There are three favorite zones l love to fish on the White river system, either by myself or with my customers, and one of those is Rim Shoals. Rim Shoals is one of the two premier trophy zones on the White river, the other is at the bottom of the Bull Shoals dam.

Rim Shoals is one of the few zones on the entire White river system that provides both a very high food base and habitat for the trout that live there, and one of the zones that we frequently see caught trophy size fish, particularly Browns. I have never experienced a bad day at Rim with the exception when we see high, dirty water conditions, which is not often the case. Rim provides, at low water, some of the best wade fishing within the system, and when we see high water some of the best fishing while afloat

l have fished repeatedly at Rim with my customers in recent weeks. To say the least, fishing has been as good as you could wish. We may have high water but it is clean, high water that provides the fish with good visibility of our flies. The fish are averaging 12" to 14" with many fine Bows in the 15" to 16" and some fish well over that. Brown trout fishing has also been excellent with many fish in the 12" to 15" and a good few in the 16" to 21" range.

Granted you will need a boat to access the water at this time, but overall, Rim is not a difficult section of water to navigate and work mid stream or close in to the shorelines.

When fishing high water at Rim the trick is to get your flies down to the fish when dead drifting. Overall long leader systems of at least 6 to 8ft from indicator to the fly, with a shot pinched on about 12" from the fly. Use 4 or 5x long sections of tippet.  Most days, 2 number 1 shot or a BB will work fine, on days when we see max high water rise you may need to go with a AAA.

It really is a matter of adjusting your weight in relation to depth and speed of the water flow, which may rise and fall up during the day, depending on the cfs release from the dam.

The upper section of Rim (shoals at Jenkins Creek) is always a good holding zone and from there down to the top of the first island overall has good depth of water and many fish. Many trophy Browns reside in this section of water.  Shorelines on the left and right side of the river become shallow, but again will hold good numbers of fish.

As we drift from the top island shoal to just below we are fishing over good rock and moss bed structure, the upper and mid section always holds many fish and at times trophy size fish.

River right of the top island can be at times good holding water but as a rule l do not fish here if we see max high water as this zone has little habitat over the gravel to hold good numbers of fish, albeit you may find some tucked up real close to the bank here. Fish will move into this section as the water levels fall.

 Below the first island at its confluence of the two channels, we move into water with more depth. About midway below and between the rock structure to the left and opposite the second island we move over a shallower zone of rock and moss beds, again great holding water. Close in on the second island many fish may be found and as we tail out at the end of the island river right along the gravel and moss beds found there, another very good holding water. Opposite side of the river we find very good rock structure under the trees, many trophy Browns hold here.

Make sure you check out the channel river right side of the second island. At times many fish may hold here and often as not, wade fishing here is the best bet. There is a very restricted access for boat drift fishing.

When you reach the lower island, river right is the main channel, with fish always to be found here. Overall, l prefer the water river left of the lower island. This section contains very good structure and moss beds and great habitat. Make sure when you fish here you work close in to the island and left side shore as many trophy Browns are to be found here and class Rainbows.

At the end of the lower island and at the junction that the two channels meet river left provides the overall best habitat till we come to the power lines that signify the end of the trophy zone. If water has flooded over the moss and grass beds just above the trophy sign, it's a good bet to fish this zone. Many fish will move with the water rise to search for worms in this area.  Fishing below the trophy zone, river left, can be very productive indeed at times.

All in all for the mile or so of water at Rim you have a great deal of very productive water to fish. Some of the best on the entire White river.

My favorite flies to fish at Rim during high water dead drift will include: Chenille san Juan Worms--red-tan-orange, DW Dynamite worms---red-tan-orange, Sowbugs size 14 and 12 Gray, White tail midge pupa size 14 and 12, Black and Red Prism Midge size 14 and 12  Black, Hares ear bead head gold size 14 and 12, White jigs, 1/60 &  1/180  oz.

Streamer fishing with intermediate, sink tips and full sink lines can also be at times very productive. Streamers would include various wooly buggers, bait fish and crawdad patterns. As a rule l will work the shore lines, but do not dismiss fishing mid river sections either.

There may also be times that fishing large surface lures such as hair bugs and bait fish flies, be they surface or subsurface with a dry line can produce a trophy Brown, you never know when fishing at Rim shoals unless you try.

   

American International Schools of Fly Fishing
Outfitter and Guide service.
Custom Flies and Fly Fish DVD's

 

www.davywotton.com