CRAZY MORNING ON THE WHITE RIVER BY DENNIS SCHULE

As the fly fishing guide profession goes I have to admit, we really do have a pretty cool job.  We get to meet some really great and interesting clients.  We get to be on the rivers to enjoy the beautiful scenery and wildlife.  We get to use all the new products, gear and equipment on the market and most of all we are allowed to witness our clients have unbelievable days on the water. 

This past Tuesday morning was one of those fishing days we dream about and wish we could provide for our clients every day.  Believe me, we have great days, marginal days and some not-so-good days.  There are days when you can't buy a fish on the river.  However, this brings me back to this past Tuesday morning.

I was working a corporate outing through River Ridge Inn in Norfork that was hosting a group of anglers from Texas.  I had two anglers, Hill and George who had limited fly fishing experience.  Hill had some experience but George had never fly fished before.  Both spent the previous day on the White River with another guide who gave them some great casting instruction so my day was much easier.

We drove to Rim Shoals to launch the boat.  I noticed that the water was down and the weather was pleasant.  We launched the boat, headed up river and began our first drift.  No sooner did Hill and George have their flies in the water, Hill struck a very nice fat rainbow.  Shortly after, George caught his first rainbow. From that point on the fishing was insane.  Every drift Hill and George caught numerous fish and this action continued all morning.

As things started to slow slightly on this shoal and the boat traffic began to increase, I decided to drift farther down river which turned out to be a good decision.  Hill hooked into a fish and immediately said it was a big one.  All of Hill's prior experience came into play and he fought this fish like a pro.  At first I thought he had hooked into a nice brown trout because of the way the fish was staying down.  Then he got the fish close to the boat and I could see that he had a very nice cutthroat trout.  All I could think about was that barbless hook dislodging and watching the fish swim to freedom.  Hill gave his rod one last lift and the fish came to the surface and into the waiting net. 

Hill and George were elated and this old guide gave a sigh of relief and celebrated right along with them.  Hill had landed a huge cutthroat measuring 18 1/2".   I held the fish in the net in the water for a short period giving it a chance to recover after the long fight.  The fish was removed from the net for a couple of short pictures and then returned to the river to fight another day. 

Since this was a half day trip and the anglers had to be back at the lodge by 1:00 PM, we had to call an end to the day.  After landing over 50 fish and losing probably another 20, I guess this day can go down in the record books as great day.