SPRING FLY FISHING CLASS BEGINS NEXT SPRING BY JOHN BERRY

As many of you know, my wife, Lori, and I have been teaching a fly fishing class at Arkansas State University Mountain Home for several years. We teach a class each spring and fall. Next week we are going to begin our spring class. Over the years, we have taught hundreds of people to fly fish. It will be held on Thursday night March 30, April 6, 13 and 20 on the ASU campus from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM.

We always begin with an hour of fly casting instruction. This is basic instruction for someone who has never held a fly rod or someone with limited experience. Lori always leads this. Over the years, she has really worked at it and has become an accomplished casting instructor. I also assist. Together we have over forty years of fly casting instruction experience. We like to keep our class size limited so that all of the students get a lot, of personal attention at each class. We show you where your mistakes are and how to easily correct them.

The rest, of the instruction, is in the classroom. This is where I draw on my twenty-five years’ experience as a fly fishing guide. Of course, Lori, with over a dozen years of experience as a guide, ably assists. We talk about equipment, (what to buy and what not to buy). We also cover knots, rigging, fly selection, entomology, reading water and water safety. This is a great class for couples.

To register for the class, you need to contact the University. They have made everything easy by developing a great website. Just go to  http://asumh.edu/services/community-education.html. If you do not have access to a computer, call Sarah Sykes at (870) 508.6105 to register. There is a nominal fee.

If this sounds like something that you would be interested in, please sign up. I hope to see you there.

SOWBUG ROUNDUP

Don’t forget that the Sowbug Roundup is in full swing. This is the premier fly tying show in the South and possibly the best in the United States. It draws fly tyers from all over the United States and from other countries. It began yesterday but continues today and tomorrow. The Sowbug Roundup is held at the Baxter County Fairgrounds. The doors are open at 9:00 Amand close at 4:00 PM. Admission is only $5.00 and kids under twelve years of age are free. Lori and I are quite involved. I have a booth for Berry Brothers Guide Service and Blue Ribbon Fly Shop. I am also a tyer and will present a seminar today at 11:00 AM on When, Where and How to Fish the White and Norfork Rivers. Lori will teach a fly casting today and tomorrow.

Stop by my booth and say hello and I will tie you a fly.

SOWBUG ROUNDUP TWENTIETH ANNIVERSARY

What began twenty years ago, as a small fly tying show, at the Youth Center in Cotter, Arkansas has now turned into the best fly tying show, in the South, and possibly the top show, in the United States. It draws tyers from all over the country and from other countries. I have been involved with it ever since I moved here eighteen years ago, first I was a seminar presenter, then a fly tyer (they lowered the standards so that I could participate), then I was a vendor and now I am a member, of the Sowbug Committee. I am proud of my involvement.

The Sowbug Roundup is sponsored, by the North Arkansas Fly Fishers, our local fly fishing club, which is affiliated with the Federation of Fly Fishers. Proceeds from the show sponsor local scholarships and other educational and conservational activities. This year’s Sowbug will be held at the Baxter County Fairgrounds on March 23, 24 and 25 (Thursday, Friday and Saturday) from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.  The entrance fee is only $5.00 for all three days.  Children under twelve years of age are free, when accompanied by an adult (adults with accompanying children are also free).

The big draw at the show is the fly tyers. There will be around one hundred and twenty tyers from all over the United and Canada. They will be spread out over the three days. The idea is to watch them tie. You will be surprised and amazed at some of the flies that they create. You can learn something from every one of them.

There are around twenty vendors that will tempt you. They include most of our local fly shops like Blue Ribbon, Dally’s, Two Rivers and Wishes and Fishes. Dave Whitlock, The Golden Rule Fly Shop and Duane Hada will also be there. I will be there with two booths, Blue Ribbon Fly Shop and Berry Brothers Guide Service. Stop by and let me tie you a fly.

On Friday night, they have the Shindig. This was originally started as a tyer appreciation night and has morphed, into a fundraiser social event, of the first order. Seating is limited. There is a large auction, with some incredibly fine items including some spectacular fly plates. Inquire about tickets at the registration desk at Sowbug. They will not be available at the shindig.

There are several seminars including some excellent ones on fly tying. As usual I, will teach one on When, Where and How to fish the White and Norfork Rivers on Friday at 11:00 AM. My wife, Lori will teach a couple of seminars on fly casting. On Friday, she has an intermediate class and on Saturday she has one for beginners. She surpassed me on fly casting ability years ago. On Saturday, there are several programs designed for children. These are must attend events.

