JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 8/01/2014

During the past week, we have had a rain event (a half inch here in Cotter), hotter then cooler temperatures and moderate winds. The lake level at Bull Shoals fell five tenths of a foot to rest at one and five tenths feet below seasonal power pool of 661 feet. This is thirty five and five tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Upstream, Table Rock Lake fell eight tenths of a foot to rest at two feet below seasonal power pool and sixteen feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell eight tenths feet to rest at three and one tenth feet below seasonal power pool or eleven and seven tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the White, we had significant generation and no wadable water. Norfork Lake fell a foot to rest at two feet below seasonal power pool of 555.7 feet and twenty six and two 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 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 Rim 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 flashback beadhead pheasant tail nymph with a ruby midge or red fan tail midge suspended below it).

It is time to be fishing grasshoppers. There is a bumper crop of them this year and the trout are already keying in on them. I favor shorter leaders (seven and a half foot 3X) and a stiff six weight rod to proper deliver these weighty flies. My favorite flies are Dave’s hoppers and the western foam varieties. To increase hook ups I always use a dropper. I am currently using a flashback beadhead pheasant tail nymph in size sixteen.

The Buffalo National River and Crooked Creek are low and clear but still navigable. With the warmer weather, the smallmouth 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 Norfork River has fished poorly recently. With little 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.  

With summer vacation, 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 hot flies have been sowbugs, Y2Ks and various colored San Juan worms (worm brown, red, hot fluorescent pink and cerise). The creek is located in a narrow valley and is surprisingly cool during hot weather. It is a great place to beat the heat.

The water level on the Spring River is a low and clear. This is a great place to wade fish, when they are running water on the White and Norfork Rivers. We are in the midst of canoe season and it can be difficult to fish during the aluminum hatch. You should fish during the week to avoid the crowds. 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.

BEAD HEAD PHEASANT TAIL MIDGE FLY TIE OF THE WEEK WITH GUIDE DENNIS

Watch Dennis tie his bead head pheasant tail midge.

WHAT I HAVE LEARNED FISHING DRY RUN CREEK BY JOHN BERRY

Yesterday my neighbor, Schuyler Brower, came over and asked if my wife, Lori, would give his granddaughter, Schuyler, a casting lesson to prepare her for her first trip to Dry Run Creek today. Dry Run Creek is the gem of the trout streams in Arkansas and quite possibly the finest trout stream in the United States. It runs along the perimeter of the Norfork National Fish Hatchery and is designated Catch and Release for children under sixteen and the handicapped. This is a small stream in a narrow valley and it is teeming with large trout. Trophy trout are the norm here. This is a great example of what our rivers could be, if we embraced Catch and Release more fully, on our other trout streams.

Lori has extensive experience guiding children on Dry Run Creek and she explained that there is little room to cast on the creek. The most effective technique to fish it is to high stick. This method requires that the angler fish a very short line and flip the fly upstream to allow it to drift drag free downstream. The rod is held high so that only the strike indicator (bobber) is touching the water. When the strike indicator goes down, you quickly lift the rod to set the hook. In lieu of a casting lesson, she took Schuyler down to the trout sanctuary in Cotter’s Big Spring Park and taught her how to high stick. She managed to land three fish in the process and hooked a couple more.

At the end of the lesson, I took a few minutes to give Schuyler a few pointers on how to fish the creek. I have been fishing it since my daughter, Katherine, was eleven. She is now thirty seven with two children of her own (John and Larkin). I still guide there often and worked there as recently as Saturday. My suggestions were:

Use sowbugs, San Juan worms and Y2Ks. The primary food source on the creek is sowbugs and my clients have caught more trout fishing them than any other fly. I frequently see sowbugs on stream. San Juan worms are easy to tie and are effective. They are a big bite that will frequently move big trout. My favorite colors are worm brown, cerise and blood red. Y2Ks are the wild card. They resemble egg patterns but have a bead head that gets them down. I caught the largest trout that my client has ever landed on a Y2K on Dry Run Creek. It was a sixteen pound bruiser caught by a ten year old on his first day of fly fishing. Do not forget to mash down the barbs. It is the law!

