doctorbrady

Michael, You dog. I went by the shop on Sunday and saw your truck and a couple of others. I wondered where you had went to torment fish. It seems that the Arkansas (in Oklahoma) is getting more Missouri flyfisherman than locals (a lot of states mentioned in that sentence ) I am glad that you guys had such a good trip. Hopefully, I can get back up there soon when the water is right. I 'll get by and see the pics soon.

Butts, Yeah I fish with Jason "Jay Bird" regularly. In fact, what he still owes me $5 for hooking the first (and other 5) fish during our AR river trip . War Eagle is usually pretty easy access unless things have changed drastically. Though they may not want you parking just to fish no one will object. There are a couple of parking spots right at the mill that are used mostly to access the water at the dam. Like most "navagable streams" in Arkansas, you can fish it if you are in the water. Still at War Eagle you can fish from the bank below the dam. Most spring days there will be plenty of people there to prove it. Also, there used to be easy access for a small $2-3 fee just below the dam. We always called it the "dollar hole". This may have been shut off as they were getting a lot of immigrants camping on the property for extended periods of time. I have accessed the water by canoe from several spots but will have to do my homework to see what and where is still open to get to. A canoe or even a pontoon or belly boat should give you access to as much water as you can stand. The best part is even if the stripers and whites don't cooperate there are a ton on good smallies and rock bass to hook up with. Brady

I just got my first taste of carp on the fly last spring. It is great fun. One day I had carp tailing in a shallow mud bottomed pond. There were tails everywhere. I felt as if I was redfishing! I was in my belly boat and would cast to the tailing fish. I experimented with flies and finally got one to take a griffiths gnat that I had weighted. A 10 pounder sipped the fly in as I watched. She certainly gave my 8wt. a work out. I am no expert on flyfishing carp, but I have been doing my research in anticipation for this coming spring. It seems that small woolies are always good. Antron bugs and similar appearing nymph patterns are probably among the top producers. In fact, I no of guys who throw nothing else. Brad Befus, who wrote the book on flyfishing for carp (literally) gives several patterns in his book. He also has a couple of carp patterns in "The Fly Shop" catalog. If you don't already get it, it has a lot of fly patterns and some good gear. Good luck. Keep us posted on how you do. Brady

Butts, Another fishery you might want to try is the War Eagle River. Large stripers in the 40 pound class migrate up the river out of Beaver Lake every spring, usually following the whites. The river runs into a low water dam which concentrates the whites. I have never caught any stripers all the way up at the dam, but have seen some monsters taken just about a mile or so below. Access is pretty easy and when you catch it right the fishing can be great. I have only recently moved back into the general vicinity (Aurora, MO) and haven't gotten a chance to go hit my old childhood fishing holes, but I know things haven't changed there too much. This might be a good place for you to wet your line and let the rest of us jealous, drooling fly fishers who don't get to fish everyday know how it is. Best of luck, Brady