Arkansas ·
White River Fly Fishing Report - September 20, 2026

WHITE RIVER
ReportSEP 20 — 27, 2026
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Flow
5530CFS
White River at Calico Rock, AR
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Water Temp
65.7°F
Updated 2026-09-20
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Weather
69–98°F
Partly Cloudy
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Clarity
Clear
Check post-storm
Flow has jumped to 5,530 cfs at Calico Rock (gauge height 4.26 ft), pushing fish off the banks and into deeper current breaks and mid-river seams; water temperature is a comfortable 65.7°F, keeping trout active throughout the day.
What's Working — Hot Flies

Black Zebra Midge(TBH) #20
#20

Tungsten Tailwater Sowbug - Rainbow #10
#10

Egan's Frenchie #12
#12

Egan's Thread Frenchie Jig - Olive #12
#12

Egan's Thread Frenchie Jig - Brown #12
#12

Tailwater Sowbug - Rainbow #10
#10

Juju Baetis Tungsten #22
#22

Parachute - Blue Wing Olive #22
#22

Olsen's Hare's Ear Blowtorch Barbless #20 - 28
#20

Bionic Ant 2.0 - Black #16
#16

Corn-fed Caddis (CDC) Tan #20
#20

Coffey's CH Sparkle Minnow Sculpin #6
#6
Hatch Chart
| Insect | Size | Activity | Prime Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Midge | 20-22 | Heavy | 7 AM - 10 AM |
| Blue-Winged Olive (Baetis) | 20-22 | Moderate | 9 AM - 12 PM |
| Caddis | 16-18 | Light | 6 PM - 8 PM |
| Sowbug / Scud | 10-12 | Heavy | All Day |
| Terrestrial (Ant) | 12-16 | Light | 11 AM - 2 PM |
Best Time Window
- 6 AM - 9 AM: Prime midge and BWO nymphing window before the heat builds; fish deep seams with tungsten sowbugs and Frenchies.
- 9 AM - 12 PM: BWO hatch window — watch slower back-eddies for risers and be ready to switch to a dry or emerger pattern.
- 6 PM - 8 PM: Evening caddis activity in the tailouts; terrestrials also productive along any accessible bank as temperatures finally drop.
Guide's Tip
From the benchAt 5,530 cfs the White is running well above average, so forget the banks — your fish are stacked in the deep mid-river seams and the soft water directly behind any submerged structure. Set your indicator to fish the bottom third of the water column and use a heavy tungsten anchor fly to cut through the current fast. In this heat, the best nymphing action will be early morning before the sun gets high; by 10 AM shift to shaded stretches or deeper pools where trout retreat as surface temps tick up. Keep an eye on Sunday night's storm chance — if rain moves through, flows could spike further by Monday morning, so check the USGS gauge before you launch.
Main Species
Rainbow Trout
Brown Trout
