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N. Arkansas Trout Trip?

Posted on 8/11/19 at 7:59 pm
Posted by LA_KY
'Merica
Member since Mar 2018
177 posts
Posted on 8/11/19 at 7:59 pm
Putting together a trip with a few buddies to somewhere in North Arkansas for October. We’re gonna camp and fish for trout a bit. Might do a guide. Anyone have recommendations on areas you’ve frequented? Guides? White river in NW Ark seems nice as does the little red just North of Little Rock... we’re not 100% set on a place.
Posted by dstone12
Texan
Member since Jan 2007
40197 posts
Posted on 8/11/19 at 8:28 pm to
Weagle and another auburn fan can answer this.


I am jealous of yours and their travels.
Posted by JoeJoeW
Member since Jan 2017
81 posts
Posted on 8/11/19 at 8:59 pm to
Stetson's or Gaston's. Both on the White River, just north of Flippin. Both are nice places with excellent trout fishing. Take a guided trip on day 1, then fish from the bank after that. Just got back from Stetson's 2 weeks ago. Went to Gaston's last year. I dont think you will be disappointed in either one
Posted by bbvdd
Memphis, TN
Member since Jun 2009
28611 posts
Posted on 8/11/19 at 9:54 pm to
Look at the Norfork River as well. Pretty short and feeds into the White. Caught more fish and better size in there than the other two.

Plenty of places to stay.

When you say camp do you mean with RVs or tents or rent a house? Plenty of each on all three rivers.

Be aware that the more is a minimum flow requirement which has taken away most wading in the White.
Posted by LA_KY
'Merica
Member since Mar 2018
177 posts
Posted on 8/11/19 at 10:25 pm to
Thinking we’re gonna tent camp
Thanks all
Posted by smoked hog
Arkansas
Member since Nov 2006
1892 posts
Posted on 8/11/19 at 10:55 pm to
Look for norfork area for wading. Another fun area is the white buffalo resort. You can wade down to the confluence of the white and the buffalo. Catch trout and smallmouth on the same day.
Posted by Ingeniero
Baton Rouge
Member since Dec 2013
22973 posts
Posted on 8/12/19 at 6:32 am to
You can tent camp at the state park I'm pretty sure. We always stayed at Rainbow Drive Resort, and it's super inexpensive. You can wake up, walk right outside your tent/cabin, and wade fish right there. Very friendly owners, know their stuff too. Only thing is, it's a bit out of the way if you want to go to Bull Shoals. You'll have to go through Cotter, to Flippin, up to Bull Shoals.

ETA: like the guy above me said, White Buffalo Resort is good too. We stayed there one year, waded out to a little island where the river forked, and saw an alpaca with a bell around its neck herding sheep. I shite you not!
This post was edited on 8/12/19 at 6:34 am
Posted by Lonnie Utah
Utah!
Member since Jul 2012
34357 posts
Posted on 8/12/19 at 7:46 am to
Can't recommend the White and Norfork enough. We drove 1/2 way across the country to fish them.

But, before you go, you need to read up on the water releases from the dams.

LINK

LINK

The lakes up there are still above flood stage, so the generators have been on most of the summer. Opportunity to wade fish have been limited.
This post was edited on 8/12/19 at 7:47 am
Posted by LA_KY
'Merica
Member since Mar 2018
177 posts
Posted on 8/12/19 at 9:39 am to
Good call on water levels/release schedules - thanks for the links and heads up

Gotta get my planning done soon so we can lock this trip in
Posted by slinger1317
Northshore
Member since Sep 2005
7021 posts
Posted on 8/12/19 at 9:55 am to
Be sure to fish the Norfork Tail Water, very short river but excellent trout fishing.

Like others have said, get familiar with the dam schedule.
Posted by redfieldk717
Alec Box
Member since Oct 2011
28117 posts
Posted on 8/12/19 at 11:19 am to
Mountain home on the white river. Limited on rainbows every day in an hour or 2
Posted by NWLA Tiguh12
Member since Jul 2015
2410 posts
Posted on 8/12/19 at 11:34 am to
Calico Rock. Jenkins or Lindsey's for renting a boat. I don't think you need a guide. So many fish in the area just have a bait in the water and drift at the least.
Posted by LSUNathan
Jonesboro
Member since Jan 2011
114 posts
Posted on 8/12/19 at 11:40 am to
I've fished with 10+ guides on the White. Recently fished with Donald Cranor and he was hands down the best I've fished with. Cranor Guide Services. That day we were on a 4 hour trip caught 7-8 very nice browns and 2 really nice rainbows, and easily 60+ fish.
Posted by BIG Texan
Texas
Member since Jun 2012
1726 posts
Posted on 8/12/19 at 12:09 pm to
I have fished and know Cranor, he uses soft shell crawfish to catch the big Browns, Big
Ones,

If you want to fish a jig use trout magnets in Chartruse or pink and light line 2-3lb, you can literally catch hundreds. Need a steal head Rod, 7.6" is best.
This is good on little red but you need a boat really. There is some wading but not much.
I like to go in July when is really hot every where else. Need a jacket early up there.
Posted by redfieldk717
Alec Box
Member since Oct 2011
28117 posts
Posted on 8/12/19 at 12:16 pm to
We caught them on peeled shrimp tails

They told me don’t touch the tails with sunscreen on your hands which I try to never do anyway.
Posted by LSUA 75
Colfax,La.
Member since Jan 2019
4895 posts
Posted on 8/12/19 at 12:56 pm to
People that have fished White River recently,how was the situation with the didymo( aka rock snot).Lived in Bull Shoals in the 80’s and trout fished a lot,moved back to Louisiana but went back quite a few times to fish.Missed a few years then went back summer before last.Didymo had taken over the River since our last visit.We caught trout but that damned didymo ruined the experience for me,stayed hung up in that crap.I haven’t really wanted to go back since.I didn’t see nearly number of guide boats that I used to.
We stayed at Stetson’s( really nice place,) and we were like the only one there.
I would imagine fly fishing would be best bet now.
Posted by LSUNathan
Jonesboro
Member since Jan 2011
114 posts
Posted on 8/12/19 at 1:16 pm to
quote:

People that have fished White River recently,how was the situation with the didymo( aka rock snot).Lived in Bull Shoals in the 80’s and trout fished a lot,moved back to Louisiana but went back quite a few times to fish.Missed a few years then went back summer before last.Didymo had taken over the River since our last visit.We caught trout but that damned didymo ruined the experience for me,stayed hung up in that crap.I haven’t really wanted to go back since.I didn’t see nearly number of guide boats that I used to.
We stayed at Stetson’s( really nice place,) and we were like the only one there.
I would imagine fly fishing would be best bet now.


Last time I fished up there was middle of last month and there was no issues with the grass.
Posted by Diesel88
Idaho
Member since Oct 2018
884 posts
Posted on 8/12/19 at 1:20 pm to
quote:

Look at the Norfork River as well. Pretty short and feeds into the White. Caught more fish and better size in there than the other two.


Second this. Spent a couple of days on the Norfork a decade ago. The bite was insane and it got me addicted to fly fishing for life.
Posted by Tiger Tom
Monroe
Member since Sep 2006
128 posts
Posted on 8/12/19 at 5:58 pm to
Cotter trout dock at mountain home overnight trip available including 3 meals great fishing ask for Elwin very reasonable
Posted by redfieldk717
Alec Box
Member since Oct 2011
28117 posts
Posted on 8/12/19 at 6:55 pm to
Mountain home is heaven on earth. Love it there.
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