PEACOCK SOFT HACKLE

https://youtu.be/qYAqS34GwDY



Thanks Dennis, for sharing your Fly Tie of the Week, the PEACOCK SOFT HACKLE!

STELLAR DAY ON DRY RUN CREEK BY JOHN BERRY

Last week I had a guide trip with John and his two sons, Jack and Walter. When I first booked this trip with John a couple of months ago, I learned that Walter was fourteen years old. I immediately began discussing the possibility of taking him to Dry Run Creek. John agreed and we decided to spend a half day on the Creek. The trip was to be a spring break trip with a visit to The University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Jack’s college choice.

We were scheduled to fish for two days. Whenever I have a two day trip, I try to spend one day on the White River and one day on the Norfork River. That gives my clients a better look at the quality of the fishing that we have here. The first day on the White started a bit slow. We began at Wildcat Shoals and it just wasn’t happening. We loaded up and drove over to Rim Shoals. The fishing was much better there and we ended the day with several fish. All of the guys were competent casters and could set the hook. Walter had the hot hand, which was a good omen for his tour on Dry Run Creek the next day.

We were the first ones on Dry Run Creek the next day. Walter was on fire. He caught fish after fish. We decided to move upstream, to a big fish hole, that I try to hit every time I fish there. With the body count up, we decided to concentrate on landing a trophy. We hit a great rainbow and after a lengthy fight we managed to land the fat twenty five inch male. We landed a few smaller trout and then hit another big Rainbow. Walter fought it for several minutes before it wrapped a big rock and slipped the hook. The next trout was a huge brown that had its way with us for fifteen minutes before slipping the hook. Despite his earlier success, Walter was getting discouraged. Another big fat rainbow changed all of that.

The whole time that Walter was fishing John and Jack were sitting on the bank cheering him on. Around noon we reluctantly left the stream and ate lunch quickly. Jack and John were ready to fish. We drove over to Quarry Park and started fishing. John caught some nice trout but Jack and Walter were struggling. We were fishing near the confluence of Dry Run Creek and The Norfork. I looked up the Creek and realized that Jack could fish there. I moved him up the creek and he was immediately into fish including a couple of twenty five inch rainbows. I move Jack into a more productive spot and he began catching trout.

The action slowed and we drove over to the Ackerman Access and walked up into the Catch and release Section. John and Walter caught several but Jack was struggling. I took him to a better spot and showed him how to fish it. He was soon into a good trout and caught several including a substantial nineteen incher. He had a larger one on but it was uncooperative. Before we knew, it was time to go. It had been a long day.

Dry Run Creek stood out as a remarkable fishery. John assured me that he would tell all of his friends about it.

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

JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 3/27/2015

During the past week, we have had several rain events, (a bit less than an inch here in Cotter), warm temperatures and heavy winds (to include lake wind advisories). The lake level at Bull Shoals rose one and six tenths feet to rest at one tenth of a foot above seasonal power pool of 659 feet. This is thirty five and nine tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Upstream, Table Rock rose one and one tenth feet to rest at one tenth of a foot above seasonal power pool and fifteen and nine tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake rose one and four tenths feet 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 had brief periods of heavy generation in the morning with several days of wadable water. Norfork Lake rose one and two tenths feet to rest at five tenths of a foot above seasonal power pool of 553.7 feet and twenty five and seven tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the Norfork, we had wadable water every day with generation most mornings.

The siphon to accommodate minimum flow on the Norfork is down for repairs. They will be running the generators on a speed-no-load option to make up for the lost siphon flows.

The water level for the top of power pool has been reset for the lakes in the White River system. Due to recent rains, three of the lakes on this system are above seasonal power pool.

The Catch and Release section below Bull Shoals Dam was closed from November 1, 2014 to January 31, 2015 to accommodate the brown trout spawn. The State Park was seasonal Catch and Release for the same period. There are redds in the area. They will appear as shallow clean depressions in the gravel.  Please avoid them when wading or dragging chains to protect the eggs in them.

On the White, the hot spot was 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 (try a prince nymph with a ruby midge or red fan tail midge suspended below it).

Conventional wisdom states that hopper fishing begins in late summer. I reject this idea and fish them all year. 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 (#10) and the western pink lady (#8). To increase hook ups I always use a dropper. I am currently using a ruby or root beer midge in size eighteen on a three foot or longer tippet (depending on the depth of the water I am fishing).

