Shad Kill Browns

By: Brandon Trentham – @brandontrenthamoutdoors

If “a bad day fishing beats a good day at the office” were a trip, this was shaping up to be the one. After booking the room weeks in advance, we were at the mercy of the mighty White River’s flow of upwards of 15,000 CFPS being released daily due to recent rainfall. This trip, an annual gathering of friends and their significant others to celebrate a successful waterfowl season, was not about to fall victim to high flows and a 90% chance of rain both days we had set for fishing.

This was a “self-guided” (guide being a very generous term) trip exploring the famous tailwater of the Bull Shoals Dam. Ever brought a knife to a gun fight? Well, my portion of this fishing excursion arrived armed with a bazooka. You should have seen the side eyed glares of the “regulars,” while we launched our 18-foot grizzly duck hunting boat boasting an arrogant 95 horsepower Optimax engine. However, knowing that the high flows had the river 10-12 feet higher than normal, we had just the ticket to fight that high flow and head upriver chasing these dead silver snacks that had the trout acting silly. The game plan was to mimic the dead shad that are going through the dam gates and becoming snacks for these famous big browns. The plan calls for tactical casting, long double hauls, and quick strip sets. It all looks perfect in the trout log… but proved to be much more difficult to carry out the plan.

With the yacht in the water, it was time to sling some bugs. Hi flow, low visibility, and dead shad called for slinging streamers and baitfish imitation. This week, we were testing a prototype pattern from Cowtown Fly Co called the “Redneck Riviera.” This is a slump buster with red behind the gills and some secret flash and boujee extras that you will just have to wait and see once it hits the site…

I can’t make this up, the boat fired up first crank (surprising, but not the most shocking part of the story), I was the first to shoot line out and literally on the 4^th cast this Ozark hideaway stole my heart. Three strips and the “redneck riviera” had fooled its first trout of the trip. After a short struggle, the first catch of the trip was in the net while Marshall of Cowtown Fly Co was still loading his boat at our dock. Not wanting him to miss out on my success, I let out a chilling screech of a celebration and began planning the remainder of my successful trip. In my head, I thought, “why is everyone claiming this river is fishing so difficult… We haven’t even left the Air BNB and I am on the board!” Have you heard it said that “pride cometh before the fall…” Well, this was the beginning of my “slump” for the rest of the trip… This delightful White River brown trout would be my only hook up of the trip and I wish I would have been more present in the moment. Take this as a lesson, although the river provides sudden surprises that are unexpected and unscheduled, always take the time to enjoy the moment and be thankful for the memory.

The rest of our party had success off and on, but the White River proved to be a formidable opponent for the week. All day Saturday was rained out and we were able to explore the area! We ate a wonderful bbq sandwich at K.T.’s Smokehouse BBQ in Cotter, AR. As our food settled, we hit up the local fly shop and shared fishing stories for a bit.

After grilling pork chops on the deck and a cold brew (or two), it was time for my favorite part of the trip…. MOUSING! With Marshall’s boat decked out in neon lights and the Turtlebox screaming, it was time to go full send down river searching for the monsters of the night. We tied on our mouse and killed the lights and double hauled into the darkness. We were unable to land any of these monsters that night, but we connected on a few bites and learned why this method of fishing is so addictive. We hope to be back this fall for round two.

Sunday, and our final day, proved to be the calmest day. Water levels dropped back to a near normal with flows around 6,000 CFPS. This proved for some surface action with elk hair caddis and BWOs but we were limited on access due to dropping water depths and us bringing the titanic along for the trip. We trailered the duck boat and hit the topwater action on the waters that we had access to wade. This was a calm ending to a stressful trip that proved to be some of the more difficult fishing we have navigated. I look forward to our next adventure to the Ozarks and would encourage you to plan a trip! Watch the water levels and stay safe! Cheers. 

River Accessibility and Fishing

If you are planning to wade this river, make sure you keep a close eye on the flows. The White River can be wide and get deep, making it tough to wade during high flows. Getting up to the Bull Shoal Dam will definitely require a boat but is well worth the hassle. Wading on the Norfork river is another great option to catch fish during this time of year but can also require a boat depending on flows. The biggest take away is to constantly monitor dam release and water levels. Having a boat is a great way to be able to access the majority of these rivers.

Fly Box

Streamers

• Redneck Riviera
• Drunk and Disorderly
• Dally’s Lap Dancer
• Game Changer
• Lunch Money

Dry Flies

• Elk Hair Caddis
• Blue Wing Olive
• Chubby Chernobyl

Mouse Patterns

• Morrish Mouse
• Mousey McMouse Face
• Run DMC Rat

Notable Fly Shops in the Area!

Dally’s Ozark Fly Fisher

Dally’s is your gateway to the White River system and the fisheries of the Ozarks. They are a full service fly shop and guide service in Cotter, Arkansas within walking distance from the White River. Whether you are heading onto the White, local smallmouth creeks, or further afield, Dally’s is there to give you the best advice and the gear you need. Most of the shop staff is also a part of the guide team and is a wealth of knowledge for rivers in this area. They will make sure you have the most up-to-date information and the right flies to tackle a day on the White river.

Natural State Fly Shop

The Natural State Fly Shop has everything you need for a great trip. Located at the White river access point in the heart of historic Cotter, Arkansas, they offer custom tied flies, rods, and a large selection of fishing supplies. Friendly customer service and expert knowledge regarding local waters are two things you will always find when you visit the shop. Natural State is a full guide operation offering trips and lodging packages. Cotter Trout Lodge is a short stroll from many Cotter attractions including the Cotter Public Boat Ramp on the White River, Big Spring Park, the Big Spring swimming hole and gift shops. This is a must visit shop when you are in Cotter!

Gear Recommendations

Rod – Streamers: Sage Igniter 790-4 or TFO LK Legacy 790-4

Rod – Dry Flies: Sage Sonic 696-4 or TFO Blue Ribbon 690-4

Reel – Streamers: Sage Spectrum 7/8 or TFO NTR III 

Reel – Dry Flies: Sage Spectrum C 5/6 or TFO NTR II

Line – Streamers: Rio Premier Streamer Tip WF7F/I

Line – Dry Flies: Rio Premier Gold WF6F

Leader – Streamers: Rio Fluoroflex 0X

Leader – Dry Flies: Rio Powerflex 4X

Tippet – Streamers: Rio Fluoroflex 2X

Tippet – Dry Flies: Rio Powerflex 4X

Conclusion

The White river is a bucket list destination for all trout anglers. It offers a wide variety of fishing and fishes well year round. The shad kill is a fun time of year to throw streamers for big brown trout but this river also offers plenty of dry fly fishing and incredible hatches during the summer. With this tailwater being a year round fishery, you can bet we will be back later this year and have more DIY opportunities for this river! If you have any questions about a trip like this, reach out to us here at Cowtown Fly Co or if you want to connect with Brandon, give him a shout on his Instagram – @brandontrenthamoutdoors!