JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT FOR 6/23/2017

During the past week, we have had some minor rain event (combined for about a half an inch here in Cotter), warmer temperatures and moderate winds. The lake level at Bull Shoals dropped four tenths of a foot to rest at twenty seven and five tenths feet above seasonal power pool of 661.73 feet. This is five and seven tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Upstream, Table Rock fell one and five tenths feet to rest at five and seven tenths feet above seasonal power pool and eight and three tenths feet above the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell three tenths of a foot to rest at seven feet above seasonal power pool and one and six tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the White, we had no wadable water with moderate generation. Norfork Lake fell nine tenths of a foot to rest at seventeen and two tenths feet above seasonal power pool of 556.48 feet and six and three 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 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 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.

SUCCESSFUL DAY AT TRIM SHOALS BY JOHN BERRY

Last week I had a two boat, four day guide trip. It was four retired guys from the St. Louis area. All were accomplished anglers who had fished from Alaska to Argentina. My regular partner, Dennis Schule, was down with an injured shoulder, so I enlisted Danny Barker to help me, with the trip. He enthusiastically stepped up and did a great job. The general idea was that we would each take two of them and switch off, after two days. That way the guys could get a varied experience, from fishing, with us. I like to fish the Norfork and Rim Shoals. Danny likes to fish the Buffalo Shoals area.

The week went well. My first day went as expected. We caught some big fish (a sixteen inch brook and a twenty four inch brown) on the Norfork. Our next day on the White produced more trout but no trophies. On my last day, I returned to Rim Shoals. I checked the prediction, for that day, and was pleased, with the outcome. It called for lower generation of around 6,000 cubic feet per second early, in the day, with heavier generation later, in the day. I knew that Rim was twenty four miles below the dam and we would never see the higher generation, while we were there. This was the lowest water level we had seen, since the flooding.

The day was near perfect. The morning was overcast, with light and variable winds, with a promise of sunshine and eighty degree temperatures, in the afternoon. I rigged their rods a bit differently. On one, I put on a Y2K with a bead head pheasant tail dropper. On the other, I used a cerise San Juan with the same pheasant tail dropper. I used an AAA split shot and set the depth at seven feet, from bottom fly, to the Thingamabobber.

I chose the Y2K and the cerise San Juan worm to be attractors and used the pheasant tail to imitate the nymphal form of the sulphurs that are coming off. I tied the pheasant tail on a size fourteen jig hook, with a copper slotted bead. It was factory barbless and, since it was tied on a jig hook, did not tend to hang the bottom.

We began fishing and had immediate success landing three trout, on the first drift. It soon became apparent that the rig, with the cerise San Juan worm, was out fishing the rig, with the Y2K, three to one. I stopped and stripped off the Y2K and replaced it with a cerise San Juan worm. It had an immediate impact and we began picking up more trout.

When we broke for lunch, we had about twenty five trout (one of my clients had a clicker). I don’t usually count. In the afternoon, the sun came out and it got a bit warmer. The fishing got better and we were catching a lot of fish. We would pick up two or three trout, on each drift. The amazing thing to me was that there was no one else fishing there we had the whole place to ourselves for most of the day. We finished the day with sixty three trout. We landed one good brown but the rest were rainbows. Most were in the fourteen to sixteen inch slot. 

It was a great day and it was nice, to be fishing good water again.

THINGS ARE GETTING BACK TO NORMAL BY JOHN BERRY

We have had a tough spring this year on our trout streams. We have had some of the heaviest spring rains that I can remember. At the beginning of the year all, of the lakes, in the White River system, were well below the top of power pool. We were enjoying wadable water on both the White and Norfork Rivers. Now, after the heavy rains we received, which resulted in flooding, on the Norfork and White Rivers, the lake levels are at or near the top of flood pool.

