Fulton's Lodge offers fly fishing on the Arkansas White River, fly fishing lodging, fly fishing guides and trips, on site fly fishing shop & supplies from Dale Fulton at Blue Ribbon Lodge in Cotter, Arkansas

Fulton's Lodge

"The Fly Fisher's Lodging Choice On The White River"

(870) 430-5338
1091 CR 174
Cotter, AR 72626
fultonslodge@centurytel.net

Dale & Ronna Fulton

Between the White Hole and the Narrows,
2 .5 miles upstream from Wildcat Shoals
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Fulton's White & Norfork River Fly Pattern Recommendations
wet patterns | dry patterns | high water patterns

For your convenience Fulton's Lodge maintains
fly & terminal tackle in their on-site shop

Fulton's Lodge Now Has Satellite Color TV With All Major Networks!


About Our Lodge | Lodging Rates | Fishing Info | Guided Fishing & Rates | Local Weather Forecast

Clean, Modern, Lodge On the River Offering:

  • Newly remodeled 2-bedroom, 2-bath river house, fully equipped kitchen, at Wildcat Shoals on White River
  • Spacious two-bedroom, two-bath apartments with fireplaces & fully equipped kitchens
  • Beautifully appointed one-bedroom apartments with fireplaces & fully equipped kitchens
  • Efficency with semi-private bath and private shower
  • Apartments have AC, satellite color TV, microwave oven, and cook-out grill
  • Complimentary washer, dryer, freezer, microwave, and soft drink machine in office
  • Flies, tackle, and fishing license available on site
  • NEW Covered dock on the river right in front of the lodge with canoes, NEW rental boats, & motors
  • Complimentary continental breakfast at 7am every morning
  • Guided catch and release fly fishing trips with our own popular and experienced guides
  • About Fulton's Lodge

    Guests at Fulton's Lodge
    These guests, seated in the lodge garden, had as much fun ribbing the photographer as they did fishing!

    Fulton's Lodge sits right on the upper White River just off Denton Ferry road (Baxter County road #1) between the White Hole and the Narrows. Wildcat Shoals, well known to fly fisherman, is 2.5 miles downstream from the lodge where Fulton's maintains a private river access.  For those who want area amenities, there's plenty to do within a 30 minute drive in any direction. So if your family wants to shop and sight-see while you fish, they'll have lots to do! All you need to bring to the lodge is your food (continental breakfast is provided). The nearest restaurants are seven miles from Fulton's. Make your reservations early as we fill up quickly. Fridays and Saturdays are our busiest days.

    The lodge sits about 100 feet from the river's edge. Across the river one can see the reason why the river is so green. Lush hardwoods on the steep bluffs reflect light on the water giving it that special emerald color. As cool evening air condenses over the river's surface, a gradually thickening mist climbs slowly upward to a height of about 6 to 10 feet. You can watch all of this from the windows and grounds of the lodge. Perhaps the most enjoyable way to enjoy the ever-changing river is while you cast over it from right in front of the lodge. There's several good wade-fishing spots along the river in the lodge area.

    unit6.jpg (31922 bytes)
    Interior of Unit 6

    Lodging Rates
    Our river house at Wildcat Shoals is $189 per night for 1 to 4 people. Our one-bedroom with kitchen is $79 per night for one or two people. Our two-bedroom with kitchen is $159 per night for 1 to 4 people. Our sleeping room is $65 per night and has a semi-private bath with private shower. (The sleeping room has no kitchen.) Each additional person is $10 per night. Pets in your room are $10 per night extra. We have a minimum stay of two nights. Continental breakfast (included in all rates) from 7am to 9am. Check out time is 10am, check in time is from 2pm to 11pm. All prices subject to change without notice.

    Boat and motor rentals are $79 per day, $45 per half-day. Boat only or canoe is $30 per day. Car shuttles between Fulton's and Cotter are $10 per trip, all other locations are $20 per trip. We have fly rod outfits available to rent. All prices subject to change without notice.

