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The North Fork is truly a river of
dreams. It may well be the best trout stream in the Midwest, and is in
the running for being the best in the lower 48. The section I will
describe in this article is the freestone section, from
Rainbow Springs, down to Dawt Mill dam. This section, in total, is around
twelve miles of some of the best trout water in America. Fishing the
North Fork above Norfork Lake provides
the classic freestone trout fishing experience, Western-style.
Blue Ribbon Section
Trout populations are truly
prolific in the North Fork of the White. The Blue Ribbon section
holds about 500 rainbow trout per mile, as well as a fair, but
much smaller number, of brown trout. This section, currently (December
2008), is restricted to artificial lures and flies, and all trout must
be eighteen inches. Flies include the whole array of nymphs, as well as
glow bugs during spawning, and some dries during hatches. Spin anglers
will do plenty well on size 0 Mepps spinners, and 1/24 ounce rooster
tails for the 100% wild rainbows. Tiny Rapalas will work quite well, of
course. This section is seven miles long.
Red Ribbon Section
The other trout fishing section in the North Fork is the Red Ribbon Area. As this was posted, a fifteen
inch minimum is in place, and all flies, lures, and even bait are
allowed. You'll find good access in this section, and about 1000 trout
per mile. This is a solid number and puts the river on par with many Western streams as well as the famous section of the White River below Bull Shoals Dam. They grow huge in the oxygen and
food rich waters, and it is possible, though unlikely, that it could be
home to a world record. There are also several hundred rainbow trout
per mile, and like the Blue Ribbon section, all are wild. Fly selection
will be the same, although you may want to add bringing some sculpin imitating
streamers along, which is the brown trout's staple food in this
section. Lures would be the same as the Blue Ribbon section. The
ability to fish with live bait is unique, and provides a great
opportunity. Don't bother with dough bait here, instead drift
nightcrawlers, crayfish, and sculpin along the bottom. Make sure to set
the hook quickly, so that trout you want to release, or are mandated to
release, have a good chance to survive.
Fishing Techniques
There are two ways to fish this part of the North Fork. You can wade from the several public access
points, or you can float. Wading trips are usually started from the
several access points. Starting upstream, and heading downstream, they
include Kelly Ford, Blair Bridge, and Patrick Bridge. The stream is
considered navigable, and you are okay as long as you stay below the
high water mark. The more popular way to fish the North Fork is to
float it in a canoe or drift boat. There are only a few obstacles, and
they can often be run, or otherwise portaged. The current moves fast
enough that most fishing will be done by stopping the boat and wading.
Both the Blue and Red Ribbon portions usually carry enough water to
float, even in high summer.
All in all, the North Fork of the
White is a great destination river. It fishes well twelve months a
year, and is particularly noted for fishing well in both the heat of
summer and the dead of winter. There are several great trout streams
nearby. The Norfork River, (really the same river, below Norfork Dam),
also provides world class year-round trout fishing. In this tailwater
section, you will find Rainbow, Brown, Cutthroat and Brookies. Other
streams within an hour include the White River for
trophy trout, and Bryant Creek (for smallmouth bass), Bull Shoals
Lake, and Norfork Lake for trophy
largemouth and smallmouth bass. For these reasons, the North Fork River
is a great place to visit.
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