking lot that is wheel chair accessible. Anglers who are mobility impaired are limited to fishing from the boardwalk. It features several wheel chair platforms that make it easy to cast from a wheel chair. The problem is that the floor of the wheel chair platform is about eight feet above the surface of the water. I always get in the water below the platforms so that I can net, pose and release the trout quickly.
Most of the creek is easily accessed from a trail along it. There are several spots that are easy to cast and fish from but I always want my young clients to wear waders that allow access to the entire creek. I also wear waders, so that I can get in the water. This gives me an advantage, when I am netting trout. Most trout are lost at the net. I carry a large boat net with a long handle to help me net the bigger trout.
Due to the small size of the creek, I have found fly fishing to be the most effective method to fish it. I mostly high stick. You are limited to one barbless hook point and you cannot use natural or scented baits. I use a nine foot five weight fly rod with a reel that has a stout drag system. I use a seven and a half foot leader and an eighteen inch tippet. I use 4X tippet when the water is clear and 2X tippet when the water is stained. Larger tippet allows your child to put more pressure on the trout and land them more quickly.
I generally fish nymph patterns under an indicator. My most effective patterns have traditionally been sow bugs (the principal food source in the creek), egg patterns (peach), San Juan worms (worm brown, red and cerise) and mop flies (white, chartreuse and pink). I have also had my clients land trophy trout on grass hopper patterns.
Dry Run Creek is a fishing phenomenon that simply does not exist anywhere else. This is public water and is open to all at no charge.
March 17, 2020 - Norfork Lake - Norfork Lake Fishing Report by Tom Reynolds of STR Outfitters.
http://www.stroutfitters.com/
I fished this past week in Bennett's Bayou for stripers. The warm weather, full moon and the lake draw down changed the shad bait pattern. Most of the bait was on the flat by Fout's and the big flat before the Walker's arm of the bayou. The warm strong winds early in the week moved the shad up the creek arms and was very thick in both arms of Bennett's.
I caught fish on the flat by Fout's and on the big flat but it was slow since the big bait balls were not there. I moved up to the right arm and found bait 20 feet thick the length of the right arm but by then it was late in the morning and I only had one strike. My son was in the left arm and was looking for bait. The water temperature way up the arm was 64 degrees. He found lots of bait and crappie. The crappie had moved up in the 2 feet of water feeding on small shad. The anglers who figured that out were catching them very fast. The patterns all changed with the cold rain and temperature drop Saturday.
Sunday morning the highest water temperature was 50 temperature and the creeks was 49 degrees. The upper creek arms dropped 8 degrees. The bait moved out to the flat to find their comfort zone. Sean and I had a 2 boat trip and we started off with a bang. We had each a little boy and the parents and grandparents split the party up. Each boy caught a 12 lb stripers and numerous small stripers. The fish were caught on the big flat before Walker's arm in 40 plus feet of water. We were using small gizzard shad and shiners on long and down lines.
With all the rain and cold weather this week I expect the window to catch stripers is very early and then late afternoon. Until we can get some sunshine and warm south winds the all day bite we normally have will not happen.
Keep fishing the creeks for crappie, find a brush pile with their tops at 15' or deeper and you will find crappies. Minnows, jigs, and small spoons are catching limits of crappie. The best three creeks right now are Big Creek, Bennett's Bayou, and Pigeon Creek.
March 9, 2020 - White River - Submitted by Berry
Brothers Guides - JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 3/09/2020
During the past week, we have had no rain event, milder temperatures and moderate winds. The lake level at Bull Shoals fell three and three tenths feet to rest at seven tenths of a foot above seasonal power pool of 659 feet. This is thirty five and three tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Upstream, Table Rock fell one tenth of a foot to rest at five tenths of a foot above seasonal power pool and fifteen and five tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell one and five tenths feet to rest at six and one tenth feet above seasonal power pool and three and three tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the White, we had heavy generation. There was no wadable water. Norfork Lake fell one and three tenths feet to rest at three and two tenths feet above seasonal power pool of 553.75 feet and twenty three feet below the top of flood pool. On the Norfork, we had heavy flows and no wadable water.
Seasonal power pool has been reset for the lakes in the White River system.
The White has fished well. The hot has been Wildcat Shoals. The hot flies were olive woolly buggers (#8, #10), Y2Ks (#14, #12), prince nymphs (#14), zebra midges (black with silver wire and silver bead or red with silver wire and silver bead #16, #18), pheasant tails (#14), ruby midges (#18), root beer midges (#18), pink and cerise San Juan worms (#10), and sowbugs (#16). Double fly nymph rigs have been very effective (my current favorite combination is a cerise high water San Juan worm with an egg pattern suspended below it). Use long leaders and plenty of lead to get your flies down.
