TWO DAYS ON THE RIVER BY JOHN BERRY

This Monday and Tuesday I had a two-day guide trip with a father and son from Kansas City. Dad had fished here in the past but had not fished here lately. His son, Will, had fished Dry Run Creek but had never been on the White and Norfork. The plan was to fish from a boat on the White River and wade the Norfork the next. I have been guiding both rivers quite a bit lately and they have been fishing well.

On the first day, we fished the White River at Rim Shoals. The weather was warm but very windy. I found a spot that offered a bit of protection from the wind but not enough. I had rigged their rods with red fox squirrel and copper nymphs a ruby midge dropper, a bit of lead and a strike indicator. The red fox squirrel nymph accounted for about a third of the fish and the ruby midge accounted for two thirds. We were catching fish pretty much at will. We landed around fifty trout the largest being about sixteen inches long. It was all numbers but not much size.

The next day we fished the Norfork. We started at the dam because we were waiting for the water to drop out downstream. It was unseasonably warm and there was a gentle rain falling with no appreciable wind. I personally love fishing in the rain because nothing thins the herd like a little rain. We had the river to ourselves for the entire day. We began with the flies that we had used the previous day.

The going was slow below the dam. We finally caught a few trout. I quickly pumped their stomachs to see what they had been eating. I thought if I knew what they were keying in on that I could change flies and catch more and better trout. I was very concerned when I found that they were gorging on daphnia. These are really small aquatic insects that periodically come through the dam. Their common name is water flea. They are impossible to duplicate with a fly and when the trout key in on them the fishing can be very challenging.

The water dropped out and it was time to move downstream to the Ackerman Access, to try our luck in the catch and release section. We kept the same flies and waded far upstream from the access. Our first hookup was a twenty-one-inch rainbow. I thought things might be looking up. We began picking up trout on a regular basis. I pumped the stomachs of a couple of trout and noted no daphnia. Maybe it has not worked its way this far down stream.

We continued fishing and Will caught an even larger trout. This one was a twenty-three-inch rainbow. It was the biggest rainbow that he had ever landed and a trophy in anybody’s book. We caught several more nice trout but nothing that would beat that. We finished the day with about half as many fish as the day before. They definitely preferred the fishing on the Norfork due to the quality of the fishing.

They had two great days of fishing on our local trout streams and they left with smiles on their faces.

JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT FOR 2/22/2017

During the past week, we have had rain (about an inch here in Cotter), milder temperatures and moderate winds. The lake level at Bull Shoals fell one tenth of a foot to rest at seven and nine tenths feet below seasonal power pool of 659 feet. This is forty three and nine tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Upstream, Table Rock rose three tenths of a foot to rest at eight and two tenths feet below seasonal power pool and twenty four and two tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake rose two tenths of a foot to rest at nine and five tenths feet below seasonal power pool and nineteen and one tenth feet below the top of flood pool. On the White, we had significant wadable water with little generation. Norfork Lake remained steady at six and eight tenths feet below seasonal power pool of 553.75 feet and thirty three feet below the top of flood pool. On the Norfork, we had less generation with more wadable water.

Seasonal power pool has been reset for the lakes in the White River system. All of the lakes on this system are below seasonable power pool. With colder weather and a higher demand for power, we should see less wadable water.

On the White, the bite has been spotty. Some days have been excellent and some poor. The hot spot has been the Catch and Release section at 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 hare and copper nymph (#14) with a ruby midge (#18) suspended below it).

Streamer season is here. Unfortunately the generation has been a bit low for optimal streamer conditions. The idea is 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. Some larger browns have been caught at night using mouse patterns.

The Buffalo National River and Crooked Creek are navigable. With warm weather the smallmouths should be more 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.

There has been more wadable water on the Norfork. Daphnia has been spotted on the upper river and could adversely affect the bite. 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 rig has been a hare and copper nymph with a ruby midge dropper. 

