Fly fishing the white river with two of my kids

Hey guys. I'm on my way to Mountain Home AR now with my 12 & 10 year old boys. I'm planning on putting them on dry run creek and the cotter rope swing is a must but I am thinking of renting a boat and let them catch some trout on the float. Not sure if I want to spend the money for a guided trip this time so it looks like $80 gets a half day rental. It looks like they are generating tomorrow which scares me as I've never floated in a boat(plenty of kayak trips) or with higher water. My kids are on the fence with fly fishing so my goal is to have them catch a ton of fish while being on the river. With the higher water and my lack of fly fishing experience on a boat in high water, is this a recipe for disaster? Thoughts and suggestions would be appreciated.

Spend the whole time on Dry Run - forget about the main rivers and about your fishing. Play gilly and photographer... Fish the WHOLE CREEK! Both sides of the road (yeah the falls on the downstream side of the road, as well as below the falls (as far as they can go) & especially hit the "side streams".. DON"T get hung up on the "popular"areas... They are NOT the BEST!!! ;-)

It's about them... let them "play" in the rocks or do what they want... They'll fish more, and you all will have a better time if they understand (and YOU understand) that this time is about them... NOT YOU... Drinks and Ice Cream at the store / pizza for dinner...

Know and teach them about poison ivy!!!

Bite the bullet and bring or buy a long-handled, high-quality net... It'll be the best money that you ever spent.Have at least three rods, so that you can continually be ready with a another "rigged and ready" rod with a new leader/fly... or different fly. The kids hate it when Dad spends 15 minutes re-rigging and /or fighting to get snagged fly out of the trees, while the kids just stand there... You are the gilly... So, act like a well-paid gilly... That is your job, not being Dad...

Be open to asking others to help your boys or at least taking advice... You never know how a stranger may "make your trip" and your kids make that person's trip... (Remember that the adults can't fish the Creek, but many would kill to be able to put a kid on some big Dry Run trout!) My kids fished with many different folks... Many were (are) absolutely marvelous flyfishers who generously gave my kids some great experiences!

Zebras, zebras, zebras, scuds, san juans (in different colors - pink, red, brown, claret, tan, etc.), other small nymphs.. Small is better... Hire a guide for a day ... I have favorites (PM me)

Put 'em in waders.... again it opens a very different fishing trip for them... also vests, hemostats and their own fly boxes of flies...

Bowfin47

PS

Do Not be tempted to wet a line on the Creek... The game wardens can use binoculars from vantage points that you cannot see and they can and SHOULD NAIL YOU if you fish! Others will take your picture and email to the game wardens... I know as I have done so...

Garry gives good advice. The kids will catch more and have more fun on Dry Creek than they would on either river. I would strongly advise you to not attempt to float either river on your own. Both rivers can be tricky to navigate and even dangerous, especially if they run much water. If you are adamant on fishing the White, bite the bullet and hire a guide. You can then enjoy the float and not fight the boat. I've floated out of Rose's and Gene's several times and have always been pleased with the guides. I don't have any connection with either of them, they just happen to be the ones I've used.

Dave

Enjoy your time with them. My two sons are in their thirties and capable with a fly rod. Early with our outings, I tried not pushing their time and quitting before they were tired of the trip.

DRC is a phenomenal experience for sure, but if you don't want to spend your whole trip there and want a place where you can all fish, check out Spring River in Mammoth Springs. While I've been to the White, Norfork and DRC, I haven't personally been to the Spring but have several friends that have, and it's a great trip saver when they're running water on the White and Norfork. Tons of wading access, consistent water levels, and it's loaded with fish, so you should all have good chances at success.