Trip Planning

Travel:

Driving to North Arkansas is not a difficult thing to do these days. There is no four lane interstate but at least the roads are paved! I expect within a ten year period highway 412 will be four lane through the area. Basically this will connect Tulsa to Memphis with Mountain Home in the middle. Each of these cities are about a four and a half hour drive at this time.  As the saying goes "build it and they will come" but for now... it's pretty nice the way it is.
                            
Flying is a different matter. Baxter Regional Airport is doing it's best to get online to receive commercial flights but it "ain't happened yet." So if you are planning on flying in and renting a car Springfield, Missouri is your best bet.  Springfield is about an hour and a half drive through some pleasant country down through Branson and Harrison. Those with private aircraft should have no problem. We could arrange to pick you up at the near by airport if need be.

What to Bring:

This part of the world is one of those places where you can truly say the weather has radical mood swings. It's not as bad or life threatening as some places I have been (i.e., the Rocky Mountains or Alaska) but it does have it's moments of hot and cold, sun and rain, sometimes all in the same day. For the most part though, the weather is mild. There will be a few days below 25 degrees Fahrenheit in December and January and a few days above 98 degrees Fahrenheit in July and August, but these are the extremes. For these reasons it is always advisable to bring rain gear, warm underwear, and sunscreen.  Even in the summer it’s good to bring warm underwear because you may end up wading in 50 degree water most of the day.

If you are a serious fly fisher I recommend bringing your favorite 4, 5, and 6 weight rods. When the water is low and wade able the use of a very light tippet (6x) is the name of the game. For this reason, medium to medium fast action rods are a must. Wind is not a factor here like it is out West, so for the most part fast action rods have no place unless we are throwing steamers in a high water situation, which can happen.  When nymph fishing out of the boat in high water I like to use 10 ft. rods. I can supply any of these with notice.  Reels with good smooth drag systems and floating lines cover most situations; however, a 150 to 200 grain sink tip on another spool can be a handy thing to have especially when they are running water. Again, if you need any of these let me know. I can supply them. It is part of the service. I will also supply flies, tippet, and a reasonable number of leaders for your trip. The trip also includes lunch along with drinks and snacks.

It's nice to have your own waders, but if you don't they can be rented at the local fly shop.  I can answer your specific questions via e-mail or phone near the time of your trip.

Best Time to Come:

The most asked question: When is the best time to come?  The most frequent answer:  It depends what you want out of your trip.
                     
First and most importantly, if you really want a chance at bigger-than-average fish come at the least crowded times, avoiding holidays and weekends. Having said that, the period between Thanksgiving and Christmas is a very good time for fishing. Water conditions are usually good this time of year and there are few people.  Keep in mind that big fish spook very easily and can stay that way for days or weeks if there is a lot of traffic.  Night fishing is another way to combat this form of lock jaw; but of course, it has it's draw backs depending on the time of year and water flow.

Another way to catch big fish is to be here for the famous shad kill. Usually this happens sometime between January and April.  To be successful several factors must come about: Cold temperatures for a period of time during the winter, and water generation at significant levels are required.  The shad die off in the lake and are drawn through the dam.  It can be a very exciting time when large post spawn fish gorge on this feast coming through the dam. Sometimes most anything white will do the trick.  If this occurs I will send out a report.

For numbers of decent size fish, especially rainbows; April, May, and June are good months.  If they have been running a lot of water for most of the winter and then bring it down as the summer comes on, fishing can be outstanding. There is usually some kind of hatch coming off somewhere on the river with Caddis being the biggest and longest of these hatches. This is the best dry fly and soft hackle time of the year. It is a lot of fun.

September is a month for change on the White River. After the hot days of August it is always a welcome change and one that represents better fishing.  Grasshoppers and other terrestrials become the target for hungry fish along the banks and good size fish are spread out for many miles down the river. With the summer vacationers gone one can find solitude especially on the week days.  This is also the time of year I like to spend in the catch and release area below the Bull Shoals dam. And a good time to do some night fishing.  Mild days and warm nights make it one of the best times to be on the river.
 
October is a busy month on the river for many reasons. The first weekend of the month the Southern FFF Conclave has their annual get together in Mountain Home. This translates to a lot of flyfishers on the water. In addition, the Fall colors are coming on and the weather is usually very nice, so a lot of people visit during this time. The fishing can be very good, especially if there has been adequate water during the summer months. Various insect hatches occur at this time with the caddis usually being the most dominate. One factor that can affect fishing in a negative way this time of year, especially on the North Fork, are falling dissolved oxygen levels. This varies from year to year and is definitely something to keep your eye on as the month progresses. Larger pre-spawn fish begin their annual migration up the river this time of year so they can be found and caught outside their normal places.

The first of February is a popular time to be on the White River below Bull Shoals, when the catch and release area directly below the dam is opened to fishing. It can be a circus, but I wouldn't miss it. There is a chance to catch very nice browns for several days until they "spook out" and disperse down the river.  If they are running a lot of water this could last for more than a few days.
 

Area Information

If you are unfamiliar with the White River area of the Arkansas Ozarks check out the websites of two of our local Chambers of Commerce:

Cotter Chamber of Commerce | Mountain Home Chamber of Commerce

Places to Stay
You will find a wide variety of lodging choices in our area. The places we suggest are the:
White River Trout Lodge, Bull Shoals-White River State Park, White River Campground and Cottages, White River Inn, Gastons White River Resort, Rim Shoals Resort, and Angels Retreat.
Be sure to visit their websites!

Fly Fishing Conditions
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