Use 4X tippet. This is pretty heavy tippet and is about six and a half pound test. A heavier tippet will help you land some of these heavy trout. They receive a lot of pressure and are not particularly leader shy. If you get a hook-up, you want the best chance to land it. Fluorocarbon tippet is a bit stronger than monofilament and is more abrasion resistant.

Take the biggest net that you can lay your hands on. Make sure that it has a long handle. Most fish are lost at the net. A small net will just make a big fish angry. I use my boat net. When I am guiding two youngsters I carry two nets so that a parent can help me when there are two fish on at the same time.

Take your time, when landing a good fish. Do not try and horse them in. It takes at least a minute per pound of fish. You will have to let a big fish run. Before you begin, set the drag on the reel for 4X tippet. Fight them on the reel. If you are high sticking, there should be no loose line. Do not lock down on the line. Kids generally try to lock down the line to keep the fish from running. Let them go and take your time. This also means not to grip the handle on the reel, to keep it from moving. Only touch the reel when cranking in line. Over time the trout will tire and come in.

Keep constant pressure on the fish. You are using barbless hooks and they will come out if they are not under pressure. If the rod is not bent, there is slack in the line and you can lose the fish.

Don’t get discouraged if you lose one. It is a common occurrence. The idea is to learn from your mistakes. Do not dwell on the negative but give positive feedback on what to do to correct the situation.

Have fun! Celebrate success and take plenty of pictures. Keep the trout in the water until your camera is ready and keep the trout’s time out of the water to a minimum. Carefully revive the trout before releasing it. If the trout has taken the fly too deeply, cut the line rather than trying to remove the fly, to prevent unnecessary damage to the trout.

Keep these few suggestions in mind and have a good time. This is the perfect place to introduce your children and grandchildren to fly fishing.

John Berry is a fly fishing guide in Cotter, Arkansas and has fished our local streams for over thirty years.

JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 7/25/2014

During the past week, we have had no rain, hotter temperatures and moderate winds. The lake level at Bull Shoals fell five tenths of a foot to rest at a foot below seasonal power pool of 661 feet. This is thirty five feet below the top of flood pool. Upstream, Table Rock Lake fell five tenths of a foot to rest at one and two tenths feet below seasonal power pool and fifteen and two tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell four tenths feet to rest at two and three tenths feet below seasonal power pool or ten and nine tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the White, we had more wadable water. Norfork Lake fell six tenths of a foot to rest at a foot below seasonal power pool of 555.7 feet and twenty five and three 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 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 Wildcat 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 beadhead pheasant tail nymph with a ruby midge or red fan tail midge suspended below it).

It is time to begin fishing grasshoppers. There is a bumper crop of them this year and the trout are already keying in on them. I favor shorter leaders (seven and a half foot 3X) and a stiff six weight rod to proper deliver these weighty flies. My favorite flies are Dave’s hoppers and the western foam varieties. To increase hook ups I always use a dropper. I am currently using a flashback beadhead pheasant tail nymph in size sixteen.

The Buffalo National River and Crooked Creek are low and clear but still navigable. With the warmer weather, the smallmouth 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 Norfork River has fished poorly recently. With little 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.  

With summer vacation, 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 hot flies have been sowbugs, Y2Ks and various colored San Juan worms (worm brown, red, hot fluorescent pink and cerise). The creek is located in a narrow valley and is surprisingly cool during hot weather. It is a great place to beat the heat.

The water level on the Spring River is a low and clear. This is a great place to wade fish, when they are running water on the White and Norfork Rivers. We are in the midst of canoe season and it can be difficult to fish during the aluminum hatch. You should fish during the week to avoid the crowds. 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.

LOOKING FOR BONNEVILLE CUTTHROATS BY JOHN BERRY

For the last three years our local Trout Unlimited group, Arkansas’ White River Chapter # 698, has planted Bonneville Cutthroat Trout eggs in Catch and Release sections of the White and Norfork Rivers in an effort to introduce a sustainable species of trout to our area. A sustainable species is one that reproduces naturally and does not require extensive stocking, like our brown trout. With our perpetual hatchery funding crises, this makes a lot of sense. If you have ever caught a wild eleven inch brown trout and compared its beauty and quality of the fight to that of a freshly stocked rainbow, you will quickly realize the allure of an additional sustainable species of wild trout to our waters.

