Trout Fishing News
July 29th, 2022
Just to keep you updated, Gene's Trout Fishing Resort is and has been open as normal. Trout Fishing has been great this year. Last month we had a 25-pound Brown Trout caught. It was huge and long. It was caught on a small piece of night crawler (worm) with one white power egg at the tip.
Please always remember to use ultra-light green line on your reel as the North Fork River has three types of green moss. White, clear, or blue are the worst lines to use. A big Rainbow Trout told me this just last week. lol.
December 22, 2021
A Merry Christmas Poem For Your Family
T'was the night before the big catch, and all through the resort, Not a tourist was awake, not even a trout of sort; The tackle boxes were full, and worms ready for their hook, Come morning sun, I'll awake for my boat I booked;
Now comes the time I sought for fishing,
All the dreams of landing the monster trout I keep wishing;
So here I go, into my chariot of a boat,
Only to don on my boots and furry little coat;
As I drift through the fog a mist,
I hold my rod with my left wrist;
Tap, Tap, Tap on the Rod Tip Atop,
I jerk the rod, as if I were, my elder pop;
Coming to the boat I see a trout so large,
I think I need a bigger boat, like an ocean barge;
Our fight for the day has won us a prize,
The dinner we have is just on the rise;
My thanks to Gene's Resort for making my day,
It's all a good time and worth the pay;
I shall be back to tackle the mighty river,
And once again, slay the beast the river will deliver.
Scott F. Sillence, Christmas 2021
This poem was originally written in 2019 but the entire poem was not posted by our Advertising Agency. We hope you have enjoyed the reading.
October 30th, 2021
Gene's Trout Fishing Resort is in the process of updating our entire website. This sight may be down for a few hours a day until we have all platforms set up properly. Please be patient. We will let you know when it is completely finished. After the website is finished, if you see something that does not look right, please drop us a line/email at genes@mtnhome.com
Thank you so much for your continued support.
December 25th, 2020
NEW GIFT CARD PROGRAM
Gene’s Trout Fishing Resort now has Gift Cards for purchase. Ask for a Gift Card, let us know how much you would like to place on the card, and pay for the gift card by cash, personal or business check, or credit card.
Gene’s Resort will activate the card and send to your home or business without delay. Your Gift Card can be used for any rental or retail services provided by Gene’s Trout Fishing Resort. (Fishing Licenses excluded)
Great gift for Father’s Day, Easter, Birthdays, Christmas stocking stuffer, award employees for doing a great job or just simply to say thank you to a friend or relative.
Give us a call at (870) 499-5381 and simply ask to purchase a new Gift Card.
Gene’s Trout Fishing Resort
270 River Acres Drive
Salesville, Arkansas 72653
Website = www.genestroutfishingresort.com
Email = info@genestroutfishingresort.com
DECEMBER 4TH, 2020
The year 2020 will go down in our history books. Due to the Covid-19 Virus, March/April 2020, Gene's Trout Fishing Resort was closed for 6 weeks by order of Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson. Our resort sustained over $140,000.00 in reservation cancellations and about 2 times that amount with people not calling in to make their reservations. All small businesses around the world have sustained such losses and we are ALL in this together.
Since we re-opened, March 19th, 2020, our business has incurred an income to mirror other previous years. I personally would like to thank all of you for your continued support and allowing Gene's Resort to have a successful year. Please be safe, wear a mask, and respect others through social distancing.
NO SMOKING POLICY
As of 2021, Gene's Trout Fishing Resort has instituted a no smoking policy within all our cabins and lodges. Smoking tobacco products is permitted outside each cabin on your deck/patio. Please dispose of your buts properly. An ash tray will be provided on the outside deck/patio for your convenience.
MARCH 19TH, 2020
WE ARE OPEN
Gene's Trout Fishing Resort is proud to say that we are open to the public for all and any rental services. This includes cabin rentals, boat/motor rentals, guided trout fishing trips, and the office will stay open during normal business hours.
Gene's Resort has established and increased all cleansing disinfecting sanitation to all our cabins. We have implemented a BAB Program. This means Before-After-Before sanitizing of the entire inside of every cabin being rented. This means B=Before a customer checks in, A=After each customer leaves, and B=Before the next customer checks-in once again.
Gene's Resort is dedicated to your safety, health, and concerns governing the current Corona Virus Pandemic.
Fishing has been great. We have had many boat rentals and guided trout fishing trips out and plenty of huge trout have been caught and released.
If anything changes, we will resubmit another UPDATE as the days progress.
Gene's Resort would like to thank all of you for your continued patronage, support, and understanding during these trying times of the Corona Virus Pandemic.
Scott F. Sillence, Owner
Gene's Trout Fishing Resort
JUNE 1ST, 2019
NO FLOOD WARNINGS FOR OUR AREA
Lake Norfork is high at 570 feet where the normal pool level is 552. 580 is top pool and this is when the Army Corp of Engineers will normally open up the spill gates. As I type this message, all is fine here on the North Fork River.
