Trolling For Trout - A Weekend At Gaston's White River Resort
Trolling For Trout - A Weekend At Gaston's White River Resort
By: a.d. elliott | Take the Back Roads - Art and Other Odd Adventures
So here we are, the first road trip of 2018.
We headed to Bull Shoals and the White River, drawn there for one simple reason: trout. In Arkansas, trout are something of an exception, almost an interruption in the expected rhythm of warm-water fishing. The White River, cold and steady thanks to the releases from Bull Shoals Dam, is one of the few places in the state where trout thrive year-round. The fish are stocked regularly, largely from regional hatcheries, and the conditions here support them well.
Fish misses trout fishing. And February, we were told, is one of the best times to come, with fewer crowds, clear water, and serious anglers.
We stayed at Gaston's White River Resort, a place that feels less like a resort and more like a chapter in fishing history. Gaston’s has been welcoming anglers since the mid-twentieth century and is deeply woven into the lore of the White River. For decades, it has drawn fly fishermen, guides, and outdoor writers from across the country, earning a reputation as one of the South's classic trout destinations.
There’s a certain timelessness to it. Our cabin came with old-fashioned keys, a stone fireplace, and a wide view of the river sliding past below, the kind of place where mornings are quiet, afternoons are spent watching the water, and evenings end early because dawn comes fast when you plan to fish.
Gaston's is the sort of place where stories linger, of record trout, early mornings, missed strikes, and perfect casts that grow better with each retelling. Even if you never set foot in a boat, you can feel that accumulated patience in the air.
This trip wasn’t about covering miles or ticking boxes. It was about returning to something slower. Cold water. Warm fire. A river that asks you to pay attention.
And for a first road trip of the year, that felt exactly right.
xoxo,
a.d. elliott
____________________________________________________________________
About the Author
a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller traveling through life
She shares her journeys at Take the Back Roads, explores new reads at Rite of Fancy, and highlights U.S. military biographies at Everyday Patriot.
You can also browse her online photography gallery at shop.takethebackroads.com.
✨ #TakeTheBackRoads
Enjoyed this post? Support the adventure by visiting my sponsors, shopping the gallery, or buying me a cup of coffee!
