River Pattern Guide

Best Flies for White River (Arkansas)

The White River below Bull Shoals Dam in northern Arkansas is one of the most productive tailwater trout fisheries in the United States, supporting an extraordinary population of rainbow and brown tro...

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10 recommended patterns

Midge

Zebra Midge

Small fly, big results — the tailwater secret weapon.

Sizes 16–26

Dry Fly

Griffith's Gnat

The midge cluster pattern that saves the day on flat water.

Sizes 18–24

Nymph

Walt's Worm

Walt Young's deceptively simple nymph uses hare's ear dubbing on a curved hook to imitate caddis lar

Sizes 12–16

Nymph

Flashback Hare's Ear

The Flashback variant adds a strip of pearl tinsel over the wing case of the classic Hare's Ear, pro

Sizes 12–18

Nymph

Quasimodo Pheasant Tail

A Czech-style Pheasant Tail variation tied on a curved scud hook with a pronounced hump-back profile

Sizes 12–18

Nymph

Two Bit Hooker

A hot-collared jig nymph that combines a wire body with a fluorescent dubbing collar for a slim, fas

Sizes 14–18

Nymph

Sexy Walt's Worm

A modernized version of Walt's Worm with a UV dubbing body and a glass bead for subtle weight and tr

Sizes 12–16

Nymph

Scud

The Scud imitates Gammarus and Hyalella amphipods — crustaceans that thrive in weed beds on tailwate

Sizes 12–18

Wet Fly

Carey Special

The Carey Special is a Pacific Northwest stillwater staple featuring a pheasant rump hackle that cre

Sizes 8–12

Nymph

Czech Nymph

The pattern that launched the tight-line nymphing revolution. Developed by Czech competition anglers

Sizes #8–#14