Never Fished In Arkansas!

[Mattrhorn]

Hello Anglers,

My name is Matt and I am making my first trip to fish the White River in Arkansas. For reference we will be fishing the White River just up from Calico Rock Arkansas along the Izard and Baxter County lines. I am an avid fisherman and I have fished all along the west coast, Wyoming, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Washington. I fish all styles, fly, spinning, live bait. I have never fished for trout in the White River and I hope to get a few tips on spinning gear tackle and lures. We will be boat fishing with some guys who live around there and have fished it for years. They are not sharing any tips to trip up the New Guy on his virgin trip. Any tips on water level, clarity, lure options and such would be great. I can;t wait to see the Ozarks for my first trip to the South. We will be fishing April 22-27. Thanks in advance and if you ever make it to California, I have plenty of tips to get you started out here!

Sincerely,

Matt

[Phil Lilley]

I'm bias, cause everyone knows I'm a jig man, but... take some jigs! 1/8th oz - white, brown, black, olive, sculpin. Work the banks, eddies, work them off the bottom. You'll catch alot of trout.

[Mattrhorn]

I'm bias, cause everyone knows I'm a jig man, but... take some jigs! 1/8th oz - white, brown, black, olive, sculpin. Work the banks, eddies, work them off the bottom. You'll catch alot of trout.

Great, thanks for the tip. Any suggestions on a "Big Fish" lure that may target quality as opposed to quantity?

[flytyer57]

Great, thanks for the tip. Any suggestions on a "Big Fish" lure that may target quality as opposed to quantity?

As always, if you're looking for quality not quantity, use bigger lures. Tends to keep the smaller ones away.

[rps]

Where you are going has only a few brown trout and mostly rainbows. None the less, there are some very big fish between where the Norfolk flows in and Calico Rock. The water has more color and is deeper than farther upstream. Were I to fish artificial baits there, in addition to the jigs, I would pack #5 and 7 shad raps and 3 and 4" suspending jerk baits.

Post pictures! All of us enjoy fish porn.

[Mattrhorn]

Where you are going has only a few brown trout and mostly rainbows. None the less, there are some very big fish between where the Norfolk flows in and Calico Rock. The water has more color and is deeper than farther upstream. Were I to fish artificial baits there, in addition to the jigs, I would pack #5 and 7 shad raps and 3 and 4" suspending jerk baits.

Post pictures! All of us enjoy fish porn.

I will post pictures and thanks a lot for the tips. Last years big fish at that place was a nice brown trout, but you are correct in saying that it is mostly rainbows as that is what they catch the majority of. I will try the suspending baits and the jigs. Day 1 of fishing is about a week away and I am fired up.