If any of this sounds like something you would like to do please join me at the Sowbug Roundup.

FLY FISHING CLASS

The week after Sowbug Lori and I are going to teach our Fly Fishing Class at Arkansas State University starting on Thursday March, 20 and running for four weeks. We meet at 6:00 PM and are finished at 8:00 PM. You can register online through the community education department. The cost is $80.00.

JOHN BERRY FISHING EPORT FOR 3/17/2017

During the past week, we have had rain and snow (combined for about half an inch here in Cotter), cold temperatures to include freeze advisories) and heavy winds. The lake level at Bull Shoals rose three tenths of a foot to rest at seven and three tenths feet below seasonal power pool of 659 feet. This is forty three and three tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Upstream, Table Rock rose two 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 rose eight tenths of a foot to rest at eight and five tenths feet below seasonal power pool and eighteen and one tenth feet below the top of flood pool. On the White, we had significant wadable water with more generation. Norfork Lake fell five tenths of a foot to rest at seven and five tenths feet below seasonal power pool of 553.75 feet and thirty three and seven tenths 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).

Caddis season is upon us. This is our best hatch of the year and it should arrive soon. I have already observed a few caddis on the Norfork tailwater and on the White. With the lower lake levels we should have perfect flows to target this hatch. Before the hatch when the trout are feeding on the surface but you see no insects use a soft hackle like my green butt or a partridge and orange. When the trout begin to target insects, on the surface of the water, switch over to an elk hair caddis. Match your fly to the hatching insect based on size, shape and color.

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 but it has fished poorly. 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 idges, 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 with a ruby midge dropper.

Dry Run Creek has been very crowded due to spring break. 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.

SUCCESS ON A TOUGH DAY BY JOHN BERRY

Late last week I guided Lynn, a regular client, and two of his buddies. While Lynn is an accomplished John and Mark either had never fly fished or had little experience. I began the day with a brief casting class. When I am guiding three anglers in the boat, I only have two fishing at a time to limit the tangles due to the close proximity of the fly fishers. We were fishing at Rim Shoals. The weather was cool, the sky was over cast and the wind was unrelenting. The parking lot was at maximum capacity because, in addition to the guides that fish there regularly, there were several additional guides that generally work the Norfork fishing there. They told me that the Norfork was fishing poorly and they thought the fishing would be better at Rim Shoals.

In fact, the going was slow, despite having a stellar day here, on the day before. We were fishing a size sixteen pheasant tail nymphs tied on a jig hook with a slotted copper bead and a ruby midge as a dropper. We caught few fish in the morning. I talked with many of the other guides as we passed on the river and all said that the bite was slow. I pumped the stomachs of the few fish we caught and noted that they had not been feeding.

About ten thirty, the wind picked up. It was colder to me than was forecast. I was wearing a cotton turtleneck, a down sweater and a rain jacket and I was freezing. I motored over to the ramp and got my rain bibs, a fleece lined jacket, some wool fingerless gloves and a warmer hat. John was also cold so I loaned him a down vest I had in the boat. We returned to the water and were much more comfortable. We fished until lunch and picked up a precious few more trout.

Lynn had been letting his buddies do all the fishing for most of the day. He finally decided to fish some. The going was slow and though Mark and John landed several he had not hooked a trout. All of a sudden I saw his indicator go down and yelled out Ho! He set the hook and immediately felt a good fish. I could tell by the bend in his rod and the way the fish was moving that it was a trophy. It was hugging the bottom like a brown.

I ran to the front of the boat and pulled my drag chain up on the deck so that there was nothing the fish could get tangled in. Mark pulled in his line and we just sat there and watched Lynn fight the fish. It took run after run and circumnavigated the boat a couple of times. Lynn kept constant pressure on the fish and took his time. After about ten minutes the fish finally gave up and surrendered to the net. One of the guys had videoed the fight.

When we looked in the net we saw a gorgeous twenty-four-inch brown trout with good girth and gorgeous color. It had spit the hook in the net. Lynn had landed a trophy brown trout on a size eighteen ruby midge. That is not much metal to hold a fish that big and that hot. We posed for a few photos and then carefully released the brown unharmed into the river. It was the only trout Lynn landed that day and was the biggest brown that he had ever landed.

Sometimes one trout is all you need.

JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT FOR 3/10/2017

During the past week, we have had a couple of rain events (combined for about three quarters of an inch here in Cotter), milder then cold temperatures and heavy winds (to include lake wind advisories). The lake level at Bull Shoals rose three tenths of a foot to rest at seven and six tenths feet below seasonal power pool of 659 feet. This is forty three and six tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Upstream, Table Rock remained steady 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 five tenths of a foot to rest at nine and three tenths feet below seasonal power pool and eighteen and nine tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the White, we had significant wadable water with almost no generation. Norfork Lake rose five tenth of a foot to rest at seven feet below seasonal power pool of 553.75 feet and thirty three and two tenths 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).

Caddis season is upon us. This is our best hatch of the year and it should arrive soon. I have already observed a few caddis on the Norfork tailwater and on the White. With the lower lake levels we should have perfect flows to target this hatch. Before the hatch when the trout are feeding on the surface but you see no insects use a soft hackle like my green butt or a partridge and orange. When the trout begin to target insects, on the surface of the water, switch over to an elk hair caddis. Match your fly to the hatching insect based on size, shape and color.

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 but it has fished poorly. 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 spring break. 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.

CADDIS ON THE RISE BY JOHN BERRY

, I was working at Blue Ribbon Fly Shop this week and an angler came in yesterday and told me that he had hooked and landed a seventeen inch Bonneville cutthroat trout on an elkhair caddis while fishing the Norfork tailwater the day before. This is very early to start our major hatch of the year but it doesn’t really surprise me. I have been fishing the Norfork quite a bit lately and I have observed several caddis lately.

I think the mild winter we have had and the low water conditions we have been experiencing have pushed the caddis hatch forward this year. Last year was a tough year for fishing dry flies but I feel that the consistent low flows we have had so far are the harbinger of a great dry fly season here. I think we are overdue for some great top water action.

A couple of weeks ago, while my wife, Lori, and I were fishing the Catch and Release section on the Norfork and she got into a terrific afternoon of top water action fishing Dan’s turkey tail emerger to some nice trout hitting midge emergers there. I don’t know how many she caught but it was constant action for a couple of hours.

I would recommend that anyone heading to the Norfork be ready to try dry flies if they see any top water feeding. In addition, the same thing could happen any day on the White. This also means that the soft hackle and emerger action should be picking up.

Before the hatch, when you see rises but no insects, the trout are keying in on emerging insects. I fish soft hackles. My green butt is a great choice. Swing it down stream at a forty-five-degree angle to the bank on a twelve-foot leader/ tippet combination ending in 5X. When you feel a bump, quickly lift the rod to set the hook.

When you see, fish taking insects, from the surface of the water, it is time to switch over to a dry fly. Match your fly to the hatching insects based on size, shape and color. You should have some elkhair caddis flies in size 14, 16 and 18 preferably green. I like to fish the same long leader/tippet combination ending in 5X that I use for fishing the soft hackles. You should carefully dress the fly with a good fly floatant before fishing it.

The key to success is presentation. Cast your fly to gently land, on the water, about eighteen inches above a rising fish and let it drift downstream, in a perfect drag free float. When the fish comes up and takes the fly, you should wait a second before you set the hook. The fish should close its mouth before the hook set. This is the longest one second in fly fishing. I usually miss the first fish or two because I set the hook too fast until I calm down. There is something about watching the trout take the fly that gets the adrenaline pumping.

I don’t know about you but I plan on having a great dry fly season this year.

John Berry is a fly fishing guide with Blue Ribbon Guides near Mountain Home, Arkansas.

JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT FOR 3/3/2017

During the past week, we have had rain (just a trace here in Cotter), milder temperatures and heavy winds (to include lake wind advisories). The lake level at Bull Shoals remained steady 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 remained steady 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 fell three tenths of a foot to rest at nine and eight tenths feet below seasonal power pool and nineteen and four tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the White, we had significant wadable water with almost no generation. Norfork Lake fell seven tenths of a foot to rest at seven and five tenths feet below seasonal power pool of 553.75 feet and thirty three and seven tenths 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).

Caddis season is upon us. This is our best hatch of the year and it should arrive soon. I have already observed a few caddis on the Norfork tailwater. With the lower lake levels we should have perfect flows to target this hatch. Before the hatch when the trout are feeding on the surface but you see no insects use a soft hackle like my green butt or a partridge and orange. When the trout begin to target insects, on the surface of the water, switch over to an elk hair caddis. Match your fly to the hatching insect based on size, shape and color.

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.