    Deposits & Reservations
    Reservations are not entered without a deposit. Our deposit is $50 per day booked for lodging and guides, fully refundable with 7 days notice. We must be notified of any changes, including early departure, at least 7 days prior or deposit will be forfeited. We are not a motel! Our lodge is fairly secluded and we have no opportunity to fill rooms that are unexpectedly vacant. With your help, we can keep our rates reasonable in the future. All prices subject to change without notice.

    WHAT’S NEW FOR 2008 AT FULTON’S LODGE !

    As many of you know, Ronna and Dale sold their Fly Shop in Mountain Home in May, 2007, to Bob and Debi Cooke, and since then have devoted their attention solely to Fulton’s Lodge. There have been some improvements at the Lodge already, with more to come. When you’re through Mountain Home, be sure to stop by and meet Bob and Debi. They’re great folks and are doing a beautiful job with the Shop.

    The Boat Dock
    The old boat dock at the Lodge, bless its ancient heart, has been removed and replaced with a beautiful new steel dock, which will be much safer and easier to maneuver around in. There also was some minor dredging done to facilitate navigating boats around the dock. None of the old shoreline fishing area was affected.

    The Rental Boats
    The current older rental boats (bless their hearts, too) just didn’t look right in the fancy new dock, so they have been replaced with brand new boats and motors. These are state-of-the-art Supreme 2000 series john boats, equipped with comfortable, moveable swivel seats, rod trays long enough for fly rods, and lots of dry storage. This is the boat most commonly used by White River guides. The new motors are Mercury four stroke 9.9 HP outboards. All in all, a first class rental package.

    The Rooms

    As far as changes in the rooms, all the one bedroom units have had ceiling fans added in the bedrooms. (The two bedroom units had them already). The one bedroom units have also been recarpeted, with tile and laminate flooring added in some.

    The River House
    The biggest news is the opening of Dale and Ronna’s house at Wildcat Shoals (the “River House”) as a rental unit. Many Fulton’s Lodge guests are familiar with this location from parking there to access the Wildcat Shoals area. With two bedrooms and two bathrooms, this is a wonderful, private spot for a family or small group. The River House has been very popular so far, so try to get your reservations in early.

    About Fulton's Guided Fly Fishing Trips

    River and bluffs
    The river and bluffs in early evening mist as seen from the lodge.

    General Fishing Information
    All you need to bring for tackle is a 5 or 6 weight rod, a floating line, a few 9 to 12 foot 4x to 6x leaders, and the seasonal flies shown below. We can help with tips on where to go and what to use. As a pleasant alternative, consider a day floating the river with one of our guides. It's a beautiful trip! You'll catch primarily rainbow, but you can also catch brown, brook, and cutthroat. Most trophy sized fish are browns. Anticipate sporadic caddis hatches in the warm months, midges year-round, and Mayflies in May (surprise!) and June. Trout fishing is good year-round with the greatest number of fish caught in the spring and summer. The winter months produce trophy browns. There are four catch and release areas on the White, and one on the Norfork. Smallmouth and striper fishing is excellent at times, but are seasonal and temperamental. Call us for the latest information.

    Year-Round Guide Service
    We schedule daily guided fly fishing trips originating at our lodge. By spending a day or two with one of our licensed and insured fly fishing guides, you can learn to use the daily water fluctuations of the tailwaters to your best advantage. Our guides are experienced with fly fishing all tailwater conditions, low and high. They do not fish while guiding, which is unusual in this area. Their only concern is your safety and success.

    If you are just learning, our rivers generally offer easy wading and casting conditions. There's a good population of pretty gullible fish. Plus . . . our guides are excellent instructors. To lessen our own impact on the resource, we have two limitations on our guided trips: our trips are catch and release only, and we don't book trips specifically to harass spawning trout in low water. We recommend one or two people per guide.

    Guided Fly Fishing Trip Rates
    Fly fishing trips start at Fulton's Lodge. Rates for guided fly fishing trips are $350 per day for one or two people, and $450 per day for three people, three persons per guide maximum. Guided trips are by reservation only. Trips include transportation, lunch, soft drinks, boat, motor, and fuel. Not included are tackle, flies, or license, but they are available. There is no sales tax on guided trips. All prices subject to change without notice.