Dry Run Creek has been very crowded due to the unseasonable warm weather. 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 there are fewer boats on the river. 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.

SUNDAY AFTERNOON ON THE NORFORK BY JOHN BERRY

My wife, Lori, and I finally got a chance to fish together. Her mother and father had been ill and she went to Memphis for a while to care for them. When she came back to Cotter, she brought a cold with her and we were both sick for a few days. We recovered just before the Trout Unlimited Banquet last Saturday. It was a fun event but we were ready for a day on the river.

We got our chance on Sunday afternoon. This is generally our favorite time to fish around here. This is when the out of town anglers are headed back home and we have the choice spots to ourselves. This day was no different. After a nice lunch at home, we headed over to the Ackerman Access, on the Norfork River. It was sunny and in the mid-fifties, when we arrived. The River was on the bottom and there was a bit of wind. There were plenty of cars parked at the access but there were several anglers getting ready to leave.

We suited up and walked upstream into the Catch and Release section. We had decided to fish near each other. I took my nine foot five weight Sage ZXL. I had a grass hopper with a root beer midge dropper from my previous fishing trip and decided to try that combination first. Lori began with an olive woolly bugger on her Winston Joan Wulff Favorite rod.

I began casting in a nearby run and landed a couple of nice rainbows immediately. I was yearning for something larger and decided to move further upstream to my favorite big fish hole. I rerigged my rod with a hare and copper, a ruby midge and a bit of lead under a strike indicator. I began casting into the run and caught several nice fish but no trophies. I began working downstream to where Lori was fishing and concentrated on fast deep water. I finally managed to land a fat nineteen-inch rainbow and my blood lust was finally sated.

I walked over to where Lori was fishing. She had tried the woolly bugger and various nymphs. She had caught some fish in the process but was not satisfied with the results. The day was sunny and bright and some midges were coming off. She had noticed some trout feeding near the top of the water column and had decided to try a midge emerger.

The fly she had chosen was Dan’s Turkey Tail Emerger. This was my Brother Dan’s signature pattern. He had developed it specifically for fishing emerging midges, on the Norfork. Although it works in a variety of situations, it is deadly on the Norfork (I will tie this fly at the Sowbug Roundup). She tied a long tippet to her leader. The leader tippet combination was twelve feet ending in 5X. She tied on the fly and pinched down the barb. She cast the fly at a forty-five-degree angle to downstream and stripped the line to sink the fly into the film. She slowly worked her way downstream.

She landed a nice rainbow on the third cast. I decided to sit on a large rock and watch her fish. It was a thing of beauty. She effortlessly cast the fly and let it gently settle on the water. When she felt a subtle take, she set the hook. She deftly fought all of the trout, on her Orvis CFO reel and quickly released them, in the river unharmed. I don’t know how many she caught because neither one of us counted. It didn’t matter because we were both contented. She was having a great day and I was observing an angler that knew what she was doing. Life is good!

We walked out hand in hand. It had been another day in paradise.

JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 02/17/2017

During the past week, we have had rain (about an inch here in Cotter), milder temperatures and moderate winds. The lake level at Bull Shoals rose three tenths of a foot to rest at eight feet below seasonal power pool of 659 feet. This is forty four feet below the top of flood pool. Upstream, Table Rock remained steady at eight and five tenths feet below seasonal power pool and twenty four and five tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake remained steady at nine and seven tenths feet below seasonal power pool and nineteen and three tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the White, we had much more wadable water with little generation. Norfork Lake fell five tenths feet to rest at six and eight tenths feet below seasonal power pool of 553.75 feet and thirty three feet below the top of flood pool. On the Norfork, we had less generation with more wadable water.

Seasonal power pool has been reset for the lakes in the White River system. All of the lakes on this system are below seasonable power pool. With colder weather and a higher demand for power, we should see less wadable water.