During the flooding water was held back in the lakes. Once the flooding downstream had receded, the Corps of Engineers opened the flood gates on all, of the dams, on the White River System, in order to lower the lakes a bit, to prevent them from failing. During the flooding the conditions were not safe. There was a lot of debris floating down stream and most, if not all, of the launch ramps were closed. When the flood gates were open some of the ramps were open and the rivers were not as perilous but the water level was so high that it was difficult to fish. 

I did not fish during the flooding but I fished the White and Norfork during the heavy water levels brought on by the flood gates. It was tough and I am glad it is over. Long leaders and heavy weight were the rule of the day. We caught trout but there were no easy days. 

In the past week, conditions have improved, on both rivers. The flood gates have been closed, on all of the dams, and the water levels, on our rivers, are lower. The ramps are all open, the rivers are all navigable and fishing has improved. To top it off there is even a little wadable water. I guided both rivers this week and did well. 

On Monday, I fished the White, at Rim Shoals. I was pleased, to see the river, at a very productive level. The water was running at about 8,800 cubic feet per second. This is the rough equivalent, of just under three full generators. There was enough water for me to easily navigate the water with my conventional outboard powered by a propeller. At this water level, the fishing was much easier. We could use leaders that were shorter. Even more important, we could use less lead. This made the casting much easier. We caught plenty of trout and enjoyed the day. 

The next day we fished the Norfork. My clients were staying at a cabin on the river. I checked the prediction and noted that we would have a brief window of wadable water early, in the morning. We were, on the river, at 7:30 AM. It was, on the bottom, and still stained, from the flooding earlier, in the year. We found the river to be greatly changed. Places that used to be bedrock were graveled in. Spots that were previously gravel bottomed were now bedrock. I must say that my wading staff was indispensable, as I navigated through this new environment. 

The fishing was pretty good. We managed to land a sixteen inch brook trout. This is the largest brook that one of my clients has ever landed. I caught a nineteen incher, on my own, but that was twenty years ago. Since then my best has been a fourteen. The water came up and we launched my boat. We floated the Norfork. The going was slow but we still managed to land a fat twenty four inch brown. The cutthroat eluded us so we did not get the grand slam. All in all, it was a good day, with two trophies landed. 

If you have not been out you should try it. Things are back to normal.

JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT FOR 6/16/2017

During the past week, we have had a minor rain event (just a trace here in Cotter), warmer temperatures and moderate winds. The lake level at Bull Shoals remained steady at twenty seven and seven tenths feet above seasonal power pool of 662 feet. This is five and three tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Upstream, Table Rock fell one and four tenths feet to rest at seven and two tenths feet above seasonal power pool and six and eight tenths feet above the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell two tenths of a foot to rest at seven and three tenths feet above seasonal power pool and one and three tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the White, we had no wadable water with more moderate generation. Norfork Lake fell seven tenths of a foot to rest at seventeen and six tenths feet above seasonal power pool of 556.72 feet and five and four 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. The Corps of Engineers has closed the flood gates on all of the lakes in the White River system. We should expect a lot of generation, with some 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 hare and copper nymph (#14) with a ruby midge (#18) 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 has been affected by the flooding but has returned to its banks and is fishing 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 high and 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. 

JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT FOR 6/7/2017

During the past week, we have had a rain event (less than an inch here in Cotter), warm temperatures and moderate winds. The lake level at Bull Shoals fell one and six tenths feet to rest at twenty seven and seven tenths feet above seasonal power pool of 662 feet. This is five and three tenths feet below the top of flood pool. The Corps of Engineers has closed the flood gates and the volume of water in the White is greatly reduced. Upstream, Table Rock fell six tenths of a foot to rest at eight and six tenths feet above seasonal power pool and five and four tenths feet above the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake rose three tenths of a foot to rest at seven and five tenths feet above seasonal power pool and one and one tenth feet below the top of flood pool. On the White, we had no wadable water with high generation. Norfork Lake fell one and two tenths feet to rest at eighteen and six tenths feet above seasonal power pool of 556.75 feet and four and seven 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. The Corps of Engineers has closed the flood gates on all of the lakes in the White River system. We should expect a lot of generation, with little if any wadable water in the near future.

