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Sunday, July 2, 2017

JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT FOR 6/20/2017


During the past week, we have had a rain event, warmer temperatures and moderate winds. The lake level at Bull Shoals dropped eight tenths of a foot to rest at twenty seven feet above seasonal power pool of 661.5 feet. This is six and five tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Upstream, Table Rock fell one and two tenths feet to rest at four and five tenths feet above seasonal power pool and nine and five tenths feet above the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell five tenths of a foot to rest at six and five tenths feet above seasonal power pool and two and one tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the White, we had no wadable water with moderate generation. Norfork Lake fell seven tenths of a foot to rest at sixteen and five tenths feet above seasonal power pool of 556.25 feet and seven and two tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the Norfork, we had limited wadable water.



Seasonal power pool has been reset for the lakes in the White River system. All of the lakes in the White River System are now below the top of flood pool. We should expect a lot of generation, with limited wadable water in the near future.



On the White, the hot spot has been 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 (my current favorite is a cerise San Juan worm with a bead head pheasant tail nymph (#14) suspended below it). Use lots of lead and long leaders to get your flies down



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



On the Norfork, the water is stained. It fishes well one day and poorly the next. Navigate this stream with caution as things have changed a bit during the recent flooding. There has been major gravel recruitment at the bottom of Mill Pond and the dock hole. 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). The fishing is better in the morning. My favorite rig has been a cerise San Juan worm with a ruby midge dropper.





Dry Run Creek is fishing well. With school out it can get a bit 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 off color. This is a great place to wade fish, when they are running water on the White and Norfork Rivers. Canoe season is on and there many 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.

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