FLYCRAFT BLOG

The white river of Arkansas is home to some of the best trout fishing in the world. 

Spanning 720 miles between Arkansas and Missouri there are many fishing towns along its banks but the one that claims the crown is Cotter. 

Known as Trout Capital USA, this sleepy little town is tucked in to one of the many sweeping bends of The White River a short distance from Bull Shoals. 

When trout anglers refer to the White River, most often they are referring to the Bull Shoals Tailwater, which supports more fishing resorts and fishing guides than all the other Ozark tailwaters combined. Data collected in 1993-94 showed this section of the White River held 188 brown trout per mile in excess of five pounds.

Is Cotter truly the Trout Capital of the United States? It might be, there aren’t many river systems today that still host 4 different species of trout Brown, Brook, Rainbow and Cutthroat. 

We get a lot of questions about traveling for fly fishing. To help those who want more  fishing experience or traveling for fly fishing trips, we are going to be showing you what we travel with on some of our fishing adventures throughout the year. 

In these Flycraft travel videos, we’ll be going over:

• How we set our boats up
• What fly rods we each use
• What flies we prefer on certain rivers
• and everything in between on a weekly basis.

Each trip will have specific equipment for the location and species we'll be targeting, but each video will have useful information you can use for wherever you may be heading.

In this video today, I walk through what I will be bringing for a week-long trip down to Cotter Arkansas to fish the historic White River. I will go into a bit more detail below for those who like to get into the details of all the luggage and fishing gear to bring. 

You can use the info below as a rough example of a pack list for your next fishing trip. 

Now the White River and Cotter or Bull Shoals rivers aren't necessarily "hidden gems", but they don't seem to pull the same attention and traffic like iconic places out west such as Jackson Hole, the Madison River, or the Snake River. That doesn't mean there isn't great fishing. Quite the opposite is true! The White is probably one of the best places in the country to catch a monster brown trout (fly fishing legend Joe Humphries took the time to travel to the White for this exact reason).

If you're not into traveling with an inflatable drift boat or have no desire to cook meals or row yourself and buddies, the Cotter area has a fly fishing lodge or two, fly shops with any level of guided trip, and even a hosted trip every now and then with a social media influencer. So if the details below seem overwhelming, but you still want to experience chasing trout on the white, there are plenty of options for whatever type of angler you are wanting to be for the trip. That being said let's get into the details.

We'll be hitting the river with fishing guide, Jake Flood, for 4 days. The goal of this guided fly fishing trip is spending 2-3 days on the white and then maybe 1-2 days on some smaller local rivers going after rainbow trout, bass, and even some carp, if time allows. 

Jake guides out of one of our Flycraft Stealth X inflatable drift boats and has it fully tricked out with a gear rack, 3rd seat, rod holder and rear lean bar. 

After those 4 days I'll be spending some time with my family who lives in Northwest Arkansas and going out with my brother on a float trip or two. In total I'll be gone for a week.

I'll be taking a checked bag and a small backpack I use for all my air travel. Those two bags will have everything I need for this fishing adventure and they're more than enough for me. Here is how I have my fly fishing gear broken down between the two bags:

Checked Luggage: 

• Redington Sonic HD Wader and Redington Prowler Boots
• Rod tube with a Scott Radian 6 weight 9' rod with a Redington Rise Reel and Scientific Anglers MPX 6 weight line
• Second rod tube with a Redington Cross water 8 weight 9' rod with a Ross Gunnison reel and a Rio Gold 8 weight line
• Simms gloves/mittens
• Sitka Kelvin Lite Vest
• Arc'teryx down insulated jacket
• 2 pairs of quick drying pants
• 2 pairs of sun shirts
• 2 Pairs socks
• Underwear
• Extra pair of Smith Optics Highwater Polarized sunglasses
• Fishpond Gunnison Gorge lumbar pack (stocked full with fly boxes, tippet, leaders, floatant, indicators, and weights)

Backpack: 

• Arc'teryx rain jacket (this is way more travel friendly than my beefy Orvis jacket that I use when it's constantly dumping and I know I won't be taking it off)
• Sage X 5 weight 8'6" rod with a Sage Spectrum fly reel and Scientific angler MPX 5 weight line
• Redington Predator 7 weight 9' with an older Rise reel and a Rio Streamer line 
• Toiletries
• Quality book for the flight

Tip: Some people may disagree with me, but for any fly fishing that requires air travel I always split up whatever travel rods I'm bringing if I'm able to. I've lost luggage way too many times to trust throwing them all in one giant rod tube and praying they get there. This way I know I will always have multiple fishing rods with me on the trip, no matter what. 

Now for this trip I'm bringing rods from 5 weight to 8 weight so we will have all our bases covered no matter what style of fly is needed. 

Fly Rods I’ll Bring:

• The 5 weight is the dry fly rod (3 and 4 weight rods are great dry fly rods, but I prefer a 5 weight when fishing from a boat for a dry fly setup.). 
• The 6 weight will be my utility rod to throw small streamers like wooly buggers or some of those smaller hopper patterns. 
• The 7 weight will be my streamer rod set up with a sinking line to help get those flies down, especially with generation flows varying from day to day. 
• Finally the 8 weight will be the nymph set up. 

