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These pages are updated on Monday and Tuesday
Posted 05/03/08
Rainbow Trout and Brown Trout the water is clear and normal with decent generation. Trout are biting well on spinnerbaits, glow worms and Power Eggs. Anglers can use artificial baits like red/gold Buoyant Spoons or brown/orange marabou jigs. Updated 05/30/08 Report by: www.berrybrothersguides.com JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 5/03/2008 Though the reservoirs on the White River system have fallen a bit, they remain precariously close to the top of flood pool. The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam rose fell two tenths of a foot to rest at forty feet above power pool of 654.00 feet. This is one foot below the top of flood pool. Up stream, Table Rock Lake fell five tenths of a foot to rest at fifteen feet above power pool or one foot below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell seven tenths of a foot to settle at eight and five tenths feet above power pool or one and one tenth of a foot below the top of flood pool. The pattern on the White has been to run all eight generators around the clock. In addition they opened the flood gates and ran 13, 000 additional cubic feet per second (the equivalent of four additional generators). The also ran the flood gates on Beaver and Table Rock. All have now been shut down. Norfork Lake has fallen two tenths feet to rest at twenty seven feet above power pool of 552.00 feet or one foot below the top of flood pool. The pattern has been to run two generators most of the time with brief periods of no generation mostly at night. There have been a few brief periods of wading opportunities on the Norfork River at night but none on the White. On the higher water, boating conditions have been excellent. The Buffalo River and Crooked Creek are high and off colored. Most boat ramps on the White River are now usable. When they had the flood gates open during the past week they were all flooded. Great care should be taken when launching or loading your boat during heavy generation. The use of a personal flotation device is highly recommended when boating on heavy water. The fishing on the White has been tough. The water has been so high most anglers have avoided it all together. A few brave souls have fished the upper White with some success, particularly the Catch and Release section below Bull Shoals dam. At least one enterprising angler was able to harvest several stripers on the White River. They had come through the flood gates and were stunned by their ordeal. The angler scooped them up with his boat net for a fish fry. With the flood gates turned off, conditions on the White should improve substantially. With the water on the White extremely high, the action was centered on the Norfork River. The traffic was incredibly heavy. With the ramp at Quarry Park destroyed by recent flooding and the ramp at the confluence flooded by the additional water coming through the flood gates at Bull Shoals dam, the only place to launch boats on the Norfork was off the side of the road leading to the confluence ramp. This is a tricky place to launch and at times the spot got quite congested. Patience prevailed and I heard on no mishaps. Despite the extremely crowded conditions, the fishing, while not hot, was steady. The key to success has been to use conventional high water tactics. Large brightly colored San Juan worms (red, hot pink, cerise and fire orange have all been productive) and brightly colored egg patterns. One tactic that helped produce fish was the use of a dropper in the sections of the Norfork that were not designated Catch and Release. A small nymph can be attached to the bend of the hook of the San Juan worm by a twenty four inch tippet with a couple of simple improved clinch knots. A good nymph to use for this technique would be the copper john. Our most reliable mayfly hatch of the year is the sulphur. They regularly hatch in May and June and the nymphs should be coming more active in the coming weeks. Use the copper wire variety in size fourteen. It is a dead on imitation of the sulphur nymphs. Other good nymphs to try would be olive scuds or black zebra nymphs in size fourteen. Dry Run Creek as usual is fishing very well. The hot fly has been the worm brown San Juan worm in smaller sizes. Other productive patterns have been sowbugs, olive woolly buggers, egg patterns and Y2Ks. While you are there take a tour of the National Fish Hatchery. It is fascinating and educational. Be sure and remove your waders before entering the hatchery to prevent the spread of aquatic diseases. COUPLES FLY FISHING CLASS My wife, Lori, and I are teaching a fly fishing class for couples on May 17 and 18 at River Ridge Inn on the banks of the Norfork River, Arkansas’ true blue ribbon trout stream. While I have been teaching fly fishing for over fifteen years at colleges, universities fly shops, and for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, Lori and I have been teaching together for the last six years. Her background in corporate training and teaching psychology at the university level make her a natural. Lori has been fishing all her life and has been a professional guide for the last six years. River Ridge Inn is the perfect place to host this class. Jim and Liz Smith, the owners, go out of their way to make guests comfortable. The Inn is the most luxurious and comfortable place to stay on the Norfork. There are private cottages or private rooms in the main lodge. All of the accommodations have all the comforts you would expect in a five star hotel. The weekend package includes lodging at River Ridge Inn, a continental breakfast on both mornings, lunch on Saturday and Sunday, and fourteen hours of professional instruction by an experienced guide couple. All terminal tackle is included. All of this is only $650.00 per couple. If you want to hone your own skills and introduce the quiet sport to your significant other or both of you want to take up the exciting sport of fly fishing this is the perfect opportunity. The class is designed for beginners but I think this would be of benefit to anglers with a bit of experience. The subjects covered include equipment selection, fly casting, basic fishing knots, entomology and fly selection, rigging for success, stream strategies, reading water and water safety. Then there is an outing on the water. This could be the beginning of a love affair with the gentle sport of fly fishing. To make reservations, contact Jim or Liz Smith, River Ridge Inn at (870) 499-7775, (888) 754-1542, or http://www.riverridgeinn.com 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.
