Yesterday the shad poured through the dam in numbers too large to count or estimate. Tens of thousands would be a good guess. We had two fly guides out ,and they were doing very well on White Micro Jigs(a no brainer). All of the fish they caught were simply stuffed, quite literally to the gills. The trout had begun feeding sometime during the night when the shad began coming through and were regurgitating them as they were fighting. They all looked like overstuffed footballs.

The shad have been seen as least as far as Wildcat Shoals down river. This is about 12 miles down river from the dam. What this means to the fisherman who are “in the know”,  is the trout have basically been fed appetizers for at least 12 miles of river  and “Brown Trout dont forget”. These large Browns and their cousin rainbows will be “keying on” anything white for the next month or two. This “White River Shad Kill Phenomenon” happens every year around this time and the trout are accustomed to it. I feel they quite literally expect, and wait for, this huge source of easy to get protein every February and March. Some of the largest fish caught and released back into the river are caught at this time of year!

If you have ever wanted to fish The White River at its’ finest, now is the time to be on the river. Flyfisherman Spinfishermen and even the guys throwing lures and bait up their odds of catching a trophy size Brown Trout significantly during this Shad Kill. If you have never fished the White River, or  if you are a regular, call your favorite guide or lodge and come see what the White River has to offer.

If you have any questions about the “Shad Kill” or anything else about the White River feel free to give me a call at 870-430-2233.

A very nice winter Brown!

Our spin fishermen have been doing great with tons of rainbows being caught! Last week Zach Copeland was up from Dallas Tx. with  nine other guys for a fishing bachelor party. They all fished only one day, and the water was dead low. Zach and his partner had 35 rainbows by 10:30 and decided to turn their attention to Brown Trout.  By the end of the day they had landed 18 browns with the largest one weighing in at 5 1/2 pounds and the next one down was just over 4 lbs. All the rest were in the 17 to 21 inch range which are very healthy 2 and 3 pounders. All of the browns were released to fight again.

Big Bill Thorne with a pretty 6 lb Brown!!

The browns are on their spawning redds right now and the fishing is just getting better day by day. For the next two months the Brown Trout fishing will be about as good as it gets on the White River. A large percentage of the Big browns are in the upper 15 miles of river above the Cotter bridge. We have not had any type of shad kill as of yet with the low water and mild temps but that can change in a hurry. If you have never fished the White River, or if perhaps it is your favorite trout fishery, now is a great time to come experience the fishing the White River is famous for!

To book a trip or to just talk fishing,give me a call at 870-430-2233

Tight Lines,

Moose

Lisa cruisin upriver with Pete, starting a 150 fish day!!!

The next day offered some brutal rain and wind but thyey still managed to boat around 75 fish in 5 hours fishing. They wisely got off of the river when severe lightning started. How ever Lisa continued to smile and catch fish trough it all. Dallas did very well the second day but the big rainbow eluded him. Not so for Lisa, she boated a 3 1/2 to 4 pound rainbow that was colored beautifully, and put up one heck of a fight. She said it took forever to land it on her 4 lb test line.

Lisas' trophy rainbow!! What beautiful colors!

The fly fishing was also great all week ,and Lars and Pam Reimann wore the fish out on small midges under indicators. The low water made for excellent wading and the fish cooperated very nicely. They had a great day with Davy on one exceptionally windy day and were able to try wet fly fishing for a new twist on fly fishing. Davy is a master wet fly fisherman and Pam in particular took to the wet fly fishing  in a big way.

The temps are cooling and the water has been consistently low making for great days on the river. If you are a White River enthusiast or have never fished the White, now is a great time to be here. The river is chuck full of fish and the Brown Trout are in spawning mode. My personal favorite time to fish the White River is November through March. Both spin fishing and fly fishing are good and February is a prime time to throw big streamers for the huge, hungry,  post spawn browns. To book a trip, or just to talk fishing, give me a call at 870-430-2233. Until then ,tight lines to everybody!

Moose

This past week the fishing has been very good. Pete took our good customers Dick Hart of Dallas, and Supreme Court Justice Jack Holt of Little Rock out for a couple of days spinfishing. Despite a very wet and windy day, they caught the heck out of the fish on both days. To see two men who have fished together for 65 years {yes, you read that right,SIXTY FIVE YEARS} warms my soul and gives me a goal to shoot for. The majority of the fish were rainbows with one cutthroat and a few browns mixed in.

A fat rainbow!