On the White, the bite has been spotty. Some days have been excellent and some poor. The hot spot has been the Catch and Release section below Bull Shoals Dam. 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 hare and copper nymph (#14) with a ruby midge (#18) suspended below it).

Streamer season is here. Unfortunately the generation has been a bit low for optimal streamer conditions. The idea is 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. Some larger browns have been caught at night using mouse patterns.

The Buffalo National River and Crooked Creek are navigable. With cold weather the smallmouths are much 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.

There has been more wadable water 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. My favorite rig has been a hare and copper nymph with a ruby midge dropper. 

Dry Run Creek has been less crowded. 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 there are fewer boats on the river. 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.

BIG BONNEVILLE TROUT BY JOHN BERRY

A few weeks ago, I wrote about how excited I was to catch an eleven inch Bonneville Cutthroat. The Bonnevilles are a recent addition to our fishery. Our local Trout Unlimited organization, Arkansas White River Chapter # 698, has an ongoing project to introduce these trout to the White and Norfork Rivers. The idea was to introduce another self-sustaining trout species to our waters to complement our brown trout.

TU obtained the Bonneville trout eggs from Wyoming and brought in Dave Whitlock to initiate the project. Beginning four years ago, the eggs were planted in Catch and Release Sections of the White and Norfork Rivers in order to create a spawning ground for them, on an annual basis. The idea of another self-sustaining species in our waters is very appealing to me.

Right after I had caught my eleven inch Bonneville, someone came into Blue Ribbon and showed me a photo of an eighteen incher. I was really impressed. I had no idea that they had gotten so big in such a short time. I decided to go after a big one!

Last week I had a day off. My wife, Lori, had gone to Memphis to care for her parents who had both just gotten out of the hospital. I was home alone with some free time on my hands. I decided to drive over to the Ackerman access on the Norfork and give it a try. It was cloudy and cold (around 39 degrees) with a ten to fifteen mile an hour wind out of the north that sent the wind chill plummeting. The water was on the bottom. I was surprised to only see one vehicle in the parking lot. A bit of solitude really sounded nice to me.

I waded far upstream into the Catch and Release Section, with the idea of fishing my way out. I did not rig my rod until I got where I wanted to fish. I arrived at a deep, fast run a few hundred yards below where TU had planted the Bonneville trout eggs. I took a few minutes to rig my rod with a size fourteen hare and copper with ruby midge dropper. My first fish was a fat fourteen-inch rainbow. Then I landed an eighteen and then a seventeen and a sixteen.

I had planned on moving downstream but the fish were good sized and fighting well. If I was going to catch fish like this, I would stay where I was. I doubled down and continued fishing the run. I was rewarded with an incredibly fat twenty-one-inch hook jawed male rainbow. I was feeling pretty good about the day but I was hoping for a big Bonneville.

A few casts later I hit pay-dirt. It was a big trout that was pulling line out at a prodigious rate. I was almost in the backing and I thought I was on a good-sized brown. I fought it for several minutes before I got a good look at it. It was a cutthroat for sure. It had bright red fins, vivid red slashes under its chin, big spots and a faint pink stripe. It was a Bonneville cutthroat.

I deftly worked it into calm water so that I could take a good look at it. It was flawless! While not as fat as some that I had seen photos of, this one was a smidge over eighteen inches. I had accomplished my goal. Unfortunately, I had left the house without my phone, so I was unable to take a picture. I figured that was OK because I knew what happened. I began fishing my way out. I picked up a few small fish and ended the day with about a dozen trout. I didn’t catch numbers but I had some real quality.

The Bonnevilles are doing well thanks to the effort of TU. Do not forget their fundraiser Saturday Night at the Elks Lodge in Mountain Home, Arkansas.

