Fly Fishing at Trophy Bend

A few hours in a quiet, peaceful outdoor setting does something magical for the mind and soul — and is the lure behind why people find fly fishing so enticing.

This past Friday, BlakeSt organized a fly fishing trip to Trophy Bend on the White River. The endorphins of the line tugging, the rhythmic motion of casting, the mesmerizing, meditative sound of the gentle river flowing underneath — lost in reverie, the group was mostly silent except for the occasional cry of glee at a catch.

Originating in the Boston Mountains, the White River tracks east toward Missouri, modified by several dam structures along its path. The BlakeSt crew fished a section of the White on the north side of Beaver Lake that is stocked with rainbow trout by the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission.

Our host touched on everything from using barbless hooks to what attracts the fish. Still very much a game of chance, fly fishing requires skill, knowledge of the surrounding wildlife, patience, and technique. But oh…that tug on the line.