    Dale Fulton's Fly Recommendations (print and bring with you)

    Dale Fulton, well known for many years as a guide and outfitter in southwestern Montana, is a native of northern Arkansas. Dale has fished this area since early childhood. In 1978 he began guiding in the off season on the White and Norfork rivers, and he opened Blue Ribbon Fly Shop in Mountain Home in 1987. He sold Blue Ribbon Fly Shop in 2007. Now Dale and his wife Ronna operate Fulton's Lodge together.

    Although this list contains flies for both the White and the Norfork rivers, the rivers are quite different. The Norfork generally requires smaller flies and lighter tippets, and leans toward nymphs, shrimp, and sowbugs. The White River is often less demanding and woolly buggers and soft hackles are popular.

    Dale Fulton's Wet Pattern Recommendations

    Spring

    Summer

    Fall

    Winter

    Beadhead Hare's Ear, 12-16 Beadhead Hare's Ear, 12-16 Beadhead Hare's Ear, 12-16 BRF Gold Matuka,
    4
    Various Sowbugs,
    12-16
    Red Ass Kelso,
    12-14 (std. & beadhead)
    Red Ass Kelso,
    12-14 (std. & beadhead)
    Various Sculpins,
    4
    Pheasant Tail Nymph, 14-16 Various Sowbugs,
    14-18
    Various Sowbugs,
    14-18
    Arkansas Beadhead,
    8
    Arkansas Beadhead,
    8
    Woolly Bugger,
    8-12, (olive,black, std. & beadhead)
    Woolly Bugger,
    8-12, (olive, black
    std. & beadhead)
    Woolly Bugger,
    8-12 (olive, white, std., & beadhead)
    Caddis Pupae,
    14-16, (gold, green)
    Soft Hackles,
    15,  (yellow, orange)
    Soft Hackles,
    15, (yellow, orange)
    Glo-Bug,
    12, (chartreuse, peach, fire orange)
    Soft Hackle,
    15 (yellow, orange, green)
    One Fly Soft Hackle,
    15
    One Fly Soft Hackles ,
    15
     
    One Fly Soft Hackle,
    15
    BRF Olive Shrimp,
    12-16
    BRF Olive Shrimp,
    12-16
     
    Beadhead Squirrel Nymph, 14-16 Brownback  Shrimp,
    12-16
    Brownback  Shrimp,
    12-16
     
      Various Midge Larva, 18-24 Various Midge Larva, 18-24  
      56'er,
    10
    56'er,
    10
     
        Glo-bug,
    12 (peach)
     


    Dale Fulton's Dry Pattern Recommendations

    Spring

    Summer

    Fall

    Winter

    Light Cahill,
    14-16
    Sulphur Dun,
    16-18
    Hopper,
    10
    Midge,
    20-24
    Sulphur Dun,
    16-18
    Hopper,
    10
    Midge,
    20-24
    Baetis Sparkle Dun,
    18-20
    Parachute Adams,
    16
    Midge,
    20-24
    Tan Caddis,
    24
     
    Elk Hair addis,
    14-18
         


    Fulton's High Water Recommendations, All Seasons
    Glo-Bugs, egg patterns,
    12 (peach, fire orange,
    chartreuse)
    San Juan Worm,
    10 (fire orange, red)
    Bighorn Scud,
    12
    Xelon Sowbug,
    12
    Beadhead Hare's Ear,
    12
    Arkansas Beadhead,
    8
    Various Shad Streamers,
    6
    Various Sculpins,
    4

    Bass Fly Fishing
    The Twin Lakes area of Northern Arkansas is one of the few places you can fish for trout and bass in the same day. Our tailwater trout rivers flow from two famous black bass reservoirs, Lake Norfork and Bull Shoals Lake. Lake Norfork is also one of the country's best striper lakes. Our area offers many native smallmouth bass streams. Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River are the best known, but we can direct you to others.

    Fulton's Lodge In Cotter, Arkansas
    sign1sm.jpg (13761 bytes)

    Phone: (870) 430-5338
    fultonslodge@centurytel.net

     

    Mailing address:
    Fulton's Lodge
    1091 CR 174

    Cotter, AR 72626

    Dale & Ronna Fulton, owner/operator

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