This 5-8 fly rod set up is pretty standard for any fishing trip for us at the Flycraft shop.

The idea of traveling to Arkansas might not seem to have the same luxurious appeal as a saltwater expedition chasing tarpon or bonefish in Belize or the adventurous lure of Patagonia, or chasing salmon in Alaska, but it is beyond worth the trip at some point in your life. 

Even if you aren't going to try throwing 4-7" mouse patterns for 3 foot browns under the light of the moon, you can still target a plethora of species that aren't common everywhere in the country like brook and cutthroat trout. So what Arkansas may lack on paper makes up for in some of the best fishing in the country, mixed with a laid back southern feel and a beautifully forested terrain. 

Bull Trout in British Columbia has always been a bucket list fish for us here at Flycraft.

Fortunately for Andrew Leus, aka Paperbag Fisherman, his home waters are some of the best bull trout fisheries out there. Although Andrew makes it look easy, don't be fooled, a lot of hard work goes into it. 

Frozen Solitude: If you saw our last video, you saw us fishing in a blizzard on Utah's Green River in the end of December. As much as we loved the winter scenery with the snow falling, not to mention the cloud cover for streamer fishing, we were far from disappointed to wake up the next morning to sunshine. After a hearty breakfast we headed outside to scrap the ice off our Flycraft Stealth X boats and shovel the snow out from the past day's storm.

Fortunately, the harsh weather from the day before must have scared people away because once again, we were alone on the river. 25 degrees and sunshine felt like a day at the beach compared to the day before and we were very happy to find out the fish ate the streamer just as well in the bright sunlight ... well at least they did for Lance Egan. 

I'll admit, most of us noticed the streamer bite to be a little slower this day, which is typical for no cloud cover. Although a little slower for most of us, Lance showed us all why people call him the Fish Magnet. Once again, Lance probably brought around 30 or so fish to net which might have been as fun for us to watch as it was for him to do.

Winter really is one of our favorite times to fish. Having an iconic river like the Green River to ourselves is truly magical.

If you think this river is beautiful in the summer, you should see it when the banks and cliffs are covered in ice and snow. People always ask us if we are crazy fishing in the cold, but the truth is, there is no place we would rather be. In the boat we are able to bring whatever we need to stay warm: plenty of warm clothes, thermoses of coffee, and lots of food. 

Big thanks to Lance Egan for joining us, it's always a blast to fish with this guy.

Learn more about the Flycraft Stealth X 2 or 3 person boat:

https://www.flycraftusa.com/pages/stealth-x-inflatable-drift-boat

Featured in this film:

Flycraft Pro - Lance Egan | @lanceeganflyfishing

Flycraft CEO - Ben Scribner

Flycraft VP Sales - Brandon Collett | @trickingtrout

Flycraft Operations Manager - Brad Buchanan | @thebradbuchanan

Filmed and Produced by: Kevin Landgren

Many people think winter time is the season to put the boat away and pursue other activities. To us, winter is the time to fish some of our favorite places without any crowds. Bundle up like you are going skiing, bring a thermos of hot coffee, load up your Flycraft Stealth X, and your streamer rod and you are destined for a killer day.

This winter we headed up to Utah's Green River below Flaming Gorge the last couple days of December for two days of fishing on Section A with Flycraft Pro Lance Egan.

Ymir, British Columbia isn't known as a fly fishing mecca. Yet in Ymir, lives one of the most passionate anglers on the planet. 

He doesn't talk much and when he does, he speaks with a knowledge, obsession and conviction that inspires others to be better anglers, and conservationists, and to better appreciate the times spent in wild places. 

He feels that fishing is really not about the angler, it’s about the fish, so he simply hides his identity with a pre-drawn paper bag and lets the fish get all the glory.

Andrew Leus, aka Paper Bag Fisherman, has fostered a lifelong love of moving water, and everything in it.  He studies the aquatic world with an urgency and intensity that few have for ANY topic, and he travels far and wide throughout southern BC, northern Montana, Idaho and Washington looking to expand his knowledge.  

Bull trout are his addiction, streamers his weapon of choice, and the Flycraft 2 Man Stealth his mode of transport. You might find him using a fiberglass rod to cast repurposed barbie dolls in hidden, far away spots that hold the biggest bulls.

And then, when a giant is finally in the net, the bag goes on. There is no feeling on earth like fishing for bull trout, having one take you into the backing and then, BAM! Andrew comes out of nowhere and slams a paper bag on your head while you try to tail what you are sure is one of the largest char ever caught!  

When not fishing, Andrew is a talented artist creating obscure works of amazingly intricate art. From large paintings to hobbled together sculptures made from found items on his long walks and time on the water, his art is truly unique and worthy of the praise it has garnered.

It’s turned into a bit of a tradition this paper bag thing, and Andrew is known far and wide as "The Paper Bag Fisherman", but at its roots is an incredibly authentic, and creative soul looking to learn, share and create memories with friends on the water, and in the Flycraft. 

