1st Time to the White

[brittsnbirds]

Well I'm jumping out of my comfort zone. My better half and I were scheduling a trip to Bennett the first week of April. She suggested we split the trip and go to another area. She recommended we go to Bull Shoals State Park and I can explored the White River. Have always wanted to go down there but never put the big boys panties on and just did it. Well looks like we will.

If someone could point me in the right direction for wade fishing I would appreciate it. If someone was asking me about Bennett I could give them a lengthy dialogue on what to use, where to fish and how to fish it.

I have been fly fishing most of my 50+ year life. And have been tying my own fly's for the past 10 years or so.

I will entertain any suggestions.

Thanks

[Kcdangler]

Rim shoals and buffalo city

[Nighthawk]

Try the water at the state park campground, just below Bull Shoals dam. Throw a Harvester midge 15" under an indicator. Stop at Dally's fly shop in Cotter on highway 62 for flies and techniques and directions. Wildcat shoals is also good. A fly called a Little White Lie is also good if shad are coming through the dam.

[Ham]

It all depends on generation. There are ALWAYS places you can wade fish at ANY level of generation, but lots of them may only be accesible by boat. Let me think about it a while and I'll PM you a list of where you can try and wade fish, but keep in mind the possibliity of renting a boat and using it to run to areas to wade fish.

[Nick Williams]

The White is definitely a boat river. I've been several times wading and several times with a guide/boat. I'd much rather ALWAYS go with a boat or a guide. There's just so much more access to water, fish, and the ability to get away from any wading crowds. And, if you get screwed by weather or generation, your still fishing if you're on a boat, where wading your done. Brad, over at www.arheadhunters.com is a great guide to use!

But don't count out wading over on the Norfork. They have some great wadeable water when the conditions are right!

[grizzly]

The White can be waded, it just depends on the generation level. I would bring down some eggs, prince nymphs, pheasant tails and midges. If it's generating too much then look to the Spring Rive and Norfork.

Have fun

[Phil Landry]

The water flows are gonna tell you where and when you can wade. Thats something you can't really plan for since it can change at the drop of a hat. If you are not interested in getting in a guide boat or renting a boat I would suggest going by a couple of the shops and seeing what they say when you get there.

[Phil Lilley]

I'm pinning this topic. It's a good way to answer the basic questions about fishing the White for a lot of people who are looking for answers.

Thanks for contributing!

[Terrierman]

FYI Rim Shoals Resort offers water taxi to get wade fishermen to places they wouldn't otherwise be able to fish. Other places may as well, but for sure Rim Shoals does.

[Ham]

IF you have a smart phone, you really should download the FREE app that covers releases for the area lakes. It can be found by searching for LIttle Rock District COE. Get it and play with it a little bit before you arrive. It makes planning you fishing for the day so much easier

Keep in mind that the real time data is a couple of hours old before it is posted and that projected generation is not at all a sure thing. It may be more or it may be a lot less. The next days projection is usually post by 4 pm, but sometimes they are doing the projections for the whole weekend on the Friday afternoon.

One of the reasons I prefer to fish >20 miles downstream from BSL dam is that I have a know what is coming for the next "x" amount of hours. Usually, no surprizes, BUT I am still learning.