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Trying for Trout in AR - Guide or no?
#13571693
05/26/20 03:37 PM
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Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 4
Stahrburst
OP
Green Horn
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OP
Green Horn
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 4 |
Fairly new to the forum but grateful for the information that gets shared. I'm heading up to White River in Arkansas in a few weeks and want to try trout fishing. Someone highly recommended a guide not just for success, but for safety. He indicated the river is too high/fast to wade, the electric generation can lead to fluctuation and rapid rise in level and there isn't much public access from the bank. To complicate things, I will probably have a 10 and/or 11 year old with me.
Does anyone have thoughts on putting a few hundred into a guide and boat? Seems like it would be less frustrating and more fun, but if I can save the cash and fish off bank or pier, I'd like to.
Is trying to fish in an unfamiliar river a lot harder than it sounds?
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Re: Trying for Trout in AR - Guide or no?
[Re: Stahrburst]
#13571698
05/26/20 03:42 PM
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Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,918
4Weight
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,918 |
I have a good friend who is a great fly fishing guide on the White, not sure if he does Ultralight trips or not. He has both a powerboat and drift boat. PM me if you want me to reach out to him or if you are fishing conventional gear, I would call Gaston's. They do conventional trips with a great shore lunch as well.
Depending on the releases, you would need options on a guide and their boats.
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Re: Trying for Trout in AR - Guide or no?
[Re: Stahrburst]
#13571699
05/26/20 03:44 PM
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,387
rkd
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,387 |
Do a search on this site for "white river" and you'll get plenty of recommendations and tips. Personally I've always rented a boat from Gastons and had great success in both low and high river levels. Very safe as long as you pay attention. I also fished up and down the bank while staying at Gastons and consistently caught fish. Not sure about bank fishing from some of the other resorts or public access spots.
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Re: Trying for Trout in AR - Guide or no?
[Re: Stahrburst]
#13571709
05/26/20 03:55 PM
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 19,835
COFF
TFF Guru
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TFF Guru
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 19,835 |
Your friend was correct in his assessment of the water conditions. Not saying it is impossible to wade, but you need to know the correct spots, and you need to check the generation schedule, and you need to know what you are doing. Also, that water is COLD. Waders are a must-have until you get way way down from the dam. There are fish all up and down the river. Pretty much anywhere you could set up a lawnchair along the bank there is a possibility of catching a trout. But it is most definitely worth a few hundred bucks to go with a guide. If you can cast a fly rod, give Ron a call whiteriverflyguide.com. Excellent fly fishing guide. When you go, take an afternoon and go see the trout hatchery below the Lake Norfork dam. Let the 10 year old fish in Dry Run Creek for a chance at a true trophy.
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Re: Trying for Trout in AR - Guide or no?
[Re: Stahrburst]
#13571871
05/26/20 06:17 PM
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Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 4,420
Osbornfishing
TFF Team Angler
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TFF Team Angler
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 4,420 |
Guides will typically equate to greater success, if you do some research and get a good guide. Safety should always be the number one priority. Your goals should determine the choice. Fishing time, importance of success, your kids interest, and finances all need to be considered. If you do fish from the bank, and it is legal, get some live earthworms and throw one out. They are good for trout and you may find other species are biting.
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Re: Trying for Trout in AR - Guide or no?
[Re: Stahrburst]
#13572203
05/27/20 12:09 AM
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Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 121,182
hopalong
Pescador Loco
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Pescador Loco
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 121,182 |
yellow coachdog roostertail, 1/8oz, buy a few.
best trout lure I ever used with spinning gear, everything likes it. get a couple of 1/4oz to try to bigger fish.
" Hop, set the hook"! hopalong 99,999 TexDawg 99,999 FJB! not my president by a long shot!
lake fork FISHERMANS COVE MARINA/reservations - 903 474 7479
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Re: Trying for Trout in AR - Guide or no?
[Re: spacejunkie]
#13572573
05/27/20 12:22 PM
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 5,444
Dubee
TFF Celebrity
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TFF Celebrity
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 5,444 |
Love the little red. Growing we would go 2 or 3 times a year and stay at little red river trout dock. My parents then moved to Heber when they retired in 92
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Re: Trying for Trout in AR - Guide or no?
[Re: Stahrburst]
#13572609
05/27/20 12:58 PM
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Joined: May 2013
Posts: 1,183
slim1
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 1,183 |
Check out my post from last June. https://texasfishingforum.com/forum...0080/great-day-on-the-white#Post13180080I use Cranor's Guide Service. www.whiterivertroutfishing.net. They are some of the best on the river. Most guides just fish for rainbows. Cranor's fish for browns too. If you wade in the river be very careful. The bottom is rocky, the water is very cold, and when they start generating power it comes up 4-8 feet real quick. I love it up there. My son is going up there this weekend.
PATRIOT GUARD RIDER Riding With Respect Flag Captain
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Re: Trying for Trout in AR - Guide or no?
[Re: Stahrburst]
#13572875
05/27/20 04:18 PM
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Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 4
Stahrburst
OP
Green Horn
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OP
Green Horn
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 4 |
This is awesome guys. Thank you! We're going to book a guide and board and use ultralight rods (maybe I'll venture into fly fishing someday). Just found out that Arkansas is fish for free June 12-14, so that'll save me some cash.
@Dubee I'm amazed that a 1/8oz lure and 1/4oz get different results. @slim1 I saw your post... what a day!
I went out on Breckinridge ponds and a rapidly moving Rowlett Creek on Monday for 5 hours and was skunked. I need a good outing.
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Re: Trying for Trout in AR - Guide or no?
[Re: Stahrburst]
#13573440
05/27/20 11:47 PM
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,747
RODS454
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,747 |
I've been fishing in Northern Arkansas since 1989. Just fly fish now days. I've fished the White, Norfolk, Little Red and Taneycocmo in Missouri. My favorite is the White for all around trout fishing. See this website for more info. This is who we use now when we go. Jeremy is a great guide. If by chance you do contact him tell him Doc and Rodney sent you. https://flysandguides.com/
"I'd rather be fishing!"
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Re: Trying for Trout in AR - Guide or no?
[Re: Stahrburst]
#13573880
05/28/20 12:36 PM
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Joined: May 2013
Posts: 1,183
slim1
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 1,183 |
I think you will have to have a trout license. They are $12 and good for a year. We always get a three day fishing license $16.
PATRIOT GUARD RIDER Riding With Respect Flag Captain
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Re: Trying for Trout in AR - Guide or no?
[Re: Stahrburst]
#13573897
05/28/20 12:50 PM
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 346
Double A
Angler
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Angler
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 346 |
Be sure to check the water levels. All the white river chain lakes and much of the white river are right at flood stage or very close now. I saw a pick of the one land bridge below beaver dam and the river is flowing over it.
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Re: Trying for Trout in AR - Guide or no?
[Re: Stahrburst]
#13575018
05/29/20 12:27 PM
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Joined: May 2019
Posts: 3,091
ReelSlow
TFF Team Angler
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TFF Team Angler
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 3,091 |
When I took my wife fishing the White River I got a 1/2 day guide trip the first day to learn the ropes, boat control techniques, bait to use. etc. We rented a river jon the rest of the week and had a blast.
GOD is good!
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Re: Trying for Trout in AR - Guide or no?
[Re: slim1]
#13575533
05/29/20 05:16 PM
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Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 4
Stahrburst
OP
Green Horn
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OP
Green Horn
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 4 |
I think you will have to have a trout license. They are $12 and good for a year. We always get a three day fishing license $16. I learned that Arkansas fish for free weekend is June 12 @ noon- June 14!
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