JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 6/06/2014

During the past week, we have had several minor rain events (combined for a bit over an inch here in Cotter), warmer temperatures and moderate winds. The lake level at Bull Shoals fell four tenths of a foot to rest at one and two tenths feet below seasonal power pool of 662 feet. This is thirty four and two tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Upstream, Table Rock Lake rose two tenths of a foot to rest at one and eight tenths feet below seasonal power pool and fifteen and eight tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell one tenth of a foot to rest at seven tenths of a foot below seasonal power pool or nine and three tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the White, we had no wadable water. Norfork Lake fell two tenths of a foot to rest at two tenths of a foot below seasonal power pool of 556.8 feet and twenty three and five tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the Norfork, we had wadable water every day.

The water level for the top of power pool has been reset higher for the lakes in the White River system. All of the lakes on this system are below seasonal power pool. We should receive more wadable water.

On the White, the hot spot was Shoe String Shoals. The hot flies were olive woolly buggers, 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 caddis pattern (prince nymph) suspended below it)

The caddis hatches are on the wane but with lower water the trout have been keying in on them. The sulphur hatch should begin any day. It normally occurs in May and June. It seems to be late, possibly due to the brutal weather last winter. This is our most reliable mayfly hatch of the year. It is a size fourteen or sixteen insect and it is yellowish orange. Before the hatch I fish mayfly nymphs. My favorites are copper Johns and pheasant tails (some guides are already fishing flashback pheasant tails). As the insects begin their emergence I switch over to a partridge and orange or partridge and yellow soft hackle. This is often the most productive tactic. When you observe the adults on the top of the water, switch to a sulphur parachute dry fly.

The Buffalo National River and Crooked Creek are navigable and clear. With the warmer weather, the smallmouths are active. The most effective flies are Clouser minnows and crawfish patterns. 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 siphon to accommodate minimum flow on the Norfork River is down for repairs. In an effort to keep the river levels at minimum flow levels the Corps of Engineers have been spilling approximately 200 cubic feet per second. This has caused the water temperatures to warm up to 70 degrees above Dry Run Creek,  which is too warm for trout to be active. Below Dry Run Creek the water temperature is 57 degrees, which is acceptable to trout.

The Norfork River has fished poorly recently. With no wadable water on the White there has been more angling pressure on the Norfork.  The most productive flies have been small midge patterns like zebra midges (black or red with silver wire and silver bead) and soft hackles like the green butt. 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 (try a size 24 Adams parachute) and caddis (try a size 18 elk hair caddis).The fishing is better in the morning and late afternoon and tapers off midday. Some anglers have been fishing heavy articulated streamers on sink tip lines on the higher flows.

With warmer weather, there has been a lot of action on Dry Run Creek. It has been crowded at times. Remember that there are trout everywhere. Now would be a great time to fish it. The weather has been perfect on some days and it is more comfortable for young anglers. The hot flies have been sowbugs, Y2Ks and various colored San Juan worms (worm brown, red, hot fluorescent pink and cerise).

The water level on the Spring River is wadable and clearer. 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.

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission is making repairs to the Dam at the State Fish Hatchery at the Dam Three Access. During this process water may be diverted from the main channel to the north channel that runs alongside the parking lot resulting in a rise in the water level there of up to two feet. The access will remain open to the public although the parking may be limited to the lot on the North side of the railroad tracks during busy times. All users are requested to exercise extreme care when in the area.

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.