SHAKEDOWN CRUISE BY JOHN BERRY

A couple of weeks ago I wrote about getting a new to me boat. Since then, I have used it a couple of times for guide trips and have enjoyed working from it. On those trips, I used my old Mercury two cycle fifteen horse outboard motor. This has been my constant companion for over twelve years. I bought it, when I still owned my original Shawnee. To me, it was the perfect motor. It was light, reliable and easy to operate. My new boat came with a Honda fifteen horse four cycle motor that featured electric start and power tilt. These were features, with which, I had no personal experience.

Last week the folks at Tracy Boat and Motor called to tell me that my motor was ready. I had taken it in to be checked out and tuned up before I took it out on the river. I drove my boat over and had them mount it and install a new battery for the electric start and power tilt. At their suggestion, I got a lawn mower battery. It was much smaller yet still had plenty of power to handle the motor. The smaller battery took up a lot less space in my locker and gave me more storage.

While I was there, I dropped off my old Mercury to have it tuned up and prepared for storage. I sold my old boat and trailer but wanted to hang onto the motor. The idea is to store it in my garage as a backup. In the future, if I encounter engine trouble, I can quickly trade out the Honda for the Mercury

I drove straight to Rim Shoals for a shakedown cruise. I wanted to familiarize myself with the new motor, before I took out clients with it. I got everything ready and launched my boat. As I luck would have it, I made a rookie mistake, at the beginning, of the trip. I forgot to put the plug in. As soon as I realized what was happening, I jumped in the boat, grabbed a spare plug (I keep no less than three in the boat) and slammed it into the drain hole. There was a bit of water in the boat and I had no bailer. I went to my Suburban and found a coffee cup. It worked fine.

I was now ready to go. I pushed the start button and it cranked immediately. I was impressed but I was to soon notice that the motor was a lot more cold natured than the Merc. I had to let it idle for a while before I could get under way. It also took me a few minutes to get the throttle and tiller tension adjusted to suit me.

The problem I had was, to get used, to the shifter, on the new four cycle motor. On the Mercury, all of the controls were, on the tiller within easy reach of your hand. You could get under way, shift from forward to reverse or kill the engine without taking your hand off the tiller. The shifter, throttle and kill switch are in different locations on the Honda. It took me a few drifts to get the hang of it but in a few minutes, it was much easier for me.

I started the motor with the pull start and used the power tilt to raise and lower the engine in the water just to make sure that I knew how they functioned.

I made a few other observations, while I was on the water. The Honda was much quieter than the Mercury. You could easily carry on a conversation with it running. Next the new four cycle sips gasoline. It uses much less fuel than the two cycle did. I also noted that it ran much cleaner. There was no oil slick on the surface of the water after I started it. The new Honda is a lot heavier. Without the power tilt I would have trouble lifting it up to avoid rocks when under way.

All things considered, I find the new boat and motor to be a major improvement. I look forward to fishing with the new to me rig.

JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 07/29/2016

During the past week, we have had a rain event (a quarter inch here in Cotter), brutally hot temperatures (to include heat advisories) and moderate winds. The lake level at Bull Shoals fell five tenths of a foot to rest at eight tenths of a foot above seasonal power pool of 661 feet. This is thirty four and eight tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Upstream, Table Rock fell three tenths of a foot to rest at one and three tenths feet below seasonal power pool and fifteen and three tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell eight tenths of a foot to rest at three and one tenth feet below seasonal power pool and eleven and seven tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the White, we had heavy generation in the afternoon this week with more wadable water in the morning. Norfork Lake rose one tenth of a foot to rest at three and feet below seasonal power pool of 555.75 feet and twenty seven and two tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the Norfork, we had reliable wadable water every morning, when it was a bit cooler.

Seasonal power pool has been reset for the lakes in the White River system. All of the lakes on this system are at or near seasonable power pool. With summer here we should expect more generation in the afternoon to supply power for the increased demand for air conditioning.

On the White, the bite has been excellent. The hot spot has been Rim Shoals. We have had more wadable water. 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 (my current favorite is a red San Juan worm with a ruby midge (#18) suspended below it).

The best bet for large trout has been to bang the bank with large articulated streamers delivered with heavy twenty four to thirty foot sink tips (350 grains or heavier) on bigger water. You will need an eight or nine weight rod. This is heavy work but the rewards can be great.