The turbines are off in the morning then 2 generators are on in the afternoon for about 4-5 hours. We have NO FLOODING. Gene's Resort is still renting out our accommodations, boats/motors and guided trout fishing trips
Fishing for trout has been very good last year and this year. We have no idea what the Corp will do in the future. At this time, there is no reason for cancelling any reservations due to the flooding down in south Arkansas and the Arkansas River. That location is about 180 miles south of us and does not affect our location.
So come on to our resort, relax, and fish for the monster Brown and Rainbow Trout that lurk our waters of the North Fork River.
You can access the South West Power Administration website at www.swpa.gov Click on Generation Schedule and then click on the day you want to see. North Fork River (Norfork Dam - NFD #14) will give you the hour/s in which they will turn on the turbines, how many, and for how long. They will give you this information after 5:00 P.M. the day before. Friday (at 5:00 P.M.) will give you information for the entire week-end (Saturday-Sunday). Hope this helps you out in programing your important vacation with us.
You can also check out our River Cameras on our website at www.genestroutfishingresort.com Click on UP RIVER or DOWN RIVER. The still picture refreshes itself every 30 seconds. Enjoy the view.
FOR IMMEDIATE PRESS RELEASE
“NEW STATE RECORD”
CUTTHROAT TROUT
10.02 LBS. 26” LENGTH, 19” GIRTH
On September 29th, 2018, at approximately 12:30 P.M., Mr. Mike Bowers from Abilene, Kansas, was fishing the North Fork River, just adjacent to Gene’s Trout Fishing Resort. Mr. Bower’s was using a Bass Pro Shop ultralight spinning rod with 4 pound ultra-light green line, #14 bait holder hook and salmon egg. (This was not in the Catch & Release Area)
Mr. Bowers then hooked onto something huge. His line started going out and he set his drag to about a 80% torque. Then his line went limp and seconds later a monster trout jumped out of the water. At first it appeared to be a Brown Trout. The fight ensued and Mr. Bowers was able to reel the trout to the boat and capture it with his net. Once in the boat, he examined the trout and discovered it was not a Brown but a huge Cutthroat Trout. Knowing that the current Arkansas State Record for a Cutthroat Trout was 9.1 pounds, he immediately brought the Cutthroat back to the dock of Gene’s Resort.
Everyone gathered around and the trout was put on the scale and weighed. The arrow on the scale tipped all the way around (360) and rested at 10.25 pounds. Mr. Bowers immediately put the Cutthroat in the Hospital Box for recovery. Attempts to recover this huge fish for over an hour failed and the Cutthroat eventually died. Mr. Bowers was very saddened as he sincerely wanted to release the Cutthroat back into the North Fork River, regardless of its size and possible state record status.
The Arkansas Game and Fishing Commission (G&F) was contacted and Mr. Bowers, along with Mr. Scott Sillence, Owner of Gene’s Resort, met with Game Warden Doug Small and Chief Fish Biologist Christy Graham at the G&F offices in Mountain Home. There, the Cutthroat Trout was officially weighed on a certified digital scale and it was announced that the Cutthroat weight 10.02 pounds. Christy Graham stated and declared that we now have a new Arkansas State Record Cutthroat Trout.
Within the next few months, the original Cutthroat Trout will be mounted for Mr. Bowers with 2 replicas being made. One replica will be sent to, and on display, at the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s corporate office in Little Rock and the other will be displayed in the office of Gene’s Trout Fishing Resort (next to the 5 pound State Record Brook Trout on display).
DECEMBER 18TH, 2017
EXCITING NEWS FROM GENE'S RESORT
Just a short note to let everyone know that Gene's Trout Fishing Resort has, on January 6th, 2017, acquired and purchased the ownership of the resort next to us on the North Fork River. Gene's Resort has initiated a complete overhaul, remodeling, power washing/cleaning, staining and beautifying all existing cabins with additional parking lots. New furniture, televisions, many kitchen appliances and kitchenware were replaced and state of the art high speed internet was installed. Sidewalks were constructed to adjoin both resorts. A larger office has been constructed at the first entrance to Gene's Resort, and the older office is now a rental Cabin #17.
We are very excited about all these new changes and addition to Gene's Resort. This acquisition enabled Gene's Resort an additional eleven cabins. We now have a total of 31 cabins. Pictures of the new acquisition has now been posted to our website. The prices of all cabins and bed descriptions, can be found on this website. Just click on RATES. Please call and make your reservations soon as we expect a great year for 2022. We have had a lot of water this year and the lake levels are now at normal pool level. Both bait and fly fishing should be enjoyed by all. Join us and make this merger a success for years to come.
Game & Fish Licenses
Effective 2017, the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission revamped their fishing licensing program and procedures. Gene's Resort will continue to issue Fishing and Hunting Licenses but we do suggest and inform you that you can get on-line and receive your fishing licenses prior to your arrival. Thank-you for your help and understanding. The link to get your fishing licenses is:
https://ar-web.s3licensing.com/
JULY 18, 2017
The lake is still up, so they have been running 2 generators pretty much all day. The fishing has been great. Lots of big browns are being caught and released. If your not sure how to fish from the boat, get a guide. He will put you on the fish and make sure you have a great day.