The Bonneville Cutthroat trout, Oncorhynchus Clarkii, Utah, is native to the Bonneville River drainage in Utah, Wyoming, Idaho and Nevada and is thought to be related to Yellowstone Cutthroat trout. Cutthroat trout are native to the Rocky Mountains and were first scientifically identified by the Lewis and Clark expedition. Hence the species name Clarkii. The Bonneville Cutthroat is the state trout of Utah. The eggs we planted were from the Bear River sub species and were obtained from the state hatchery in Wyoming.

The introduction of a non native species can be a disastrous error. Several years ago some unthinking so introduced lake trout to Yellowstone Lake. This species has taken over the lake and has all but destroyed the native Yellowstone Cutthroat population in the lake and has severely impacted its spawning runs to the lake from the river. In an effort to control the lake trout in Yellowstone Lake, you are required to remove any lake trout caught from the lake. This introduction has been carefully vetted by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and is not considered to be an invasive species.

The Bonneville Cutthroat closely resembles rainbow trout with a few differences. They have the bright red characteristic cutthroat slash marks on the underside of their head (their throat) and their spots are much larger than those of our rainbow or cuttbow trout (across between an rainbow and a cutthroat). They also have a slightly larger head than our rainbows. They do not resemble the West Slope Cutthroat that we now have in our streams except for the bright slash marks on their throats.

The question that is intriguing me is, how are they doing? We have had three stockings over a three year period. Follow up by T. L. Lauerman; the Trout Unlimited Project Chairman indicates that the majority of the planted eggs have hatched. After this period of time, we should be seeing some small Bonneville Cutthroat trout. Whenever I fish the Catch and Release sections on the Norfork or Rim Shoals on the White, I am always looking out for them.

If any of you see or catch one of these Cutthroats, I would appreciate it you contact me and let me know when and where. I would definitely appreciate a photo to document your catch.

John Berry is a fly fishing guide in Cotter, Arkansas and has fished our local streams for over thirty years.

JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 7/18/2014

During the past week, we have had a minor rain event (less than half an inch here in Cotter), hotter then much cooler temperatures and moderate winds. The lake level at Bull Shoals fell three tenths of a foot to rest at five tenths of a foot below seasonal power pool of 661 feet. This is thirty four and five tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Upstream, Table Rock Lake fell four tenths of a foot to rest at seven tenths of a foot below seasonal power pool and fourteen and seven tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell six tenths of a foot to rest at one and nine tenths feet below seasonal power pool or ten and four tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the White, we had more wadable water. Norfork Lake fell six tenths of a foot to rest at four tenths of a foot below seasonal power pool of 555.7 feet and twenty four and six 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 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 Rim 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 beadhead pheasant tail nymph with a ruby midge or red fan tail midge suspended below it).

The sulphur hatch has been sparse. Several anglers have reported success fishing this hatch. 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 including myself are 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.

It is time begin fishing grasshoppers. There is a bumper crop of them this year and the trout are already keying in on them. I favor shorter leaders (seven and a half foot 3X) and a stiff six weight rod to proper deliver these weighty flies. My favorite flies are Dave’s hoppers and the western foam varieties. To increase hook ups I always use a dropper. I am currently using a flashback beadhead pheasant tail nymph in size sixteen.

The Buffalo National River and Crooked Creek are low and clear but still navigable. 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 Norfork River has fished poorly recently. With little 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.  

With summer vacation, 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 hot flies have been sowbugs, Y2Ks and various colored San Juan worms (worm brown, red, hot fluorescent pink and cerise). The creek is located in a narrow valley and is surprisingly cool during hot weather. It is a great place to beat the heat.

