justfishing55

hey BW, Sorry I'm just hookin up, but it's been a whirlwind month. I left St. Louis late on the 1st headed south and arrived at the ROLF late that afternoon. I checked into the treehouse and hit the pool right below the campground to get a little time in before dark. Picked up one Rb 12", and a bunch of some other kind of fish on a BHN. After a long night, thanks to some continuous battles with a few 4 legged friends sharing the house with me, I hit the river again on the 2nd. What a beautiful river. I threw everything from wooly buggers to EHC, and only picked up a couple small fish. I saw some of the biggest crawfish I've ever seen, looked like lobsters, so I figured the fish were pretty well fed so I headed down river. I stopped at the Patrick bridge and picked up 2 nice fish in the pool right below the bridge on a scud with BH dropper. Next stop Spring river. I stopped in Mammoth Springs and had lunch at the River Edge restaurant right in town with a nice deck overlooking the Springs. Best fried chicken I ever had. I fished at the hatchery for a little while and caught a couple of fish on a san juan worm ???. It was getting late and I still had one more stop. On to the White. I got up on Friday to frosty weather and figured I should probably hit the Norfork before the weekend crowds, so I headed over. Got there and the generators were running. After about 30 minutes they cut off and I was able to fish out from the lower boat ramp. Caught one fish off the far bank and headed to Mclellans. Walked up to the ripples and pulled 3 fish out on a nymph before moving down to a big hole near the campground. It was full of fish, but I couldn't get them to take anything. Looked like the spinners were have better luck. Saturday I started up at the dam on the White and again had only minimal luck, 1 fish out of a ripple right next to the handicap platform. I moved down to Rim shoals and after a slow start I switched to a pink egg pattern and immediately started taking fish. The wind was up most of the trip and the temps never got out of the 50's. I don't think the generators ran the whole time I was on the White, which might explain the slow weekend. I headed home to Alabama on Sunday and up to the Smokies on the 18th. The cold weather and rain followed us there, but that story will have to go on another board. Had a great trip overall, and definitely look forward to fishing in some warmer weather soon. Good fishing to all the Ozark anglers. You are lucky to have such great fishing right in your backyard. Take care.

WOW. Where was this trip? What time of year?

Anybody fish this weekend? I'm coming over on Thursday and wondered how the warm weather affected the fishing. Thanks

Anybody fish this weekend? I'm coming over on Wednesday and wondered how the warm up affected fishing. Thanks

The only reason I guessed is I was looking at the Silver Forest Inn in Bozeman as a possible Fishing B&B that's for Sale. How's the fishing????

Near Livingston, Mt ? Looks similar???? Where ever, I wish it was out my back door !!!

Fox, Thanks. I'll probably start out at ROLF and depending on how it's going head over to Spring River. I've gotta be at Fulton's that evening so I shouldn't have a problem. I'll let you know how it goes. Looks like they're getting some snow today.

SF, Make sure you walk all the way back past the end of the sidewalk. There's a couple big pools just past the last flow pipe. That way you can just work your way down the creek. My son caught his mostly on red san juan worms, but also had success on a real little EHC. Go figure. We've been the last 3 years. He turns 16 in April. Hopefully 1 more trip. Good Luck.

Thanks BDS, I wish I had seen this back in September. My son, yes, the same son was rearranging his tackle box for a lack of things to do after a day at the lake. I guess he could be doing a lot worse things with his free time. Well anyway, somehow he got a little rapala hooked into the nylon web handle, and if you know anything about that hook magnet material, it's almost impossible to get out. Well he was determined, and as he explained, somehow he managed to yank it out, but yanked it right into the knuckle of his left pointer finger. Ever notice how the left hand is always the one that takes all the abuse? Well I wasn't at home and he ended up at the emergency room. Sure would've like to have tried this trick on him. Actually I think I'd rather try it on just about anyone before I have to use it on myself. It's probably only a matter of time. The emergency room Dr. did check his thumb first, and said "at least you had a good day fishing first". JF

Me neither. I had no idea what he was up to. I was kinda feaking out trying to figure out what to do, and the next thing I knew he let out a scream and went jumping around the cabin. The only he said, was "don't tell mom". But of course we did. My only encounter was with a #22 fly that stuck in my cheek. I was too embarassed to call to my buddy to come give me a hand and couldn't really see it except in the reflection of my Costa's, so I had no choice.