TROUT UNLIMITED ANNUAL FUNDRAISER BY JOHN BERRY

Our local Trout Unlimited group, Arkansas White River Chapter #698, is holding its annual fundraiser. I generally refer to this gala as the TU banquet. Whatever it is called, it is the fishing social event of the year. My wife, Lori, and I always attend and this year is no exception. It is a great social gathering with good food, a cash bar and a DJ (that means dancing). Just about everybody involved in trout fishing will be there. Let the good times roll! 

The event will be held on Saturday February 11, 2017 at the Elks Lodge on 101 Elks Way in Mountain Home, Arkansas. The doors open at 6:00 PM. The admission is $35.00 per individual or $ 50.00 per couple. Trout Unlimited is a tax exempt (501C3) not for profit organization. There will be a live auction, bucket raffles and a lot of other fun activities.  

It is all for a great cause. Trout Unlimited to committed to conserving, protecting and restoring our country’s cold water fisheries and their watersheds. They have been the local leader in this endeavor. Whether it is a lawsuit against a major source of pollution on our beloved Norfork River, bank stabilization projects or enhancements on Dry Run Creek, Trout Unlimited has been there. 

My personal favorite project that they have done recently is the stocking of Bonneville Cutthroat trout in the White and Norfork Rivers. The idea was to plant trout eggs from Wyoming of a subspecies of Cutthroat that would be able to reproduce naturally so that we would have another self-sustaining trout population to go with our brown trout. Over the past few years, we have done multiple stockings of about 250,000 Bonneville Cutthroat eggs on the Norfork and 100,000 on the White River. 

As a result, we are now starting to catch some really nice wild cutthroats. I personally caught a really nice eleven-inch cutthroat that I was really impressed with until this guy came into the shop the other day and showed me a photo of an eighteen inch Bonneville that he had caught and released that day. It was spectacular. The idea that we can now catch wild cutthroat trout like this is very exciting to me. 

Another project that really impresses me is the Trout Unlimited Youth Camp. The mission of the Arkansas White River Chapter’s youth program is to develop the next generation of cold water conservationists. This summer’s camp is scheduled for is Saturday and Sunday, June 24th and 25^th.  The camp will be held at the Norfork Fish Hatchery at Norfork Dam. Youth between the ages of 10-15, along with a parent or guardian will learn about Fly Tying; Fly Casting; Trout Fishing; Trout Habitat; Stream Restoration and Aquatic Entomology. The schedule includes a full day of activities on Saturday and a shorter day on Sunday. The conservationists of tomorrow are made not born. 

If this sounds like something that will be of interest to you, please join Lori and me there.

JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 2/03/2017

During the past week, we have had no rain, milder temperatures and heavy winds. The lake level at Bull Shoals rose four tenths of a foot to rest at eight and six tenths feet below seasonal power pool of 659 feet. This is forty four and six tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Upstream, Table Rock fell four tenths of a foot to rest at eight feet below seasonal power pool and twenty four feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell three tenths of a foot to rest at nine and six tenths feet below seasonal power pool and nineteen and two tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the White, we had much more wadable water with less moderate generation. Norfork Lake rose one tenth of a foot to rest at five and nine tenths feet below seasonal power pool of 553.75 feet and thirty two and one tenth feet below the top of flood pool. On the Norfork, we had less generation with more wadable water.

Seasonal power pool has been reset for the lakes in the White River system. All of the lakes on this system are below seasonable power pool. With colder weather and a higher demand for power, we should see less wadable water.

On the White, the bite has been spotty. Some days have been excellent and some poor. The hot spot has been the Catch and Release section below Bull Shoals Dam. 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 hare and copper nymph (#14) with a ruby midge (#18) suspended below it).

Streamer season is here. Unfortunately the generation has been a bit low for optimal streamer conditions. The idea is 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 cold weather the smallmouths are much 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.

There has been more wadable water 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. My favorite rig has been a cerise San Juan worms with a ruby midge dropper.

Dry Run Creek has been less crowded with the colder weather. A large number of brown trout have moved into the creek. 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 there are fewer boats on the river. 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.