The water level on the Spring River is a low and clear. This is a great place to wade fish, when they are running water on the White and Norfork Rivers. We are in the midst of canoe season and it can be difficult to fish during the aluminum hatch. You should fish during the week to avoid the crowds. 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.

HITTING THE WHITE RIVER WITH OUR SON

Saturday afternoon brought a great day to our house.  Our son Ken from Minnesota was stopping by as he finished up a month long motorcycle trip that took him from Minnesota up into Canada, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and everywhere in between.  We hadn't seen each other since February in Florida so we were really looking forward to his visit.

After he had a chance to clean some of the road grime off himself we told him we were going to PJ's for dinner.  PJ's is the finest restaurant in this entire area.  Ken all of a sudden had a little spring in his step when he heard that news. 

Ken indicated that he would really like to go fly fishing on Sunday so his mother and I were more than happy to head to the river with him.

We arrived at the White River around 8:30 Sunday morning and were met by great looking water with a fair amount of fog in the air.  The temperature was tolerable and we were hoping that the fog and cloud cover would stick around for a while.  We got the boat launched and headed up river.  

Ken has been fly fishing for about five years now but living in western Minnesota doesn't give him much of a chance to fly fish.  So the only time he really gets a fly rod in his hands is when comes to Arkansas.  However he did managed to break out his travel rod a few times on his trip.  Over these five years it has been great watching his casting skills progress from trying to overpower his casts to now letting the rod pretty much do the work for him.  Ken has turned into a pretty darn good fly caster.

As we got the boat into position both Ken and his mother were ready to catch some fish.  I got on the oars so they could both fish.  On the first drift Ken lost a few fish but his mother managed to bring a couple rainbows to the net.  Ken blamed the lost fish on being cramped up from the long motorcycle trip.  

The second drift changed Ken's luck.  He managed to catch a couple of rainbows so he was right back in the game. 

At about 11AM the fog burned off and the sun popped out and the humidity started to take its toll on us.  We fished until about 12:30 and decided to call it a day since the weather was getting very hot and humid.  

Overall it was a fantastic day.  Among the three of us we managed to catch about 25 fish, nothing big, but plenty of action.  The highlight for Mary and I was being able to spend some quality time with Ken doing something we all enjoy.  Hopefully his next visit will be longer so we will have time to do more fun stuff.  

IT’S HOPPER TIME BY JOHN BERRY

As I have written about before, this year has been a complete bust for me, when it comes to catching the hatch and fishing dry flies. I have seen a few very sparse hatches of caddis and sulphurs but I have not been able to key in on a respectable hatch, where the trout are keying in on the adults. It appears that there has been a conspiracy against me. Every time that I am present, when a hatch is beginning, they turn on four generators, which completely eliminate any possibility of fishing the top. I am always in the wrong place at the wrong time.

As hopper season begins, all of that I about to change. My most reliable dry fly year in or year out is grasshoppers. The hopper season traditionally begins on the fourth of July and runs until the first frost. I don’t slavishly follow this schedule. I tend to fish hoppers year round. I had a client take a fifteen inch rainbow on a grasshopper on the Norfork River in mid February, when the temperature was below freezing. It is true that there are more hoppers available in late summer and the trout tend to key in on them at that time. Grasshoppers are a large tasty bite that opportunistic trout will take even when they are not expected to.

Hoppers are not aquatic insects. They are terrestrials. They are set up to live on land not in the water. They enter the water by accident. They are usually blown in by the wind and tend to struggle in a vain attempt to get back to dry land. Therefore the best way to fish them is to bang the bank. A delicate presentation is not required as hoppers frequently enter the water with a splash. An energetic mend that causes the hopper to twitch is frequently all it takes to generate a vicious strike.

The rigging is easy. Since this is a heavy fly and would be difficult to turn over with a typical long dry fly leader, I generally tie them to the end of a seven and one half foot 4X leader. When choosing a rod, I generally opt for the nine foot five weight Sage ZXL that I ordinarily fish. A stiff nine foot six weight would probably be a better choice.