There have been several reliable sightings of caddis hatching. This is our major hatch of the year. They are size fourteen and easy to see. Before the hatch, you should concentrate on fishing prince nymphs. When the trout key on the top but no insects are present, switch over to my green butt. When you observe trout taking adult insects from the top of the water column, you should switch over to elk hair caddis dry flies.

The Buffalo National River and Crooked Creek are stained and high. With the weather warming, the smallmouths should be active soon. 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 the colder weather there was little fishing pressure on the Norfork.  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 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 #10). 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.

There was more fishing pressure on Dry Run Creek due to spring break. It has been a great time to fish there. The hot flies have been sowbugs (#14), Y2Ks (#12) and various colored San Juan worms (worm brown, red, hot fluorescent pink and cerise #10). While you are there take a few minutes to visit 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 on the Spring River is stained and high. This is a great place to wade fish, when they are running water on the White and Norfork Rivers. Canoe season is over and there are fewer boats on the river to interfere with your fishing. 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 soled wading boots that are easier to clean and are not as likely to harbor didymo.

The Sow bug Roundup is this week!

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

THE TWISTED CADDIS

Thanks, Guide Dennis, for teaching us how to tie:

THE TWISTED CADDIS 

https://youtu.be/Lwlyn-elfcM

JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 3/20/2015

During the past week, we have had a significant rain event, (about an inch and a half here in Cotter), warm temperatures and moderate winds. The lake level at Bull Shoals rose two and nine tenths feet to rest at one and five tenths feet below seasonal power pool of 659 feet. This is thirty seven and five tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Upstream, Table Rock rose three and nine tenths of a foot to rest at one foot below seasonal power pool and seventeen feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake rose two and eight tenths feet to rest at two and eight tenths feet below seasonal power pool or twelve and four tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the White, we had brief periods of heavy generation in the morning with several days of wadable water. Norfork Lake rose three and three tenths feet to rest at seven tenths of a foot below seasonal power pool of 553.7 feet and twenty six and nine tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the Norfork, we had wadable water every day with generation most mornings.

The siphon to accommodate minimum flow on the Norfork is down for repairs. They will be running the generators on a speed-no-load option to make up for the lost siphon flows.

The water level for the top of power pool has been reset for the lakes in the White River system. Despite recent rains, all of the lakes on this system are still below seasonal power pool.

The Catch and Release section below Bull Shoals Dam was closed from November 1, 2014 to January 31, 2015 to accommodate the brown trout spawn. The State Park was seasonal Catch and Release for the same period. There are redds in the area. They will appear as shallow clean depressions in the gravel.  Please avoid them when wading or dragging chains to protect the eggs in them.

On the White, the hot spot was 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 (try a prince nymph with a ruby midge or red fan tail midge suspended below it).

Conventional wisdom states that hopper fishing ends with the first frost (we had several heavy frosts this past week). I reject this idea and fish them during the winter. 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 (#10) and the western pink lady (#8). To increase hook ups I always use a dropper. I am currently using a ruby or root beer midge in size eighteen on a three foot or longer tippet (depending on the depth of the water I am fishing).

The higher flows on some mornings 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. Streamer season started on opening day! The most popular patterns have been large articulated streamers in tan and yellow and olive and yellow.

The Buffalo National River and Crooked Creek are stained and high. With the colder weather, the smallmouths are not active. 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 the colder weather there was little fishing pressure on the Norfork.  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 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 #10). 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.

There was more fishing pressure on Dry Run Creek due to spring break. It has been a great time to fish there. The hot flies have been sowbugs (#14), Y2Ks (#12) and various colored San Juan worms (worm brown, red, hot fluorescent pink and cerise #10). While you are there take a few minutes to visit 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 on the Spring River is stained and high. This is a great place to wade fish, when they are running water on the White and Norfork Rivers. Canoe season is over and there are fewer boats on the river to interfere with your fishing. 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 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. 

SOWBUG ROUNDUP IS FINALLY HERE BY JOHN BERRY

After a year of anticipation, the Sowbug Roundup is finally here. This is a home grown event that began eighteen years ago with twenty fly tyers and one hundred and fifty attendees. It has flourished over the years and has become one of the most respected fly tying events in the United States. This year’s Sowbug Roundup will feature over a hundred fly tyers and welcome well over a thousand attendees. This is my kind of show and I live for it. This was created and is sponsored by the North Arkansas Fly Fishers, our local fly fishing club. It is their primary fund raiser and they annually ear mark the first ten thousand dollars raised for scholarships. 

