1 week in Arkansas, what to do? --- We had a BLAST!

[Troutjig.com]

Ok all, I’m in charge of the Honeymoon and I’ve decided that we need to take a trout fishing trip to Arkansas. We were going to go to Alaska, but things just did not work out. The wedding is on July 22nd, and I’d like to make it to Arkansas that evening. We’ll need to be back in St. James, MO sometime early Saturday, July 29th.

My fiancé and her family have fished Meramec Spring Park for many years. They have been tying and selling jigs to a local bait shop in St. James for quite some time now. 6 or 7 years ago, they took a trip down to Arkansas and stayed at Gaston’s and had a great time. They used the same jigs and had great success. They had a decent sized group with them at that time, so it wasn’t too terribly expensive.

There are so many different places to go that I don’t know where to start. We have a truck and a Ford Escape. If we brought the truck, we would have the following available to us: 17’ bass boat, canoe, or 12’ v-bottom boat. We could bring the Escape and rent a boat, or just use our waders the whole time.

Should we be fishing Bull Shoals, Norfork, or somewhere else in Arkansas?

What lodges have reasonable rates?

Should we start up close to the dam and make our way down river (wade and drive) as the water rises?

Should we take a float one day? Two day?

I originally thought we could hit one spot 2 days, drive to farthest distance that we are going to drive for the next 2 days, then another spot the next 2 days, possibly ending up in Cassville’s Roaring River State Park Friday evening, fishing a couple hours early Saturday morning, then making the trip back to St. James.

If we don’t want to fish one or two days, are there any must see places in Arkansas? It looks like the Buffalo River State Park is somewhat close to Norfolk.

Basically, I’m just looking for places that we can catch fish and relax.

Any and ALL comments/suggestions are welcomed. I’m a little behind schedule 

Thanks!!!

[bobber]

fishing on the HUNNIE Moon?? >>man o man she's a keeper!! as for the fishing< below bull is a must! a guided half/day will put you on fish! and the trip to the buffalo? steel creek is a must see! and instead of the roaring river thing, hit eureka springs (benton street B AND B ) downtown. or spider creek, on the riverbank of the white river, below beaver dam ...stop in at the beaver dam store next too spider creek they can hook you up with the fishing details( hope they read this and like my plug!!) (he posts on the board here!) :ph34r: as for the boat to bring? well theres too many places!!the canoe will work!but there is also some darn good lakes to see bull ,northfork ,beaver, tablerock!, well good luck ,and best wishes!!

[RSBreth]

My wife insisted we honeymoon at Gastons, so that was a plus.

You will have a hard time getting the cabin you want on this short notice at Gastons. You usually have to reservations 2 months ahead.

Yes it's that popular.

I wouldn't bring the boat. Unless you know Bull Shoals or Norfolk like the back of your hand, you'll be disappointed.

That being said, the White for trout, and then hit the Buffalo for smallies can take up a whole week.

Trust me, I've spent a 9 day vacation at Bull Shoals State Park camping.

Streamers for big browns early, nymphing during the day, and dry flies when a hatch came off.

Since you like those jigs, I'll guess you use spinning gear. If you fish the White try some smaller rapala minnow type lures. Most big brown trout hunters use shad rap crankbaits when the water is up, but when it's down nothing gets big trout going like a #6 or #8 husky jerk. Cast across the current and let the flow "swing" the lure back quartering through an area that looks good.

Most strikes happen in the last 1/4 of the swing.

If you try this make sure your drag is set a little light and you are ready.

Last year I was showing a buddy this and he had his rod pulled right out of his hand by a 5 lb rainbow that after he splashed over and got it back was still so freaked out by it he broke the fish off.

[Troutjig.com]

Thanks for the replies!

We searched the net for a couple more hours last night and I think we came up with a list of places to stay:

Patrick's on the White

White Hole Resort

Fulton's

Wildcat Shoals

Norfork Trout Dock

Gene's

Unlimited Sportsman's Cabin

Patrick replied to my post on another site and it sounds like he could give us a pretty good deal. I plan on calling him later today. It would be nice to drive down the Escape and not have to haul anything. Better gas milage then the truck as well.

RSBreth -

Do you usually bring a boat along, or just drive to different access points and wade out? It seems like we could start fishing up close to the dam, then pack up and drive down to another access point when they start running water. We plan to pack both fly rods and spinning rods. I've been reading on the different forums on the net to see what flies everyone uses. We'll be sure to have plenty of each tied up before we come. I have had a lot of luck catching Brown Trout here on the Maramec River using a Rebel Ghost Minnow in the ripples. I'll be sure to bring a good supply of them.

