Great White River Arkansas Trout Fishing

The cold, clear White River below Bull Shoals dam in North Arkansas is one of those bodies of water that is set aside for maximum imagination when you are not actually beside it or on it in a boat. The cold water is home to some of the best trout fishing in the world, and people from all over the planet flock to it to catch some of the multitude of Rainbow and Brown trout that inhabit it.

I'm not going to give a complete assessment or history of the White River, just a description of its scenery and great fishing. The river gets its cold water from the deep, clear Bull Shoals lake. Water coming from over a hundred feet deep is about 50 degrees on average and is oxegenated by the big turbines that power the flow from lake to river. The White River is stocked with over a million Rainbow Trout yearly and Brown Trout have taken up a wild population, breeding and reproducing in the river in large numbers, and growing to very large sizes. Every year, not only are huge numbers of trout taken from the river, but it regularly turns out rod breaking trophies.

The White River below Bull Shoals is designated as trout water for an astounding 90 miles because of the confluence of several other cold water streams that run into it along the way, keeping the water a suitable temperature for healthy trout. The river turns out large numbers of trout year round, but really shines in spring and fall which is the spawning season. There are numerous guide services that populate the areas all around the White River. It's a good idea, if fishing from a small boat, to do a couple of guided trips before trying to traverse the unpredictable water flow that is determined by the power generation and water relief from the dam. In high water, you'll need to be in constant motion to control the boat. In low water, you will be constantly runnning aground and banging the bottom. Then there are the times the water is "just right" which you have about as much chance to get for a day as winning the lottery.

I can't write this article without putting in a paragraph and a link for a guy who could probably be accurately described as the best guide on the river, Tim "Hot Dawg" Curtis. A friend and I fished with Hot Dawg two years in a row during our church's Men's Event, one in May, the other in June. Both years, we caught the most fish of all the other 75 guys on the water with us.

The first year, we also caught the two biggest fish (below), a 21 and 22 inch Brown Trout that both hit in the same place at the same time. Hot Dawg had to do some seriously fast organizing to keep us all from going out of the boat. The first year we caught between 80-90 trout before lunch, and the two bigger ones afterward. In June of 2010 we caught a total of 80 fish for the day. Hot Dawg's Guide Service was hands down the best on the river. You won't find a nicer, more fun, or harder working guide anywhere. If you decide to take a guided trip on the White River, give Hot Dawg a call.

Our White River Brown Trout

(These fish won each of us a new rod and reel)

Fishing the White River, you can catch a ton of fish from the bank if you just look for certain places where the water slows a bit and looks a bit deeper than what is directly around it. A cut in the bank or a boat dock can be great places to cast from as the structures provide some slower water for the trout to feed in and around.  Both the places below are places I and others caught lots of Rainbow Trout. The locations were right behind Newlands Resort where we stayed.

Casting some corn, Berkley Power Bait, worms, or numerous other good trout baits, you have a great chance of catching a limit of trout. Cast upstream at an angle and let your bait drift back down past you until your line becomes tight. Then let it sit for a couple of minutes. If they don't bite, repeat. In any area this is likely to get you some trout. They can also be taken by spinning gear and all kinds of small spinners, jigs, and crankbaits. And if you are a flyfisherman or woman, the White River offers some of the most promising trout fishing on earth for this type river. It's easy enough to stop in at any of the numerous fishing shops in the area to see what flies are working best and where.

Fishing from small boats is a huge recreational pasttime on the river. My preference is finding desirable areas, positioning the boat with us facing upstream and then casting upstream. Then let the boat and your bait drift along at about the same pace, watching your rod tip intently for the telltale tug and tap of a biting trout. This is the way we caught all our fish on our guided days. And the description of bank fishing above is the way we did it when we were on our own. The White River gives lots of opportunities, even for inexperienced fishermen and women to catch plenty of fish.

I've just become a fan of trout fishing cold water streams in Arkansas over the last few years, but the White River at Bull Shoals is easily my favorite. I'm almost glad it's 3 1/2 hours from my home in Fort Smith. If it were any closer, I'd be no good at all for anything other than fishing. Take a vacation and try out the White River. Give Tim "Hot Dawg" Curtis a ring. You'll be glad you did both.

 Here's to your good fishing ~ Mark Rogers