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Updated 6/7/2007
There are a few other possibilities for wade fishing when there is high water on the White and Norfork Rivers. One of these possibilities is the Spring River which flows out of Mammoth Springs in the town of Mammoth Springs, 55 miles east of Mt. Home.
There is lots of private access to the Spring River, but three good public wade access points are the AG&FC's Lasseter Access Area in Mammoth Springs, the AG&FC's Spring River State Fish Hatchery, and the AG&FC's Bayou Access.
The Lasseter Access is reached by turning right from SR 9 (the last corner before 9 intersects US 63) onto 2nd Street and following 2nd St. and then River View Drive for about .75 miles until you see the access parking area on your left. Lasseter gives you access to a very broad run will riffles above and below it.
The Fish Hatchery Access, also known as Dam #3, is reached by continuing on SR 9 until it hits US 63 and turning right (South) on US 63 for 2.1 miles until you come to County Rd 342. Turn right onto CR 342 and it takes you right to the parking for the fishing access. This access area is right around the Fish Hatchery. When I have fished there, there were a lot of other fishermen including both bait fishers and fly fishers.
Bayou access is the most scenic and "wild" of these three access points. It is also the most complicated to get to! Just west of Mammoth Springs turn south onto SR 289. Take SR 289 for 2.2 miles until the turn off to the left for CR 64. There is a sign pointing to the Bayou Access. Take CR 64 about .8 miles until you bear right and it turns into CR 67. Take CR 67 about 1.2 miles and then bear left onto CR 77. Take CR 77 for about a mile and then turn left onto CR 2027 (which is paved) which will take you down to the river.
Flies for the Spring River
Right below the dam, next to the visitor center is some really heavy water that often holds big fish. Dennis Galyardt has caught several rainbows 18" up to 22" and Amy Galyardt caught one of 23.5" there. Dennis finds that Czech nymphs work great, as do egg patterns. He seldom uses Y2Ks but prefers a standard trimmed egg with a tungsten bead head that descends rapidly. In the weedy channels he says that a big dry often brings up fish. Rubber legs size 8 Chernobyl what-ever. There are lots of bait fish, and crayfish. Bigger trout eat big streamer and crawdad patterns. Dennis has never really fished there during a significant hatch but he's sure the EHC would be excellent during the caddis flights. Otherwise GRHEs, Red Fox Squirrel nymphs, wooly buggers, and generic soft hackles are as good as anything.
When planning to fish the Spring River check the flow rate at Hardy (http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?07069305) Ideal rates are 400 -500 CFS. But the water is fishable (at least at Lassiter and Dam #3) at 1600 CFS.
The Woods Riverbend Restaurant in Mammoth Springs provides a nice deck overlooking the river and is a good place for breakfast or lunch.
There is lots of private access to the Spring River, but three good public wade access points are the AG&FC's Lasseter Access Area in Mammoth Springs, the AG&FC's Spring River State Fish Hatchery, and the AG&FC's Bayou Access.
The Lasseter Access is reached by turning right from SR 9 (the last corner before 9 intersects US 63) onto 2nd Street and following 2nd St. and then River View Drive for about .75 miles until you see the access parking area on your left. Lasseter gives you access to a very broad run will riffles above and below it.
The Fish Hatchery Access, also known as Dam #3, is reached by continuing on SR 9 until it hits US 63 and turning right (South) on US 63 for 2.1 miles until you come to County Rd 342. Turn right onto CR 342 and it takes you right to the parking for the fishing access. This access area is right around the Fish Hatchery. When I have fished there, there were a lot of other fishermen including both bait fishers and fly fishers.
Bayou access is the most scenic and "wild" of these three access points. It is also the most complicated to get to! Just west of Mammoth Springs turn south onto SR 289. Take SR 289 for 2.2 miles until the turn off to the left for CR 64. There is a sign pointing to the Bayou Access. Take CR 64 about .8 miles until you bear right and it turns into CR 67. Take CR 67 about 1.2 miles and then bear left onto CR 77. Take CR 77 for about a mile and then turn left onto CR 2027 (which is paved) which will take you down to the river.
Flies for the Spring River
Right below the dam, next to the visitor center is some really heavy water that often holds big fish. Dennis Galyardt has caught several rainbows 18" up to 22" and Amy Galyardt caught one of 23.5" there. Dennis finds that Czech nymphs work great, as do egg patterns. He seldom uses Y2Ks but prefers a standard trimmed egg with a tungsten bead head that descends rapidly. In the weedy channels he says that a big dry often brings up fish. Rubber legs size 8 Chernobyl what-ever. There are lots of bait fish, and crayfish. Bigger trout eat big streamer and crawdad patterns. Dennis has never really fished there during a significant hatch but he's sure the EHC would be excellent during the caddis flights. Otherwise GRHEs, Red Fox Squirrel nymphs, wooly buggers, and generic soft hackles are as good as anything.
When planning to fish the Spring River check the flow rate at Hardy (http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?07069305) Ideal rates are 400 -500 CFS. But the water is fishable (at least at Lassiter and Dam #3) at 1600 CFS.
The Woods Riverbend Restaurant in Mammoth Springs provides a nice deck overlooking the river and is a good place for breakfast or lunch.
Fishing the Spring River
