JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 8/28/2008

In spite of a minor rain event, the reservoir levels on the White River continue to fall. The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam fell two feet to rest at twenty seven and two tenths feet above power pool of 654.00 feet. This is thirteen and eight tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Up stream, Table Rock Lake fell seven tenths of a foot to rest at one and eight tenths feet above power pool or fourteen and two tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell three tenths of a foot to rest at six and five tenths feet above power pool or three and one tenth feet below the top of flood pool. The pattern on the White has been to run all eight generators around the clock with slightly higher flows in the afternoon. While these flows made for excellent boating, there have been few safe wading opportunities on the White. Norfork Lake has fallen eight tenths of a foot to rest at fifteen and three tenths feet above power pool of 552.00 feet or eleven and nine tenths of a foot below the top of flood pool. The pattern has been to run one generator around the clock. There have been no wading opportunities and limited boating opportunities.

The water flows on the White and Norfork have both been significantly reduced during the past few days. It has been several months since the floods we had this spring, and we have not made significant progress in lower the lake levels at Bull Shoals and Norfork Dams. It seems like we could make more progress if we ran more water as we were a few weeks ago. If we are going to run lower water levels, why not turn off the dams for a few hours? When you do run water, do so at a higher level. Coordinate generation on the two dams so that the same amount of water is sent down stream. By doing this we could have some wadable water. Throw us a bone guys!

The upper river from Bull Shoals Dam, through the State Park down to Cane Island Shoals has been a perpetual hot spot for months and the past week has not been different. Some anglers, while reporting great fishing, say that the constant fishing pressure has made the fish more selective. The hot flies remain brightly colored San Juan worms and egg patterns. If you are not doing well with one color, do not hesitate to change to a different color or pattern. The most productive colors have been red, cerise, hot pink and fire orange.

The section from the Narrows down to Wildcat Shoals has remained hot during the past week particularly the section around the Narrows. The key to success has been to fish a brightly colored San Juan worm with a nymph on a dropper. The most popular nymphs have been zebra midges, trout crack, sowbugs, scuds, and bead head hares ears.

Another hot spot has been the Rim Shoals Catch and Release section. In addition to the brightly colored San Juan worms and egg patterns, the hot technique has been to bang the bank with big streamers on sink tip or full sinking lines. Effective streamers have been kiwi muddlers, Jim Mengle’s Ozark Sculpin, wool head sculpins and woolly buggers. Vary your retrieve to determine the most productive speed. With the lower flows we have had this week; several anglers took advantage of Gary Flipin’s water taxi. For a nominal fee Gary will ferry you to the bottom of the second island and pick you up when you are ready to go.

The Norfork has had lower flows this week also. They were too high to wade and too low for easy navigation. The Norfork is more difficult, in general, to navigate than the White. Great care should be taken when running up or down stream. There are several spots that can be treacherous.

Dry Run Creek has received little pressure in the past week. School is back in session and no one is there during the week. The weekends are seeing a bit more traffic. The hot fly is a gray sowbug size fourteen. There is a sizable population of them on the creek. Other productive flies are small San Juan worms in worm brown and olive woolly buggers. While guiding some youngsters on the creek a couple of weeks ago, I ran into Dave and Emily Whitlock. They were working on the plans to enhance fishing there. This is a project of the Friends of the Norfork Fish Hatchery and will make a great fishery even better.

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.

HOME WATERS BOOK SIGNING

Local fly fishing guide and Baxter Bulletin columnist, John Berry, will be signing copies of the recently released third edition of the home waters fishing guide at Angler’s Coffee Café on Saturday August 30, at 2:00 PM. The book was a collaborative effort involving several fishing guides and serious anglers writing about the streams they fish. John wrote the chapters on the White River, Norfork River, and Dry Run Creek plus a section on Boating Etiquette. This is the third edition of the highly successful fishing guide. The book is published by the Mid South Fly Fishers, a not for profit fly fishing club in Memphis, Tennessee and all proceeds are used to support their conservation and education programs. There are locations and descriptions of fishing accesses, detailed maps, fly recipes, color photography and much more. This is a great resource for any one planning on fishing in this area.

FISHING WITH DOGS

BY JOHN BERRY

After my wife, Lori, one of my favorite fishing buddies is my yellow lab, Ellie. She is a great companion. She doesn’t care how bad the weather is, although she is becoming storm phobic in her old age. But let’s be serious. If lightning is striking around us, I don’t need to be out there either. She doesn’t mind much if the fishing is good or bad, though she does prefer the non stop action of a good day. Ellie does not give me any trouble about losing a good fish or missing a lot of takes for that matter. She is also a good water depth gauge. If she begins swimming, I know the water is over knee deep.

Early on in our relationship I figured out that Ellie was not going to be a boat dog. On our first venture in a canoe, she refused to load; the movement of the boat spooked her. Finally, in frustration, Lori and I began our trip figuring she would eventually get in the boat. She followed the boat for five miles. If she got tired of swimming, she would go to the bank and run along until she caught up or was ready to swim again. When we got out and fished she joined us and when we canoed back to the access she followed us back.

I cannot take Ellie with me on a guide trip because, when we have a good fish on, the retriever gene kicks in and she tries to help land the fish. Now I don’t mind so much when she knocks off a good fish from my line. That can be disastrous when she does it to a client’s fish. I observe a lot of anglers that fish with their dogs. These canines are content to just sit on the bank and watch. Why does mine have to be in the center of the action? I often find it necessary to fish while standing in shallow water so that she does not have to tread water as she does in deeper water. Other wise she will swim right in front of me for hours at a time, which throws me off my game.

Because of her propensity to stay pretty close to me while I am fishing, she has been hooked on several occasions. This is a great case for barbless hooks but it also points out that I am letting my back cast drop, but that is another story.

I always carry a Ziploc full of dog biscuits in case I have to bribe her to leave someone else’s fish alone. I carry a nylon lead for more difficult situations. I have taken to leaving her in the car until I get my waders on, rod strung and am generally ready to start fishing. That way, she stays out of trouble and doesn’t beg other anglers for treats.

Not all dogs are interested in fishing with you. My wife, Lori’s, recently deceased Rottweiler, Lexie, was a classic example. She was devoted to Lori and was totally committed to protecting her but did not like the water. Since she had a short coat, we got her a neoprene vest to provide some insulation and a bit of flotation. It was made of camouflage material which made her look even more imposing. She hated to be left in the dog run so we would take her with us. When anyone would wade near Lori she would warn them with a low growl. It was a great way to ensure that Lori would not be crowded when on stream. She was well trained and never attacked any one but it was a bit much and we always tried to fish remote water with her.

When Lori was fishing shallow water, Lexie would position herself just below her and watch the strike indicator. When it went down she would retrieve the trout and look at Lori as if to say “here is your darn fish can we go home now”? She was very gentle with the fish and never harmed one but we were concerned particularly with large fish. When Lori would wade deep, she would stay in shallow water and bark. Lori would ignore her and eventually she would stop barking but she was definitely not happy. As her health declined we would leave her at home and left Ellie to keep her company. After she passed away we began taking Ellie fishing. Once again she was in her element.

If your dog enjoys the water, you may have found a great fishing companion. Give that canine a chance.

John Berry
(870) 435-2169
berrybrothers@infodash.com
www.berrybrothersguides.com