O A F Winter White River Trip 2013

[LittleRedFisherman]

With the forecast the way it is, I'm not planning on floating for smallmouth anymore. If I get down there I'll be trout fishing.

I sure wouldn't take this as wrote in stone, but here's an accuweather forcast for that weekend. Looks like just below avg. temps if it holds.

http://www.accuweather.com/en/us/buffalo-city-ar/72653/daily-weather-forecast/2122913?day=11

[Ham]

Cold water seems to make the trout even more dumb than usual. It won't kill the bite. I've caught them went the air temp was in the teens. I've decided that I shouldn't fish alone when the air temps are < 20 degrees which basically means I won't fish since its unlikely I'd find anybody else goofy enough to fish in that weather.

We will likely need to dress carefully with appropriate layering. I'll likely have a heater on board as well as the ability to quickly make a fire and emergency dry clothing.

Don't get me wrong, I'd love for it to be sunny and low 60's with the wind being <5 mph wind from the North, but that's not likely to happen.

[LittleRedFisherman]

I fully understand that other jigs will catch trout. I certainly understand the desire to use what you have before you buy more.

I just have so much confidence in the Zig Jig.

I've fished with Richard and he catches his share of trout and then some.

I don't fish mine exactly like he does, but there's a lot more than one way to get the job done.

Ham, I saw a show were F&S Hookshots did a show on the White, with Crazy Mike. They didn't say if they were Zig jigs, but they were marabou ones like them. They were literally whipping the line off the water violently when they jigged them, never seen anything like that. Said it made them fall backwards or something? Richard doesn't seem to so that, just a pop and drop, that kinda how I try to do mine.

[LittleRedFisherman]

Cold water seems to make the trout even more dumb than usual. It won't kill the bite. I've caught them went the air temp was in the teens. I've decided that I shouldn't fish alone when the air temps are < 20 degrees which basically means I won't fish since its unlikely I'd find anybody else goofy enough to fish in that weather.

We will likely need to dress carefully with appropriate layering. I'll likely have a heater on board as well as the ability to quickly make a fire and emergency dry clothing.

Don't get me wrong, I'd love for it to be sunny and low 60's with the wind being <5 mph wind from the North, but that's not likely to happen.

I will try to do likewise in prep for the cold. If I lived closer, i'd hit the water with ya in the teens anytime you needed a fishing partner. I do cheat I guess by wearing my duck hunting waders and clothes, but it works, as long as I keep my hands tended to I'm usually comfortable! Polypropelene thermals also are very good!!

[Ham]

I'm constantly changing my retrieve looking for what the majority are gonna want for the day. During high wind sometimes the best way to feel a bite is to let the jig hang straight behind the boat in current and twitch it from time to time. Boring, but it will work.

I get a little better at it EVERYTIME I go. I'm looking forward to learning from you guys.

[gotmuddy]

Brett, I would be leary of wearing waders while fishing from a boat on the white. If you fell in you would be a big anchor.

Ham, I am down to fish no matter how cold it is. Doubt you will learn anything from me except maybe how to drink cold beer, haha.

[Ham]

I can learn from any good fisherman. Sometimes, I learn just how crazy I am, but everybody has little tricks or special things they do.

I will likely wear my breathables with fleece wafer pants under them. A good jacket over the top of waders greatly slows the entrance of water into your waders should you accidentally take the plunge. Trust me, I know from experience. It's a small sample set, but I do know first hand. I do not believe waders will weigh you down at all, but they will make it TOUGH to fight against any current.

Any accidental entrance into the White during generation is a life threatening experience. Go with the flow. Keep your feet in front of you and up if at all possible. Work your way to slower water on the side of the river. Pray you're able to get help one way or another and it better come quickly in winter time.

[LittleRedFisherman]

I'm looking forward to learning from you guys as well. I hear ya on the wader thing, I've considered this over they years what would happen if I fell out. The coat I wear is a waterproof coat, that fits tightly round the waders. I know an old fellow that fell out of the boat on black river one morning, he just floated on his back till the boat picked him up, wasn't even wet and went on to hunt that morning. Hope to stay in the boat tho...lol. If it gets in the 40's like it says, may just wear something else, that's not cold to me!!

[Terrierman]

I'm not planning on falling out. But I've fell out before when I wasn't planning on falling out. Dry clothes are the deal then.

[gotmuddy]

I always carry a spare set of dry clothes in the winter. Last winter I almost sank my riverboat on the 11pt by myself...it was scary to say the least. When it gets cold I wear thermals, my bibs and my 100mph suit.