Fly Fish the White River

Recently we took a trip to the White River in Arkansas. It was a good trip with a good group of friends. The fishing was good and we caught our share as well as someone else's share of fish. All fought hard, all put a smile on our face and all were welcomed when they slid into our net. As with every trip to the river there were things we learned. So I thought it might be best if some of the things learned were shared...along with some photos from the trip.

Things I Learned on a recent trip to the White River in Arkansas.

1. If you are dialed-in on your local tailwater you will probably be OK when you get on the White
2. All fish in the White are not 30"
3. All 30"ers in the White are not 30"
4. It's OK to be lazy and just fish what you want

5. The right cabin is a long way from the best pizza in the United States
6.  I-840 was paid for by tire companies and those tire companies have recouped their investment 10 times over

7. It is not impossible to sleep well the first night in a new place
8. 4 decades = 9 monkey years
9. John Prine is a good traveling partner

10. I stole this idea
11. Buffalo City is a long way from...well anything
12. There are no Buffalo in Buffalo City, Arkansas

13. On a multi day trip it's OK to take an afternoon off from fishing
14. Playing music should be part of every multi day fishing trip
15. Don't play banjos when you are a long way from nowhere
16. Riverbillies look exactly like you think

17. There are no "pretty good" crop duster pilots
18. Snakes are bad but close lightening is worse
19. Friends can fit in the front compartment of a drift boat (see #18)
20. I stole that too (see #19)

21. Cutthroats occupy the same types of water as every other trout
22. You can get 2nd degree burns on your lips with the wrong sunblock
24. Do the same float multiple times to learn the river

25. Sometimes an angler will give you accurate advice
26. It's hard to tell when an angler is giving you accurate advice
27. Life is better at the cabin
28. No cell signal is both good and bad

29. Fish eat well just before the lightening starts
30. It's good to have a bailing bucket in the drift boat
31. The bailing bucket needs to be in the boat
32. It seems no matter how many times an eagle is seen it's still cool

33. Wall Hookie is a useless game that everyone needs to master
34. Subway food is consistent
35. 97 degrees on the river is just as hot as 97 degrees on land
36. Pilar can be friend and foe

37. Shoals hold fish and boat parts
38. A bottle of mace still works even after being dunked in the river
39. Messing about in boats is one of the best ways to pass time 

40. Arkansas is a beautiful state
41. I skipped 23
42. Planning the next trip on the ride home is the best way to pass the time on the ride home
43. Give 5 guys, a river & one fly rod and there will be hours of entertainment
45. This is a great year so far

If you are a seasoned angler or have never picked up a fly rod and want to set up a day on the river e-mail or call/text 615-796-5143 to book a day on the water. For additional booking information see our Homepage and to see the latest fishing report click here.