Report by: www.mtnriverflyshop.com Updated: 05/01/08: WHITE RIVER: WELL thank goodness the highest outflows from the Bull Shoals Dam ever is over. 13 units of water was pretty daunting. But its not to say there weren't some fish caught. But all our guides were saying it was hard work. Ten units, the flow we had earlier in the month was certainly fishable. But its going to be nice to be back onto 6 to 8 units, more fishable rigs on the rods and some very good fishing to be expected. It is going to be some off before you will probably hear zero units on the White but if we duck any more torrential rain in the catchment, then hopefully we won't see any more spillway flows. One thing we can say though is there is going to be some very good fishing from a boat over the next little while. High water can produce growth rates of around an inch a month. And with the super size buffet of drowned worms, decaying warm water fish and more during times the floodgates were open these fish should be stacking on the weight. And as we have said more than once in recent weeks There is no better time to catch a trophy White River fish than during high water. As you may have read earlier in the Journal its a good bet to start with fly patterns from Wotton or Wilkinson. The Dynamite Worm has been one of Davy's little secret until he let it slip last month. The Sunday Special has been a go to fly for Clint for a goodly while, and if you had been one of his clients there is a good chance you had it on your rod at some stage. And if you aren't fishing in a catch and release zone then try a double rig with the Dynamite Worm trailing the heavier Sunday Special. More generally worm patterns have been a mainstay in recent week, fished with a fair amount of lead depending on water flows. Scuds and sowbugs have also been very good when the water is 8 units and below. We also heard of some very big browns caught recently on big streamer patterns, tossed against the banks. Tight lines from all at the Mountain River Fly Shop Gary, Cindy, Jim, Kevin, Marc, Faye, Mike and Steve Updated: 05/03/08 Lake Elevation at Normal Pool: 462.5 Temperature: Outflow: 2699 Level: 23.90 feet high Report by: Tommy Cauley of Fish Finder Guide Service No Report
Tommy
Cauley Beaver Lake Elevation at Normal Pool: 1121.4 Temperature: Outflow: 4052 cfs. Level: 8.10 feet high Catfish No Report Crappie No Report Stripers No Report Largemouth Bass No Report White Bass No Report No Report
No Report updated 05/01/08 Lake Elevation at Normal Pool: 657.0 Temperature: Upper 50's to Lower 60's Outflow: 33803 cfs Level: 37.83 feet high Fishing Report by: Bull Shoals Lake Boat Dock "Braggin Board"
Updated: 05/06/08 Lake Elevation at Normal Pool: 259.20 Temperature: 64º to 77º Outflow: 17089 cfs. Level: 1.05 feet high Report by: Millwood Lake Guide Service Braggin Board }><(((º> Millwood Lake Fishing Report 06 May 2008 <º)))><{ The Overall Picture: Navigation conditions in Little River are cautioned with broken debris. As of Monday 5 May, Largemouth Bass improved again. Increased current in Little River from last week with increase of discharge of pool from Tri Lakes (Gillam, Dierks, De Queen Lakes) has Millwood slightly rising this week. A good population of the bass are still pre spawn. Many upriver Largemouth Bass have already spawned over last 3-4 weeks. Water temps consistent from last week. Jigs, 10-12" worms, magnum lizards, large Rat-L-Traps, & magnum tubes contine working well on Bass. Keepers from 4 pounds, up to 10 pounds have been caught and released, over the past 2- 3 weeks. The water clarity along the river is muddy from recent influx of discharge from Tri Lakes. Main lake clarity is improving away from current. Be very diligent of floating debris, still coming down Little River. Limbs, and high density broken vegetation in heavy current of Little River, due to increased discharge at the dam is still present. As of Monday, 5 May, the main lake and Little River's water surface temp ranging approx 63º to 75º, depending of course, on location and time of day. Lake level on Millwood as of Tuesday 6 May, is still approx 1.3 feet above normal, and slowly rising, at 260.39 feet. Normal pool is 259.2 feet. Little River's clarity as of Monday, is