Where To Go???

[Jeff House]

I am trying to decide between fishing the White tailwaters or the North Fork of the White next weekend for a coouple of days. I am worried about the number of canoes on the North Fork though so kind of leaning towards the White. Does anybody have any suggestions? I will be fishing with a friend and his son. What are our chances of being able to wade below the dam over the weekend , ie. water flows? Any suggestions or other info would be greatly appreciated.

[snap]

..stay at the confluence of both rivers and fish both depending on what the norfork is like...we did that over Easter and it workded out great.

[John Berry]

I would definately fish the White River below Bull Shoals Resevoir. They have been generating in the afternoon. Your best bet would be to start fishing in the catch and release area under the dam. This is the home of huge picky trout. Try soft hackles and midges. When they blow the horn, load up and head for wildcat shoals. This is twelve miles down river and you should have three to four hours before the water hits here. Try black zebra midges. When the water comes up head for rim shoals. This is twenty four miles from the dam. You should have another three to four hours before the water gets there. Try copper johns and zebra midges and don't forget to carry a few elk hair caddis. These places are all loaded with fish and moving around like this will give you a chance to fish a lot of differant water and catch fish all day. Good luck!

[Jeff House]

Thanks to all for the advice. I was wondering if there was anywhere I could get a good map of the fishing areas on the river. I have been below the dam before but have never fished Wildcat or Rim shoals. I fish a lot of #18 - #22 scuds and sowbugs on Taney, good bet on the White as well? What sizes of midges and copper johns are the most productive? I'm used to fishing pretty small stuff at Taney. Any certain midge pattern you would tye plenty of? What about this Trout Crack pattern I've read so much about? Thanks again for the helpful info.

Tight Lines

[John Berry]

If you want a good map on the White, Norfork,or any other river around here, get a copy of the Home Waters Book. It was published by the Mid South Fly Fishers (the Fly Fishing Club in Memphis). It contains detailed maps of all the rivers in this area along with detailed descriptions of every access and how to fish them. Each chapter is written by a guide on the body of water that he is familiar with (I wrote the chapters on the Norfork River and Dry Run Creek). All the proceeds go to conservation projects in the area. They are available at all local fly shops. As to flies, I think the sizes you are familiar with will work here. Our insects are pretty small. I generally fish size sixteen to twenty two on most of the flies you mentioned. The zebra midge seems to be the top producer now. I have not fished the trout crack pattern. Good luck!

[mnunnelee]

Jeff-

I would echo John's reply on where and what to fish. I fished the same areas last week Tue - Thurs. and have never had better success. Actually got strikes on almost every cast. If I were a better fisherman, i would have caught one every throw. Zebra and copper johns #16- #18. Failed to land any of teh big,big browns below the dam. Biggest was probably 16 inches. but i could see them everywhere and huge fish laughing at me. Can't wait to get back. Good luck. thanks for teh input John.

Matt

[Jeff House]

That's the kind of fishing report I like to hear. Sometimes even I can catch fish when it's that easy! Can anyone give me an idea of someplace to camp for a night or two in that area. I know that it's a holiday weekend and a lot of places are already full, so I was wondering if there were any out of the way places where we might still have a chance.

[John Berry]

There are several places on the river. I would try Bull Shoals State P ark it is just below the dam. There is also Quarry Park. It is near Norfork Dam. Both have great fishing and feature riverside camping sites. The reality of the situation is that this is a holiday weekend and it will be crowded. I do expect that you will find a spot at one of those parks.