SOMETIMES IT TAKES A LITTLE TIME BY JOHN BERRY

Earlier this month I took Bill and his son Austin out for a couple of days of fishing. The idea was to introduce Austin to fly fishing and Bill wanted to get in a variety of fishing situations to maximize his fishing experience and hopefully infect him with the fly fishing bug. I had taken him and his other son, Ethan, out a few months ago, with the same goal. Based on the conditions we decided to fish from the boat on the White and wade fish on the Norfork. 

We spent the first day drift fishing the White, in my White River Jon boat at Rim Shoals. We arrived early, when there was still a heavy fog on the river. There were no anglers but us. The day was sunny and warm and the Corps of Engineers were running about 2,000 cubic feet per second or a little over one half of a full generator. Austin had never fly fished for trout so I began the day with a quick casting lesson. I rigged the fly rods with a flashback pheasant tail nymph with a ruby midge dropper under an indicator. 

Bill was immediately on trout and was catching one after another. Austin was struggling. He hooked plenty of fish but lost them, on the fight. Each time he lost one, I carefully explained what he was doing wrong and how to avoid that error. Bill continued his success and finished the day with over thirty trout. I feared that Austin was getting frustrated. Every time he made a good cast or proper mend I praised him and coached him every time he hooked up. 

Finally, near the end of the day he hooked a really good fish. I saw immediately that it was a good brown. I moved forward in the boat net in hand. The fish was hot and gave us three athletic jumps. It wanted none of the net. With a bit of coaching from me, Austin fought it perfectly. All of the mistakes he made earlier in the day had prepared him for this struggle. After what seemed like an eternity, the big brown surrendered to the net. At a stout nineteen inches, it was easily the big fish of the day. It was definitely a confidence builder for Austin. We ended the day on a positive note. 

The next day we arrived at the Ackerman access early. The river was running at minimum flow and was quite wadable. There were a few other anglers but it was not crowded. We waded upstream into the Catch and Release section. I had rigged them with the same flies that we had fished the day before except I used lighter tippet, as the fish on the Norfork get more fishing pressure and tend to be a bit more selective. 

Bill was into fish almost immediately. He landed a big rainbow and a fat brown that was basically the same size as Austin had landed the previous day. Meanwhile Austin was doing extremely well. It all came together for him. He landed trout after trout with no problems. He really liked the wading better that fishing from a boat and was now quite comfortable with his new found skills. The day only got better for him and he ended up out fishing his dad. 

We all learn at different rates but, when it comes together, it comes together. Austin is now very enthused and was discussing fly fishing opportunities near his college. Mission accomplished! 

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

JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 8/29/2014

During the past week, we have had no measurable rain, brutally hot temperatures and moderate winds. The lake level at Bull Shoals fell one and one tenth feet to rest at four feet below seasonal power pool of 661 feet. This is thirty eight feet below the top of flood pool. Upstream, Table Rock fell six tenths feet to rest at five and eight tenths feet below seasonal power pool and eighteen and one tenth feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell one and one tenth feet to rest at five and eight tenths feet below seasonal power pool or fourteen and four tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the White, we had significant generation in the afternoon and limited generation in the morning with no wadable water. Norfork Lake fell a foot to rest at three and five tenths feet below seasonal power pool of 555.7 feet and twenty nine and two tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the Norfork, we had wadable water every day with heavy generation in the afternoon.

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 well below seasonal power pool. With the extremely hot temperatures we have been experiencing, we should see more generation in the afternoon during peak power demand.

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 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 ruby midge in size eighteen on a three foot tippet.

The higher flows that we have been getting in the afternoons have been conducive to fishing large streamers. You need a fast sinking sink tip line and an eight weight or better rod. This is a heavy lift that requires casting skills and patience.

The Buffalo National River and Crooked Creek are low, clear and barely 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 a bit better 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 school back in session, I would expect less fishing pressure on Dry Run Creek. 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 for Blue Ribbon Guides in Cotter, Arkansas and has fished our local streams for over thirty years.

GUIDE DENNIS TYING THE YONG SPECIAL

RAINY DAY ON DRY RUN CREEK BY JOHN BERRY

Over a lifetime of fishing, there are some days that stand out more than others. Last weekend I had such a day. It was late morning and the air was already heating up. I was on the top of a ladder caulking a storm window. It was the final task on the job of painting my house and I was glad that it was about over. I got a call from my partner in Blue Ribbon Guides, Dennis Schule. He said that a lady had called our guide service looking for a guide on Dry Run Creek for two ten year old boys that afternoon. 

I scrambled off the ladder and gave Katie a call. She was on the road driving from San Antonio, Texas and would be in our area in a couple of hours. The boys, Warren and Ben wanted to fish Dry Run Creek. They had limited experience and no gear. We agreed to meet at Dry Run Creek at 2:30 PM. I gathered a couple of pairs of waders and some heavy socks from my garage and loaded up some water and my fishing gear and headed for the creek. My loaner rods and big nets were already in my Suburban. I keep them there at all times, to be ready for a guide trip at a moments notice. 

I arrived about five minutes early and they were already there. I was surprised that there were only a few cars in the parking lot. I surmised that school was due to open and the vacationers were headed home. It was steamy hot. The temperature was scheduled to soar into the mid nineties and it was nearly there. We all donned our waders and walked down to the creek. I rigged a rod for Ben, put him in a likely spot and gave him some rudimentary instruction. I then began rigging a rod for Warren. I hadn’t gotten too far in the process before Ben had a twenty two inch rainbow on the line. I took a few minutes from the job at hand to net the trout. I returned to rigging Warren’s rod and Ben hooked another and another. I was beginning to think that I would never get that rod rigged. Eventually, I got it rigged and Warren got in on the action and began landing trout. 

