White River Advice for May

[txss]

Hello friends! A good friend of mine and I are coming in from TX for a few days to celebrate his bday by fishing the White River. This would be our first trip there. We are planning on staying at Jacks Resort (near Allison). The question I have is if you had one day, dusk until dawn (6-8), what section of the White River would you float/fish?

After looking at maps, it looks like 40 miles from Buffalo City to around Jacks Resort. Is it possible to float that in a day? What about from Norfolk to around Jacks (35 mi)?

If either of those were an option, is there a service that can take us back to our truck in Buffalo City or Norfolk at the end of the day? Or is it possible to drop a canoe at either of those the night before, get a ride up in the AM and float back to Jacks?

Maybe I am being a little too adventurous but we want to spend as much time on the water as possible.

If you had a choice in floating/fishing, what would you recommend?

Thank you!

[Deuce]

Welcome. It's about 46 river miles from Buffalo City to the Sylamore. You'd be miserable if you tried to do that in a day, and it's unlikely you'd be successful. You'd have to contend with head winds and lots of still water, and throw in fishing and gawking at the scenery and you're looking at what should realistically be at least a three day trip. Since you're staying at Jack's I'd suggest any or all (or even more I can think of to confuse you further if you want ) of the following options depending on the length of your stay and your objectives with regard to fishing:

1. Put in at Calico Rock for a nice relaxing float and either take out at the primitive campground at Boswell Shoals (eight or so miles) or float on down to the Sylamore (seventeen miles). Take some charcoal, fire building implements and foil, taters and onions and stop on a gravel bar for a shore lunch. Be sure to clean up after yourselves. Either float can easily be supported by Jack's. I'm not sure whether you need to rent a canoe, but if so I think Jack's has rentals, and if they don't I know Anglers does.

2. Rent a fishing boat and run up and drift back down all day.

3. Stay somewhere above Jack's if you'd rather do a float farther up river, or just drive farther to put in, but of course that would cut into your river time.

[nathan richard]

if there is no generation from bull shoals dam or norfork dam, and you're in a canoe, i'd keep your trip very short.
i did a 7 mile float over there on saturday that was about 5 miles too long.

[Deuce]

Add this link to your favorites. http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ar/nwis/rt" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; The dot near the top center is the Calico Rock gauge which is the one that's relevant to Jack's stretch of the river. Right now it's reading 2.8. Ideally you want it to read at least 4 for a decent float. If it's this low when you're there I'd suggest wading, or at the most doing the Calico Rock to Boswell float.

[txss]

All excellent information and I apprecate the feedback. I will take it all into consideration. Ultimately a shorter journey is in order. My largest concern now is finding fish. Thanks again!

[Deuce]

Fly, spin or both?

[Richard]

Shorter is always better on the White unless you are being chased by a giant
Also, the river from Calico to Allison runs nearly due south. Prevailing winds will most likely be coming from the south. Be prepared to deal with headwinds.
I am not a fisherman so take this with a grain of salt. Here is my
:myday" Allison generally marks the end of trout fishing on the White. After that the water is too warm for trout. Last summer I observed a man under the bridge at Calico Rock catch a nice stringer of fish while our boy scouts had no luck. He was fishing a deep shaded hole. Bass can be caught in and around streamlets.
Putting away the salt shaker.

[Deuce]

The best fishing on that stretch is definitely between Calico Rock and the Sylamore. Buoyant Spoons and Rapalas are very productive when spin fishing. Power Bait is always effective for numbers but rarely catches sizeable fish. For fly fishing streamers are a good choice; sculpin patterns and wooly buggers usually produce.