JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT FOR 12/09/2017

During the past week, we have had rain (just a trace here in Cotter), cold temperatures and heavy winds (to include lake wind advisories). The lake level at Bull Shoals fell four tenths of a foot to rest at five and four tenths feet below seasonal power pool of 659 feet. This is forty one and six tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Upstream, Table Rock dropped five tenths of a foot to rest at one and six tenths feet below seasonal power pool and seventeen and six tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake dropped seven tenths of a foot to rest at three feet below seasonal power pool and twelve and six tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the White, we had significant wadable water with little or no generation. Norfork Lake fell four tenths of a foot to rest at two and six tenths feet below seasonal power pool of 553.75 feet and twenty eight and eight tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the Norfork, we had light generation and significant 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 power pool. We should expect more wadable water in the near future

On the White, the hot spot has been Buffalo 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 Y2K (#10) with a ruby midge (#14) suspended below it). Use lead to get your flies down.

The Buffalo National River and Crooked Creek are low and clear. With the cooler 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.

On the Norfork, the water is stained. It has fished poorly. 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 pheasant tail dropper (#10). 

Dry Run Creek is stained but still fishing well. The brown trout have  moved in for the spawn. 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 there are few 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.

PARKING LOT CLIENT BY JOHN BERRY

Last weekend my wife, Lori, had a two day guide trip on Dry Run Creek. On the second day, I was between clients and had the day off. I decided to clean up my garage/man cave. On the way to Dry Run Creek, Lori noticed a low tire warning, on her dashboard. She called me and appraised me, of the situation. I told her that I would come over to Dry Run Creek and check out her tire and then follow her home to ensure that she made it in all right. I arrived and checked her tires. They appeared to be OK. I decided to walk the creek and see how she was doing.

I found her and her clients upstream at one of our favorite spots. Her young client was catching trout after trout and Dad was having a great time watching all of the action. I joined them and sat there talking to Dad and enjoying watching Lori work. After a while, I went back to my car, to get my cup of coffee. When I got to the parking lot, I ran into a lady and her grandson both clad in waders. She asked if I was a guide. I said “yes maam”. Then she asked if I was working. I replied “no maam”. Then she asked if I wanted to guide her grandson.

I explained that I was there watching my wife guide and that she was doing a half day and would be finished in an hour and a half. I went on to explain that I needed to follow her home because of her possible leaking tire. She agreed to have me guide her grandson for an hour and a half. I walked over to my Suburban and pulled out my waders (I always carry all of my gear in the back of my car). I quickly donned my waders and rigged his fly rod. We were on the creek in five minutes.

It was his first time fishing but he warmed up to it quickly. We started off by teaching him to cast. Then we concentrated, on setting the hook. Once we hooked a fish it was all about how to fight and land the trout. He landed a couple of nice trout before it was time to go. Grandmother was pleased because she had learned how to rig the rod and where to fish. Her grandson had landed two trout (one was a twenty inch rainbow) and she was able to take some great photos. I had an unexpected infusion of cash while waiting on Lori.

Lori and I finished about the same time. We had both done well. We decided to go to Whispering Woods and finished the day with a great lunch while looking out on a spectacular view of the lake. Life is good!

JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 11/26/2017

During the past week, we have had no rain, cool temperatures and heavy winds (to include lake wind advisories). The lake level at Bull Shoals rose seven tenths of a foot to rest at five and six tenths feet below seasonal power pool of 659 feet. This is forty one and six tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Upstream, Table Rock dropped one and one tenth feet to rest at two and three tenths feet below seasonal power pool and sixteen and three tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake dropped four tenths of a foot to rest at two 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 significant wadable water with light generation. Norfork Lake fell three tenths of a foot to rest at one and eight tenths feet below seasonal power pool of 553.75 feet and twenty eight feet below the top of flood pool. On the Norfork, we had light generation and significant 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 power pool. We should expect more 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 Y2K (#10) with a ruby midge (#14) suspended below it). Use lead to get your flies down.

