Fly fishing spots on the White & Norfork

Descriptions of the rivers and the best water (all descriptions during low water and when facing downstream [away from Norfork or Bull Shoals Dams]):

 

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The first mile of river below Bull Shoals Dam is, for sake of less descriptive words, some of the ‘coolest and neatest’ water anywhere in the world. This stretch is a Catch and Release Area (single [meaning one fly ONLY], barbless hooks, artificial flies and lures ONLY) and the fish are smart and spooky. The “top pool” is a very shallow flat that could be dubbed, “the most challenging fly fishing in the world”. The water is slow, the river is wide, and there is very little structure. A guide in this area once told me that you had to be “part blue heron to catch them up there” and he wasn’t far from the truth. Soft presentations and diligent scouting are in order, but there is one ‘trump card’ that can save the day, and if you take a trip with Arkansas Trophy Trout and the water is low, we’ll try to fool a 20 inch (or bigger) rainbow up there. There is NO deep water here, so don’t bother looking. Instead, break this expanse of water into small sections, and be sure to work the water thoroughly. There are big browns in this area as well, but it is a good conservation practice not to reveal where they are. This place can humble some of the best, and it makes the flat-water stretches of the Henry’s Fork seem like ‘child’s play’. There are some decent shoals (riffles) to fish as well, but faster water always receives the most pressure during low water conditions.

Once you get to Bull Shoals State Park the action is primarily for stocker rainbows, and they do seem to run bigger in this long, deep pool. This is one of the most heavily bait fished spots in the world, so sometimes it’s best just to let them have it. For the next 5 miles there are some big browns and gorgeous water, but commercial docks and their guides tend to ‘strip it clean’, and there is no public access. The best bet for some seclusion is to access the river by boat at the Wildcat Shoals Access, the Cotter Access, or at Rim Shoals. There is decent walk-in wade fishing at these access points, as well. Rim Shoals Access is in the middle of another Catch and Release Area, and usually has some nice fish.

For the most part, fishing on the White is for small to medium sized rainbow trout. I feel that the White river offers some of the most unique and picturesque water around, and the brown trout fishery is in decent shape despite their ‘high demand’. But this river will never get close to it‘s potential without more restrictive regulations. Changes may be on the way, but for now, the White is a great place to have some fun catching fish in a beautiful and unique setting for trout. Some times are better than others to fish the White, so check the seasonal breakdown to get a general overview of how each season fishes.

***Shoals are shallow areas in the river usually characterized by riffles and fast runs. Shoals offer some of the best fly fishing water, but they are subject to heavy pressure from all different types of anglers.

The Narrows: During extended periods of low water, this area can have plenty of fish, but the numbers of fish here can change day to day due to its close proximity to several huge bait fishing operations. The narrow shoal is full of ‘prime’ drop-offs and pocket-water. Dry fly fishing can be good here during the spring hatches. Always watch for rising water in this area because it is easy to get stranded on the island here!!!

Tucker Shoal: The best way to access Tucker is by boat from Wildcat Shoals Access, and at times, this can be one of the best places to fish high water on the White. This shoal has the potential to hold tons of cutthroats and rainbows, and there is lots of deep structure here for browns. Tucker would be the perfect place for trophy regulations.

Roundhouse Shoals: Located just outside Cotter, Roundhouse offers experienced fly casters the opportunity to ‘deep-nymph’ pocket-water, or to sight-fish for rising rainbows, cutthroats, and browns. The shoal can hold respectable numbers of fish, but should be waded carefully because there are some slick spots. This area is a “local favorite” for dry fly fishing in the spring. It usually takes water releases 4 to 6 hours to reach Roundhouse Shoals from Bull Shoals Dam, so it is possible to get “bonus” wading water here.

Rim Shoals: This popular fly fishing area is some 20 miles downstream of Bull Shoals Dam. The resort at Rim Shoals is a good place to stay with respect to its central proximity to the best fishing (15 minutes from Norfork and 25 minutes from Bull Shoals Dam), and the clientele is predominantly fly anglers. Catch and release regulations are in effect at Rim Shoals and this means bigger-than-average trout, but it is not as prolific as the Norfork or far upper reaches of the White. The usual subsurface flies work well here along with “stripping” flies like soft hackles and wooly buggers. When the hatches are ‘on’, Rim Shoals can offer up excellent trophy fishing for big browns and rainbows. This extremely picturesque part of the river is worth checking out, and during typical summer water release patterns, the water stays low here until late afternoon (it takes 5 to 7 hours for releases to reach Rim Shoals and the water must be ‘off’ for 12 to 15 hours for the river to recede to decent wading levels).

Buffalo Shoals: When the water gets dead low at Buffalo Shoals, this area can offer some secluded sections with lots of trout. This is the longest shoal on the White River, and it is a great place to learn how to read water. Access is by boat ONLY.

