Mouse Fishing the White River

The White River is world renowned for its giant Brown Trout. For the last five years, I have spent my summer guiding anglers of all skill levels chasing fish into 20lb range on mouse flies. I only guide a short period each year during the peak of the mouse fishing season. 

-Kyle Glass

For Bookings, Contact Me By Clicking Here.

The River:

The Bull Shoals tailwater of the White River is the third major impoundment and crown jewel of the Ozark Mountains. Flowing through the rich geological region of Northwest Arkansas and Southwestern Missouri, the White is full of minerals that allow aquatic life to flourish. The White also maintains year round growing temperatures for trout, almost never departing from the range between 45 and 65 degrees. A local abundance of large insects, frogs, crayfish, sculpin, and Threadfin Shad flowing through the turbines add to the feeding opportunity. Arkansas Game and Fish stocks over a million fish in the river each year- the majority of which are small Rainbows that feed the flourishing population of predatory wild Brown Trout we target. Bull Shoals Lake stays at least 180' deep at minimum pool- So the river is virtually immune to blowouts; flowing crystal clear year round. Constant fluctuations in power demand result in dramatic daily fluctuations in flow between 600 cfs and 22,000 cfs. Safely navigating and successfully fishing these changing conditions requires a lot of experience and a dynamic approach to the water. Because of the smooth flowing, clear water and numerous opportunities for large predatory fish to feed opportunistically, White River Browns are some of the most willing in the country to eat a mouse fly at night.

Mouse Fishing:

Mouse fishing is usually the most productive way for fly anglers of any skill level to catch good numbers of 20+" Brown Trout on the White River. On an average full night of fishing, my clients will land between 5 and 15 Brown Trout. Not everyone catches a giant, but they are always available. The largest fish ever landed by one of my clients weighed just over 20lbs and 33" in length. Fish in the 30" range are always our target, and the river has an abundance of them. "Mouse Fishing" is really just the approach of capitalizing on predatory surface feeding rather than imitating actual mouse behavior. Depending on conditions and your goals for the trip, we might fish for the first few hours of the night, or fish until dawn. Depending on the water level, we might fish long dead drifts with small flies, or retrieve huge rat patterns as fast as you possibly can. We never know exactly what to expect with fluctuations in flow from the dam, but the fish are remarkably resilient to these changes and amazingly willing to rise for a mouse pattern.  

Daytime Fishing:

My focus on the White River is Brown Trout on the surface. Some really impressive fish eat dry flies on the White during daylight hours. Although a 30" trout is probably out of reach in the day, sight casting to a 24" Brown is something that happens daily in my boat. In under two months in 2025, I netted 11 Brown trout on dry flies that hit or exceeded the 24" mark along with innumerable fish over 20". Headhunting big trout on dry flies is an incredibly rewarding experience that will challenge every aspect of your angling skill. I know where they live, what they eat, and how to fool them with consistency.

We end up catching Rainbow, Brook, Cutthroat, and Tiger Trout stocked in the river as well, but the Browns are the only trout that successfully reproduces in the river and they are the largest, most beautiful fish in the White. Although the bobber fishing can be very productive, it isn't my specialty. There are numerous fly fishing guides on the river who will be way better than I am when it comes to putting you on fish with heavy flies and bobber rigs. If you are interested in bobber fishing, I am happy to connect you with some extremely talented local guides.

The Boat: 

I guide out of a custom 16' Stealthcraft Powerdrifter with a 40HP outboard jet. This boat allows us to drift shallow in low flows, while having the mobility to choose wherever we want to fish based on conditions. The boat is outfitted with navigation lights for safety, and interior lighting to help you get around. The large rear deck area gives you the ultimate casting platform. Custom fit Aquatraction decking keeps the boat quiet and comfortable.

The Equipment:

I believe my clients deserve the best equipment. I own a growing fleet of Orvis Helios rods and Sage Arbor XL reels that you will use on your trip. I use Scientific angler full glow in the dark lines that I replace frequently. All the flies we use are tied by my team of highly skilled American guides or myself. When it comes to fooling large, educated fish on the White River, store bought flies, cheap gear, and cracked lines just won't cut it.

Our Accommodations:

Since 2023, we have been renting a riverfront home three miles below Bull Shoals Dam near the famed Gaston's Resort. We have access to a private boat launch just down the street, which is ideal for maximizing our fishing time. Our house has three bedrooms and two bathrooms. Emma and I stay in one of the rooms, and the other two bedrooms and bathroom are for guest use. We love our location. Its peaceful, quiet, and beautiful. 

Dining:

Emma provides our clients with a rich culinary experience. Many of our well traveled guests remark that Emma serves the best food they have ever been served at a fishing lodge. Lunch and Dinner are provided each day. We also stock a wide variety of snacks and breakfast options. We stock a fridge with soft drinks and will reach out to you for requests prior to your trip. Our goal is to give you great food and plenty of options so that you can focus on enjoying yourself and fishing during your trip.

Travel:

For those of you who will be flying, look into Springfield-Branson International (SGF) and Northwest Arkansas National (XNA). From either location, you will need to rent a car to travel to our riverfront location near the town of Flippin, Arkansas. As far as packing goes, you won't need much- just clothing, a pair of stockingfoot waders (I supply my guests with wading boots so you don't have to travel with stinky wet ones), rain gear, polarized and protective eyewear, and your personal items. Trips begin in the afternoon of your arrival day- I like to spend part of an afternoon with all my new guests teaching them how mouse fishing works in the daylight before trying to add darkness into the equation. 

The Weather:

Arkansas is known for heat and humidity- but there is a silver lining. Cold, clean water flowing from the depths of Bull Shoals Lake keeps the river much cooler than the surrounding area. We enjoy a temperate microclimate on the river corridor. Nighttime temps are rarely above 75 degrees Fahrenheit and frequently drop into the 50s by the morning, even on the hottest days of the year where the surrounding weather stations report highs in the 100s. Because of the dramatic temperature boundary and high humidity, we experience a lot of dense advection fog that can reach hundreds of feet above the river, blotting out light and making huge Brown Trout aggressive. Frequently we get rainstorms, so be prepared to fish in wet conditions. Mosquitoes are surprisingly sparse along the riverbanks, and biting insects of any kind almost never venture out to the boat. 

 

Pricing

Prices include the following based on double occupancy:

-Riverfront Lodging with two private bedrooms and a shared bathroom

-Chef prepared meals

-Premium Fishing Gear

-Flexible fishing hours- Day and Night 

Two Full nights, Three Calendar Days: $2,100 per angler Three Full nights, Four Calendar Days: $2,850 per angler Four Full nights, Five Calendar Days: $3,600 per angler

For Bookings, Contact Me By Clicking Here.

fill out the contact form below, or send me an email: trouttrapflies@gmail.com