Arkansas ·
White River Fly Fishing Report - August 16, 2026
WHITE RIVER
ReportAUG 16 — 23, 2026
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Flow
5880CFS
White River at Calico Rock, AR
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Water Temp
66.2°F
Updated 2026-08-16
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Weather
74–102°F
Mostly Clear
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Clarity
Clear
Check post-storm
Flow is running at 5,880 cfs with a gauge height of 4.42 ft at Calico Rock — slightly elevated from last week's 5,150 cfs, so expect stronger mid-column currents and prioritize seams and eddies. Water temperature is a trout-friendly 66.2°F, keeping fish active and feeding throughout the day.
What's Working — Hot Flies
Olsen's Peacock Blowtorch Barbless #22 - 24
#22-24
Black Zebra Midge(TBH) #20
#20
Juju Baetis Tungsten #22
#22
Parachute - Blue Wing Olive #22
#22
Tungsten Tailwater Sowbug - Rainbow #10
#10
Tailwater Sowbug - Rainbow #10
#10
Egan's Frenchie #12
#12
Tungsten Rainbow Warrior - Extra Heavy #14
#14
Coffey's CH Sparkle Minnow Sculpin #6
#6
Corn-fed Caddis (CDC) Tan #20
#20
Slush Egg Apricot - 14 #14
#14
Wiggly Worm (TBH) #8
#8
Hatch Chart
| Insect | Size | Activity | Prime Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Midge | 20-24 | Heavy | 6 AM - 9 AM |
| Blue-Winged Olive (Baetis) | 20-22 | Moderate | 7 AM - 11 AM |
| Caddis | 16-18 | Light | 6 PM - 8 PM |
| Scud / Sowbug | 10-14 | Heavy | All Day |
| Sculpin / Streamer Forage | 4-8 | Moderate | 5 AM - 8 AM |
Best Time Window
- 5:30 AM - 10:00 AM: Prime window — fish midge and BWO patterns in the seams and tailouts before the heat shuts surface activity down.
- 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM: Evening caddis and midge activity picks up as temps drop; watch for rising fish in the slower flats and skate a CDC caddis.
- All Day (Nymphing): Sowbugs, egg patterns, and tungsten nymphs produce throughout the day in the deeper runs regardless of surface conditions.
Guide's Tip
From the benchWith flows at 5,880 cfs, wading is challenging — focus your efforts from a drift boat or work the bank-side eddies and current seams from stable footing. Set your indicator depth to 1.5x the water depth and use a heavier tungsten anchor fly to get your presentation into the strike zone quickly. Today's heat index will hit 110°F by afternoon, so plan to fish hard from first light until 10 AM, take a midday break, and return to the water after 5 PM when the slight chance of evening thunderstorms can trigger a brief but productive feeding window. Keep a close eye on the sky and have an exit plan — afternoon storms on the White can bring sudden generation changes.
Main Species
Rainbow Trout
Brown Trout