The weekend weather was much better and the water was turned off most of the weekend. This made for a great flyfishing trip for Eric Rajala with Chad guiding him. He enjoyed the best single day of fishing in his 20 year fly fishing career catching over fifty fish, he also caught a personal best 18 inch brown trout! Way to go Eric! While he fished, his lovely wife Mitzi enjoyed a relaxing day at the lodge watching eagles and reading a good book. They both enjoyed one of Tina’s fantastic dinners to wind up an exceptional day.

The weather this week is changing and the Fall Colors are blowing out of the trees as fast as you can say “gone”. We have some great Fall fishing to look forward to with the Brown spawn getting started in full swing.The Browns spawning colors are really something to see this time of year! The fall and winter months are my personal favorites to fish the White River. It is certainly the time of year that the most “giant” brown trout are caught, both on fly gear and spinning gear. The huge push up river to spawn, brings the greatest number of trophy browns to this northernmost stretch of the White River. The fishing can simply be phenomenal at times.

If you are considering a trip to the White River, now is a great time to come. We usually experience consistent releases from Bull Shoals Dam, and a very uncrowded river. Not that it is ever really crowded by Western standards. With the lake levels below pool, I expect some wadeable water on the weekends, barring any severe cold fronts.

To book a trip or just to talk fishing give me a call at 870-430-2233. Until then, tight lines to ya!

Moose

Last week was a great week here at the White River Inn. Sam  and Tonda Collett, our long time customers and friends from covington La. came up for a week long trip. Sam is an avid flyfisherman, and he spent five days on the river and one day in Eureka Springs shopping with Tonda. No he is not in the doghouse, he usually fishes everyday while Tonda thoroughly relaxes here at the lodge. The fish gods smiled on Sam with perfect flows allowing him to both wade fish and drift. Sam averageed about 30 fish a day with the majority being rainbows. He fished with two of our guides ,showing him different techniques and different stretches of the White and Norfork rivers.

Sam and Davy

I don’t know if Sam used his whole arsenal but he did cover most of the “fishing avenues” during the week. He fished dries (mainly hoppers” and did quite well up by the dam and he also did well nymphing.

He fished wet flies on a 3 fly setup, with his trip highlight of a Brown and a Cutthroat on the same cast on two of the three flies. I told him to beat that on the next trip, he is going to need a triple. He also fished streamers and did reasonably well on those although perfect streamer water would have been a little higher flow. They ran about 1 to 3 generators all week which is truly perfect for wading and drifting. Sam enjoyed fishing out of our custom motorized “river boats”, as well as a traditional drift boat. He said as he left it was a rejuvenating week and one of his best trips ever. Sam we will see you back here in February !

The White River Trout Fishing Report/Oct. 24,2011 has to cover the spinfishing as well as the flyfishing. All you flyfishing purists stop reading right here! Allen Armstrong of Tulsa Ok. squeezed in a quick father son trip with his son Jarrett. They tore the fish up. They caught well over 100 fish the first day!! Allen said for the first two hours they were consistently hooked up on doubles.

A nicely colored and fat rainbow!

The next day they targeted trophy browns! They caught two nice Browns and a bonus White Bass. Their guide was concerned about the lack of catching, but Allen and Jarrett both wanted to go for broke after one of the huge browns in The White. They had a trout fishing trip of a lifetime,and we look forward to having them back.

The trees are turning colors , the weather is nearly perfect, and the trout are cooperating with the lake and river levels being the best they have been in the fall season in years. If you ever have wanted to try your hand for trout on the Famous White River,now is the time!

Tight Lines,

Moose

To book a trip or just talk fishing,give me a call at 870-430-2233

Leaves starting to change

October is here and Ozarks Fall Color Getaways and tours are on everybody’s mind. At least they should be. With perfect weather complimenting the beautiful foliage blanketing the hills and valleys and the Buffalo River area, the scenery is spectacular.. Today is October the 14, 2011 and the leaves have definitely started their change. Red dogwoods and their dark crimson berries are everywhere, and the sweet gums and cottonwoods are turning a beautiful gold. The best is still yet to come though!

Ozark Colors

Every year tons of people ask me to do the impossible. Predict prime color time! Inevitably people think late September or early October. Just 100 miles north, the October 1 date is right on the money. Being more southerly I would almost always go with the last week in October and the first two weeks of November. Barring a major cold front, that can leave the trees barren in one nights blow, November is usually the very best, but it is a gamble.

