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EQUIPMENT If I had to choose one rod to cover
most fishing situations, it would be a five or six weight with a floating line. Three rods
will cover all conditions. A four weight, for low water, dry's and small nymphs, a six
weight with an optional sinktip for the deep holes and wide sections on the White where
wading may be difficult and an eight weight for the big streamers and sinktips to full
sinking lines that you need to fish the high water out of a boat, or if you target one of
the big browns at night.
A few flies have worked for me on a year round basis. Sow bugs are part of the main staple
for trout in the White, the Northfork and the Little Red. Grey to light-tan patterns in
sizes # 14 to # 18, fished over the weed beds, work all year. Black and olive woolly
buggers in size # 8 to # 12, hare's ears, tellico's, prince and zug bugs in size # 10 to #
14 and some pheasant tails in the same size range are always in my flybox. Stepping up or
down a size outside the norm can produce results.
For dry's the almost always present midges in sizes # 20 to # 24, adams and
tan elk hair caddis in # 16 to # 20. Check with the Flyshops in the region for local
patterns and current hatch info. URL's for flyshops in the area can be found at: Arkansas Fishing Links.