This year’s Sowbug Roundup will be held at the Baxter County Fair Grounds on March 26, 27 and 28. The admission for all three days is only $5.00. Children under twelve years of age are free. This is the perfect family event with wholesome fun for everyone. 

This is a fly fishing show and the main draw is the fly tyers. If you ever wanted to see some true artists, this is the place to be. You can learn something from every one of them. I can sit and watch these tyers for hours. There are some really nice people there and I always enjoy welcoming old friends and meeting new ones. If you are thinking about taking up fly tying, there are free fly tying classes every day. Be sure and sign up when you get there. 

A major change to this year’s Sowbug is a new food vendor. This is something that I am looking forward to. I spend all my time at the event and the prospect of good food without leaving the Fair Grounds really appeals to me. In addition to homemade desserts, they are going to have daily specials like Italian roast beef sandwiches, homemade chicken salad and pulled pork. For breakfast there is sausage biscuit, sausage gravy and biscuits and homemade muffins and sweet rolls. There are plenty of healthy choices like fresh fruit, yoghurt, granola bars and a fresh garden salad with homemade bread. I am interested in the homemade chili and Frito pie. 

There are a lot of quality vendors. All of the local fly shops, Dally’s Ozark Fly Fishers, Twin Rivers Fly Shop, Wishes and Fishes and the recently reopened Blue Ribbon Fly Shop. Duane Hada and Dave Whitlock will be there to show off their art. Shawnee will be there showing their boats and Ozark Mountain Trading Company will be there with a bunch of kayaks. My favorite vendors the Golden Rule Fly Shop and Harry Boyd, a custom bamboo rod maker, are scheduled to be there. There are several other vendors including me. 

There are a bunch of great seminars. Lori is doing one as am I. This year the new event is the Sowbug Roundup Shindig. This is a party for the tyers, volunteers and attendees. Anyone can attend for a nominal fee of $10.00. Tyers and volunteers get in free. There is food, beverages and a great live auction. The winners of the Fly Tying Contest will be announced and the plaques will be awarded. 

If all of this sounds like something you would like to participate in, please join me at the Sowbug roundup. Stop by my booth and let me tie you a fly. 

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

SPRING FLY FISHING CLASS COMING UP AT ASU BY JOHN BERRY

My wife, Lori, and I have scheduled our spring fly fishing class at Arkansas State University Mountain Home beginning on March 19, 2015. The class will be held from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM every Thursday night for four weeks (3/19/2015, 3/26/2015, 4/2/2015 and 4/9/2015). This class is designed for complete novices that have never held a fly rod, in their hands. However we think that self taught anglers, who have never taken any formal instruction, will benefit from attending this class.

Lori has been a fly fishing guide for over a dozen years and I have been guiding for over twenty years. In that time, we have learned a thing or two about fly fishing. We both consider ourselves to be teaching guides and enjoy working with new fly fishers.

Since the beginning of our teaching this class five years ago (we taught classes for several other institutions before that), Lori has led the casting instruction. She is very committed to teaching casting and truly enjoys it. Over the years, her casting skills have surpassed mine. She works hard to be a better caster. We turned our side yard into a casting lawn to have a place to practice and teach. When we met, she was employed as a corporate trainer and she has used this background to be a great casting instructor. I assist her in teaching the class and I use my two decades of casting instruction to your benefit. We devote half of the class time to casting instruction. When you take our class, you will learn to cast a fly rod. You can use your rod and reel or use one of ours.

I lead on the classroom instruction. This is where I utilize my many years of fly fishing and guiding to teach what is important for you, to know when you are on stream. The emphasis is to keep everything simple. I don’t want to tell you everything that I know. I want to carefully teach you what you need to know.

I begin with telling you about the equipment that is available and what you will need. I also discuss what you don’t need. This is where you learn what you need to buy and how much to spend. I suggest that you wait until you attend this class, before you buy anything. We also spend plenty of time discussing water safety. You learn how to predict safe wading conditions and how to wade safely.

The next class is devoted to learning to tie knots. This is one of the most important things we cover. If you can’t tie on your own fly you are not independent. We make sure that every student learns two basic knots and how to avoid using any other knots. At the next class, we take these basic knots and apply them to learning to rig and fish, with four fundamental techniques.

Our last class is committed to learning about flies. You will learn what flies are needed and which ones you should have to fish around here or anywhere else. We also spend quite a bit of time learning to read water to determine, where the fish are. Lori assists me in all of this.

If this sounds like something that you would be interested in, please contact Sarah Sikes at Arkansas State University Mountain Home (870) 508-6105 to register. I hope to see you there.

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