Fly choice is pretty simple. Dave’s hoppers are great but I find myself fishing more foam hoppers. They float like corks, are almost indestructible and they do not have to be dressed. Be sure and get some sort of quick sight on the back of them to make them a bit easier to see. At the beginning of the season the grasshoppers are smaller (size #12) and they get progressively bigger as time goes by (size#12). The hoppers that I have been seeing in my yard are green but I have had more success lately with tan ones.

To increase your catch, I suggest that you use a dropper. I always do. The hopper makes a great strike indicator and is especially effective in water that gets a lot of fishing pressure and where the fish can get a bit picky. Places like the Catch and Release section below Bull Shoals Dam or the Norfork are great places to use a hopper and a dropper. The best place for the dropper is whatever nymph that is producing that day. The pheasant tail nymph or ruby midge are personal favorites.

Whether fishing from a boat or wading, it is hopper time and I am ready for it. Give hoppers a try!

John Berry is a fly fishing guide in Cotter Arkansas and has fished our local streams for over thirty years.

JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 7/11/2014

During the past week, we have had a couple of rain events (for a combined total of three quarters of an inch here in Cotter), warm temperatures and moderate winds. The lake level at Bull Shoals fell five tenths of a foot to rest at four tenths of a foot below seasonal power pool of 661.2 feet. This is thirty four and two tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Upstream, Table Rock Lake fell four tenths of a foot to rest at three tenths of a foot below seasonal power pool and fourteen and three tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell three tenths of a foot to rest at one and two tenths feet below seasonal power pool or nine and eight tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the White, we had little wadable water. Norfork Lake fell three tenths of a foot to rest at seasonal power pool of 556 feet and twenty four 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 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 Wildcat 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 beadhead pheasant tail nymph with a ruby midge or red fan tail midge suspended below it).

The sulphur hatch has been sighted but is sparse. Several anglers have reported success fishing this hatch. 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 including myself are 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. It is time to prepare for fishing grasshoppers.

The Buffalo National River and Crooked Creek are low and clear but still navigable. 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 Norfork River has fished poorly recently. With little 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.  

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 hot flies have been sowbugs, Y2Ks and various colored San Juan worms (worm brown, red, hot fluorescent pink and cerise). The creek is located in a narrow valley and is surprisingly cool during hot weather. It is a great place to beat the heat.

The water level on the Spring River is a low and clear. This is a great place to wade fish, when they are running water on the White and Norfork Rivers. We are in the midst of canoe season and it can be difficult to fish during the aluminum hatch. You should fish during the week to avoid the crowds. 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.

BARRY AND BRIAN’S DAY ON THE WHITE RIVER BY DENNIS SCHULE

On July 8th I received a call from Barry Hart from Missouri who was looking for a fly fishing guide for a half day guide trip the next.  I told Barry that I was available and would pick them up at Gaston's where he and his friend Brian, from Virginia,  were staying.

Barry and Brian were at Gaston's for a conference and said they had a half day available and wanted to spend it fly fishing on the White River.  I picked them up at 7:30 the next morning and we headed down river to the Rim Shoals area.  The generation was running at minimum flow of 672cfs so I figured we would still have adequate water down river.  Upon arrival at Rim Shoals we found the water in perfect condition.  We launched the boat and headed up river to the Jenkins Creek area.  I had their rods rigged with a two fly rig consisting of two nymphs.  I maneuvered the boat into position and we started our first drift.  The first drift favored Barry and he caught two fish and jumped out into the lead over Brian.  

We worked the Jenkins Creek area for a while and caught numerous fish including several double hook up's.   I then decided to head down river below the island  and try a new area.  We managed to get several fish but the catching was much better up river.  I noticed that the water was really falling out fast so I decided to head back up river to the Jenkins Creek area.

Once back at Jenkins Creek we began catching fish again.  Barry and Brian caught numerous fish, approximately 25-30 fish.  Unfortunately the big fish did not cooperate and the brown trout kept their heads down.  

Overall it was a great morning of fly fishing.  Perfect weather, two avid fly fishermen who are really good guys, and the fish decided to cooperate.  Thanks Barry and Brian for selecting Blue Ribbon Guides and for spending the morning fishing with me.