GUIDE DENNIS WITH THE RABBIT FOOT SULPHUR

STELLAR DAY ON DRY RUN CREEK BY JOHN BERRY

I have been busy lately guiding a variety of clients. My wife, Lori, has been busy also due to the interest generated by the article naming her one of the top ten guides that appeared in Garden and Gun Magazine this spring. We were both working last Saturday. I had a boat trip on the White River and Lori took a youngster to Dry Run Creek for Blue Ribbon Fly Shop.

Lori and I both successful days on stream catching plenty of fish. However, when Lori was netting a large trout she slipped and instinctively put out her hand to break her fall. In doing so, she managed to sprain her thumb. It was quite painful and she ended up wearing a brace to stabilize her thumb.

The problem was that she was scheduled to guide her client’s cousin the next day and due to her injury she was unable to net fish particularly large ones. On Dry Run Creek that is a problem. Luckily I had the day off and volunteered to accompany her and net fish. She was relieved.
 

We met our client along with his mother, Lily, and grandmother, Rhea, at the shop at 8:00 AM. Both are avid photographers and wanted to record the event. Cole is fifteen years old and bigger than me. He wears a size twelve shoe (I wear an eight) and looks like a football player. He had fished the White River the day before and landed twenty two trout. If I had been a warden, I would have checked his ID. He had the look of an angler about him.
 

He was a competent caster and had no trouble setting the hook. Over the day, he never tangled his line and only lost one fly (it is in a fish). He is possibly the best client that I have ever had on Dry Run Creek.
 

The first fish he hooked was a twenty four inch rainbow with a substantial girth. He easily brought it in. The ladies photographed it and I released it. This event was to be repeated several times that day. Every time we netted a big one (over twenty four inches), Cole and I would wade over to where Lily and Rhea were standing. We kept the fish in the net until they had their cameras set up and then carefully lifted the fish from the net so that they could photograph it. They also took photos on their smart phones so they could email the photos. After that, I would return the fish to the water and carefully revive them.

By the time we stopped for lunch, he had landed five huge trout and numerous smaller fish (we lost count early in the process). The largest was twenty seven inches long and probably went over twelve pounds. All were rainbows. I was interested in catching some different species. We set our goal for the afternoon to land a big brown. We returned to the stream and began fishing in earnest.
 

We caught another couple of huge rainbows and then we hooked a big brown. I got a good look at him and he was a big male that was definitely bigger than anything we had landed. I would estimate that he went over fifteen pounds. He was definitely a hand full. He was hugging the bottom and moving around at ease. I had 4X tippet and the drag on the reel was set pretty heavy. I was in the water with my big net and carefully following him hoping for a chance to net him. My heart skipped a beat when I saw him swim into a stack or rocks near the undercut bank. The indicator stopped moving. I carefully waded over to it and found the leader wrapped around a root wad. The brown was gone. They don’t get that big by being stupid!
 

We landed several other trout including another trophy rainbow but no other browns. We ended the day on a pleasant note with a ten pounder. It had been a stellar day with more big fish than I had ever seen one angler land. Lori estimated over a hundred pounds of trout landed. I do not doubt it.

Dry Run Creek was very good to us. Lori would not have been able to land those huge trout with her injury. I am glad that I was there to help!
 

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

JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 5/29/2015

During the past week, we have had several significant rain events (combined for a bit over an inch here in Cotter), warm temperatures and moderate winds. The lake level at Bull Shoals rose two and three tenths feet to rest at eight and seven tenths feet above seasonal power pool of 662 feet. This is twenty four and three tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Upstream, Table Rock rose nine tenths of a foot to rest at three tenths of a foot above seasonal power pool and thirteen and one tenth feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake rose two and four tenths feet to rest at seven and five tenths feet above seasonal power pool one and one tenth of a foot below the top of flood pool. On the White, we had moderate generation with no wadable water. Norfork Lake rose five tenths of a foot to rest at three and nine tenths feet above seasonal power pool of 556.75 feet and nineteen and four 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. Due to recent rains, the lakes on this system are above seasonal power pool.

On heavy generation, the best way to catch fish is to switch to longer leaders and heavier weight. On the White, the hot spot was the Catch and Release section at 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 root beer 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 smallmouth 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 better recently. 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. My favorite combination has been a grass hopper with a root beer or ruby midge dropper.

There is a major construction project at the Norfork National Fish Hatchery. You can still access the creek. It was crowded over the last few days due to the Memorial Day holiday. It still fished well. The hot flies have been sowbugs (#14), Y2Ks (#12) and various colored San Juan worms (worm brown, red, hot fluorescent pink and cerise #10).  

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 in full swing and can be a nuisance to 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 for Blue Ribbon Guides in Cotter, Arkansas and has fished our local streams for over thirty years. 

GUIDE DENNIS TYING ROUCE'S SOWBUG

CLICK BELOW:

ROUCE'S SOWBUG

THANKS, DENNIS!