These are only a few of the best places to fish on the White. Every guide and fishermen has their favorite ‘honey-holes’, so go and explore this amazing river. Whether on your own or with a guide, the White offers pleasant surprises around every corner.

There is a never-ending debate in this area about the official name of this stretch of water. My inside sources tell me that despite popular opinion, this river has never been the “North Fork of the White River” (much of this has to do with the inaccurate sign on the highway 5 bridge in the town of Norfork). I either call the river below the Norfork Dam the “Norfork tailwater” or just simply, “Norfork”. Whatever you call it, this trout stream is the very best in the Ozarks, and it will only get better with future restrictive regulations. The Norfork is much smaller than the White River, so it is far less intimidating than its big cousin below Bull Shoals Dam for the wading fly fisherman. Beware!!! The warning horn (that the water is rising due to hydroelectric power generation) at Norfork Dam is not very loud and can usually only be heard above “Gene’s Hole” (see description below). If the water begins to rise, do not hesitate in getting to your access point. This river is not the place to get stuck in rapidly rising water with its big boulders, deep shelves, and straight drop-offs.

***Many of the names of the water below is my personal lingo, so don’t be surprised if you ask people around here about these places and they don’t know what the heck you’re talking about. All descriptions are at low water.

Directly below the dam, where fishing begins (be sure not to fish above the red signs) is the Dam Hole. This slow, deep hole can hold some nice fish of all four species, but getting in the best wading spots can be difficult without some experience. During the fall, Norfork’s low oxygen problem is worst up here (because the water hasn’t had a chance to break over any shoals yet. This process adds dissolved oxygen to the water), so I avoid this area if the river looks green because fighting fish in oxygen-poor water can make for less than successful releases. Dry Run Creek enters the Norfork tailwater below the Dam Hole. There are some nice riffles in this area, but bait pressure can be high in the area below where the main river meets the creek mouth, but where the river widens is what I call the "kiddy pond". This slow, medium-depth pool can sometimes fish so easy that a little kid could clean up here. The river splits around a huge gravel bar below the kiddy pond, and this is a good area to sight fish with small nymphs and emergers. The shoal where the main channel meets the slough (a “slough” is a cut or channel behind an island or gravel bar) is called the Shooting Gallery because one veteran guide couldn’t believe the “shoot ‘em up” action in this set of riffles. The action here can be good, but it does get heavily fly and bait fished.

From “The Shooting Gallery” to McClellen’s Shoal: Below “The Shooting Gallery” the river gets wide, and where the water deepens is Rainbow Hole. There is a deep pocket out from Rainbow Trout Dock that can hold some fish. This long, wide stretch of the Norfork below Rainbow is commonly referred to as Gene’s Hole because of Gene’s Trout Fishing Resort. This area does get tons of bait pressure, but there are usually fair numbers of fish here. I do not recommend wading downstream of Rainbow Resort because hearing the horn can be difficult down any further, and even if you do hear the horn it is impossible to get back to the parking area at Quarry Park if TWO GENERATORS come on line at FULL Strength. If you see the water rising quickly, it may be best to get to higher ground and wait for a sympathetic boat to take you across. Below Gene’s Hole the river turns sharply to the left. The next mile of river is accessible by boat or by brave wading souls. The Norfork narrows sharply around the bend and a nice riffle is the main river channel. I call this riffle the “Two-faced Shoal” because fishing here is either spectacular or deplorable, and much of this has to do with the prevailing fishing pressure. Below this shoal the river breaks over a sharp ledge on the right side, and goes through a very narrow channel on the left side. This area, Norfork’s version of the “Amen Corner” is a beautiful and unique place to fly fish. Be careful when wading here not to move around too much before you fish each section of water carefully. There are usually plenty of fish visible here, and sometimes there are some nice brook and cutthroat trout in the deeper pools. Below “Amen Corner” the river channel narrows into another shoal that is best fished from the right side. After the shoal deepens, the longest and deepest hole on the ‘Fork, The Long Hole, flows straight and slow for over a quarter of a mile. This area is difficult to wade, except at the top and bottom of the hole. The end of the Long Hole is where the river drops steeply into McClellen’s Shoal.

