College Kids To The River

[EricFox11]

Hello all, my name is Eric Fox and I am going to college at Texas A&M university. Some buddies and myself (approximately 8 total) are going to the white river in Arkansas to get away from it all and do some trout fishing!

We are staying here http://www.vrbo.com/136452 for 4 nights, March 15-19.

I don't have any experience trout fishing, but I've heard fly rods or VERY light spinning rods work. Would a really light spinning rod be alright? They are much cheaper than fly rods obviously.

Also, any other suggestions you guys have for a bunch of river noobs, please let me know.

[Brian Sloss]

The first thing I would say, is your lodging looks nice, but they are about an hour to an hour and a half from the White river. You can fish the south fork of the Spring river for smallmouth and of course the Spring river itself for smallmouth and trout. From Hardy continue north on 63 about 10-15 miles and at Mammoth Spring, the trout fishing begins going back down toward Hardy. A spinning rod will be fine to catch trout with.

[flytyer57]

A medium light to medium action spinning rod with a 6-10 pound test line will work for most trout fishing.

Curly tailed grubs on 1/16-1/8 ounce jig heads will produce.

Small spoons will work.

Small Rapala minnows will work.

If all else fails, there's always power bait. (But I wouldn't use it myself.)

[Dan Sweeney]

If you try to fly fish for the first time for three days in mid March in running water, you're likely to spend three days looking retarded and digging hooks out of your everything, and not catching many fish. If you want to start learning how to fly fish, try and get a bit of the basics down ahead of time if you can. There should be a fly shop or two around College Station to help with that. If not, a medium light to ultralight spinning rod works somewhere between just fine and much better, depending on whom you ask. (I much prefer fly fishing, but I have and occasionally use several spinning rigs.)

Either way, you should have a good time, but I wouldn't pick up a bundle'o fly gear the night before and expect to avoid frustration the next day. Just food for thought.

[ozark trout fisher]

I'm not too familiar with the White, only having fished it a few times, but I can tell you if you're not experienced with fly fishing or trout fishing, you definitely want to start off with light spinning gear. Trying to tackle a big river like the White with very little fly-fishing experience is something that is going to be extremely frustrating and probably end in a fishless couple of days. Don't get me wrong, I've been in the same sort of situation when I was just learning to fly fish and learned the hard way...

That said, I've spin-fished the White several times, and I've always done well. 1/16 ounce Mepps Spinners and Little Cleo Spoons in silver and gold have worked. And of course Powerbait, which is a guarantee but not exactly glamorous fishing-still there's nothing wrong with it and if it was my first time trout fishing that's what I'd do. But as I said, I am not really a tailwater fisherman and I only have the most basic experience on the White. And you'll want to use 4 pound test for trout fishing on any of the Ozark rivers.

And use small hooks for Powerbait fishing if that's what you do-that's one thing first-time trout fisherman often get confused on. No bigger than #8.

I often like to give the White River fisherman on here crap (calling it a tailwater ditch and such) but really it's a very nice area down there and I'm sure you'll have a good time.

[EricFox11]

Guys, thanks so much for your replies! I guess we have all just been saying White River because its the biggest known thing around there. We should be within walking distance of the Spring River I would assume though?

If we are, should we just stay close to the cabin and fish the Spring River, or take the hour drive to the White River? Maybe get used to things on the smaller Spring and move up to the White.

As far as preperation, I DO plan to prepare. Even with a light spinning rod, I will take it along with the lures mentioned here to a small pond and practice throwing, etc. If I could get a fly setup for $20, I might do that and give it a shot (hell, you can return anything to walmart anyway).

What I've gathered thus far is to get:

1/16 ounce Mepps Spinners and Little Cleo Spoons in silver and gold

Curly tailed grubs on 1/16 ounce jig head

Small Rapala Minnows

Powerbait (Which kind should I buy for trout?)

8# Hooks for Powerbait (are these treble hooks?)

Ultralight Spinning rod with 4lb test / Fly Rod Setup

Also, I am generally a Bass fisherman, so to catch smallmouths there is it similar to in a lake? Worms and stuff?

Thanks and gig'em

[DaveMac]

I'm assuming you will be wading and thus you'll need waders for either the White or Spring (cold water, boys!). Otherwise you'll be fishing from the bank. I'd recommend the Spring because it's for the most part easier to wade and you don't have to worry about changing water levels when the generators are running on the White. I know college kids don't have much money but if you want to do the White I'd seriously consider hiring a couple of guides (just google White river guides). You'll catch fish and learn a lot that way.

[Brian Sloss]

I think the trout fishing is better up toward Mammoth, so I'd make the drive at least one day. You can get maps to find all the accesses at the Mammoth Spring state park office at the intersection of 63 and Hwy 9. From there start fishing. You can start at the the office just below the waterfall. Lassiter, Dam 3 (hatchery there), and Bayou are the most common. I prefer Bayou because it is the most remote. Don't know what the fishing in Hardy is like, never fished it. The white is a risk if you are not renting a boat or guide because the generation could come on any time and it sucks to drive an hour to find them running all units, unless you have a boat or are willing to rent one and have the no how to operate it under the current conditions at the time. If it is wadeable, it is worth it. The Eleven Point is much closer to the Spring and the North Fork of the White in Missouri isn't too far either if you want a change, but you should be able to find enough water on the Spring to keep you busy. Rent a canoe for one day so you can see and fish more water.

[flytyer57]

Spring River map.

Spring River.pdf

[EricFox11]

Awesome map, thanks a lot!!

http://www.amazon.com/Pflueger-Fly-Kit-8-Feet-0-Inch/dp/B0036XE3K6

This is a Pflueger fly kit, there is this one and a $10 more one

http://www.pfluegerfishing.com/products/products.php?p=36

Any input on either of these?

I can get them both at Academy for the same price as listed on web too, btw