RiverRunner

Ditto on the Orvis Clearwater, I love mine and they were very reasonable. They are so much more comfortable than neoprene for walking long distances and such.

I ended up getting the 2-piece series 1 b/c I wanted to be able to get a top notch line ( Rio Grand). Also, my wife was involved in the purchase, and she suggested I get the $99.00 rod as opposed to the $139.00. It is a great rod for me to cast with my limited experience and abilities. Hopefully, I can get a Finesse model 4 wt next year when my casting and tying skills improve.

Some friends of mine operate a boat dock that has a small campground with a hot shower and electrical outlets near Calico Rock, AR on the White. They are very reasonable as far as prices are concerned. However, fly-fishing can be iffy due to upstream water releases at Bull Shoals and Norfork, but it is doable, esp in extended low water periods that occur from time to time. Send me a PM if you want contact info.

How much trouble would it be to float from Quarry down to the confluence at dead low water. I have a 20' fiberglass trout boat that will go pretty shallow, but a lot of the Norfork can get pretty skinny on dead low water as I recall, and very dangerous at 1 unit in places. The closing of the access will probably improve the fishing in the area, although it's a darn shame that those without boats and the ability to make the long walk from the handicap access won't be able to access the area. I also worry about people getting caught in rising water making the long walk up there. This will also increase pressure even more at Quarry and Handicap as well. I would think that the AGFC, or Baxter Co. would have the means to purchase an access on the area, esp. considering how much revenue trout fishing brings into the area. I would support an increase in liscense, trout permit costs, etc. to pay for it.

How hard of a walk is it from the handicap access to the best water in the C&R area? If I wasn't worried about getting stranded if the generators kick on, it might be worth the walk.

That's a lot bigger than the last Brookie I caught

I thought that this was an interesting web site. Its funny how the TVA (A Federal Government Agency) and Southwestern Power Administration ( Also a Fed agency) differ on their views and action when it comes to tailwater water quality issues. The TVA has made great strides in this area, while SWPA has to be brought kicking and screaming to discuss water quality issues. http://www.tva.gov/environment/water/rri_index.htm

There is a guy at Ranger who builds a few boats on the side, it may be one of his. I've got a 20' Kenzie Kraft that has been regelcoated a bunch of times and looks new even though it is 30 years old. I'd like to step up to a Supreme though . . . . That is a good deal on a boat, wish I could help you out and upgrade.

What brand is it? Shawnee, River Rat, Kenzie Kraft, etc?

I wear a size 13 shoe, anybody know where I can get some size 15 felt sole boots for my new breathables?

It smelled bad about 3 weeks ago as well. When I was a kid, we used to go to Sardis Lake, MS. When they ran water hard there, it would always have that rotten eggs smell from debris being kicked up on the bottom of the lake. It smells just the same at Norfork right now. I have noticed that the DO has been improving the last 2-3 days on the COE charts, so maybe the cold weather is helping. I will stop by Quarry on Monday and take a look & sniff around.

I can usually catch a few fish at the lower end of the state park where the warm fork enters the spring. This area can get crowded at times though. I've always done well on jigs there. I just wished people wouldn't leave such a mess after they are done fishing. I hardly ever go to Dam 3 anymore because of all the litter and remains of fish cleaning.

I used a Fluoro leader this weekend on my initial fly fishing foray, and did not like it a bit. It tended to coil extrememly bad and had a lot of memory. I used some fluoro when I was bass fishing and did not like it a bit. I used it as a Carolina Rig leader, and it tended to explode when I set the hook. Of course, I was using a 7' "pool cue" and 50 lbs test braided line as my main line. Speaking of braided line, I would think that it would be a good tippet for dries, if you can get it small enough, since it floats. Of course, I am not enough of an expert to be commenting on this anyways.