On the White, the water below Crooked Creek and the Buffalo has cleared up. 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). 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 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.

On the Norfork, the water is stained but is fishing well. 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 hare and copper nymph with a ruby midge dropper. 

Dry Run Creek has been affected by the flooding but has returned to its banks and is fishing 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 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.

FISHING DRY RUN CREEK OVER THE MEMORIAL WEEKEND BY JOHN BERRY

I had a guide trip last on the Saturday, of the three day weekend. I had a brother and sister accompanied by mom, dad, grandma, grand dad, two cousins and two in-laws. The general idea was for me to guide brother and sister and for grand dad to work with the two cousins (both teen age girls). I have a saying, the more people you have, the slower you move. I tried to get everyone moving early because I was concerned that Dry Run Creek would be crowded on a holiday weekend. It was like herding cats.

I was greatly relieved when we arrived at the hatchery and noted just a couple of cars, in the parking lot. I already had a couple of rods rigged up and we headed toward the creek. The going early was a bit slow. It had rained the night before and the creek was a bit off color. After a while, we began picking up trout. The hot fly was a brown San Juan worm. I always like to fish San Juan worms after a rain storm.

Other anglers began arriving and we began working our way upstream to find new water. They had taped off the trail near the hatchery from the second set of stairs all the way to the end of the facility. Therefore to access the stream further upstream you needed to walk along the creek.

We began having more success. The eight year old sister landed a nice twenty five inch rainbow. It came in amazingly quickly for a fish that size. Brother was struggling. He hooked up several trophies but lost them. He had a tendency to grip the line tightly. When you have a big one on, you have to let them run. If you clamp down on the line or grip the reel handle the fish can slip the hook or break off. I worked with him on it and he eventually caught a good rainbow. Sister’s was still a bit longer.

 At the same time the cousins were struggling. Grand dad had never fished Dry Run Creek. It looks easy but it can be challenging. I gave him a few pointers but they still had limited success. I began coaching them on where to cast and achieve a good drift. I made sure that they were properly rigged and were in the right spot. They also began to pick up fish. They both caught a twenty inch or better trout. 

Near noon I looked around and noticed that the creek was getting crowded. We had the stream to ourselves, for most of the morning and were able, to fish, wherever we wanted to. I don’t normally like to work with so many clients at a time because it limits the individual attention that can give to each one of them. Kids fly fishing for the first time need a lot, of individual attention, in order to learn the proper way to do it. 

Somehow it all worked out and everyone had a great time.

JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT FOR 6/2/2017

During the past week, we have had a rain event (about a half inch here in Cotter), warm temperatures and moderate winds. The lake level at Bull Shoals fell one and three tenths feet to rest at twenty nine and three tenths feet above seasonal power pool of 662 feet. This is three and seven tenths feet below the top of flood pool. The Corps of Engineers has opened seventeen flood gates to release 14,600 cubic feet per second to augment generation and lower the lake. Upstream, Table Rock fell one and seven tenths feet to rest at nine and two tenths feet above seasonal power pool and four and eight tenths feet above the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell five tenths of a foot to rest at seven and two tenths feet above seasonal power pool and one and four tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the White, we had no wadable water with high generation. Norfork Lake fell one foot to rest at nineteen and seven tenths feet above seasonal power pool of 556.75 feet and three and five tenths feet below the top of flood pool. The Corps of Engineers has closed the flood gates and returned the dam to normal generation.  On the Norfork, we had no 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 little if any wadable water in the near future.

On the White, the water below Crooked Creek and the Buffalo has cleared up. 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). Use lots of lead and long leaders to get your flies down

The Buffalo National River and Crooked Creek are navigable but high. With the warmer 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.

On the Norfork there was flooding but the river is back in its banks and the flood gates have been closed. 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 hare and copper nymph with a ruby midge dropper.

Dry Run Creek has been affected by the flooding but has returned to its banks. 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 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.