Nebraskaland

OCTOBER 2015 • NEBRASKAland 53 D ressed in dark on a crisp fall day, Vance Haug of Chadron quietly stalks his prey, checking every nook and cranny along his familiar path. Careful not to make any sudden movements, he moves with a steady hand on his gear. With the sun low on the western horizon, he finally catches a glimpse of the creature he's been seeking, resting in the shade of a steep embankment. Quietly, with patience and precision, he aims and places his shot. Before long, he is holding the animal of his pursuit in his grasp. It's a familiar hunting story. But this isn't a deer or elk that he's gripping for a photo. Rather, it's one of the beautiful trout species swimming in a pristine Pine Ridge stream of northwestern Nebraska. On this day, Haug is carrying a fly rod instead of a rifle, and he's sneaking up on browns and cutthroats on the White River near Crawford. The Other White River When anglers in northwestern Nebraska say they're planning to go fly fishing on the White, the first thing that comes to the mind of many from outside the area is the river by the same name that flows through Arkansas. An Internet search for "White River Fishing" is sure to lead you to that area and all of its resorts and outfitters. Nebraska's White, while a fraction of the size of its southern peer, is increasingly becoming a destination for anglers who opt to fish by fly in a quiet location. Rising from springs southeast of Harrison, the White River is the picture of a pristine mountain stream as it winds its way through a narrow riverbottom dotted with hardwoods beneath the rocky, ponderosa pine-covered hills of the Pine Ridge. Its waters are crystal clear when it spills out of the hills onto the shortgrass prairie southwest of Crawford. As it flows northeast through the plains and picks up flows from other Pine Ridge streams, it cuts through clay soils that gradually tint its waters to the shade that gave the river its name. In northeastern Dawes County, the river enters South Dakota. Three segments of the river totaling more than seven miles west of Fort Robinson State Park have been opened to fishing through the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission's Open Fields and Waters program, which provides money to landowners in exchange for public access. The section lies in one of the most scenic areas of the Pine Ridge, a narrow valley characterized by steep canyon walls of butte rock, lush grass and a mix of ponderosa pines and deciduous trees that provide appealing fall color. The area appeals to both naturalists and history buffs. The ghost town of Glen is along White River Road, as are remnants of an old railroad line that served Fort Robinson and Crawford. The White River changes dramatically in a short distance before it leaves the state. The clear babbling brook at its western vicinity flows in contrast to its muddy appearance in northeastern Dawes County, where one is much more likely to land a catfish than a trout. In the western portion of Sioux County, the river can be crossed by a good hop in most places. For anglers who prefer their feet not leave the ground, knee boots or hip waders will keep pants dry. With such a narrow stream, anglers soon learn they must be stealthy, though. "They spook easy and a white shirt tends to give you away," Haug said, kneeling low to the ground to keep his profile hidden to the wary trout. Dark clothing or even camouflage works best. Haug has come to know well many of the hot spots along the Open Fields and Waters portions of the winding creek, focusing on deeper pools where the river's path takes sharp turns. Areas where the water runs slower and deeper often hold fish, and he's caught some dandy browns and a lot of cutthroats, brookies and rainbows. Anglers do well when matching flies with the insects found nearby, from small nymphs to big grasshoppers. While the thrill of the topwater bite from a fly rod is tough to match, some anglers find success with spinning gear just letting a nightcrawler drift downstream. The cutthroats, which in this area are Snake River fine-spotted subspecies common in the northern Rocky Mountains, bite most readily of all the fish in the creek, he said. Angler success along the White is something Commission officials like to see. Since 2011, fisheries biologists have For many, fall and spring means hunting. Some outdoorsmen along the streams of northwestern Nebraska will put down the shotgun and rifle, at least for a little while, and pick up the fly rod. When one fishes the streams of the Pine Ridge, sights both big and small are sure to please the eye. In this case, it's whirligig beetles casting shadows on the bottom of Bordeaux Creek.

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