Dano, It is DRC. I think next time when he goes to pinch his barbs down, he'll use the cotton ball test. He got hooked across the street at the park, fishing in the pool below the falls. Luckily we were staying at Gene's. (macro function )

Absolutely. If you notice the only dry article on him is his hat. I think it took two days for that vest to dry out. The zippers will never be the same.

Make sure your camera has a quick shutter recovery. You never know what you might miss. Trout Whisperer

Fox, I just got off the phone with Tom at Flydepot.com and he was raving about the Spring. I'm heading South from St. Louis on 3/1 on my way to the White, and eventually to Alabama. I was planning on fishing the North Fork of the White, but would like to hit the Spring if it's not too far out of the way. How long would it take me to get from Mammoth to Mountain Home? How far are you from Tecumsah, and what's the best (fastest) way to get there? Thanks

My son and I recently were on a trip where he learned the pros and cons of barbless hooks all in one day. Earlier in the day while casting across the stream he hung up in some low hanging limbs to which he proceeded to determine the best recourse was a couple of hefty tugs. Bad choice. The last of several pulls did dislodge the fly, but unfortunately landed it squarely, and securely in his forearm. We proceeded to the cabin where believe it or not while I was looking around for antiseptic and gauze, he proceeded to pull, or maybe I should clarify, yank the #16 hook out of his arm with the available leatherman. A band aid and a couple of ES tylenol and he was back on the water, this time with all the hooks pinched securely down. Now to come was the other lesson, the con. After several small fish and several new flies, he proceeded to hook this whopper rainbow. After the long insuing fight on his little 2wt, he landed this fish and was ready for the kodak moment. Just as the picture was being taken the monster lept for freedom. Like any good fisherman would do when the one that got away was going to actually get away, he did the only sensible thing. He went in after it. I'm sure he will take barbless over barbed from now on, but the memory that will be with him longer than the little scar on his arm, will be the dive after the monster rainbow in Arkansas.

Better picture

Welcome to use these.

Hey FOF, Like I said, you might be better off trying another board. Try this one. They are some really nice guys, that I think can at least point you in the right direction. http://ozarkchronicles.com/forum/index.php...88f85b1f7e1ad02 Good Luck,

Very interesting that the North Fork of the White board has some of the highest view stats on the entire Ozark Angler board, but defintitely some of the lowest posts. Seems like many people are interested in this little beauty, but not too many people have actual experience. Brian has done a great job of getting it started. Any other insights???

http://p222.ezboard.com/bflyfishingarkansasandmissouri Good board with probably a little more feedback, http://www.ozarkangler.com/river/wr/wr_map_bst.html Good access maps http://www.gastons.com/ Good place to HQ, and weekly fishing reports Gene's on the Norfork is also a good HQ I've only been 3 times, but each one was awesome. Going back the first of March. Good luck

Brian, Thanks for the insight. I'll let you know if I have any luck.

My son caught & released this whopper on 4lb line. He was fishing a live sculpin he caught earlier in the day. We were staying at Gaston's on the White river and this was caught directly behind our room in August. I had it mounted for him for Christmas. http://images.kodakgallery.com/photos1383/...46205_0_ALB.jpg

Brian, If I was making my way down towards HWY 160 is there access at 354 bridge? Any access above Althea Spring off 352? Is the access ok at Dawt? I've only got half a day and I want to hit as many spots between ROLF and 160, before I head South. Thanks, Gary

Brian, Are you currently in the Fisherman's room at ROLF?

Great to see a dedicated forum for this spot. I am heading over early March for a little early Spring fishing. (Hopefully) How's the walk in access?