McClellen’s Shoal marks the upper reaches of an area dominated by the pay (3 dollar) access at McClellen’s trout dock. The top shoal is a good place to fish dry flies, and there are usually some nice ‘bows and cutts in the deep pockets. The river enters a long, shallow stretch below the shoal, and this area can provide some decent action on smaller fish. At McClellen’s Trout Dock the Norfork becomes wide again and a deep, slow pool develops. This area fishes decent on a nice wind chop, and this whole stretch can be productively nymph fished. Otter Creek, below the field access at McClellen’s, marks to start of the Catch and Release Area. This one- mile section is often crowded, but does usually have good numbers of bigger fish. A shallow, ledge-rock pool characterizes the upper part of the catch and release area, and this is good emerger water for smaller fish. Then the river breaks over several huge rocks forming the “Rock Hole”. I have seen big fish in the plunge pool below the waterfall, but getting a good drift in this pothole can be a challenge. This is a neat place worth checking out. The Rock Hole dumps into a curved riffle I like to call the “Spiral Staircase”, but I rarely fish here because shufflers and individuals that do not mind fishing on top of each other usually heavily pressure the best spots. Below the “Spiral Staircase” is a nice, deep section with visible drop-offs and rock ledges with a nice mixture of fast and slow water. Then the River turns sharply to the right and narrows into a long run. Locals call this area “The Race Track” (Cautious anglers should not wade downstream of “The Race Track” from the McClellen’s field access because water can come up quick in this area, and getting back can become dangerous if two generators come on line. If you do wade down further, and the water comes up fast, it is better to climb the left bank than to try and traverse the dangerous, fast water between you and the access. The “Race Track” is a good place to skate dry flies or sight fish with nymphs. There is also some slow (and trapped) water on the backside of the island worth checking out. “The Racetrack” breaks over a shoal at the bottom of the island. This area is called the “Gulley Shoal” because local guide and conservationist John Gulley lives nearby. The fishing here can be good on dries because there are a lot of fish in the shallow run below the shoal that seem to like to look up. Below the “Gulley Shoal” the river widens and deepens again into “T.L.’s Hole” (named after another local resident). The hole has great structure in the form of huge rocks and high ledges for big fish. This section is the most inaccessible part of the Norfork. Below “T.L.’s” the river splits in two as it flows around “Charlie’s Island”. This area is the uppermost reach that can be reached safely from the Handicap Access (Also called the Bill Ackerman Access. This walk in point is open to everyone). The section upstream from the access is small water, characterized by a series of shallow riffles and runs. It is worth exploring with small flies such as emergers and nymphs. Dry fly fishing can be good here, but it really depends on the hatches. The fishing in the entire Handicap Access area is really a “hit or miss” proposition, so if the fishing just isn’t happening, you may consider going to a new area, but if you are not just after numbers of fish and if you are willing to have the patience to wait on one trophy trout, this may be the spot for you. This section has the most “classic” trout stream characteristics on the entire Norfork. Remember: from just above the actual Handicap Access (your walk in point to this section of the Norfork) is a Catch and Release area that goes all the way to Otter Creek at McClellen’s access, and current Arkansas fishing regulations specify that Only one barbless hooking point may be used, and that means no droppers or barbed hooks in any C&R area in the state of Arkansas’ trout waters. The smallest fine levied is 175 dollars per infraction, so please be careful. Below “Charlie’s Island” to the Handicap Access is a series of shallow runs and riffles that are extremely challenging to fish. My best advice is to look before you wade (this really applies anywhere you may trout fish, but especially here) because you may run off the very fish you are after.

Although the fishing on this stretch is subject to many variables that can affect the quality of fishing here, many huge fish are taken on a fly in this area every year. Because there is very limited public access below the Handicap Access, this stretch can be a good place to beat the crowds. Below the Handicap Access is a semi-deep hole on the right side that often holds good numbers of fish. Try scuds here when the wind comes up. Stripping soft hackles in yellow and orange can work, as well. The next riffle is one of the heaviest on the Norfork as far as volume, so it is a likely place for a bigger feeding fish. A series of runs and deep rock pools, with several nice riffles comprises the next three-quarters of a mile. The island above the River Ridge Inn (Old Schroeder House) pretty much marks the end of the best fishing. There can be quite a few fish in this final stretch before the White River, but it is often choked with boats and spin fishermen. Access to this whole stretch is only possible by scrambling down the bank on the right side of the river from River Ridge Road or by boat. This is not an easy proposition, and it can be quite dangerous as the bank is littered with loose rocks in some places. I do not recommend fishing this area unless you have experience on this river, and the fishing here usually does not justify the hazards you will encounter. Rising water can really nail you here because there is no easy place to get away from the dangerous flow. If you wade down and across from the Handicap Access, there is a deep spot you must cross. Remember: when you go downstream from your walk-in sight, you are risking getting stuck because the river will get higher as you move upstream. Another downside to this last stretch is increasing habitat destruction by property owners and business’ along the river. Many “rip-rap” banks (this is when the bank’s natural state is removed and replaced with rock) have caused increased run-off into the river, and it is becoming shallow and choked with loose sediment. If you are concerned about this and other habitat dilemmas we are facing, please email to join in the fight to preserve our precious natural resources.


These descriptions should only be used as a loose guide. Of course, much of the fun of fishing a new river is exploring on your own and using your own patterns. Because these tailwaters are so unpredictable, I strongly recommend hiring a guide for at least one day at the beginning of your stay. I'm not just saying this because I represent guides, but often the time and money you eventually save by getting a guide far exceeds what you will spend trying to figure out any new river on your own. A guide’s fee is a small price to pay for confidence and peace of mind. For information on my guide service or other guides, please consult the Arkansas Trophy Trout Guide Section.