The new Stealth X has surpassed expectations. It's really the perfect hybrid between our Stealth 2-person and Guide 3-person inflatable fishing boat.

Given the Stealth X's versatilely, we at Flycraft opted to take it on a few of our favorite runs: The Provo River, Utah, the Madison River, Montana and the Green River, Utah. 

Check out the views and fish in the video below:

Here's a few things we love about the Stealth X:

• It's new frame design, secure leg locks for each angler, and its quick self-bailing feature, the Stealth X is a must-have for the avid fisherman.
• It’s WIDER, comfortably accommodating 3 people. 
• With a new frame design, secure leg locks for each angler, and its quick self-bailing feature, the Stealth X is a must-have for the avid fisherman.

For those of you who‘ve had a hard time deciding between our classic 12 foot 2-man Stealth and our 14 foot 3-man Guide Boat, the Stealth X is really the perfect hybrid for you.

You can also check out Day 1 and Day 2 of our winter trip to the Green in the Stealth X with Flycraft Pro Lance Egan. 

Learn more about the Stealth X here >>

Check out this short film of Clark Aeger and friends taking the Flycraft Guide 3-person fishing boat out for a spin on a beautiful fall day. 

This video was shot on the Lower Provo River in Utah, a favorite small fishing river for local fly fishermen. 

Check it out...

Video shot and edited by Clark Aeger @clark_aegerter_images

Kendel with TroutHowler caught our attention documenting his fishing adventures off the beaten path. We reached out to see if he'd like to try one of our boats on his adventures ... looks like he's a Flycraft fan.

Check out the short (2 min) or long (22 min) video of his latest fishing adventure below.

Fly fishing for Fatty Rainbows from a Flycraft (2 min video)

"Ben the owner of Flycraft reached out to me and asked if I would like to try out his boats in some of my videos to which I replied----YES! It's a Flycraft, who's going to say no to that? So my buddy and I took one to a favorite destination hoping for some fat Rainbows. We ended up catching some nice ones and had a good time. We were both very impressed with the boat." 

-TroutHowler

Fly fishing for Fatty Rainbows from a Flycraft (22 min video)

After announcing our new Stealth 2.0 and Stealth X, we've been getting a lot of questions about which boat is the best fit for you. The short answer: It depends on your specific fishing preferences, the waters you fish, and who you want to bring along in your boat.

So we created a simple Flycraft cheat for you below to help you decide which Flycraft model is best for you: 

Fly fishing pro Lance Egan, Jeremy Collett and Flycraft Sales Manager Brandon Collett get out on a local Utah float in the new Stealth X boat.

The Stealth X Inflatable Fishing Boat is the perfect hybrid between our classic 2-man Flycraft Stealth and our Flycraft 3-man 14' boat. This boat is the same length as the 2-man boat but has the width and self bailing options of our 3-man.

Watch it in action below:

The Stealth X includes the most popular modifications requested over the years:

1. It's 10" wider
2. Has lean bars
3. There's a self bailing option
4. It has a seat for a 3rd adult.

It's the perfect hybrid between our classic 2-man Stealth and our 3-man boat.

Click here to learn more >>

Born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah, Lance Egan has earned an astonishing fly fishing reputation over the years. He's a three-time National Fly Fishing Champion, three-time World Fly Fishing Champion Medalist, a USA Fly Fishing team member since 2003, and Umpqua Feather Merchants Signature Fly Designer. He currently manages Fly Fish Food in Orem, Utah.

When Ben Scribner, founder of Flycraft, first asked me to join him on a float in a prototype boat he’d been developing, I figured we’d fish the Green River, or some other typical large, western river where floating is part of everyday angling. Instead, I arrived to find we’d be floating a river that I had previously wade fished many times. My initial thought was: That river is way too small to float. I was wrong, very wrong!

Next, I was introduced to the first prototype, the Stealth. Again, my initial reaction was hesitation. That boat is too small. We’ll flip over for sure! Admittedly, I tend to err on the side of caution, and was definitely uncomfortable for the first few minutes of being in the small, light craft. Ben was adamant that I fish, while he manned the oars. As he confidently maneuvered the boat, I quickly gained confidence in the boats stability, and safety.

After a few bends in the river I was feeling much more comfortable, and could then focus my attention to the fishing. Which was red hot! Though I had fished large rivers out of drift boats and larger rafts, my first Flycraft float caused my fishing to evolve.

I’ll always love the wading approach to a river, but floating opens up so many techniques, water types, and presentations that a wading angler can not replicate.

I now long for Flycraft floats, and many of my best days each year are spent in the sneaky, responsive, easy to row, Flycraft. Rivers I once thought were too small to float are now well within reason, and are often not only reasonable to float, but are my preferred waters since they lack the crowds of larger rivers. The stability, portability, maneuverability, and fishability of the Flycraft has completely changed the way I fish.

To learn more about the Flycraft Stealth Inflatable Drift Boat, CLICK HERE >>

Lance joined us on a 2 day trip to the Green river in December of 2020 in our Stealth X. Lance caught so many fish we had to break our videos up into Part 1 and Part 2.