Both guys were landing fish. The action was hot. About that time it began to rain. It was a gentle shower at first but quickly picked up steam. They didn’t have rain gear. I offered to go get my rain jacket for Katie but she declined. The boys didn’t even notice the rain as they were keyed in on the fish. I must say that I was impressed with Katie’s perseverance. Most of the women that I know (most of the men also, for that matter) would have bailed immediately. She stayed there and got soaked. Everyone else on the creek bailed. Nothing thins the herd like a little rain. 

We had the place to ourselves and we took advantage of it. We fished from one end to the other and picked up fish everywhere we went. It was not just numbers but size also. We caught six trout over twenty four inches including a long but skinny brown and an outstanding cutthroat. There were several close calls including a huge rainbow that swam under a log and refused to come out and a monster brown that took three gravity defying jumps before spitting the hook. The rain cooled the place down. Katie went back to her car and got two fleece jackets for the boys as they were freezing. 

We stopped about 5:30 PM. It had been an incredible afternoon of fishing. We were all soaked and the idea of some dry clothes and a warm meal was very inviting. It was an unexpected outcome for such a rainy day and created some great memories that will be passed on for years to come! 

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

RAINY DAY ON DRY RUN CREEK BY JOHN BERRY

Over a lifetime of fishing, there are some days that stand out more than others. Last weekend I had such a day. It was late morning and the air was already heating up. I was on the top of a ladder caulking a storm window. It was the final task on the job of painting my house and I was glad that it was about over. I got a call from my partner in Blue Ribbon Guides, Dennis Schule. He said that a lady had called our guide service looking for a guide on Dry Run Creek for two ten year old boys that afternoon. 

I scrambled off the ladder and gave Katie a call. She was on the road driving from San Antonio, Texas and would be in our area in a couple of hours. The boys, Warren and Ben wanted to fish Dry Run Creek. They had limited experience and no gear. We agreed to meet at Dry Run Creek at 2:30 PM. I gathered a couple of pairs of waders and some heavy socks from my garage and loaded up some water and my fishing gear and headed for the creek. My loaner rods and big nets were already in my Suburban. I keep them there at all times, to be ready for a guide trip at a moments notice. 

I arrived about five minutes early and they were already there. I was surprised that there were only a few cars in the parking lot. I surmised that school was due to open and the vacationers were headed home. It was steamy hot. The temperature was scheduled to soar into the mid nineties and it was nearly there. We all donned our waders and walked down to the creek. I rigged a rod for Ben, put him in a likely spot and gave him some rudimentary instruction. I then began rigging a rod for Warren. I hadn’t gotten too far in the process before Ben had a twenty two inch rainbow on the line. I took a few minutes from the job at hand to net the trout. I returned to rigging Warren’s rod and Ben hooked another and another. I was beginning to think that I would never get that rod rigged. Eventually, I got it rigged and Warren got in on the action and began landing trout. 

Both guys were landing fish. The action was hot. About that time it began to rain. It was a gentle shower at first but quickly picked up steam. They didn’t have rain gear. I offered to go get my rain jacket for Katie but she declined. The boys didn’t even notice the rain as they were keyed in on the fish. I must say that I was impressed with Katie’s perseverance. Most of the women that I know (most of the men also, for that matter) would have bailed immediately. She stayed there and got soaked. Everyone else on the creek bailed. Nothing thins the herd like a little rain. 

We had the place to ourselves and we took advantage of it. We fished from one end to the other and picked up fish everywhere we went. It was not just numbers but size also. We caught six trout over twenty four inches including a long but skinny brown and an outstanding cutthroat. There were several close calls including a huge rainbow that swam under a log and refused to come out and a monster brown that took three gravity defying jumps before spitting the hook. The rain cooled the place down. Katie went back to her car and got two fleece jackets for the boys as they were freezing. 

We stopped about 5:30 PM. It had been an incredible afternoon of fishing. We were all soaked and the idea of some dry clothes and a warm meal was very inviting. It was an unexpected outcome for such a rainy day and created some great memories that will be passed on for years to come! 

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

JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 8/22/2014

During the past week, we have had a minor rain event (a quarter inch here in Cotter), hot temperatures and moderate winds. The lake level at Bull Shoals fell seven tenths of a foot to rest at two and nine tenths feet below seasonal power pool of 661 feet. This is thirty six and nine tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Upstream, Table Rock fell six tenths feet to rest at three and five tenths feet below seasonal power pool and seventeen and five tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell seven tenths of a foot to rest at four and seven tenths feet below seasonal power pool or thirteen and three tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the White, we had significant generation in the afternoon and limited generation in the morning with no wadable water. Norfork Lake fell seven tenths of a foot to rest at three and four tenths feet below seasonal power pool of 555.7 feet and twenty eight 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 well below seasonal power pool. With the extremely hot temperatures we have been experiencing, we should see more generation in the afternoon during peak power demand.

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 ruby midge in size eighteen on a three foot tippet.

The higher flows that we have been getting in the afternoons have been conducive to fishing large streamers. You need a fast sinking sink tip line and an eight weight or better rod. This is a heavy lift that requires casting skills and patience.

The Buffalo National River and Crooked Creek are low, clear and barely 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 a bit better 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. The siphon to accommodate minimum flow was down for several days but appears to be back online now.

With summer vacation, there has been a lot of action on Dry Run Creek. It has been crowded at times. With school back in session, I would expect less fishing pressure on the creek. 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 for Blue Ribbon Guides in Cotter, Arkansas and has fished our local streams for over thirty years.