White River Camping

[Curtis E. Niedermier]

Anyone ever do any camping along the White River? Considering a weekend trip once the temperature drops. I’d like a place where I can pitch a tent by the truck and not have to pay for a campsite set up for RVs.

[Matt Tucker]

Bull Shoals State Park at the base of the dam has a tent camping area tucked back away from the river with shower house.

[gavin poppen]

Quarry Park on the Norfork would be another good option.

[Zach Matthews]

I’ve camped at Norfork many times, including on a sheet of solid ice.

[Curtis E. Niedermier]

Thanks, guys. I’ll probably head down around Sept or Oct, depending on how late summer lingers and how early I get the hunting bug.

[Curtis E. Niedermier]

So I’ve found a few maps of the river, but does anyone have a map that shows public/private waters? Or does anyone have a link to Arkansas’ water access laws? I’m curious if a guy can float parts of the river, hop out and fish just anywhere in the river, or if he needs permission to wade on land adjacent to private property.

[Zach Matthews]

Curtis –

Hahahahaha. Arkansas is still one of the great states: there is no private water on the White River.

[Zach Matthews]

Curtis –

You may find this to be good reading.

http://www.flyfisherman.com/2012/07/02/among-the-hogs/

Zach

[Matt Tucker]

Bull Shoals State Park isn’t closed to fishing in the winter.

[Curtis E. Niedermier]

Thanks again, guys.

Zach, I read that yesterday, actually. Good read.

I think the rule in some places is that you can be on the water in the boat, but you can’t set foot on the bottom of the stream bed without permission.

Perhaps I’ll have to do a little yak or canoe trip. I’m learning about the water generation process on the rivers. Seems as if it’s smart to go with someone who knows when and where to wade safely before trying to make a go of it on my own.

Zach, are you by chance heading to ICAST?

[david cummings]

My interest is peaked.

[Mike Livingstone]

A boat can be used even without generation, but you have to pick the right stretch of water, especially if the wind gets up. You can spend the day rowing hard if your not careful. We went from White Hole to Wildcat back in May on a day where the generators did not run until 2:00 and gave us a good push out. It’s probably best to find some water to wade until you get to know the river a little.

[Zach Matthews]

Curtis –

I typically cover IFTD for someone or other (this year it would be Fly Rod & Reel) but not ICAST or Outdoor Retailer.  I am not sure if I’ll even make IFTD this time, though–have back to back trials bookending that week and it’s a midweek convention.  If our second trial gets bumped I’ll try to go.

Also, that rule is the rule in many states, including North Carolina and Georgia (although it is rarely enforced in GA since most trout streams are outright owned by the government).

[Author]

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