Winter Jig Fishing for Trout and the Shad Kill
The short answer: winter may be the best time of year to jig fish for trout. Flows are often steadier, fishing pressure drops off, and some of the biggest fish of the year are caught from December through March. On the White and Norfork rivers in Arkansas, a winter shad kill can turn on the best fishing of the year, and a white or white/gray Zig Jig is the lure to throw.
Why winter is great for jig fishing
- Less pressure: we've fished many days from December through March and been the only boat on the river.
- Bigger fish: fish get to stay in the river longer, so the average size tends to go up.
- Good bites in cold weather: we've had great fishing with the air temperature around 35 degrees.
Shad kills on the White and Norfork
The White and Norfork rivers are tailwaters controlled by releases from Bull Shoals and Norfork dams. When winter conditions are just right, shad die off in Bull Shoals and Norfork lakes, get pulled through the turbines and come into the river by the thousands.
Every trout in the river feeds on them. It's an endless buffet, and it's the best chance all year at the bigger fish that live in these rivers.
Best colors for a shad kill
Match the shad with white. Some days the trout want a little flash, and other days they want it plain, so carry a few versions:
- White with silver tinsel or Krystal Flash for flash
- Solid white
- White/gray
What weight to use
Use the weight that gets you near the bottom in the flow you're fishing. In normal flows that's usually 1/16 or 1/8 oz. When the generators are running and the water is high, go to 1/4 oz, or a Heavy Duty or Super HD for big fish and strong current. Zig Jigs come in a size for whatever the dams are releasing.
How to fish it
Use the pop-and-drop retrieve. Cast across the current, let the jig sink to within 3 to 6 inches of the bottom, pop it, then drop the rod tip and reel in the slack as it falls. About 90% of strikes come on the drop. In cold water, slow down a little so the jig stays deep. See the full step-by-step guide.
Not on the White River?
The same approach works on tailwaters and trout streams across the country, shad kill or not. Our customers catch a lot of quality trout every winter on their home waters.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to go trout fishing?
Anytime you can find time to go. But if you can pick, don't skip winter.
What is a shad kill?
A winter die-off of shad in the lakes above the dams. The shad get pulled through the dam turbines and into the river, and the trout feed heavily on them.