Having been involved in several bearing fiascos over the years, it is my opinion that the Bearing Buddy is a major cause of bearing failure on boat trailers. It is very easy to put too much grease into the hub, thus pushing out the rear seal with a Bearing Buddy. I would say that rear seal failure is the # 1 cause of bearing failure. IMO, the best thing to do is to inspect, repack, and replace if necessary your bearings once a year (twice if you trailer frequently like I do). Also, keep an complete extra set of bearings & races, grease, seals, cotter pins, and pliers, along with some fast orange and paper towels, in your tow vehicle. This prevents having to leave your boat on the highway to search for bearings. I put my hand on the hub everytime that I stop to feel for heat generated from bearings running with little or no grease(a friend of mine left some skin on the hub doing this). Also, check the inside of the wheel for grease, that is usually the first sign of a blown rear seal. I always use a quality brand such as Tinken, available at bearing supply houses. My dad had the gear oil type hubs put on his bass boat, and they have worked very well. Ranger & Triton put these on all of their trailers nowadays. The only issue with them that I can see is that if your spindle has any kind of damage, they will leak very slowly. You just have to keep an eye on the oil level. The key is, there are always signs that bearing troubles are brewing, you just have to keep an eye on things to prevent them.

Headed to the Little Red with my brother on Saturday. We had intended to float from Lobo Landing down to Dripping Springs, but water was extremely muddy from rain the previous 2 days. Had to go all the way to JFK park to find clear water. Did OK despite having limited knowledge of that area of the river and the large crowd. We fished mainly from JFK park down to Beech Island. We caught 12-15, mostly on #16 grey & tan sowbugs & few on 1/32 black jigs. My brother did have one decent brown and he lost another one that was probably bigger. He also lost a rainbow that was pushing 19" -21" that got him wrapped up in a moss bed. Key to catching fish was finding a little depth with current and decent size openings in the moss. Not a bad day to say the least, & I even managed to catch some fish on a fly rod. Did see one pair of spawning browns, but I would say that most are still staging in the deeper water below the shoals. The male that we saw was a real pig though. I did have a tire blow out on my boat trailer on the way home, but I guess it was time for that to happen to me.

Its like buying a boat I guess, the fish really don't care how much it cost

I have caught several of these trout with "big-head disease" in the White River below Norfork (C&R area) We are catching some good quality fish as well, but there are enough of these to concern me. It maybe the same problem you are having there at Taney. The area I am catching these fish in is absolutely loaded with fish, so maybe food sources are a problem.

"How I Stole the Election" by former Sherriff Marlin Hawkins of Conway County Arkansas. A truly legendary figure in Arkansas politics

It always amazed me that there was 150% voter turnout in Craighead County, AR . . . . .

I am looking at a 5 wt, 9 ft. I fish the White, Norfork, and Little Red, both wading and from a boat. I don't plan on taking it on an airplane. The closest fly shop is about 85 miles away, so I am going by info that all of the expertise that anglers on this board have shown. I have decided on the TFO because of their value and their excellent warranty. I just can't decide which rod to choose.

I am sitting here looking at a TFO catalog and was wondering if it was worthwhile for me to spend the extra $50.00 for a 4-piece Pro Series vs. the 2-piece Series 1 for my first "real" fly rod. Should I save the $50.00 and get a little better reel and line, or should I just bite the bullet and get the Pro Series Rod and get a little less expensive reel and line. Remember, I am on a budget and I will have about $250.00 (maybe a little more) to spend on the whole thing. Please chime in with your opinions

In 2002 it was proposed by the AGFC to make the Norfork C&R with artificals only. This was shot down by protests from the public and the businesses mentioned by Terry. I really can't blame them for that, it is their livilehood, and they have just as much right to make a decent living as anyone else. The key, IMO is too find a solution that everyone can live with and that will help the fishery survive & thrive. Simply excluding people will do nothing to help the fishery. We need everyone on the river's side.

I think that someone mentioned in another post about closing Quarry during the fall. I have thought that it would be an ideal location for year round C&R regs, at least from the Dam to the new boat ramp or from the ramp down to the park boundary. Maybe that way everyone including bait fisherman can be happy. I know that it is not enough for a lot of people, but I would think that it would help somewhat.

I have used 4&6 lbs. green BPS excel for years and has been very good line for both trout & bass. I am needing to go to 2 lbs for 1/32 and smaller jigs. I tried P-Line and did not like it. Anyone else have any recomendations for 2 lbs. test?

If it is the lake turnover that causes the lower DO water to reach the levels where the intakes are at, what causes the DO to return to the water at these depths later in the fall when the water temperature drops in the lakes?