approx 2-4" visibility. Main lake clarity and visibility 5-6". Current in Little River and discharge at the dam is 18,048 CFS as of Tuesday, to normalize lake level. Much debris, grass mats, tree limbs, etc is coming down Little River. Use caution during navigations on Millwood until normal pool can be returned. Some river buoys are clogged with broken loose grass and vegetation mats, missing, or forced out of the channel due to heavy debris in current. USACE is working diligently to replace river buoys that were pushed to the bank during the 6-8' rise. All USACE boat ramps and campgrounds are now open again, as of Monday 5 May 08. Upriver oxbow's clarity approx 8-10". The tailwater elevation was unavailable below the spillway on Tuesday, 06 April. Discharge/ Release Rate at the spillway of 18,048 CFS is with all 13 tainer gates open at at 3.6 feet each. The recent high wind on the lake has moved many of the Little River buoys out of the channel center. Use caution in navigation with increase in debris content w/ increase of very high current in Little River. The Details: Largemouth Bass: The past week, has been good, again, for Millwood Lake. The water temps continue to rise, and the lake level is slightly rising from recent discharge from the Tri Lakes which are ranging from 15-25 feet still above normal. Some Largemouths we are finding have already spawned out, as beds have been seen up river at various locations. Some remain staging and full of roe. Numerous males and fat females have been seen & caught up to 8 & 9 pounds each, in bedding area flats adjacent to deep water drops and creek channels. Bass from 4-7 pounds are consistent over the past week and have improved again from last week on jigs and bulky worms and lizards. Overall the bass bite continues improving. Fish are slowly recovering with lake level reaching closer to normal pool. The most aggressive bite remains on jigs in black/blue, black/blue/purple, Bass Assassin Shads in baby bass or bubble gum pink, Trick Worms and Senkos in watermelon-red, Topwater Toads, and big bulky Rat-L-Traps. Southern Pro Fattbutt Tubes (with rattles) in black-red flake are still working in off-colored water, and purple smoke in the clearer water. 10" worms or lizards in black/blue, june bug-red, red shad or pumpkinseed/chart; Hog Assassins in black emerald, and green pumpkin are working well. Siefert's Buzz Baits, in bubble-gum/black, or black & red near newly emerging lily pads, in the clearest water you can find, are drawing good reactions from big fish, as long as you use a trailer hook! Spot remover-orange & hot mouse, War Eagle spinnerbaits, slow-rolling, are taking some decent 15" to 19" sized Largemouths around flooded vegetation and cypress trees, away from current of the river, close to deep water. Rat-L-Traps in red shad, Sexy Shad West, or Toledo Gold Craw colors seem to be the best lipless crank bait bites over the past week. White Bass: Some nice White Bass were caught adjacent to creek mouths dumping into Little River, just inside the current breaks, above White Cliffs this week between 2.5 to 3.5 pounds each. Crappie: Crappie bite, took another major improvement this past week. The big Crappie have been caught under cypress trees on live shiners, red/white or white/chartruese jigs, over the past couple weeks. Channel Cats: The good news continues for Blues, and remains consistent and steady w/ the current in Little River over the past couple weeks. Channel Cats, from 3-8 pounds each for the past several weeks, are good, using dog food, cut shad or Charlie, on trot lines and yo-yo's along the river and in oxbows hung from cypress trees in approx 9-11 feet water depth, near river current. Bream: Beginning to bite good again along the banks on crickets and red worms around docks and cypress trees. White/chartreuse or white/yellow popping bugs on fly rods, remain catching nice Red Ear and Mason Bream. Longnose Gar: Still remain relatively shallow and cruising, are actively seen in huge numbers in shallow water spawning areas are making excellent opportunities for bow fishermen. Clusters of 2-4 fish swimming together, and large females, in 1-3 feet of water depth, are being seen in backwater sloughs and