The Fishing
The White River is becoming a global destination, and rightfully so, as it is home to some of the largest brown trout in the world. While most people come to the White for a once-in-a-lifetime brown, the rainbow population is not something to ignore because they are also increasing in size annually and are becoming something special as well. Besides rainbow and brown trout, the White River and Norfork River also has cutthroat and brook trout. The White hosts a strong population of trout for nearly 100 miles and most of the fishing is done within the first 45 miles of the Bull Shoals dam. This river is unique in that the flows (normally measured by cubic feet per second or CFS) can change drastically from day to day or even by the hour. The water release can be at minimum flow which is around 500-700 cfs, a slow shallow river, to over 24,000cfs and raise over 8 feet in height, becoming a fast-moving wall of water. Since the flows are always changing, it is much more like a tidal system found in the ocean and requires the guide’s and angler’s to be very flexible and ready to change techniques depending on the current water conditions.
We can access the area by several different types of water crafts, but the most common vessel is a custom style river boat with a jet motor and oars allowing guide to access spots in just inches of water as well as the ability to cover 20+miles in a day’s fishing. The other main option would be a drift boat which is the most popular method out west. The drift boat can be a great option for when the river is very low and the trout are spooky and need a stealthier approach but it is also the main way to float the warm-water rivers and creeks for when the angler wants to mix things up and chase bass and carp instead of trout.
Guided Fishing
1/2 Day
4 hours on the water is a great way to get out and get fishing. Whether you need to run some errands at some point, make that meeting, or just fish a specific time of the day, the half-day is a great way to get out on the water. We can hit the water at any time of the day, depending on availability, but generally our start time is 8am. Lunch is NOT included, but we will have some cold drinks for you.
3/4 Day
The perfect choice for fishing a bit longer than a half day, but not committing to a full day on the water. At 6 hours fishing, the three-quarter day is a very popular trip for everyone- beginners wanting that extra time to learn, and experts looking to fit in that perfect amount of fishing. The three-quarter day will start at 8am and go until 2pm. Times may be adjusted around your schedule. Lunch is NOT included on a 3/4-day trip but feel free to bring whatever you like- we will have room.
Full Day
Full days are 8 hours on the water. 8-hour trips will generally run from 8am to 4pm but can be subject to minor change to chase the bite, work around your schedule, or adjusted to beat weather or generation schedules. Lunch is included- sandwiches, chips, and a cookie are typical, but on a cold day, we can certainly talk about some chili, or something else that peaks your appetite.
Fishing Guide Rates
Full Day: $500
¾ Day: $450
½ Day: $400
Fishing License
We recommend accessing the Arkansas Game and Fish website via cellphone to allow for an easy “screenshot” of your license to have on hand if needed.
https://ar-web.s3licensing.com/
Seasonality
WINTER
Streamer fishing is what most people think of when they hear the White River, and the winter months can be a great time to fish some of the largest streamer patterns you can think of. The ability to cast well is extremely important in this game. The brown trout get very aggressive this time of year because they are trying to get one last meal in before they start their spawn, or they just spawned and need to pack on pounds after they have gone a long time without eating. Streamer fishing is not for the faint of heart, a good motto to remember is “zero to hero” because there are no guarantees when it comes to this method of fly fishing, except that you will be casting a lot and covering miles of water throughout the day.
Even though most angler’s think streamer fishing is the only way to get big fish this time of year, the nymphing can be more productive and produce some real giants. Dry fly fishing can also be an option during the colder months, all it takes is a warmer winter day to get the midges happy and hatching and the trout will be looking up.
SPRING
The first real hatches of the year begin during the Spring and their timing is all relative to the air and water temperatures. The White River will begin to see caddis flying around in March, but April and May are prime time. This is a very special season on the river because every year the hatch gets thicker and more prominent. Spring can be one of the best times on the White River for an angler to connect with a brown trout of a lifetime. The brown’s love caddis and they tend to lose all sense of security and doubts that they may show during the rest of the year. This hatch lends the option of any technique to the angler as nymphs, dry flies, swinging wet flies and soft hackles and even tight line euro style fishing are all productive methods.
Following the Caddis chaos is the often looked over Sulphur hatch, which is a very well-known mayfly ranging from the Midwest to the northeast parts of the country. The Sulphur hatch does not last as long as the caddis with the best times to target this mayfly is May and can continue through June depending on river flows and temperatures. During this hatch, it allows the angler to fish any and every technique they prefer to do, as the fish will eat this bug in all of its 5 stages of their lifecycle.
SUMMER
The Southern summer heat gets numerous types of terrestrials very active and can be some of the most exciting dry fly and foam fishing one may ever experience. Most people just say summertime “hopper fishing” but there is much more than just hopper’s including Japanese beetles, Cicada’s, large spiders, as well as many other big flying insects. The beginning of this “season” is always blurry but generally can start being productive around mid-June and can last through late fall. Some people consider the ending as the second freeze of Fall. The best way to mentally approach this time of year and this technique of targeting large trout on the surface is to think of it as streamer fishing with a dry fly. The most productive way to fish this time of year, like streamer fishing, is covering a lot of water which means a lot of casting to structure. Casting is very important because whether it’s underneath or around trees, boulders, and whatever else that looks fishy… it probably is.
Throwing big dry flies can be addictive but don’t write off the nymph fishing this time of year because trout feed primarily subsurface and with the amount and diversity of food beneath the water’s surface, there is a greater chance of this method being more productive.
FALL
Fall is like Spring fishing in that it is also a transitional period and follows some phenomenal summer terrestrial fishing and is leading into winter fishing but that does not mean the fishing suffers. Depending on the weather, the dry fly fishing can still be great and usually means the angler is throwing a terrestrial, caddis or midge. There are a few hatches during the Fall that most anglers look over, those being pseudocloeon, small blue wing olive, and there is also a caddis hatch, but they are much smaller than the ones we see in the Spring and of course the ever-present midge in various sizes and colors. Fall is also the time when brown trout start to get ready for their winter spawn, so they are trying to pack on the pounds before they start finding their winter partner. Rainbow trout at this time will also have a false spawn so it can be beneficial to nymphing with an egg as a lead fly and if water conditions are right, the streamer fishing can be a great way to find a large trout looking for a pre-spawn meal. The weather this time of year can be very comfortable and the angling traffic on the river tends to thin out much more than the peak seasons.
Terms & Conditions
WHAT’S INCLUDED?
- Water, drinks (non-alcoholic), snacks.
- Lunch (full day only). Sandwiches, chips, cookies! Any special requests will need to be communicated as soon as possible, no later than 24 hours before the trip date.
- All terminal tackle, rods, reels—but feel free to bring your own gear!
- A cooler will be available every trip if you have your own lunch, snacks, or beverages.
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED?
- Arkansas fishing license and trout stamp. Please purchase prior to meeting your guide. Save time and buy your license online using this link.
- Enjoy having some beer while your fish? Bring a few for yourself!
- Gratuities are not included in the trip cost but are welcomed and appreciated!
DEPOSIT AND CANCELLATION POLICY
- ½ of trip cost will be charged at booking. The other half will be charged on the day of the trip, prior to getting on the water. Please have payment ready; cash or credit card accepted!
- Deposits will not be refunded within 14 days of the trip.
- Before 14 days, deposits can be refunded with a $25 cancellation fee.