North Fork
of the White River This page was updated 5/16/09
This incredible river is perhaps the crown jewel trout stream of the Missouri
Ozarks and is nationally known as one of the finest wildly reproducing rainbow
trout rivers in the U.S. It is a great big Western-style trout river like you'd
expect to find in the Rockies or the mountains of Northern California. The river
is also rich with a variety of aquatic insects, including two notable species
of large stoneflies, making it a fantastic place for "old school" Western fly
fishermen.
There are really only a couple of downers about this river. First, you'll be
competing for water space with canoes through much of the summer. That's not
so bad, though, when you consider that the fish are fairly desensitized to
people due to the consistent presence of boats floating by. That actually makes
the approach to the fish easier and the cast shorter than it might be otherwise.
Second, much of the best fishing water will require a boat to reach. But, of
course, this is why these areas are so productive -- no whining is permitted on
this issue please.
The North Fork is also a fantastic dry fly river, with a variety of notable
hatches occurring throughout the season. Here's the breakdown. Darker colored
caddis imitations work best in the Spring and Fall, with lighter colors working
best in the Summer. Starting in late Spring and stretching through much of the
summer, you'll see tan mayflies (#12-#14 is about the right size) and big black
stoneflies (#6 works well) come up. And, finally, you'll see some good Trico
hatches in late summer and into the fall. That's not so difficult, is it? If
you're a nymph fisherman, it is much simpler: focus on the larger patterns in
sizes 6 through 12 and you'll do fine. Black Wooleys and Rubber Legs are popular
for imitating stoneflies, but an actual fly tied to imitate will really
knock em' dead at times.
The Bennett Stonefly, originated by
Ed Bennett of Hot Sulphur Springs, Colorado.
The Blue Ribbon Area
Daily Limit of 1 trout at
least 18" long, artificial lures and flies only, soft plastic lures specifically
forbidden.
This section of river has drawn fishermen from across the country, due to its
notoriety as one of the best wildly reproducing rainbow trout waters in the
country. The area begins at the upper outlet of Rainbow Springs (AKA Double
Spring), although decent trout fishing can be had further upstream at North
Fork Spring, as well. Rainbow Springs is a very large spring, discharging
nearly 140 million gallons of water per day even in the driest part of the
summer. The Blue Ribbon Area extends
downstream for approximately 7 miles to Patrick Bridge.
There are several access points to this portion of the river. You can reach
North Fork Spring via dirt roads, and you can reach Rainbow Springs via County
Road 372. Be forewarned, however, that the spring branch is privately owned and
jealously guarded. There is also access at Kelly Ford via County Road 368
upstream of McKee Bridge (the bridge is also private property). Beyond this
point, you can find a few spots here and there via dirt roads, but the next
easily accessible point is Blair Bridge at Highway KK. This 4-1/2 mile stretch
between Kelly Ford and Blair Bridge is among the finest water you'll ever fish,
and this is a highly recommended float for those looking to get into some trout.
A favorite fishing stop is the stretch of water below "The Falls". The word
"Falls" is a bit grandiose. Those of you who have floated some serious waters
will consider it a simple chute and not at all hazardous -- unless of course
you try to shoot it sideways or simply miss it all together. If you've never
done it before and don't have anyone to lead you through, you might want to
park and scout before attempting it, as it can be difficult to see from the
upstream end. At any rate, this stretch of water has a lot of character and
produces a lot of trout to nymph fishers.
The Red Ribbon Area
Daily Limit of 2 trout at least
15" long, flies & lures only, soft plastics strictly forbidden.
Now, while the upper end of the river has its devotees, the lower end is also
popular, however, its attraction is quite different. While the upstream portion
of the river is famous for its prolific wild rainbow trout population, the
downstream end is home to great big brown trout. This area starts at Patrick
Bridge and stretches about 6 miles downstream to Norfork Lake. There is easy
access at Patrick Bridge and Blair Bridge, both with access areas owned by the
Missouri Department of Conservation.
Now, while fish are routinely caught all the way down to the lake, the best
trout water extends from Patrick Bridge just a short distance past Althea
Spring, a grand total of about 3 miles. In fact, one might be so bold as to
say you can skip the rest of the river during the warmer months of the year,
unless you are already planning to float it. The area just below Dawt Mill
has also been known to produce some decent fishing, as the fish are relatively
trapped below the dam. So, you might want to put forth a little effort in
that area, if you find yourself there.
The most productive baits used in this area include larger nymphs, streamers,
in-line spinners, little crankbaits, and little spoons. When there is a good
hatch going on, dry flies can also work well, but trophy hunters have long
suspected that you won't catch a great big brownie on a little bug. They tend to
focus their efforts on catching larger fish on larger baits.
Call (417) 256-7161 for more
information
You can download conservation department maps of the North Fork's Blair Bridge
Access and Patrick Bridge Access areas from our Maps page,
and you can also check the USGS water level changes in real-time by checking our
Water Levels page. Click to see a recent
North Fork fishing report. After you visit,
please come back to tell us how you did.
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