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Message
Fishing gear for trout fishing in February (white River)
Posted on 1/4/21 at 9:19 am
Posted on 1/4/21 at 9:19 am
I have a trip in February planned to go trout fishing on the white River just south of the dam on Bull Shoals. They release water that time of year and the fishing is good in the current, you use a log chain tied to a rope as a sort of drag anchor and let the current slowly take the boat downstream while you fish. I’ve never gone before, I only ever bass fish with baitcasters.
Anyone ever do this and what type of rod/spinning reel combo is best? What kind of line? Lures? Need to buy some stuff to prepare and not sure what to use
Anyone ever do this and what type of rod/spinning reel combo is best? What kind of line? Lures? Need to buy some stuff to prepare and not sure what to use
4
Posted on 1/4/21 at 9:24 am to deltaland
quote:
Anyone ever do this and what type of rod/spinning reel combo is best? What kind of line? Lures? Need to buy some stuff to prepare and not sure what to use
Safe to assume you are not going on a guided trip?
quote:
you use a log chain tied to a rope as a sort of drag anchor and let the current slowly take the boat downstream while you fish.
Be careful and watch the stern. I would wear my PFD in that scenario.
Posted on 1/4/21 at 9:30 am to LSUintheNW
quote:
Safe to assume you are not going on a guided trip?
No. Family thing with my dad and grandfather and couple of my cousins. Grandmother recently passed and we want to all do something with my grandfather before he can’t anymore and he loves to fish. My dad has gone before and is familiar but I’ve never been.
Posted on 1/4/21 at 9:41 am to LSUintheNW
quote:
I would wear my PFD in that scenario.
I always wear one in moving water especially when it’s cold like it will be in February
Posted on 1/4/21 at 10:19 am to deltaland
They have minimum flows on the White river now so they are always moving water.
That time of year you need to be prepared for a shad kill and take lures or flies that are white and mimic shad that have been sucked through the turbines.
Good chance at catching some massive browns.
6lbs test line in a spinning rod or 4-6wt fly rod with sink tip line is where you need to start.
That time of year you need to be prepared for a shad kill and take lures or flies that are white and mimic shad that have been sucked through the turbines.
Good chance at catching some massive browns.
6lbs test line in a spinning rod or 4-6wt fly rod with sink tip line is where you need to start.
Posted on 1/4/21 at 11:42 am to bbvdd
4 or 6 pound test, I like low vis green.
I personally like a 6- 6.5 foot medium action spinning reel on the white or norfork.
IF you hit a shad kill, thank your lucky stars, throw lots of white jigs and stick baits and something like a shad rap. Be prepared for tons of huge fish. You probably won't time it right but if you do its amazing.
If want to target browns, use crankbaits I recommend the Shad Rap SR5-SR7 in either perch or brown crawdad. Stick baits also work really well.
If you just want to load up on fish then learn to tie a white river rig, they are easy to do and work well. I have actually transitioned away from bell sinkers and moved to attaching split shot to the drop. Your sinker is the most likely to get caught on a rock and this way you can just pull it free and not have to retie. Use small hooks 4-6 is common, I prefer 8. For bait take some medium shrimp and sauté with garlic and salt. Cut a medium shrimp into three pieces. Try to make the hook almost invisible. This seems to outperform powerbait or corn by a pretty wide margin.
I personally like a 6- 6.5 foot medium action spinning reel on the white or norfork.
IF you hit a shad kill, thank your lucky stars, throw lots of white jigs and stick baits and something like a shad rap. Be prepared for tons of huge fish. You probably won't time it right but if you do its amazing.
If want to target browns, use crankbaits I recommend the Shad Rap SR5-SR7 in either perch or brown crawdad. Stick baits also work really well.
If you just want to load up on fish then learn to tie a white river rig, they are easy to do and work well. I have actually transitioned away from bell sinkers and moved to attaching split shot to the drop. Your sinker is the most likely to get caught on a rock and this way you can just pull it free and not have to retie. Use small hooks 4-6 is common, I prefer 8. For bait take some medium shrimp and sauté with garlic and salt. Cut a medium shrimp into three pieces. Try to make the hook almost invisible. This seems to outperform powerbait or corn by a pretty wide margin.
Posted on 1/4/21 at 3:19 pm to smoked hog
quote:
For bait take some medium shrimp and sauté with garlic and salt
I was never a believer in garlic until this year. Something about it.
I just use gels/oils from pro cure. Works great.
Eta....
quote:....last year
until this year
This post was edited on 1/4/21 at 3:21 pm
Posted on 1/4/21 at 3:27 pm to smoked hog
Thanks 
Posted on 1/4/21 at 6:25 pm to deltaland
I’ve been fishing the White for a bunch of years. I still hire a guide. A good guide will make your trip superb. The river can be different daily, and change several times during the day.
You can catch fish on your own, yes. But a good guide will have you into them all day. And some chances at good ones too.
You can catch fish on your own, yes. But a good guide will have you into them all day. And some chances at good ones too.
Posted on 1/4/21 at 7:46 pm to LSUintheNW
quote:
I just use gels/oils from pro cure.
The advantage of cooking it yourself is you do extra and it's a hell of a snack.
And I wholly recommend a guide for a day. My grandparents ran a guide service at the confluence of the white and norfork for almost 40 years. I still get a guide every once in a while so they can update me, even fishing with my dad, a former guide.
But if you dont just remember to look for the deeper holes and if you can find a good eddy, work it like structure when bass fishing. A lot of big trout on the backside of logs and boulders.
Posted on 1/4/21 at 9:37 pm to deltaland
Dress like you are going duck hunting. Will be freezing but the air is lighter.
We used to wade south of Mountain Home, throw ultra lite spinning with every color of rooster tail. We got tired of catching em. Big Browns hide like bass fishing.
Best advice. Buy ice. Put ice in cooler for fish. Throw the brews in the bag and bag in the river. Coldest brews you'll ever have.
We used to wade south of Mountain Home, throw ultra lite spinning with every color of rooster tail. We got tired of catching em. Big Browns hide like bass fishing.
Best advice. Buy ice. Put ice in cooler for fish. Throw the brews in the bag and bag in the river. Coldest brews you'll ever have.
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