7 Day two started out very much the same. However, it was Sunday, and much of the river traffic was gone. The busiest days of the week tend to be Friday and Saturday. Again, facing low, clear water, Jason felt that it would be best to drop down to 3x tippet, and we continued to work the pheasant tail midge combo. Takes were split between the two offerings and were often hard to detect. We stopped at the White River State Park boat launch for lunch daily. An elevated deck above the river provided a convenient, comfortable, and shaded lookout to spot fish. Again, the skies cleared after lunch, but the water never came. There was no release from the dam. The bigger fish were maintaining their deeper lies and not being pushed out to the edges. As a result, we stuck to the nymphing rigs and found fish in the faster water. The high sun and low water proved that this river held monster trout. The kind you measure in pounds, not inches, could be seen at the bottom of deep (20 feet) holes. The third evening at the lodge was just like the two before. Good food, good drinks, and very, very peaceful. Of course, we checked the weather, as cooler temperatures were expected. Day three was shaping up nicely. It would be Monday, with even fewer boats, cooler temperatures, and a high in the low 80s. I knew tomorrow would be my best chance at catching a fish over 20 inches. The morning brought a few welcome raindrops, and the fishing was intense. With 14 fish to the net before lunch, it was my best morning of the three-day visit. After lunch, we moved upstream to get closer to the dam and ready ourselves for the afternoon release of water. With Jason at the helm, we were positioned well when the “horn” sounded and the water started coming up. It’s a subtle rise, but it is happening, and with this extra flow and pressure, the larger fish move outward from the center of the river. Casting tight to the bank, catching a fish in water that looks 2 inches deep almost seems impossible. But then, in the most improbable location, a brown appears from nowhere and takes the fly under. My first fish on a dry fly this year. When your eyes are peeled, and you swear you are looking straight to the bottom in gin-clear water, you can’t help but be amazed when a fish materializes under your fly. Where was that fish hiding? Another run-up was near the damp, and we worked at the opposite bank. The best that I could tell was the water held a constant depth for several hundred yards and gave the appearance of a featureless bottom. It made for a slow drift and easy mending. I was enjoying the time spent working on my casting and not thinking the spot looked all that fishy. Yep, that’s when it happens. My memory saved an image of this rainbow with half of its body above the surface as it opened its mouth and sucked in the hopper. This beautiful bow was the best fish of the trip and broke the 20-inch mark. It is still not a “big” fish for this river, but by FAR my biggest fish taken on the surface. Only minutes later, I was working on casting over my back shoulder when it happened again. Another very nice rainbow was on but soon lost. It was a very cool experience nonetheless. The weather during the three-day stay was more than agreeable for Arkansas in August. With the first day, Saturday, being the hottest day, getting into the 90’s. Each day after, the temperatures dropped a few degrees. Mornings can be chilly for southern folks, with ambient air temps in the upper 60s or low 70s. Then you add in the fact that there is often heavy fog produced by the cold water meeting the warmer air, and you could be motoring upstream. A light jacket might be welcome. I felt right at home, but then again, my daily anticipation of getting that line on the water kept me from thinking about temperatures.
