Spring Fishing Outlook for the NFOW

[Brian Wise]

Hey guys!

With springtime temperatures pretty much here (for now at least) it's time to take a look at what is in store for fishing the North Fork of the White River.

First of all lets cover gear. As far as rods and line go a 9' 5wt medium action rod is going to be the best all around rod for fishing the North Fork of the White. Floating line is the norm but a sink tip should usually be handy for fishing during this time of year just in case of a little bit of high water. If a sink tip is in order a faster action 6wt or even 7wt is going to be a better rod for these conditions. 3-5X leaders and tippet are going to be the best bet along with some 6x tippet for those spring hatches and the dry flies that can be so much fun during the spring.

Hatches, Hatches, Hatches!! As with everything during the spring the bugs are coming back out of the winter and moving more and more. Hatches of Blue Winged Olives and Caddis are the most common but midges and mays are thrown in the mix as well. The springtime is also the time the Stones "hatch" more as well. To match these hatches be sure to carry size #18-14 Adams, #18-14 Parachute Blue Winged Olives, #16-12 Elk Hair Caddis, #16-12 Cracklebacks, along with #20-16 Griffith's Gnat, and #14-10 Stimulators. A lot of the time though you will run into a great hatch but see very few risers so also have in your arsenal some soft hackles and some general wet flies and emergers to get the fish that are getting to the bugs before they get to the surface.

Nymphing is always going to catch fish on the North Fork of the White. The #1 producer on the river is a #10 dark (black, brown, or dark gold) Stonefly nymph, usually a Kauffman Stonefly is the go-to pattern. Usually dropping another nymph off of the stone is a great way to go. Prince Nymphs, Pheasant Tails, Hares Ears, Copper Johns, bead head Cracklebacks, and Red Fox Squirrel Nymphs are the best of a wide array of nymphs to drop off of the stones.

Finding fish is fairly easy on the North Fork of the White, sometimes getting the to bite is the harder part. When nymphing look for any good riffle and in particular those riffles with a deeper tailout or a drop-off in the riffle, these are going to be the best areas to catch numbers of fish. Also when nymphing, nymph deep. If using an indicator make sure the indicator is at least 5' from the first fly and sometimes up to 9'+ from that first fly. When fishing the riffle concentrate first on the closest seam and then work your way out, pretty much fish the closest water to you first so you don't cast over fish, which applies to all water any time of the year. When fishing to rising fish during a hatch, most of the time those fish will be rising in the tailout or lower end of the riffle from where the water starts to smooth out downstream.

Have a great spring!

Brian Wise

Head Guide

River of Life Farm

www.riveroflifefarm.com

[Kansas Fly Fisher]

Thanks for the info Brian. I hope to make it down there this spring to do some fishing. This helps.

John

[BrianK]

Brian-

Thanks for the good info.

Been out there lately?? any recent reports (anyone) ??

Just got back from Taney and Norfork tailwater Mon pm and ready to get back to the upper river.

bk

[Brian Wise]

The river is fishing pretty good right now. The water is cooperating and has stopped "yo-yoing" since we haven't gotten a lot of rain lately.

Stones are doing the best, period. But on the skinnier water wets and flymphs are tearing up the smaller fish.

Will give a full report this weekend...

Brian