netboy

It was definitely faster than a wheel, but slower than a tiller.

I had a stick steer bass boat back in the 70's and it was great for running thru the standing timber during the early days of Sam Rayburn and Toledo Bend. I imagine they would be great on a jet boat.

Looks like the tigers are growing up. The first release was in 2019. This would have been the official record, but they decided to weigh it and release it. Good for them. Facebook

The trail now goes a mile down the river to almost the end of the C&R section. Our local TU chapter worked with AGFC to hire a trail clearing contractor to make it happen. That said, it would not have happened without Gary Flippin's insinuative and there is a really nice picnic bench and sitting bench with Gary's name on it. As well as a generous donation from Hugh McClain and Mr. Frank Graham. Rim Shoals Trail (agfc.com)

Yes, no problem on minimum flow with the new trail that Gary Flippin and TU put in. You walk down the path to the "Dan Berry commemorative bench" and then cross over on the shelf.

No, last night they were running 1 unit, so I took the boat and ran to the shoal above Rim and then got out and waded.

SWPA was scheduled to run some big water this morning, so I made a trip to Rim Shoals to take advantage of the low water before the surge hit. Fishing was good with lots of rainbows, a couple browns and one cutthroat. Best flies were an orange slush egg with a ruby midge dropper under an indicator. Then around 10:00 I started seeing some fish rising to what looked to be small mayflies, possibly March Browns? I tried a couple different dry fly patterns with no luck, then tied on a crackleback and finally started getting some action. Caught 6 on the crackleback and missed about that many more. Then around 11:00 the water started to rise, so I called it a day. Here's a few of the better ones...

They claim they can get 88 kph (55 mph) out of the 30hp Yamaha 2 stroke outboards. Dinghy Derby: Boat Explanation - All you need to know (redbull.com)

Looks like a preset course with the placement of the markers and also the crowds on the shoreline.

Talk about a wild ride...😄😄😄

The SWPA forecast was for minimum flow all day today, so I headed up to the dam. I started just below the restricted area and worked my way downstream. Fishing was good with some nice size rainbows and a medium size brown. They blew the horn around 10:00 so I made a hasty retreat to the bank. There were 6 other waders and they also retreated and some of them left. After waiting 15 minutes, nothing changed, so I headed back out. I sometimes think the guys in the powerhouse hit the horn button just to laugh at us old guys scrambling to get to the bank. Ended the morning with a couple dozen rainbows and the one brown. Best flies were an orange slush egg with a ruby midge dropper. And can you say WINDY? It must have been cranking 40 mph at one point which makes for short casts and challenging drifts., Also had a visit from the Game Warden and he checked my license and fly hooking point. Always glad to see them out there. Here's a couple of the better rainbows...

I took this one across the English Channel a couple times back in the 80's. Going over it was a fun ride in some choppy seas and lots of folks seasick. The trip back to England was calm and that thing was fast and LOUD. They quit using them in the early 2000's after the chunnel (channel tunnel) was completed.

I probably average 5 days a week fishing. The other 2 days are usually weather related or trips that we have planned.

Wade fishing has been great recently with lots of low water. I waded at the Narrows yesterday and had a good day with lots of stocker rainbows and a few cutthroats in the 12-14" range. Best flies were egg patterns and cracklebacks. I spooked a big brown in a shallow riffle that looked to be around 30" and really fat. Never saw him again, but I now know where he hangs out. Here is the best rainbow of the day on a tan crackleback.

If any of you guys have a wood stove, you might want to try a couple of these fans. They run on a heat generated battery and blow the hot air into your room instead of up to the ceiling. We got 2 of them before the big freeze and really noticed a difference in the room temperature. TCFUNDY 6 Blades Fireplace Stove Fan Heat Powered Log Wood Burner Stove Fan | eBay

Looks like a fun day. Love the low water.

Phil's prediction was spot on back on Feb 2.😀

Thank God we don't have to see Taylor Swift anymore.

Sorry, but I really can't help you with that one. I live here so I don't know much about the local lodging other than there are the usual chain motels in Mountain Home. You might want to check them out on Trivago or Booking.com.

Saturdays are a bit more crowded, but not bad. I plan my visit based of which seminar(s) I want to see. Here is the list of seminars.... sowbugseminars - North Arkansas Fly Fishers

I'll be there. It is always a fun day with some of the best tiers in the US.

The C&R area below the dam opened back up for fishing last Thursday. I didn't go Thursday as I assumed there would be quite a crowd. I did make it up there Friday, Sunday and again this morning (2-7). I talked to a friend that fished on Thursday and he said it was a real zoo with lots of boats and waders. He also said the Game Wardens were out in force checking to see that everyone was playing by the rules. Apparently, a few were not and got ticketed. Seems the most common infraction up there is not using barbless hooks. The fishing was good the days I went and there was minimum flow starting mid-morning and lasting through the afternoon. Today they ran about 1 1/2 units starting around 9:00. As always, the fish you catch up there are bigger than those you catch downriver. I lost what looked to be a 23-24" brown this morning due to a pulled hook after a 5 minute fight. Best flies have been soft hackles and egg patterns. Here's a couple from this morning, nothing huge but fun size to catch ...

Great report. I really do miss the duck hunting we had in south Texas, but that is a tradeoff for the wonderful trout fishing we have up here. Always enjoy your reports and pictures. As a consolation, I have seen many lesser Canadians while fly fishing on the White River recently. Always enjoy pointing the tip of rod at them, leading them and then saying Boom, I got ya.

This what I use to clean moss, leaves, etc. out of the grate.

We are having our annual Mountain Home TU banquet and fundraiser on February 17. This is always a great time with great food, lots of cool auction items and fun times. Some of the projects our chapter has accomplished include the Bonneville cutthroat egg plantings on the Norfork and White Rivers, participation in the development of the parking lot and access at Roundhouse Shoals and the Rim Shoals walk in access path as well as numerous enhancements at the Dry Run Creek access. Here is link if you would like to attend. Facebook