The Buffalo National River and Crooked Creek are low and clear. With the cooler 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.

On the Norfork, the water is stained and the lake is turning over resulting in low dissolved oxygen. It has fished poorly. 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 pheasant tail dropper (#10).

Dry Run Creek is stained but still fishing well. The brown trout have  moved in for the spawn. 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 there are few 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.

SOWBUG ROUNDUP FLY TYING CONTEST 2018 BY JOHN BERRY

The North Arkansas Fly Fishers, our local fly fishing club, has scheduled the Sowbug Roundup for March 22, 23 and 24, 2018. This is the best fly tying event, in the area, and one of the best, in the United States. It will be held at the Baxter County Fairgrounds, with an entry fee of only five dollars for all three days. The proceeds are used to fund local scholarships. It is a must attend event. 

I have been a member of the Sowbug Roundup committee for several years. I am the chairman of the fly tying contest. This has become an integral part of the show and I really enjoy doing it. I invite each of you to enter the contest. There are ten categories, nymph, dry fly, wet fly, streamer, smallmouth bass, bass, warm water, salmon/steelhead, salt water and tenkara. In addition, there is a best in show award. The winners of each category and the best in show will receive a plaque (the perfect thing to hang over your tying desk). The real prize is the bragging rights for winning. 

Rules have been kept to a minimum. The entrant must tie the fly submitted for judging. Each entry must include the name, address, phone number and email address along with two flies for each pattern submitted (they must be exactly the same size, color, etc). You need to include the recipe for the fly, instructions on how to fish it and the category you wish to have it judged in. You may submit as many patterns for as many categories as you want. You can win a maximum of three categories (best in show is considered a category). All flies submitted will become the property of the contest and will not be returned. Any fly that contains insect parts (legs wings, etc.) will be eliminated from competition. Commercially tied patterns will not be accepted. The decision of the judges is final. Committee members and judges are not eligible to participate in the contest. 

To participate, all you have to do is send your flies, recipes and fishing instructions to me, John Berry, at 408 Combs Ave. Cotter, Arkansas 72626 by Wednesday February 12, 2018. The winners will be announced on Friday March 23, 2018 at the Sowbug Roundup Shindig which will be held at St. Peter the Fisherman Catholic Church beginning at 6:00 PM. This event has become the top fly fishing social event of the year. 

If you are an avid fly tyer like me, this is a great opportunity to show everyone just how good you are. There are a lot of great tyers out there that go unnoticed. I often wish that I could have convinced my brother, Dan, to enter. He was one of the best tyers that I have ever seen and just would not enter the contest. I still tie several of his patterns and they consistently catch trout. 

Don’t let this opportunity pass you by.

JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT FOR 11/18/2017

During the past week, we have had rain (just a trace here in Cotter), cool temperatures and heavy winds (to include lake wind advisories). The lake level at Bull Shoals dropped a foot to rest at six and three tenths feet below seasonal power pool of 659 feet. This is forty two and three tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Upstream, Table Rock dropped one tenth of a foot to rest at one and two tenths feet below seasonal power pool and fifteen and two tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake dropped two tenths of a foot to rest at one and seven tenths of a foot below seasonal power pool and eleven and three tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the White, we had some wadable water with light generation. Norfork Lake fell four tenths of a foot to rest at one and five tenths feet below seasonal power pool of 553.75 feet and twenty seven and seven tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the Norfork, we had light generation and significant 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 power pool. We should expect more 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 Y2K (#10) with a ruby midge (#14) suspended below it). Use lead to get your flies down.

The Buffalo National River and Crooked Creek are low and clear. With the cooler 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.

On the Norfork, the water is stained and the lake is turning over resulting in low dissolved oxygen. It has fished poorly. 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 pheasant tail dropper (#10).

Dry Run Creek is stained but still fishing well. The brown trout have  moved in for the spawn. 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 there are few 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.

JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT FOR 11/11/2017

During the past week, we have had rain (just a trace here in Cotter), cool temperatures and heavy winds (to include lake wind advisories). The lake level at Bull Shoals dropped eight tenths of a foot to rest at five and three tenths feet below seasonal power pool of 659 feet. This is forty one and three tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Upstream, Table Rock dropped two tenths of a foot to rest at one and one tenth feet below seasonal power pool and fifteen and two tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake dropped two tenths of a foot to rest at one and five tenths of a foot below seasonal power pool and eleven and one tenth feet below the top of flood pool. On the White, we had no wadable water with light generation. Norfork Lake fell four tenths of a foot to rest at one and one tenth feet below seasonal power pool of 553.75 feet and twenty seven and three tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the Norfork, we had light generation and significant 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 power pool. We should expect more wadable water in the near future

On the White, the hot spot has been Wildcat 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 Y2K (#10) with a ruby midge (#14) suspended below it). Use lead to get your flies down.

The Buffalo National River and Crooked Creek are low and clear. With the cooler 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.

On the Norfork, the water is stained and the lake is turning over resulting in low dissolved oxygen. It has fished poorly. 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 pheasant tail dropper (#10).

Dry Run Creek is stained but still fishing well. The brown trout have  moved in for the spawn. 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 there are few 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.

THE STATE OF THE NORFORK BY JOHN BERRY

When I say Norfork, I am referring to the Norfork Dam tailwater. Technically it is the North Fork of the White River. The four and a half miles of river from Norfork Dam to its confluence with the White River (the tailwater of Bull Shoals Dam) is the Norfork tailwater. It is our true blue ribbon trout stream. Let us not forget that it produced a world record brown trout several years ago (thirty eight pounds seven ounces).

It is my absolute favorite stream. I first fished it about thirty five years ago and it was love at first sight. I generally fish it as often as I can. While I say that I fish the White River to catch large numbers of trout, I fish the Norfork to catch larger trout. Every time I fish the Norfork I expect to land a trophy. Early this year it was fishing very well.

Then a catastrophe occurred. This April, we had a hundred year rain, on the North Fork of the White. The stream was ravaged. The flooding and the damage were intense. Tons of sediment and organic matter were washed into Norfork Lake. The debris field on the lake was huge and took months to clear. The high lake levels required all of the flood gates at Norfork to be opened resulting in severe flooding on the Norfork Tailwater. Several docks were washed away and the river was scoured.

The Norfork was greatly changed. There was heavy gravel recruitment where there had been deep bedrock runs. There are now deep bedrock runs where there used to be a gravel bottom. There was severe erosion at numerous locations along the river. Several spots that were famous fishing locations were unrecognizable. The standard joke was, why should you hire a guide, they don’t know any more than you do.

Now over seven months after the flood the water is still severely stained from all of the silt that was washed into the river. This is worse than when we had the debacle of Norfork Overlook Estates, where a developer scalped the side of a mountain allowing the siltation of the Norfork on a monumental level. Just like that incident this will be around for a long time.

To make matters worse, all of the organic matter that was washed into the lake has been breaking down and consuming oxygen in the process. This is commonly referred to as a lake turnover. As a result, you can detect a strong smell of sulphur on the upper river near the dam. It also caused low levels of dissolved oxygen which has a disastrous effect on the trout.

My wife Lori and I have fished it a few times here of late with poor results. First of all we had a lot of trouble wading. The river was so stained that we could not see the bottom and therefore we were not sure of our footing. This was made worse by the fact that the stream bed was so changed from what we had become accustomed to. We hardly recognized it. Then with the low oxygen the bite was slow. We caught very few trout and we both considered the day a total bust. We were both glad that we were not guiding.

There is not much we can do about the situation. Mother Nature is a powerful adversary and this situation will not clear up until we have some major rain to flush the lake and river to remove the sediment and clear everything up.