The Buffalo National River and Crooked Creek are navigable. With the hot weather, the smallmouths are still active. My favorite fly is a Clouser minnow. 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 has fished better on the lower water this week. 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. My favorite fly has been the green butt.

Dry Run Creek has been very busy, with summer vacation, in full swing. It has 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). While you are at the creek you should visit the Norfork National Fish Hatchery. It is fascinating. Be sure and remove your waders before entering to prevent the spread of aquatic diseases.

The Spring River is fishing well. 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 there are a lot of boats on the river. You should fish during the week, if you can. 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 with Blue Ribbon Guides in Cotter, Arkansas and has fished our local streams for over thirty years.

JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 07/22/2016

During the past week, we have had no rain here in Cotter, brutally hot temperatures (to include heat advisories) and moderate winds. The lake level at Bull Shoals fell five tenths of a foot to rest at three tenths of a foot above seasonal power pool of 661 feet. This is thirty four and three tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Upstream, Table Rock fell four tenths of a foot to rest at one foot below seasonal power pool and fifteen feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell three tenths of a foot to rest at and three tenths feet below seasonal power pool and ten and nine tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the White, we had less generation this week with more wadable water. Norfork Lake fell one tenth of a foot to rest at three and one tenth feet below seasonal power pool of 555.75 feet and twenty seven and three tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the Norfork, we had reliable wadable water every morning when it was a bit cooler.

Seasonal power pool has been reset for the lakes in the White River system. All of the lakes on this system are at or near seasonable power pool. With summer here we should expect more generation in the afternoon to supply power for the increased demand for air conditioning.

On the White, the bite has been excellent. The hot spot has been Rim Shoals. We have had more wadable water. 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 (my current favorite is a red San Juan worm with a ruby midge (#18) suspended below it).

The best bet for large trout has been to bang the bank with large articulated streamers delivered with heavy twenty four to thirty foot sink tips (350 grains or heavier) on bigger water. You will need an eight or nine weight rod. This is heavy work but the rewards can be great.

The Buffalo National River and Crooked Creek are navigable. With the hot weather, the smallmouths are less active. My favorite fly is a Clouser minnow. 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 has fished better on the lower water this week. 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. My favorite fly has been the green butt.

Dry Run Creek has been very busy, with summer vacation, in full swing. It has 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). While you are at the creek you should visit the Norfork National Fish Hatchery. It is fascinating. Be sure and remove your waders before entering to prevent the spread of aquatic diseases.

The Spring River is fishing well. 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 there are a lot of boats on the river. You should fish during the week, if you can. 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 with Blue Ribbon Guides in Cotter, Arkansas and has fished our local streams for over thirty years.

2 people reached

HOW TO ACHIEVE SUCCESS ON DRY RUN CREEK BY JOHN BERRY

I have been guiding on Dry Run Creek for over twenty five years. I began, when my daughter was twelve, and she is now thirty nine. Over the years, I have made a number of observations. One thing that I have noted is that ninety percent, of the fish caught, are landed by ten percent, of the anglers. There are a lot of big fish there but proximity does not always guarantee success.

It should be noted that this is a Catch and Release stream set aside for children under sixteen years of age and mobility impaired adults. Every time I go there I see some dad fishing the stream while his child is chasing a butterfly nearby. This is not why the creek was developed. Dry Run Creek is for children. That means they must cast, set the hook and fight the fish. You can rig their rod and net fish but that is all. Mobility impaired adults must have a mobility impaired permit from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, in order to fish there.

Bait, of any kind, is strictly prohibited. I saw someone fishing there with corn on Monday. I explained to him that what he was doing was illegal and he quit. You must use a fly or artificial lure with a single barbless hook point. This method does little harm to the trout.

My first recommendation is that you hire a guide. This may sound a bit self serving as both me and my wife, Lori, are guides who frequently work on Dry Run Creek. The fact is a guide can furnish all the gear that you need, is aware of the rules and can make it easier for you or your child to catch fish. They know what flies to use and where to concentrate your efforts. They can even furnish lunch and take pictures of trophy trout.

Have your kids wear waders. There are plenty of places where you can fish from the bank but a pair of waders can put you in some spots that hold plenty of trout but get less pressure than the spots that are easier to fish. A set of waders for yourself will help you get out from the bank, to net the big brown, that doesn’t want to come in.

Move around from time to time. I notice that a lot of anglers congregate on the boardwalk. This area was designed for mobility impaired anglers. The big flat spaces are wheel chair platforms. It is difficult to land fish here. You must get into the water to net fish here unless you have a net with a very long handle (eight feet or more). Mobility impaired anglers are limited to fishing from the boardwalk.

