NORTHWEST TERRITORY: Big brown trout a rare catch on Arkansas waters

Out-of-state outdoor writers making their first visit to the White River below Bull Shoals Lake earlier this month were generally impressed with the river and its scenic Ozark setting. They were even more amazed by the giant brown trout seen from time to time during two days of fishing.

As usual, the sightings provoked queries about the prospects of catching the behemoths.

Guide Donald Cranor, a brown trout specialist, told the writers what area anglers have learned through years of experience - the wild-bred browns are entirely different creatures than hatchery-reared rainbows.

The chances of catching the golden beauties depends a lot on the size of the fish:

Small browns of less than 20 inches are commonly caught on artificial lures and bait during good water flows in the tailwaters.

Medium-size brutes of 20-30 inches are difficult but catchable, mostly with live bait but sometimes with artificial lures during very high water or special circumstances, such as when dead shad are being flushed through the tailwaters during periods of severe winter weather.

Giant browns of 30 inches and more are very rarely caught with anything at anytime, except for freakish accidents.

Beyond the standard lore, however, the discussions of brown trout did reveal a couple of insights into why the giants are so seldom caught.

One was related by Moose Watson, owner of the White River Inn situated on the edge of a 300-foot bluff overlooking the White Hole.

From his deck, Watson enjoys an eagle's-eye view of the river and passes quite a bit of time gazing into its depths.

When the sun is high and the flow is low and slow, Watson said he regularly sees the dark shapes of huge browns cruising near wade fishermen and around anchored boats.

Since the hole has a public access and receives a lot of fishing pressure, Watson also occasionally spots dead rainbows that have been hooked and released.

"Sometimes I can look down there and see the silver glint of rainbow trout of pretty good size laying on the bottom, but they don't lay there long before one of those big, dark shapes slowly swims up and sucks them down," he said.

"I think that's why you find some of the biggest browns hanging out in the holes where there is public access. They are there to get those dead trout."

Adding to the discussion, veteran fishing guide Pete Cobb said the big browns just wait for rainbows to die. He has seen them go after hooked and fighting rainbows of 14 inches or more.

"I've seen [browns] come up and grab a rainbow in the middle like it was a corn cob and tear it off the hook," Cobb said.

Commenting further on the tendency of browns to eat fish, Cobb said he likes to throw a big Smithwick Rogue in high water and described the ideal situation to trick a big brown.

First, you need an extended period of low water lasting long enough for dust and leaves and such to collect on the exposed vegetation along the banks. Then, you need to be on the river when the first wave of high water comes down the river.

"When you get that first surge of high water, the big browns are going to feed, and when that water is running a little muddy and full of leaves and grass, that's when the Rogue can kill them," Cobb said.

Of course, the chance of being on the water and ready in just such a situation is very remote.

About as remote as catching a big brown.

TIP FOR TOUGH TIMES

While using the new YUM TroutKrilla bait helped save the day during tough fishing conditions on the Bull Shoals tailwaters earlier this month, Cranor passed along an extra little gambit to try when a trout or two for a shore lunch are needed.

Just keep a baggie of pea gravel handy.

"If you find yourself fishing close to one of those trout docks where they make a practice of feeding trout pellets to keep the rainbows hanging around, go up there and throw out a handful of pea gravel and throw your bait in after it," Cranor said. "The trout will think it's feeding time and will come get your bait."

The tactic might not be all that sporting, but lunch is not about sport anyway.

DOE PERMIT DEADLINE EXTENDED

Although the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission has reinstated the two-buck limit for the deer hunting zones of Northwest Arkansas, the region will remain under a doe quota system, requiring hunters to apply for permits to take antlerless deer during the forthcoming fall-winter seasons.

Due to a delay in getting the applications to commission offices in the region, the commission has extended the deadline for submitting applications until July 10.

The applications are now available from commission offices.

However, hunters are still encouraged to apply online at www.agfc.com.

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