The Best Flies to Fish: The White River

In this installment of “Flies to Fish”, we will be focusing on none other than Arkansas’ White River. The White River has a total length of 722 miles flowing through Arkansas and Missouri: and is home to 8 dams, 6 reservoirs, 3 tailwaters, and countless tributaries. With the waters below Bull Shoals dam being the most famous for their prolific trout fishery and Monster Browns. While the White may not look like your typical western trout river don’t let it fool you. This river has produced two world record brown trout a 38lb 9oz and a 40lb 4oz. Monsters aside, the river has a very healthy population of brown trout ranging in the 18-24″ range. While the browns can be elusive, the river is also stocked with 12-14″ stocker rainbows and even has a few cutthroats also.

With big water like the White, it can be hard to decipher what structure to fish, what flies to throw, and what time of year to go. With advice from local shops, guides, and the fishy folks who know these waters best, here are the best flies to fish the White River.

FLY GYDE:

Dry Flies

Nymphs

Streamers

Hatch Chart:

The White River has some of the most prolific bug life in the country. From year-long scud and sowbug activity to stoneflies and multiple species of mayflies. To help you with deciphering when and what to fish, FlyFlinger.com has a full hatch chart on their website. Along with the hatch chart, Whiteriver.net has provided a list of universal fly patterns and sizes.

• Scuds (Hook Sizes: 14-18)

  • Year Long

• Sowbugs (Hook Sizes: 12-18)

  • Year Long 

• Midges (Hook Sizes: 18-24)

  • Year Long 

• Cranefly (Hook Sizes: 8-10)

  • March – October 

• Microcaddis (Hook Sizes: 18-22)

  • April – October 

• Terrestrials (Hook Sizes: 6-10) 

  • June – October 

• Blue-Winged Olive (Hook Sizes: 18-22)

  • January & February/ November & December

• Stoneflies (Hook Sizes: 6-10)

  • February – June 

• Grannom Caddis (Hook Sizes: 14-18)

  • March & April 

• March Browns (Hook Sizes: 12-16) 

  •  April & May 

• Sulphurs (Hook Sizes: 16-18)

  • April & May 

• Light Cahills (Hook Sizes: 14-18)

  • May & June 

• Giant Mayfly (Hook Sizes: 8-10)

  • June & July 

• White Mayfly (Hook Sizes: 12-16)

  • August & September  

Baitfish & Crustaceans 

• Sculpin (Hook Sizes: 4-8)

  • Year Long  

• Threadfin Shad (Hook Sizes: 4-6) 

  • February, March, & August

• Crayfish (Hook Sizes: 6-10)

  • March- October  

Now keep in mind that river conditions and flies change regularly. You won’t be throwing the same bugs in 2 months. Below is a list of universal flies for the year, but remember to always check in with the local shops to get an idea of the hatches and what the fish are keying in on.

Dry Flies:

Midges: Harrops Hanging Midge, Bucky’s Midge Cluster, Stalcup’s Hatchin’ Midge

Cranefly: Solitude Crane Fly, Keller’s Crane Fly, Adult Crane

Caddis: Mercer’s Missing Link Caddis, Goddard Caddis, Halo Sparkle Caddis

Blue-Winged Olive: Smoke Jumper Baetis, Crippled Thor Bwo, Snowshoe Baetis

Terrestrials: Fat Alberts, Wiley’s Ant, and Western Ladies

March Browns: Galloups Tilted Wing Drake, Micro Mayfly, Galloups Sunk Spinner

Sulphurs: Parachute Sulfur, Silverman’s Stacker, & Comparadun

Nymphs:

Midges: Wotton’s Super midges, Super Whitetail midges, and Dawkin’s DD Midge

Cranefly: Tim’s Candy Crane, Killer Bug, Barr’s Cranefly Larva

Caddis: Edwards’ Rhyacophila Larva, Quigley’s Midget Caddis, Stalcup’s Hydropsyche Caddis Larva

Blue-Winged Olives: Craven’s JuJu Baetis, Nyman’s Thin Mint Baetis, Hogan’s S&M BWO Nymph

Stoneflies: Girdle Bug, Rubberleg jig heads, Edwards’ Little Black Stonefly

Sowbugs: Rouses’ J-Dub Sowbug, Rainbow Warrior, Rainbow SowBug

Scuds: Hunchback Scuds, Beadbody Scuds, Flashback Scud wet hares ear

Mayflies: Tactical Hot Spot, Craven’s Two-Bit, Wiese’s Lucent Prince, and Newbury’s Alt Rkr

Streamers: 

Rubberleg Wooly Bugger: Stonefly/Baitfish

Mini-Dungeon: Sculpin/Baitfish

CJ’s Sluggo: Baitfish (Shad)

Dally’s Lap Dancer: Baitfish

From Shad imitations to the smallest midge pattern this list provides you with the confidence and staples to land your next White River monster trout. There’s nothing like getting out on new water with a little extra knowledge in your back pocket.

Featured Image Courtesy:Black Mountain Cinema

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