Went up to the Ozarks for 4 days to fish for smallmouth. We had one good weather day on Thursday and were able to have a really nice day but then the rain came and we had to scramble to make other plans. We ended up fishing the White on Saturday as it was just about the only place that wasn’t blown out.
I hated it. We were the only people in rafts and not in jet boats. The entire day, all you would hear is jet boats ripping up river. They would run up river and side drift down a mile, then fire the jet back up and side drift again. We were throwing streamers looking for big browns (of course) and had some success but I don’t believe I will be going back.
Curious if anyone else has gone recently and what your thoughts were.
Looks like you got the smallies dialed in. Sucks about the weather.
I usually base out of Cotter and float the White, Norfork and the Red Rivers in the driftboat. It’s been a few years since I’ve been. That was back before jet boats became popular. The fishermen would use a 10hp Merc on the back of their Jon boats. They’d kick the motor up and let their momentum carry them over the shoals.
Fished up there a few years in a row around 15-20 years ago. Never saw a jet boat. They did have uniquely long skinny boats with prop outboards. Never got a smallmouth but some nice browns. Time to back. Thanks for the report.
Sorry you didnt have the best trip. Spent 8 years in the hills of arkansas and loved every minute of it. Wyoming of the east. Def would move back if i didnt have salt.
White is always nuts and jets are king out there and in the lower reaches of the better smallmouth rivers. I like the white alot better during the winter.
Good job on the smallies, looks a little stained and high which can be tough. IMO some of the best fishing in arkansas is on those skinny turquoise streams. There are at least 5 or 6 streams that will produce 18"- 20" neosho strain smallies in that area. They are mega dumb to fly as well. I think they only see white flukes and pumpkin brush hogs lol
Your all welcome to join me striper fishing in Southern Maine. Best month is June but we have them late May thru October. Maine is an incredibly beautiful state great trout and bass fishing as well, grouse in fall. I also li e in NH, stockes trout and smallies and larries
I used to fish the White 10-12 times a year, first with buddies and then in my Towee. Back then, the White River Jon Boats were ubiquitous, but most ran 9.9 or 15hp prop outboards; many of the fly guides used regular drift boats. Once they started outfitting the jon boats with oars and adding the jets, things got crazy. It’s always been a busy place, lots of guides for bait, lure and fly, but the jets have made it pretty noisy.
One of the issues is that they have now instituted Minimum Flows, which really cuts down on the wade fishing. Used to be able to wade a lot of spots between generation bumps, but now the flows stay higher and boats are almost a necessity…
Bit of a bummer to hear - I have been thinking about going down with my raft (10.5 Hyside with a rowing frame), but a preponderance of jets makes it sound less appealing.
