JOHN BERRY
FISHING REPORT 12/27/2013
During the past week, we have
had a significant rain event (several inches here in Cotter), warmer then
cooler temperatures and heavy winds. The lake level at Bull Shoals rose six
tenths of a foot to rest at seasonal power pool of 659 feet. This is thirty six
feet below the top of flood pool. Upstream, Table Rock Lake rose five tenths of
a foot to rest at five tenths of a foot below power pool and sixteen and five
tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake rose five tenths of a foot
to rest at one and four tenths feet below seasonal power pool or eleven feet
below the top of flood pool. On the White, we have had no wadable water.
Norfork Lake rose seven tenths of a foot to rest at seven tenths of a foot below
seasonal power pool of 553.75 feet and twenty seven and five tenths feet below
the top of flood pool. On the Norfork, we have had wadable water every day. The
water level for the top of power pool has been reset lower for some of the
lakes in the White River system.
The Catch and Release section
below Bull Shoals Dam will close from November 1, 2013 to January 31, 2014 to
accommodate the brown trout spawn. The State Park will be seasonal Catch and
Release for the same period. All brown trout must be immediately released. In
addition, night fishing is prohibited in this area during this period.
On the White, the hot spot has
been the section from White Hole down to Cotter. The hot flies were Y2Ks,
prince nymphs, zebra midges (black with silver wire and silver bead or red with
silver wire and silver bead), pheasant tails, ruby midges, pink and cerise San
Juan worms, and sowbugs. Double fly nymph rigs have been very effective (try a
cerise or pink San Juan worm with a midge pattern suspended below it).
The Corps of Engineers have
been running a bit more water and that has benefitted the streamer fishing. To
do this you need at least an eight weight fly rod, a heavy sink tip fly line
and large articulated streamers. The idea is to bang the bank and strip the fly
back to the boat. This is heavy work and requires good casting skills. Some
effective patterns are sex dungeons and circus peanuts.
The Buffalo National River and
Crooked Creek are high and off color. With the cold temperatures, the
smallmouth are not very active. The most effective fly has been a tan and brown
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.
There has been wadable water on
the Norfork every day. There has been very limited fishing pressure. The most
productive flies have been small midge patterns like zebra midges (black or red
with silver wire and silver bead). Double fly nymph rigs have been very
effective. Try a small bead headed nymph (zebra midge, copper John or pheasant
tail) suspended eighteen inches below a brightly colored San Juan worm (hot
fluorescent pink or cerise). There have been reliable hatches of small midges
and caddis (try a size 22 Adams parachute).The fishing is much better in the
morning and late afternoon and tapers off midday.
Dry Run Creek has been
virtually abandoned. Now would be a great time to fish it. Numerous brown trout
have moved into the creek. The hot flies have been sowbugs, Y2Ks and various
colored San Juan worms (worm brown, red, hot fluorescent pink and cerise). Use
at least 4X tippet (I prefer fluorocarbon) to maximize your youngsters chance
at landing a big one. Carry the largest net that you can lay your hands on and
do not forget the camera. While you are there take a few minutes and tour the
adjacent Norfork National Fish Hatchery. It is fascinating. Be sure and remove
your waders before entering, to prevent the spread of aquatic diseases.
The water level on 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. 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, cerise and
hot pink San Juan worms and Y2Ks.
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 soled wading boots 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 years.
No comments:
Post a Comment