The Buffalo National River and Crooked Creek are navigable. The smallmouths are much less active in the cold weather. My favorite fly is a Clouser minnow. 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.
The Norfork is fishing better. Navigate this stream with caution as things have changed a bit during the recent flooding. There has been major gravel recruitment at the bottom of Mill Pond and the dock hole. The most productive flies have been small midge patterns (#18, #20, #22) like ruby midges, root beer midges, zebra midges (black or red with silver wire and silver bead) and soft hackles (#14, #16) like the green butt. Egg patterns have also been productive. Double fly nymph rigs have been very effective. Try a small ruby midge (#18) suspended eighteen inches below a red fox squirrel and copper. The fishing is better in the morning.
Dry Run Creek is fishing very well. With school back in session it will be less crowded during the week. The weekends can be pretty busy. The hot flies have been sowbugs (#14), Y2Ks (#12), various colored San Juan worms (worm brown, red, hot fluorescent pink and cerise #10) and mop flies.
The Spring River is navigable. This is a great place to wade fish, when they are running water on the White and Norfork Rivers. Canoe season is officially over. 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 (#10), cerise and hot pink San Juan worms (#10) and Y2Ks (#10).
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 soles that are easier to clean and are not as likely to harbor didymo.
John Berry is a fly fishing guide in Cotter, Arkansas and has fished our local streams for over thirty five years.
FEEDING FRENZY ON DRY RUN CREEK
BY JOHN BERRY
Last week Chris drove ten hours over snowy roads to let his son, Collin, and his buddy, Jake, fish Dry Run Creek. Collin had fished the creek before. He had caught some trout but no trophies. Jake had fished before but had never fished the creek. Chris thought they would do better if he hired a local guide and chose me. When we were planning the trip I was concerned about the weather. It was cold. Chris was concerned about the roads. They are from Minnesota and cold weather is no problem for them.
We met at the Norfork National Fish Hatchery. It was twenty one degrees and the boys didn’t mind. They had waders, good clothing and suitable gloves. We had the place to ourselves. They were ready to fish. My wife, Lori, joined us for the morning. The idea was for Lori to work with one of the boys in the morning, while I worked with the other. That way we could give them a good start by providing more individual attention. I had arrived before the others and had two fly rods rigged and ready to go.
We began fishing immediately. Lori was working with Collin. He caught a good fish right off and then another. I took Jake and we walked far upstream to a spot that I knew had some bigger trout. We began fishing and caught a nice one on the first cast. We fished for an hour or so and caught about ten trout including a trophy rainbow. We began working our war downstream toward the spot where Collin and Lori were fishing. We caught several trout along the way.
When we caught up with them, Chris had noted a large number of big trout keying in on a discharge pipe. Jake was eager to try his luck. There were plenty of trout and enough room for both of them to fish near to each other. They both caught a few trophy trout.
About that time the creek got very murky. The hatchery personnel were cleaning the raceways and this caused the hatchery discharge to muddy up and contained a lot of food (to include some dead fingerling trout). I have encountered this before and knew that it would trigger a feeding frenzy. Luckily both boys had white mop patterns on which emulated the dead trout fingerlings.
Suddenly we were in the middle of a feeding frenzy and we had the most effective fly for the situation. We began catching one big trout after another. Lori and I were both in the stream netting trout. Chris was busy taking pictures of the bigger trout. At one time we had a trophy brown in one net and a trophy rainbow in another. Over an hour and a half we landed over thirty trophy trout. I have been a guide on Dry Run Creek for thirty one years and Lori guided there for eighteen years. We have never seen as productive as a day as this. The water cleared and the feeding frenzy stopped.
We were worn out. We stopped for lunch. Lori had a hair appointment and headed out. Chris wanted to stop by Twin Rivers Fly Shop in Norfork to get some flies and supplies for the next day, when he would be fishing the boys alone. We figured the rest of the day would be slow. As I saw his car leave the parking lot, I noticed that the water was off color again and the feeding frenzy was back on. I was by myself.
For the next forty five minutes we landed over twenty trophy trout. I was so busy netting fish we only took photos of the two biggest trout. I tried to light a cigar for thirty minutes but every time I pulled out my cigar lighter one of the boys hooked another trophy. Finally Chris arrived and immediately waded into the fray. We had another forty five minutes of the frenzy before we could relax. We stayed on stream until 4:00 PM. Chris and I were done but the boys still wanted to fish. He promised to bring them back the next day and they reluctantly agreed to quit.
Don’t let off color water on Dry Run Creek scare you. It is a great time to fish.John Berry