The Arkansas tail-waters offer four seasons of excellent fishing. The White river offers some dynamic fishing depending on the season, this is an overview of our seasonal changes and some things we see happen on a yearly basis.
The White and Norfork Rivers are two large tailwater rivers, the dams control all the flows. We have no control over how much water is released. Because of this we can project what flows generally are, but there is no guarantee of what flows will be.
The winter fishing is generally sought after due to high water flows and great streamer fishing. If you are wanting to strip large file in pursuit of a large brown January and February are generally a good time to strip streamers. However some years we have low water and although not impossible, low water years make streamer fishing a bit more difficult. So please be aware that water changes may not always be high during these times.
The spring months in the Ozarks is some of our favorite fishing, the weather tends to be mild and the fish are happy. The famous caddis hatch generally starts mid April and will continue through May. When the caddis are flying the fish are happy and willing to eat flies. Nymphing is a great option, but the dry fly fishing can be spectacular. Our calendars fill early for these months due to a higher volume of anglers, but with ninety five miles of trout waters on the White there is plenty of room to move around. The caddis hatch is a wonderful time to explore our tailwaters, and should not be missed by the dry fly enthusiast.
The summer months although hot is a good time to visit the Ozarks. Although the air temperatures may be in the 90s the river remains around 55 degrees. During the summer months we have a prolific sulphur hatch. This small mayfly is a great food source for trout and we see some of the best dry fly fishing on the river. They sulphur hatch has been gaining a lot of popularity in the last five years, and offers a great opportunity to sight nymph large fish, then in the early afternoon until dusk some amazing dry fly fishing.
The late summer early fall months is the quietest time to be on the river, with kids back in school weekdays tend to have less boats than the summer months. Hopper fishing is our go to. So if you like throwing terrestrials late summer will be your time to shine.
The late fall/ winter fishing season is our favorite time to be on the river. Changing trees cooler temperatures allow for some scenic fishing and low pressure. We generally nymph during these times, but when the brown trout start their spawning routine we can target large brown trout pre spawn. Bull Shoals Dam does have a closure starting Nov 1- Feb 1 to help protect the brown trout spawn, but there are plenty of other areas to fish during the closure.
We offer a wide arrange of trips to fit our clients needs. There are pricing differences between our freshwater and saltwater trips. On all of our trips rods, reels, and terminal tackle will be included, but please feel free to bring your own rods and reels. All of our trips require a deposit to hold the date. Please look at our terms and conditions to see more about our deposit and cancellation policy.
Providing world-class guided fishing trips on the White & Norfork Rivers and Florida’s Space Coast. Experience top-tier angling with expert guides and premium gear.