MAY 16, 2017
As of now, the water has been running just 2 generators. The fishing has been pretty good. The flood gates that was open has allowed lake fish into the river, so you won't know what you have caught until you get it to the boat. We are up and running, so get your reservations in now. We still have cabins for Memorial Day weekend.
MARCH 8, 2017
The water has still been on in the morning till 10 or so, then off the rest of the day. Fishing has been great. We have been super busy trying to get our new property up and going. We are planning moving the office in a week or so cause we are the new proud owners of Charlies Rainbow. It is all called Gene's Trout Fishing Resort. We are now the only Resort on the upper North Fork River. There is repairs being done so please excuse our mess.
FEBRUARY, 15, 2017
We are off to a great start this year. The water has been running in the am till around 10 or 11, then off till 5 or 6 pm. Perfect for all fishermen. Many Cutthroat Trout have been caught and released the last few months. Our very own office helper Terri, caught a nice brown off the dock a few weeks ago. It was 25" and 6 pounds. Make your reservations for 2017 and 2018.
JUNE 28, 2016
They have continued to run 1 generator around the clock. The fishing has been great the last few weeks. Lots of nice size trout caught, 18" Brook, 20" Cutthroat, Rainbows 16" to 26", and Browns 20" to 25". Everyone please Have a Safe and Happy July 4th.
MAY 26, 2016
HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND. EVERYONE STAY SAFE!
They have had one generator on around the clock. They are working on the dam and need the water at a certain level before they can finish. So no wading on the North Fork River. Fishing has been pretty good. A few months ago they had the spill gates open and tons of walleye came into the river. They have been catching plenty of walleye lately. There is no limit so you can keep all that you catch of the walleye. Each month this year there has been nice, big trout caught. The biggest was a 32" brown.
JULY 1ST, 2015
A 22 pound Brown Trout was caught and released back into the North Fork River. The Brown Trout was caught on a worm just upriver from Gene's Trout Fishing Resort's dock.
January 25th, 2015
A 5.6 pound Rainbow Trout was caught this week just above the docks from our resort. This Rainbow Trout was a great fight which shows that the trout are very strong. Minimum flow on the North Fork River has proven to be a huge success for the heath and growth of all the trout. Minimum Flow also helps by water flowing over "once dried rocks" and enhancing the oxygen level down stream.
November 23rd, 2014
Thanksgiving is just around the corner. Gene's Resort is scheduled to have many folks here to enjoy the holidays and fish the North Fork River for plenty of trout. Please help us during the Christmas holidays and make your reservations for December and January. This is the spawning and post spawning seasons for the trout. They are very active, hungry, and will put up a great fight. Please remember to voluntarily return the large trout back into the river.
September 2nd, 2014
Rain all day today. Hope everyone had a safe Labor Day Week-End. Plenty of trout were caught.
March 21st, 2014
The turbines at the North Fork River have been at least one generator mostly during the morning and off in the afternoon then on in the evening hours. Minimum Flow has taken affect and is a great enhancement to the North Fork River. The increase in cold water and oxygen in the river will substantially improve the overall health of the trout. Wade fisherman can still access their honey holes and boaters can navigate more areas of the river. Lake Norfork is now at pool level 553.74 feet. You can access the Bull Shoals Water Release recording (from the Army Corp of Engineers) at 1-870-431-5311. To see the current schedule for water releases, you can access the Southwest Power Administration website at:
http://www.swpa.gov/generationschedules.aspx
Click on the day you are interested in then look at the top row for #15-NFD. That's Norfork Dam.
0 is equivalent to NO generators operating.
40 is equivalent to 1 generator operating.
80 is equivalent to 2 generators operating.
At the very left of that list, you can see the time of the day in a military 24 hour format. Please note the day/date to make sure it is the date you want. If not, wait till after 5:00 P.M. and the site will update for the next day.
Generation schedule is subject to change at any given moment by the Army Corp of Engineers, Southwest Power Administration, Game & Fish Commission, and local authorities. If the horn blows at the Dam, (this indicates that the generators are being turned on), get out of the river. Water flow is instantaneous. Practice Safety. Always wear a life jacket while fishing the North Fork River.
FISHING STORIES
March 14th, 2014
A 18" inch, 3 lbs. Brook Trout was caught just down the river from Gene's Resort. The color of this Brook Trout was awesome and the fight was even better. Sorry, we did not get a picture. Maybe next time.
January 20th, 2014
The implementation of the Minimum Flow for the North River and White Rivers have been a great enhancement for the health of the trout, additional riffles for the wade fisherman, and boaters have more access up and down the river. The trout have been reported to be much healthier, aggressive, hungry, and full of color.
October 21st, 2013
11.6 pound German Brown Trout caught and released unharmed back into the cold waters of the North Fork River. This Brown Trout was caught on a small live worm with a power egg (white) at the tip of the hook. Ultra Light green line (6 pound test line) was used.
September 29th, 2013
7 pound Brown Trout caught today and released back into the North Fork River at Gene's Trout Fishing Resort's dock. This Brown Trout had a 15 1/2 half inch girth and was 25 inches long. It was caught on a Zebra Midge.