Carry the biggest net that you can lay your hands on. A long handle helps a lot. I have seen many big fish lost at the net. You can buy an inexpensive large net. Don’t try to net the fish too soon. Wait until it is at the top of the water column. The worst thing that you can do is to bump your kid’s trophy trout off.

Use big tippet. I use 4X fluorocarbon. If they hook a big one, you want them to have a chance to land it. Have them take their time when landing the fish. A big one will take several runs. If the child is gripping the line or the reel handle, the fish will break the line. This will happen unless the trout can pull line out. Adjust the reel drag to put as much pressure, on the fish, as possible, without breaking the tippet.

Concentrate your efforts on faster deeper water. I keep my fly selection to a minimum. I use San Juan worms (worm brown, cerise and red) eggs (peach or orange) and sow bugs. My top producer for the last few weeks has been the worm brown San Juan worm. If your kid loses interest, it is time to move on. This is supposed to be fun.

It is my favorite place to guide and can be very rewarding. Good luck!

NEW TO ME BOAT BY JOHN BERRY

I recently purchased a new boat. There are many guides out there that buy a new boat every year. I am not one of those guys. I tend to keep my boats for a long time. I have been guiding for about twenty five years and this is only my third boat. Like all of the others, it was previously owned, in this case, by a little old lady in Norfork. I have had good luck with used boats. Used motors are a different story.

My first boat was a thirty three inch wide twenty foot long Shawnee. I bought boat, motor, and trailer, from a neighbor for a thousand dollars. This was the boat I learned how to navigate the river in. It was pretty rough, when I got it. I had repairs made to the transom, had new pedestal seats installed and had the live well sealed to provide more storage. I am a no kill guide and do not need a live well. I had Berry Brothers Guide Service written on both sides and had a boat cover made for it. I replaced the old Mercury two stroke outboard motor with a new one. The boat served me well for several years. The problem was that it was a bit narrow and a bit ‘tippy’ particularly, when I had large clients. I needed more room.

Another neighbor was moving back to Tennessee and needed to sell his boat. It was a forty eight inch wide twenty foot long White River Jon boat that had been custom made on a Shawnee mold. It had walk through live wells and pedestal seats and a fifteen horse power Evinrude outboard motor. I switched motors and sold my old Shawnee. I had the live wells sealed to provide more storage, had Berry Brothers Guide Service written on it and got a new boat cover made for it. The wider boat was easier for me to guide from. I used it for over ten years and it served me well. 

Like any guide boat it picked up a ding or two. My boat was starting to look its age. It was still functioning but it was time to keep up with the Joneses. My wife, Lori agreed that it was time for a new boat. I wanted something larger with more storage. I looked around and found out that, after a friend of mine passed away, her family was going to sell her weekend house in Norfork. I asked if they were interested in selling her river boat. They said yes and I bought it. 

It is a Supreme sixty inch wide twenty foot long boat. It is about the largest production White River Jon boat made. It has spider chairs, bait trays and four storage lockers. It came with an EZ Loader trailer and a Honda fifteen horse, four cycle outboard motor with electric start and power tilt. This is a much fancier rig than I have ever had. It is similar to what other guides are using except they generally opt for a much larger Jet motor and oars.

I prefer a propeller driven motor as they are much quieter (particularly the four cycle motors) and don’t spook big fish. At sixty nine years of age, I will go with a big trolling motor (which is easier on my back); with a wireless remote control maybe I can fish a little myself.

The boat had been sitting in a garage for several years so I dropped the motor off at Tracy Boat and Motor to have them service it before I took it out. I also bought new tires for the trailer and got the boat registered. I put my old Mercury outboard motor on the new boat and have guided out of it a few days. It is nice but I think when I get some down time, I am going to take the boat to Rob Williams at Supreme to do some custom work. I would prefer pedestal seats and some more storage.

I plan on keeping my old Mercury outboard for a back up and then sell my old boat and trailer. I look forward to fishing out of my new to me boat.

JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT FOR 7/15/2016

During the past week, we have had several rain events (combined for about an inch and a half here in Cotter), hot temperatures and moderate winds. The lake level at Bull Shoals rose one tenth of a foot to rest at two tenths of a foot above seasonal power pool of 661 feet. This is thirty three and eight tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Upstream, Table Rock fell seven tenths of a foot to rest at six tenths of a foot below seasonal power pool and fourteen and six tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell two tenths of a foot to rest at two feet below seasonal power pool and ten and six tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the White, we had less generation this week with more wadable water. Norfork Lake fell one and two tenths feet to rest at three feet below seasonal power pool of 555.75 feet and twenty seven and two tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the Norfork, we had little wadable water.

Seasonal power pool has been reset for the lakes in the White River system. All of the lakes on this system are at or near seasonable power pool. With summer here we should expect more generation in the afternoon to supply power for the increased demand for air conditioning.

On the White, the bite has been erratic. Some days it fished well others not so good. We have had more wadable water. 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 (my current favorite is a pink San Juan worm with a ruby midge (#18) suspended below it).

The best bet for large trout has been to bang the bank with large articulated streamers delivered with heavy twenty four to thirty foot sink tips (350 grains or heavier). You will need an eight or nine weight rod. This is heavy work but the rewards can be great.

The Buffalo National River and Crooked Creek are navigable. With the warm weather, the smallmouths are active. My favorite fly is a Clouser minnow. 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 has fished better lately. 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 fly has been the green butt.

Dry Run Creek has been very busy, with summer vacation, in full swing. It is cleared and 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). While you are at the creek you should visit the Norfork National Fish Hatchery. It is fascinating. Be sure and remove your waders before entering to prevent the spread of aquatic diseases.

The Spring River is fishing well. This is a great place to wade fish, when they are running water on the White and Norfork Rivers. Canoe season is over and fishing is better. 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 with Blue Ribbon Guides in Cotter, Arkansas and has fished our local streams for over thirty years.

HENRY’S TOP SIX FLIES BY JOHN BERRY

Last week I wrote about my top six flies. When I got to Blue Ribbon Fly Shop the next day, I discussed the article with Henry Seay, my assistant manager. He is an accomplished fly fisher and fly tyer but he uses different flies with great success. I decided to write about his top six and see where we agreed and where we were different. 

When he moved here from Arizona 11 years ago, one of the first items on my things he did was to find a hatch chart for the Norfork and Bull Shoals Tailwaters. Two things stood out midges and sowbugs/scuds hatched 52 weeks of the year. In moving water sowbugs and scuds look so much alike he didn’t think fish could tell the difference to see them as one type of fly, hence sowbug/scud.

Other hatches come and go but midges and sowbugs/scuds are always present.  It seems to make no difference to him, if you are fishing Lee's Ferry, the San Juan River, the Norfork or any other tailwater anywhere in the U.S.A. midges will be the most important hatch. It was only natural to bring with him and introduce to the local tailwaters here the Zebra midge. His list would have to be the Zebra midge #16 – 22, a simple and highly effective fly that no angler should be without. This fly has also caught largemouth bass and bream on Norfork Lake.

His second fly would also be a midge, the Pheasant Tail midge #16 - 20.  This fly is often tied with a hot spot at the thorax to catch the eye of a passing trout. This fly can also pass as a midge larva, pupae or a small stonefly. He finds there is inherent magic, with pheasant tail fibers, hares ear, CDC, copper wire and peacock hurl.  When any two of these items are used together they become as irresistible as chocolate candy. All his flies will have one or more of these items tied into them.

He would never consider venturing into the waters to fish for trout without hare and copper #10 - 18.  This is a fly that has also taken fish everywhere in the world. A fly that suggest a stonefly, a scud, and a crane fly, it is fuzzy, spiky and looks like many aquatic life forms. 

Next is the sowbug/scud #10 – 16, the other trout food that hatches 12 months of the year. A fly that can pass for a stonefly, and has proven very productive crawled slowly across the bottom of a stream as well as dead drifting.

The "F" fly #14 - 22 is the only dry fly that he carries. This is a European fly that has had a hand in bringing home trophies for more than one country, in international competition. It is the only fly a friend of his from Mississippi uses, when he comes here and fishes the Norfork Tailwater. He takes a backseat to no one on the river.

He would never step into the river or any body of water without a Woolly Bugger #6 - 14. This fly has caught fish coast to coast, cold water, warm water or salt water. A size #12 or 14 will destroy a bream bed. When nothing else works, he ties on a woolly bugger.

With these 6 flies he could fish every tailwater in America and believe that he was armed properly. We agreed on the woolly bugger and hare and copper. He ties all of these flies at the shop and will be glad to show them to you. What are your top six flies?