White River Arkansas Fishing Report

I had a great time spending the past Winter in Northern Arkansas on White River for January, February and March - so looking forward to the Winter of 2025.  I will be back to the White River Trout Lodge and we will be offering our package pricing for lodging, guided fishing trips and meals.  Those looking for just guided fishing trip we sure will be offering those for the fly angler who wants to fish streamers, nymph or night time trips.  We try to setup our method of fly fishing based on river conditions and what you want to do.  I have been getting a lot of interest in night time trips for the 2025 and I sure love guiding anglers at night and hunt for Big Browns.  Dates are filling in now for our calendar and now is time to reserve lodging and guides for the upcoming winter on this awesome river. Here is a few photo from this past season on the White River and at the White River Trout Lodge:  

The past week has been some beautiful weather here in Northern Arkansas on the White River.  Cold weather typically makes the water come on and water levels have been around the clock at minimum flow.  What that means is we fish lots of different small flies on floating lines and we fish in dark swinging our mouse patterns.  Both of these methods produce some awesome Brown Trout for the fly angler.  Last night we did get a full night of rain about a 1" so far and more is coming today.  Bull Shoals Lake has risen about 3-4' in the last 10 days and just a few more feet to power pool.  That means streamer water coming soon hopefully.  Tomorrow's water schedule is sure a big change and hard to say what rest of coming week will bring.  330 on the generation in morning which is full blast and one big blast of water. Ken came in from Florida for the last few days and we had some very good fishing.  Some good Browns and lots of Rainbows on small flies. Lots of different sizes of  jig minnow patterns, worm patterns, jig egg patterns, midges, mega worm, micro eggs.  Then…

When it comes to streamer fly rods we carry a great selections I use them them all in my guide service.  Like to tell everyone if you want to cast or fish one of these just come on by.  Either here at the White River Trout Lodge till end of March or my house in Fairview the rest of the year. New R.L. Winston Rod out and loving this one - big streamer rod, big trout, bass, musky and saltwater - Air 2 Max. This 9wt was just ideal for our Lake Trout and casting larger streamers in open water. 6wt thru 8wt are coming in very soon and will have them down in Arkansas on the White River - where big streamers produce big Brown Trout. Updating our online sales on web site right now and adding this series: https://michigan-streamside.com/.../fly.../winston-fly-rods/ New Echo rods in today and ideal for streamer fishing. Trying to keep the Streamer X, 84B, EPR and Trout X models all in stock. For those looking for a shorter rod the 84B is it at 8'4" in 6,7,8wt. Ideal for night fishing for Brown with mouse patterns and Smallmouth Bass with topwater or streamers https://michigan-streamside.com/.../echo-84b-fly-rods/ If you…

The White River system has been in a low water state for a while now.  Cold snaps have brought out high power generation from Bull Shoals Dam but mostly many nights have been at minimum flow.  This is ideal for the night time fly anglers.  In these low flows many of the larger browns are looking to eat once it gets dark.  Our most productive method is fishing mouse patterns.  Late nights on the river with a sloooow steady strip.  No hard hook sets at night - its a strip set when you feel them and THEN LIFT ROD!  Much easier to type than do late night in the dark on river.  Got this one below 2 nights ago!  I love night fishing right around the White River Trout Lodge where I stay in my boat.  With our own ramp here in makes it the ideal place!   Below our my favorite mouse pattern tied by Steve Yewchuck.  We carry a good supply of different mice patterns and they are for sale online on my website at: https://michigan-streamside.com/product-category/flies/mouse-patterns/