An old barn tucked in a hollow

Bikers and cyclist will find all the loop roads to the Mills in Ozark County Mo. and around Bull Shoals and Norfork lakes very nice with near perfect weather. Canoeing the Buffalo river for a day, or taking in the World Class Trout Fishing on the White River, are also favorite ways to view the colors and enjoy our Ozark Fall Color Getaways. The Big Brown trout are pushing up river in their fall spawning run and their spawning colors are as beautiful as the leaves on the trees. We are blessed to get to live here year round, but If I had to pick the time I enjoy the most here in the Ozarks it would be October and November. Of course being closely followed by the March,  April, and May when the Ozarks unfurl all their spring Blossoms after the winter doldrums. The Ozark Fall Color Getaways in and around the Twin Lakes area should certainly be on everybodys bucket list.

A WHITE RIVER TROUT

If you get a chance, come spend a few days in one of Americas best kept secrets. You don’t have to go to the East coast for great foliage, and the laid back, friendly people here are the best in the World!

Have A Great Fall,

Moose

To book a trip or to get your questions

answered call 870-430-2233

Our first guests this fall were a charming couple from Ohio. Dr. Nash Gabrail and his lovely wife Shelly. We spent our first October weekend together with them, and we hall had a great time. We enjoyed great evenings with wine and wonderful cigars made by Nashs’ son in the Dominican Republic. I don’t smoke myself but Nash and Shelly have an acute love of the finer things in life. Nash said his sons cigars are made by the finest cigar makers in the world and they surpass the “forbidden Cubans” in flavor and quality. I am not one to argue, but the smiles on their faces certainly said it all.

Our times spent conversing on the back deck with good wine and great company make Tina and my jobs seem impeccably perfect. The clear starlit nights with smooth Jazz playing on the back deck with the occasional shooting star made it all seem surreal. Later on hopping in the 102 degree jacuzzi and taking in the milky way right above you tops off an amazing evening.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that Nash and Shelly caught over 80 fish in a single days fishing with a twenty inch German Brown being the largest for the day. That is some fine trout fishing in anybodys book, and I should mention that neither of them fish very often. However, even with the great fishing and even better fishing stories, including seeing bald eagles, both while they were fishing, and at eye level from the back deck. My personal highlight had to be Nash preparing an awesome Iraqi dinner, “FOR US!!” This is certainly not the norm here, as they were our guests, and we try to pamper our guests as much as possible. However, Nash has a passion and obvious talent as a chef, and I have a passion and a talent for eating so it was a match made in heaven.

We all enjoyed a wonderful dinner of Basmati rice covered in an exqusite Okra and tomato dish. I told Nash that only southherners ate Okra. He politely told me that Okra was actually “invented ” in Iraq and that we had stolen it from them. After tasting his dish I had to agree it was better than simply frying it so they must have had it first. We also had a cucumber,onion and tomato salad with “secret” ingredients that was fresh and wonderfullly simple but tasty. Our entree consisted of marinated skewered Kabobs that were to die for.They were tender and not overseasoned but the flavor was distinct and most excellent. I might add they were done to perfection. As a matter of fact, Tina and I enjoyed the ”leftovers” for lunch, and everything was just as good as the night before. All in all our new friends have educated us and enlightened us and made our lives more full.

Sometimes, as I reflect on all the blessings I have been given,I fail to realize that the greatest ones are new found friends and cherished old ones. In these times of war and economic crisis worldwide, it is certainly a joy to meet and befriend a man from another country we are at war with and realize that so many stereotypes are just that, stereotypes!

Personally, I feel what we could all use more of, are caring people with a ready smile, kind heart, and quick wit like Nash Gabrails. People who are making a difference in others lives. We want and need to see people as individuals with special God given talents that make the world a better place to live, no matter what country they are from or where they live. And last, but certainly not least, we all should sit and break bread together more often with both strangers and friends. A warm fire and good meal shared, always seems to go a long way in making the world a better place to live, one day at a time.

To plan a trip or to just chat about fishing, give us a call at 870-430-2233.

Tight Lines to Ya,

Moose

A great fall fish!

The river is in perfect condition due to our lakes finally reaching pool level a week or so ago. The White has been running the equivalent of about 3 to 4 generators which is just about perfect for drifting and flyfishing in my opinion. The hopper bite has slowed down some but is still good and coupled on a hopper dropper combo it is deadly right now.

A colorful rainbow gettin ready to swim free!

This weeks weather is predicted to be excellent and the fishing is going to just continue to get better. There have been some concerns about low dissolved oxygen levels near rhe dam but after talking with Steve and Jim who both fished it two days ago the fishing was excellent. Steve was whacking lots of fish on hoppers and Jim was nymphing under an indicator and said they pretty much caught a fish or two on EVERY drift. Thats about as good as it gets!

