Caddis Frenzy on the White River in Arkansas – May 6, 2019

FATC brothers Tom Kelly (he gets 30 days to choose a nickname or one will be chosen for him) and Terry Seaton (the Professor) have had a trip to the White River near Cotter, Arkansas for many months. The adventure began on Sunday 5/5, Cinco de Mayo, when they headed out on the 4.5-hour trip to the White River near Cotter, AR. Cotter is the self-proclaimed “Trout Capital of the USA”! They pulled into town with only 10 minutes to spare before the local fly shop, Dally’s Ozark Fly Fisher, closed for the day. They had a great time meeting the staff and discussing flies, locations, and strategies. It’s a spacious shop and worth a visit if you make your way to Cotter. Then they checked in at the motel, Cotter Trout Lodge. If you go, make sure you heed the speed limits in town! Luckily, Terry only got a warning from the friendly Cotter police officer! After a good dinner at Colton’s Steak House and Grill in Mountain Home (just a 10-minute drive away), the guys were eager to scratch the fishing itch. They found a spot to wade near a public access spot at Rim Shoals. Only a couple of fish were caught in the fast-moving water, but it was our first glimpse of an epic caddis hatch that would exceed all expectations. Billions of Caddis flies were everywhere! The guys retreated to the motel for some sipping of bourbon and peach moonshine before calling it a night.

The next morning, Monday 5/6, was the BIG DAY! After a hearty, stick-to-your-ribs breakfast next door, at the White Sands Café, the pair got picked up by their professional guide, Brock Dixon, from Northwest Arkansas Troutfitters. Brock is Terry’s nephew (son of his wife’s cousin). We drove to the put-in at Cranor’s White River Lodge, where it was raining and foggy. We started out the day in rain gear but the temperature was comfortable. Water levels were good and the bite was on early! Tom won $1 for first fish of the day and the fish were taking dead-drifted weighted flies (larvae and midges) under an indicator all day. It was a blast! Brock was kept busy landing fish from the FATC boys and expertly maneuvering the boat. Again, the caddis hatch was a spectacular phenomenon to behold for the entire day. The guys took a late lunch up near the National Park below the Bull Shoals dam. By the end of the day, Tom and Terry landed a couple dozen fat browns, all ranging from 17 to 22 inches, and a few dozen rainbows (10-16 inches). Tom even netted a cutthroat and needed only a brook trout for the grand slam. The photos speak for themselves and there were many smiles, laughs, one-liners, and stories! That night, the guys had some award-winning (international) pizza at a local parlor in Gassville, Nima’s Pizza, and it is a must if you ever get down there!

Tuesday 5/7, Tom and Terry checked out of the motel and headed back home. But they just had to take a detour along the way – to wet some lines in Montauk. The water was off-color and a little fast, but they each caught several fish dead-drifting midges, in the shallow stretches, and swinging stoneflies and leeches, in the deeper areas. All in all, it was a GREAT trip – one for the memory banks, for sure. We can’t wait to go back again!

Links:

https://theozarkflyfisher.com/

http://www.cottertroutlodge.com/

http://www.northarkansastroutfitters.com

https://cranorswhiteriverlodge.com/

http://nimaspizza.com/