My wife and I are vacationing near Mountain Home, AR for Labor Day weekend this year, and want to go fishing on the White River. Anyone have any suggestions for good fishing guides near Mountain Home, AR, or within an hour or two drive?
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Look up Brian Wise. I believe the white is his home river. -
I have fished it twice. First time we got a guide and second time we rented a boat and DIY'd it. I'd suggest renting a boat bc fishing there is really easy. The biggest issue is dodging the underwater boulders with the prop when the flow is low. The dam at bull shoals releases water as needed for electricity. I think I remember that rising water was better fishing but that may be backwards.
As far as technique. Either stick baits like a small rapala or floating Berkley powerbait on a 1 foot leader with a small weight. You drive up river a ways then fish while drifting back down. I preferred using rapalas. The fish seem to hang out on flats with good riffles or behind big boulders.
There are mostly rainbows but also German Browns. It was weird that one day the browns bit really well then the next day we wouldn't catch one but the rainbows turned on.
I love fishing there. beautiful river and great fishing. Catching a limit of rainbows seemed easy.Comment
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I'd be happy to answer any questions that I can. Let me see if I can find any pics from my trips.Comment
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If youre gonna fish multiple days maybe count on getting a guide the first day then DIY after that.Comment
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We just fly fished with Jonathan Murray of Murray's Ozark Anglers last month. He was awesome! Don't be afraid of fly fishing, it's easier than you think...Comment
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2 years ago we fished with a young fella from Louisiana. He was a duck hunter in the winter and guided on the river in the summer. We met him at the boat ramp by the cotter trout dock. We had talked to the guys in the dock who didnt seem interested in speaking to us at all.
My son was fishing along the rocks by the ramp when this kid pulled up in the newest and cleanest boat we'd seen. Complete with a power pole. Got to talking to him and he was scouting for the next days trip while the other guys ate ho-hos in the dock. Seemed like a good dude so we booked him. We caught our limit and then some. His name was Tyler but I dont think he had a website. I do have his number still
As mentioned the fishin was easy but the rocks under the water could get bad. Guy we fished with had a jet drive e-tecComment
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The guy missing his front tooth was my guide. Don't remember his name but he was a character. But he knew the river and put us on fish.
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Gaston's, Sportsman's, White Hole.
There are several great guides to choose from.
Bull Shoals is still 30+ feet over full pool, and NorFork is still 21 feet over full pool, so they're moving quite a bit of water. Float fishing has been pretty dang good, but I haven't been over there much yet this summer.
It takes me almost an hour and a half to get over there, so I don't get to hit it as much as I'd like.Comment
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I fished with Mike at Norfork Trout dock for two years. This was 5 or so years ago but he said he grew up there and had been guiding since he was a teen. They also rent boats there. I would highly recommend Norfork Trout dock. They were very reasonable on their rates. To me it was a different fishing with the long fiberglass john boats but it was great.Comment
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Fished it 2 yrs ago but without a guide, Beautiful country! Be careful if they open the dam, they really don't give a warning and it will come up fast...Comment
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Gastons as mentioned above
My parents live in Mountain Home...he'd probably take you outComment
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I've been several times with Jim Traylor. Csught fish every trip.
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Thanks, I think we are going with Gastons. See how it goes since neither of us have fly fished before.Originally posted by 32drawlength View PostComment
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http://www.northarkansastroutfitters.com
Give Brock a call. I've fly fished with him before. Best spinning guide is Donald Cranor.Comment
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