10 May 2024 - Trout Fishing on the White River

 

This morning I joined Paul Bobby on his beautiful boat "GI on the Fly"  and we headed up the White River towards the Bull Shoals Dam.  Paul has run a fishing guide service here since he retired from the United States Air Force.  I was introduced to Paul by Randy Zimmerman, a friend and military comrade from the Iowa Air National Guard.  

Paul Bobby

GI on the Fly

Engraving on the front of his boat

Pictured below, Paul's boat is equipped with a prop-less motor and two Minn Kota Talon shallow water anchors that extend downward up to 15 ft.  This concept is the same as they use on the mining boats on the TV show Bering Sea Gold, but exponentially larger of course.  The boat is very wide and super stable.  Paul says he has hauled four fishermen on there at the same time!  

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So from the campground gravel beach we boarded the boat and headed up river towards the Bull Shoals dam.  The water was relatively calm but flowing steadily.  The weather was clear and cool.  

The river was busy.  There were many boats full of fishermen and many fly fishermen wading in the shallows.  The water was cold and crystal clear.  

As we approached the dam there is an area adjacent to the dam that is restricted entry for safety reason.  Even though it is clearly marked with huge red signs there were still those who were apparently ignoring it.  Paul let one of the waders know that they could be subject to a $500 fine and they thanked him for letting them know...!

Fishing started out a little slow but as power generation was adjusted and additional water flow ensued, the bites picked up.  Initially only one generator was online and that increased all the way up to six at one point. When that occurs a loud horn sounds to alert everyone that the water level would be increasing. 

 

As we continued to fish,  Paul adjusted our lures a couple times and got that dialed in as well as tried different location and different fishing styles.  Keep in mind the water level, rate of flow, depth, temperature and clarity is constantly changing as they flow more or less water out of the dam, so the fishing style, method and locations change accordingly.  Paul knows this water and what it takes to catch fish, and that is why he is such as fantastic guide.  The end result is we caught one heck of a lot of trout!!  What a blast!!  

I think I caught over 20 myself, mostly rainbow trout and some larger brown trout.  I caught the largest rainbow trout I have ever caught today.  The coloring on these fish is simply amazing!  Our pictures don't completely do them justice, but here are several and a couple videos:

Disclaimer:  All of these fish were caught with barbless hooks, handled very gently, and returned to the water unharmed so that other anglers could experience the same joy I did.  In the pictures below it may look like I am squeezing them but I am not.

A few rainbow trout pictures:

Look at the amazing color on that beautiful rainbow trout!!

A few brown trout pictures:

Tomorrow we plan to fish again, only this time I will try my luck at fly fishing!  That should make for some "funniest home videos"!  Then tomorrow evening we are having dinner with another great friend and military comrade Chuck and Sherri Leonard in Mountain Home AR.