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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 sink-tip for the deep holes and wide and deeper sections on the White where
wading may be difficult and an eight weight for the big streamers with sink-tips to full
sinking lines that you will need to fish the high water out of a boat, or if you target one of
the big browns at night (be aware that a few designated areas no longer allow
night fishing).
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 North Fork 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 fly box. Stepping up or
down a size or two outside the norm can produce results. If all fails, tie up
up a "Mae West" with everything flashy and gaudy from the bottom of
your box... (lol)
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 fly shops in the region for local
patterns and current hatch info. URL's for outfitters and fly shops in the area can be found at: Arkansas Fishing Links.
