SOME TIPS FOR FISHING DRY RUN CREEK BY JOHN BERRY

We are fortunate to have a world class fishery like Dry Run Creek, in our area. I have never seen it’s equal. We have a small stream teeming with large fish that is open to the public at no charge. That just doesn’t exist anywhere else. To make it even better, local fly fishing and conservation groups have spent substantial funds over the years to make it more accessible and fish friendly. It is open to children under sixteen years of age and the handicapped (an Arkansas Handicap Fishing License is required).

I have been taking children there to fish, since my daughter, Katherine, was twelve. She is now thirty eight. Over the years I have taken countless kids there to fish. During this time, I have figured a few things out. As a result, I have developed a simple approach.

The first consideration should be, is your youngster ready to fish the creek. I often see fathers casting time after time, on the creek, while their two year old is chasing butterflies. It is important that your child does the fishing. They should cast, hook up and fight the fish. Parents can rig the rods, coach the youngster and net the fish. It is important that the child actually catch the fish. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission enforcement officers frequent the creek and hand out tickets to adults fishing. All children are different. My grandson caught a twenty one inch brown trout when he was five. I think that is young.

Equipment is pretty easy. I generally just use my client rods. These are nine foot five weight rods with inexpensive disc drag reels. I use seven and a half foot 4X tapered leaders and eighteen inches of fluorocarbon tippet. I fish sowbugs, San Juan worms (worm brown, cerise and hot fluorescent pink) an egg patterns. A strike indicator and lead complete the rigging. It should be noted that Ole Henry, the resident monster brown, on Dry Run Creek, was recently caught with a pink marabou jig. Throw in the biggest net you can find. Look for one with a big bag and a long handle. Many trout are lost at the net. Finally, bring a camera. Make sure that it has a flash. With all of the tree cover and shade on Dry Run Creek, it can get pretty dark.

There are plenty of spots to fish from the bank but, if your child has waders, they can fish virtually the whole creek. I always wear mine to allow me to release hung up flies and more effectively net the big trout.

You don’t need to fish a very long line. The creek is narrow with a lot of tree cover. There isn’t much room to cast. I generally fish a four foot line and will go shorter in some situations. This means that you are basically high sticking. The trick is to have your youngster set the hook quickly. Have them fight all fish on the reel. You are not going to be able to catch a big fish by stripping it in. The big ones like to run. If you have the line locked down, they can easily break off. With a short line they are already on the reel. Let them run if they want.

No matter how good your kid is they are going to lose a few fish. There are some real monsters on Dry Run Creek and they have all been caught a hundred times. They don’t get big by being stupid. If you lose a good one, check your rigging to make sure that you haven’t lost a fly and keep fishing. There are plenty more trout in there.

When you are coaching your youngster, be patient. If they tangle their line, untangle it. If they make an error, explain what they did wrong and how to prevent that from happening. If they do something well, praise them. When they catch a good one, take a picture. These are the memories of a lifetime. When they get tired or bored, take a break. This is supposed to be fun not a forced march.

When you are taking a picture, handle the fish carefully. Leave them, in the net, suspended in the creek, until you have the camera ready. Handle them as little as possible and carefully revive them before releasing them. Observe the trout after the release, to ensure, that they have revived properly.

If you follow these simple suggestions, I think you and your children will have a memorable day on Dry Run Creek.

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