I guess I'm wondering if we should split up the trip and spend a couple days up close to the dam, then a couple down where the norfork comes into the white...or just stay in one place and drive to those places, then back to the resort at night. Decisions Decisions

Can you sight fish very many places on the River?

Thanks again for the replies!

[RSBreth]

I have fished the White from drift boats, river johns, and just once a 17'aluminum pushed by a 75hp jet, which was awesome.

But these days I just wade, mostly.

If water comes up, you can drive down and still get some fishing in before it gets to you.

Unless I'm playing guide, these days I fish either for bigger fish w/lures or big streamers, or fishing dry flies.

This is pretty big water in most places, "sight" fishing usually means the fish see you, too, and spook except for dinks. I've never had the herds of trout following my feet around like you get at Taney.

Oh, driving around all these areas isn't the expedition it may seem at first.

You'll burn gas, but I've hit 4 places on the White in a day to keep ahead of high water, wound up down by the Buffalo, went to an access point on it and caught a smallmouth, then drove back to the State Park about dinner time.

Besides, not to get too personal here, but on my co-ed trips when high water gets you out of the water there is always something else to occupy your time!

[shawncat]

Troutjig,Genes and Norfork Dock are both good on Northfork.You can easily fish most of the accesses in a day[rivers 3 or 4 miles long]Wade the first day hitting the dam,McCellans[a private access 3 bucks ,a must!],and where the Northfork empties into the White.Boats are fat$$$$$ $50 to $70 so wait to see if there running water first.If they are try to find out how long they have been running lately[good luck It will be a guess]and rent a boat from Norfork or Roses go upstream as far as you can and float down.If you can make it to the dam you can float with no generation with little or no dragging.I suggest one of your gold or silver tinsel jigs they seem to like flash there.Try to hit The White at Bull Shoals nice spookey fish in the catch and release and they stock the river just below very often.Good luck those rivers can be a little dangerous compared to the Meremac.

[Troutjig.com]

RSBreth – that’s what I like to hear! Sounds like we just keep moving down stream and we’ll be good to go. I think I’m going to be staying at Patrick’s on the White. His prices are good for the cabin as well as boat rental. I think we’ll work something out to have the boat all week. I will be able to haul it down to Northfork if I feel the need and use it down there. I hope the fishing is good enough that we can just wade out in the mornings, then when the water comes up hop in the boat and head downstream. That would be perfect.

Shawncat – I’ll be sure to check out McCellans! It sounds like it is kind of a pain to figure out when the water is going to be high. Why isn’t there a set schedule? I’m sure there is a reason for it. We’ll be sure to take a large supply of our jigs. When my fiancé stayed at Gaston’s 6 or 7 years ago, they caught SOOO many fish with the rubber-leg jigs. I hope our trip is a repeat of theirs Is the White at Bull Shoals up real close to the dam? OR are you talking about the White Hole?

Thanks!

[shawncat]

Troutjig,yea I was talking about the White River up by the dam.It's about a mile long stretch of c&r it's good wading but get's hit hard.I hope you get some running water that stretch is really good.If you can rent the boat for a half day[ $55 last time I was there].Motor up to the cable leave your motor running and float down and repeat.They will have a drag chain attached to a rope make sure front passenger has a sharp knife right next to them at all times just in case chain gets hung up on fast rising water.Im not trying to scare you but it can get dangerous.It looks like there only running a couple generators for a short time so you should be cool.I dont turn my motor off when there gen water on the White or North Fork.The dock guy at the state park will have a pretty good idea of generation[he will be guessing but a good guess]Also bring a cell phone with the corps generation number[i think it's somewhere on this site]If your phone will work down there mine won't.Good luck.

[Troutjig.com]

shawncat - We are going to stay at Patrick's on the White. It is real close to Gastons. Very nice guy on the phone. He's going to let me rent the boat for the week for a good price with the option to leave it hooked onto our vehicle and take it down to North Fork, etc. when we want. Pretty sweet deal.

So when they start running water, you are saying I should try to make my way up to the cable, which I assume is the end point of the C&R section, then drift down (with motor on), then motor back up and repeat? I guess the rope and chain is used to help drift down in a straight line? And you are saying if that happens to get caught up, it could possibly hold down the boat while the water is rising. Thanks for the tip and we'll be sure to be ready.

Is there a fee for putting in a boat at the different public accesses?

Don

[snagged in outlet 3]

If your chain doesn't have an automatic release with a bouy attached I wouldn't drag it. You're just asking to get yourself into a hairy situation. It's not worth it. McClellan's is now $5 per person. Be very careful if it's your first time on the White or Norfork in a boat. Good luck.

Snagged.