Best Jig for White River Trout
The short answer: a hand-tied marabou jig in 1/16 or 1/8 oz is the go-to trout jig on the White River in Arkansas. When the water is high from generation, go to a 1/4 oz to get closer to the bottom. The White River Zig Jig was developed on the White and North Fork rivers, and its offset head makes it zig-zag like wounded prey as it falls instead of dropping straight down.
Why a marabou jig works on the White River
White River trout feed on the drop. About 90% of strikes on a Zig Jig come as the jig falls, usually at the bottom of the drop or as it nears the bottom. Marabou breathes in the current, and the Zig Jig's offset head keeps it zig-zagging through the strike zone longer than a round head that sinks straight down.
Every Zig Jig is hand-tied in the USA with premium marabou, a powder-coated head and a very sharp, extra-strong Mustad hook, built to take abuse from rocks and gravel and stay hooked to a big fish.
What weight to use
- 1/16 oz and 1/8 oz: the main weights on the White and Norfork in normal flows.
- 1/4 oz: when the water is high, to get closer to the bottom.
- Heavy Duty and Super HD: 2x hooks for big fish, deep water and strong current.
"Primarily, we use 1/16th and 1/8th ounce jigs, and if the water is high, we may go to the 1/4th ounce to get closer to the bottom." — Jim Brentlinger, Linger's Guide Service
Big fish caught on Zig Jigs in Arkansas
- Justine's 9.3 lb rainbow at the confluence of the White and North Fork, on a 3/32 oz black/olive Zig Jig.
- Lynn Lugo's 27-inch, 8 lb Beaver Tailwater rainbow, on a 1/8 oz chrome/white tinsel Zig Jig.
- A 12 lb brown and a 9.5 lb Bull Shoals brown, plus two Company Tournament wins.
- A Snake River fine-spotted cutthroat caught below Bull Shoals Dam on the White River.
How to fish it
Cast perpendicular to the flow or quartering downstream just a little. Let the jig sink on a slack line to within 3 to 6 inches of the bottom, counting about one foot per second. Pop the rod tip, then drop the tip and reel in the slack as the jig falls. Pop it again just before it reaches the bottom, and repeat all the way in. See the full step-by-step guide.
The water on the White and Norfork is normally clear enough to judge depth. Wear polarized sunglasses to read the depth and to see fish chase the jig, then match your retrieve to the speed they want that day.
The right rod
The Crossfire rod is a 6'8" one-piece IM6 graphite spinning rod with an ultralight, extra fast action, rated for lures from 1/32 to 5/16 oz. It was built specifically for fishing the Zig Jig: long casts with light jigs, the sensitivity to feel them, and the backbone to land a big trout.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best jig for trout below Bull Shoals Dam?
A 1/16 or 1/8 oz marabou jig in normal flows, and a 1/4 oz when the generators are running and the water is high. The White River Zig Jig was developed for exactly this water.
Where can I buy Zig Jigs near the White River?
Tackle shops, resorts and fly shops in Arkansas carry Zig Jigs. See Where to Buy, or order online and we'll ship anywhere in the country.
Do Zig Jigs only catch trout?
No. They also catch walleye, crappie, smallmouth and largemouth bass, and our Super HD jigs have landed 21 saltwater species.