BOATING ETIQUETTE BY JOHN BERRY

Yesterday a group of guides were sitting around talking after the finish of a two day corporate fishing trip. We do this several times a year for this particular customer and the end of the last day is a great time for us to catch up with each other and discuss fishing in general and challenges in particular. One of the main topics yesterday was boating etiquette. We are on the river a lot and share it with all users. Some users exercise proper etiquette and others do not.

The main issue concerned passing others. Bait fishers tend to park and fish specific spots and fly fishers tend to drift and cover a given stretch of water.  Whenever I pass another boat, I carefully check which side of the boat the anglers are fishing from and try to pass them on the other side. If I am unable to do this, due to limited space or navigation obstacles, I will carefully pass or even wait until they have passed me before I motor by them. Whatever you do, avoid running over any anglers lines. That is not a great way to make friends.

When you are passing others try and avoid waking them. River boats can throw up a pretty good wake. Jet boats can create a huge wake. Wakes can be a problem for anglers fishing particularly when they are standing. I have lost my balance more than once due to a wake. When I pass other anglers, I will slow down when passing so that I do not throw a wake. Drift boats, canoes and kayaks deserve even more consideration. Always give them the right of way and please don’t wake them for fear that you could capsize them.

When drifting, pay particular attention to the drift of others. When setting up a drift make sure that you do not crowd other anglers. The downstream boat has the right of way. It is considered bad form to begin your drift just below another boat. This is called low holing and is frowned on because you are drifting where the other boat was going. It is much better to go upstream above the other boat to begin the drift.

In lower water you will also have to consider wade fishers. When there is no generation, most waders essentially fish the main channel. This brings them into conflict with boaters. You will have to use the main channel. Be respectful when passing and do not wake them. If they have a fish on, wait until they have landed it or effectively controlled it.

Then there is ramp etiquette. Everyone there wants to use the ramp. Prepare your boat for launching or for the trip home in the parking lot before you get on the ramp. The only thing you should do on the ramp is to launch or put your boat on the trailer. This is not the place to work on your motor, rig your rod or clean fish. If you motor over to the ramp to eat lunch, use the facilities or stretch your legs, park in such a way that you do not block the ramp, so that others can use it. Some anglers are like me. I drive a Suburban with a long trailer and I need quite a bit of room to maneuver it. Also when you leave the ramp, drive far from the ramp to give other boaters plenty of space to use it.

If you keep the suggestions in mind, our rivers can be a better place and we can maximize the benefits of being on the water.

JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 5/22/2015

During the past week, we have had several significant rain events (combined for a bit over an inch and a half here in Cotter), warm temperatures and moderate winds. The lake level at Bull Shoals rose two and six tenths feet to rest at six and four tenths feet above seasonal power pool of 662 feet. This is twenty six and six tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Upstream, Table Rock rose six tenths of a foot to rest at four tenths of a foot below seasonal power pool and fourteen feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake rose three feet to rest at five and one tenth feet above seasonal power pool or three and five tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the White, we had moderate generation with no wadable water. Norfork Lake rose one and one tenth feet to rest at three and three tenths feet above seasonal power pool of 556.75 feet and nineteen and nine 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. Due to recent rains, the lakes on this system are above seasonal power pool.

On heavy generation, the best way to catch fish is to switch to longer leaders and heavier weight. On the White, the hot spot was the Catch and Release section at 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 root beer 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 better recently. 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. My favorite combination has been a grass hopper with a root beer or ruby midge dropper.

There is a major construction project at the Norfork National Fish Hatchery and the walkway between the two sets of stairs to the creek is closed. You can still access the creek by walking the trail beside it. The hot flies have been sowbugs (#14), Y2Ks (#12) and various colored San Juan worms (worm brown, red, hot fluorescent pink and cerise #10).  

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.

JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 5/15/2015

During the past week, we have had several significant rain events (combined for a bit over two inches here in Cotter), warm temperatures and moderate winds. The lake level at Bull Shoals remained steady to rest at three and nine tenths above seasonal power pool of 662 feet. This is twenty nine and two tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Upstream, Table Rock rose one and eight tenths feet to rest at one and two tenths feet below seasonal power pool and thirteen and four tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake rose three and five tenths feet to rest at three and one tenth feet above seasonal power pool or six and five tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the White, we had heavy generation with no wadable water. Norfork Lake rose one and one tenth feet to rest at two and two tenths feet above seasonal power pool of 556.75 feet and twenty one and one tenth feet below the top of flood pool. On the Norfork, we had wadable water most days.

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

On heavy generation, the best way to catch fish is to switch to longer leaders and heavier weight. On the White, the hot spot was the Catch and Release section at 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 root beer 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 better recently. 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. My favorite combination has been a grass hopper with a root beer or ruby midge dropper.

There is a major construction project at the Norfork National Fish Hatchery and the walkway between the two sets of stairs to the creek is closed. You can still access the creek by walking the trail beside it. The hot flies have been sowbugs (#14), Y2Ks (#12) and various colored San Juan worms (worm brown, red, hot fluorescent pink and cerise #10).  

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.