JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 12/03/2009
John Berry
(870) 435-2169
www.berrybrothersguides.comDuring the past week, we have a minor rain event and seasonably colder conditions. The lake levels on the White River system have finally begun to fall. The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam fell one and four tenths of a foot to rest at twenty five and four tenths of a foot above power pool of 654.00 feet. This is fifteen and six tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Up stream, Table Rock Lake remained steady at one tenth of a foot below power pool or sixteen and one tenth feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell three tenths of a foot to rest at seven and eight tenths feet above power pool or one and eight tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the White, we have had light but steady generation around the clock until Tuesday when the generation was ramped up significantly. Since then there has been no wadable water. Norfork Lake fell two and one tenth of a foot to rest at sixteen and eight tenths feet above power pool of 552.00 feet or ten and two tenths feet below the top of flood pool. There have been significant periods of no generation every day with moderate generation the rest of the day until Tuesday. Generation was ramped up to maximum generation. In addition, the Corps of Engineers opened the flood gates in order to draw down Norfork Lake more quickly. The flows through the flood gates are approximately 3,500 cubic feet per second or the rough equivalent of one additional generator. There is no wading on the Norfork at this level and it is also considered too treacherous for boating. With this aggressive draw down, the lakes on the White River system should be a power pool by mid January if there are no major rain events between now and then.
Remember that there is a new size limit on Brown trout. All browns less than twenty four inches must be released immediately no matter where they are caught on the White and Norfork Rivers. Only one brown trout may be kept in the daily limit of five trout.
The fishing in the Catch and Release section below Bull Shoals Dam closed on November 1, 2009 for the brown trout spawn. It will remain closed until January 31, 2010. The section from the bottom of this Catch and Release section downstream to the wing wall at the State Park is seasonal Catch and Release for the same time period.
The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission recently stocked about one thousand “golden trout” from Bull Shoals Dam down to Buffalo City. These are not a separate species but a color variation in rainbow trout. They were purchased from a commercial hatchery in Missouri to make up for a short fall in stocking this year. These fish are edible and the regulations for harvesting rainbow trout apply to them. They are bright yellow with a faint pink stripe and a snow white belly. They are very easy to see in the river.
If you are fishing on the White River, carefully monitor the water level and avoid boating on it if the Corps of Engineers opens the flood gates at Bull Shoals Dam.
When we have water levels this high, you should concentrate on fishing the banks and weed beds. Use brightly colored San Juan worms (red, hot fluorescent pink and cerise) and egg patterns (red, pink and orange). Use a fourteen foot leader/tippet combination with a minimum of 4X tippet. There should be plenty of weight to get the fly down to the bottom. I use AAA splitshot. A large strike indicator will be required to keep this afloat. This rig will be difficult to cast. Open up your loop and give your back cast plenty of time to straighten out behind you.
Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River have cleared a bit. The water below Crooked Creek has also cleared.
Monitor the water levels on the Norfork and do not attempt boating on it until the Corps of Engineers closes the flood gates and limits flows to generation from the dam. The boat ramp at Quarry Park is flooded and closed to all traffic. The high water levels washed away all of the recently installed landscaping. Hopefully there will be no further damage to the recently resurfaced ramp parking lot.
With all of the high water everywhere, the only place that is wadable (assuming you are handicapped or under sixteen years of age) is Dry Run Creek. Handicapped adults are limited to fishing the handicapped ramp. The hot fly, as always, has been the sowbug. San Juan worms and Y2Ks have also been productive.
Now is a great time to visit the adjacent National Fish Hatchery and take a tour. It is fascinating. Be sure and remove your waders before entering to prevent the spread of aquatic diseases.
Remember that the White and Norfork Rivers 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.
Practice water safety and always check conditions before you leave home.
John Berry is a fly fishing guide in Cotter, Arkansas and has fished our local streams for over twenty five years.