This early fall weather offers some of the most ideal conditions and scenery that the Ozarks has to offer. The leaves are just starting to change andthere is a pleasant crispness in the air in the morning with shirtsleeve weather by mid afternoon. For all of you fair weather fishermen now is the time to be on the White River.

Tp plan a trip just give us a call at 870-430-2233

Tight Lines To Ya,
Moose

http://www.thewhiteriverinn.com

A nice White River Brown!

The White River as well as the Norfork River have been fishing excellent for the entire month of August!  The high consistent flows of water on the rivers has put the fish into a 24 hour,round the clock feeding mode. The dry fly hopper bite has been very, very good with many browns in the 18 to 23 inch range being caught and released. The hopper dropper rigs have been producing very well, as well as working a lone hopper tight to the bank.

A happy camper!!

The rainbows are taking hoppers as well and are also being caught on size 14 to 16 bead heads like zebra midges and copper johns. The secret is to be sure and get enough weight either on the fly or above the fly on the tippet to get it down where the fish are holding. Some very large Browns have been taken lately with one 26 inch fish on a hopper that certainly made the anglers day. Dual bead head setups are also very effective in both reaching and catching the deeper fish.

Our spin fishermen have just been wearing the fish out! Allen and Lulu from Helena went out for 3 1/2 hours  yesterday and caught over fifty rainbows!  That has been the rule for the whole month of August.  The guys are using rogues and Jigs, as well as the usual worms , power bait, and small plastics and spinners.

The lake is still way above pool so the high flows will probably continue into the early part of October. The weather is finally starting to cool down a little which makes for some fine days on the river. The hopper bite will continue to get better and better right up through the end of September unless it gets unseasonably cool. That would be nice,  but I don’t expect it.

If you have any questions about the fishing in our area give me a call and we can talk fishing!

Tight Lines,

Moose

http://www.thewhiteriverinn.com

870-430-2233

Three Of Our Fly Fishing Guides

Many people think we only do full service all inclusive trips because we are a luxury lodge. We certainly strive to do a great job at providing full service, but not everybody wants all the bells and whistles. However, every fisherman who comes does want to have a great time and catch lots of trout. A few can do this on their own, but the White River is a big river,  most need a guide. This is why we utilize Arkansas’ best professional staff of trout fishing guides on the White River, period. We are in the guiding and outfitting business.  Although luxury full service all inclusive trips are our specialty here at The White River Inn, you can still have our guides taking care of you and your family on the river. We are in the guide business and we do it right! Actually we do it better than anybody else.

Our business exists to help you catch fish! If you use one of Arkansas’ Best Professional Staff of Trout Fishing Guides on the White River or Norfork River  and you don’t catch fish, you don’t pay. We have Never given a refund.

Starting a Float Trip Down TheNorfork After A morning On Dry Run Creek!

 Our independent guides know both fly fishing and spinfishing  techniques that many others don’t.They know the river inside and out. They fish high water low water and in between. They are specialists. Guiding is all they do! They are good with beginners and their expertise is appreciated by even the most well travelled advanced fly anglers. Their vocation is also their avocation, which is why on their days off, you will usually find them honing their craft on the river,or perhaps tying some of their” Famous on the White” guide flies.  A couple have tied commercially and are expert tyers in every since of the word.  On top of being great guides, they are also great people. They know about service and safety,and they know how to make you feel comfortable regardless of your skill level. They never fish when guiding. They will “teach” you a technique by demonstrating.  This is all!  They are not your competitors like so many of the guides on the river. They all use top notch gear and and are on leading manufacturers sponsorship guide programs. This means you get to fish with the latest and greatest gear!

Guiding A youngster to a fish on Dry Run Creek!

There are many guides on the White River, and almost as many “guide services.”  Most just own a boat and have made no other investment,(other than a small website) many don’t carry insurance on themselves, and even fewer carry insurance on “Their” staff of guides. It is always prudent to ask these questions when booking a guide anywhere. Here at The White River Inn we have built the the premier lodge on the White River. You can always expect the best of the best. For the most part you will get exactly what you pay for on the White River. Rarely is the sweet feeling of saving a few dollars in the beginning worth the bitter taste left when everything does not go as well as planned or promised.

If we can be of service in any way please let us know. From simply booking a great guide for you, to providing a world class experience at the White Rivers’ Premier lodge. We are here to answer any questions or help you to plan your next trip. 870-430-2233

                                                                                       Kind Regards,

                                                                                         Moose Watson