oxbows. }><(((º> Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions Report <º)))><{ Navigation conditions in Little River are cautioned, with increased current & debris. As of Monday, 5 May, the main lake and Little River's water surface temp ranging approx 63º to 75º, depending of course, on location and time of day. Lake level on Millwood as of Tuesday 6 May, is still approx 1.3 feet above normal, and slowly rising, at 260.39 feet. Normal pool is 259.2 feet. Little River's clarity as of Monday, is approx 2-4" visibility. Main lake clarity and visibility 5-6". Current in Little River and discharge at the dam is 18,048 CFS as of Tuesday, to normalize lake level. Much debris, grass mats, tree limbs, etc is coming down Little River. Use caution during navigations on Millwood until normal pool can be returned. Some river buoys are clogged with broken loose grass and vegetation mats, missing, or forced out of the channel due to heavy debris in current. USACE is working diligently to replace river buoys that were pushed to the bank during the 6-8' rise. All USACE boat ramps and campgrounds are now open again, as of Monday 5 May 08. Upriver oxbow's clarity approx 8-10". The tailwater elevation was unavailable below the spillway on Tuesday, 06 April. Discharge/ Release Rate at the spillway of 18,048 CFS is with all 13 tainer gates open at at 3.6 feet each. The recent high wind on the lake has moved many of the Little River buoys out of the channel center. Use caution in navigation with increase in debris content w/ increase of very high current in Little River. Wear that Life Jacket!! If you are thrown from your boat, it could be your only chance of survival. HYPOTHERMIA can set in as little as 5-8 minutes in water temperatures around 50º ! Use caution navigating Little River in low light conditions, SLOW DOWN, and pass friendly to other boaters! As always, careful watch for any random floaters and debris in Little River's current, and wearing your PFD and kill switch is a requirement!! Don't forget, be courteous, and respect the other guy's right to use the lake too. Release those big bass to spawn and fight again, and take home those little 16"ers to fry up! Use caution in low light conditions, and wear your flotation device! If you are suddenly thrown from your boat, or knocked unconscious, your life preserver can potentially be your only hope to survive. Huge Thank You's to the US Army Corps of Engineers, The Millwood Lake Citizens Focus Committee, and AG&FC personnel who recently received State approval for the return of winter normal lake pool drawdown this year on Millwood to help reduce the spread of aquatic vegetation. """"""Good Fishin'! <º)))><{"""""""""""" Updated 05/01/08 Lake Elevation at Normal Pool: 552.0 Temperature: Release Rate: 3825 cfs. Level: 27.32 feet high Report by: www.mtnriverflyshop.com : The Journal and fellow guide Marc Poulos headed to the Norfork on Tuesday for a post flood review and we have to say the impact of 81,000 cfs is pretty evident. Trees have been flattened along the banks, and particularly on Charlie's Island, where there is the remains of a riverboat parked amongst the demolished trees. The Quarry Park boat ramp was left as bare gravel but it was encouraging to see work being done to hopefully get this ramp back into service ASAP. On a guide poll the morning have been quieter than the afternoons on Norfork recently. Certainly it was this way for us. We fished slowly down from the Dam to McLellan's with the odd fish to Marc and zip to the boat driver. Apparently it was the Journal's mission to decorate the new bottom structure with flies. But then we moved into the catch and release section and switched to size 14 Prince variants, the Journal a Tungsten Prince, Marco the Hot Wire Prince in Green Yellow, and we were on fire. Small tan caddis were coming off pretty steadily but didn't seem to be attracting any surface activity. We later heard from Clint his day had been similar, though he stayed lower on the river and caught the rise in feeding activity earlier on worms and Sunday Specials. Tight lines from all at the Mountain River Fly Shop Gary, Cindy, Chad, Jim, Marc, Faye, Mike and Steve No Report
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