hoglaw

Yeah, the little wild fish don't really do it for me. Maybe that's blasphemy among fly fishing circles, but I've had my fill of eight inch wild brook trout. I've been looking at some boards dealing with backcountry fishing in the smokies and it seems like they're all writing home about little tiny fish. Granted, my wife doesn't fly fish (yet) and would probably be thrilled with brookies on a 3wt rod. From your experience, are bigger fish possible in the park? I read post after post and only found one thread about a "big fish." It was thirty something posts about a 17 inch rainbow. Would I do it if it were in my backyard? Absolutely. I'm just wondering if I'd want to drive half way across the country to fish for dinks (even if they are pretty and wild).

I posted this in USA East because that may wind up being the destination. My wife and I are looking for a canoeing/hiking vaccation and West Virginia or some other part of Appalachia seems the likely target. I know the New River is out there and it has a pretty awesome reputation. I'd really like to take a boundary waters trip, but my wife doesn't like anything north of the Mason Dixon line. Too cold she says. Anyway, if you could pick a destination out east for a road trip that included some small stream trout fly fishing (she's never been), and canoeing for monster small mouth, where would you go? This is in day two of the planning stages, so I don't know much yet. I'm just trying to figure out how to refine my research.

There aren't really any opportunities to hike in and fish in a "remote stream" for trout in northern Arkansas that I'm aware of. It's possible you could get into a few trout on the last couple miles of the lower Buffalo during the winter months, but I'm not really sure how easily you could hike into that area. I know there are a few trails through the leatherwood wilderness, but it might be a little more difficult than what you're looking for.

X

I should probably bow out of this conversation. Vandelay Industries has been a long term client.

This is a biggie. If you eat it at Clabber Creek, you're losing gear and you're in for a LONG float to the car. I had to change my drawers after my last trip down it at 6.5. Got a 5/0 hook stuck in my pants (tied to braid on the loomis with the brand new curado) while preparing for the run, and my dog started freaking out up front. It was a mess. When I stopped to re-group, the water line on my coleman was darn near up to the top on the right side. That could have been a disaster.

Where's your house Trophy? I live on Wheeler Rd. not far from the bridge. Have some other aquaintences between there and the 112 bridge as well.

Under the commerce clause, the feds can regulate the channels and instrumentalities of inter-state commerce. Navigable waterways are undoubtedly channels of interstate commerce, but it might be argued that small waterways are involved in interstate commerce as well...particularly where tourism is concerned. Obviously regulation of the national parks falls under this umbrella as well.

Good friends have a cabin right across the river from Helton's. As far as I know it's the only one on the river...at least that I've seen. Killer piece of property.

Well, made my second trip this year to the lower Buffalo on Monday. When I got on the water, the wind was howling. Sign number 1. That first rapid below Rush is a killer. I managed to keep all my gear dry, but got a 5/0 wide gap stuck in my shorts as I was kneeling down to prepare for it. The rod was trapped under a bunch of stuff, and I was past the point of no return. I knew if I went in that I was going to have a large gamakatsu firmly implanted in the back of my thigh and I was likely to break the rod in the process while losing everything else. Talk about a hell of a way to start the trip. Fortunately I was far enough left that I made it down without incident. If you're going to do that float, STAY LEFT on the first rapid. Anyway, I shakily stood up and yanked the hook out of my shorts with no blood loss. The wind continued all day. It never let up. When wind and water matched up right, I managed to make some quality casts and hooked some pretty good fish. Multiple 17 inchers, and all but one came on a Sammy. I've never used one before, but all the WTD posts raised my curiosity. I fished anything else the whole trip. One fish on a hula grub, one bite on a jig and pig, and 30 blow ups on a sammy. It was crazy. The best fish I saw the whole time exploded on it and I stupidly set without waiting. He came completely out of the water and I almost hit myself with the lure yanking it back. I threw back in, and he blew up again. He missed, but I kept twitching. He tried to slam it one more time by the boat, but missed for the third time. Couldn't find him again after that. Those sammy's are the real deal. My only complaint is that they're so sensitive, I think they're a little harder to walk than a spook. This was especially true in current. Maybe I'm overly critical though because I had no shortage of action. Also, I was using power pro braid. Do you guys find the play in mono helps the sammy aciton, or is braid the way to go? Camping was cold last night. All the wood was wet, so getting a fire going was tough. I went to bed pretty early and had a dog to keep me warm. The next morning, I woke up to a heavy dew and blinding mist. Finally had calm wind. The sammy continued to be the ticket. Around 10, the wind picked up again. I was planning on staying another night, but I was beat up from fighting it for two days, so I just rode the current all the way home. It made for a long day, but it was a fun trip to close out floating for 2009. Can't wait to try the sammy everywhere else next year!

Well, since you asked...(reply applicable to Arkansas law only): "Carrying a weapon" is a class A misdemeanor carrying a penalty of up to a year in jail and 1000 in fines. Carying a weapon involves the intent to employ the instrument as a weapon. If you're driving around with a loaded pistol in your glovebox, that's evidence of intent. If it's in a holster on your person, same deal. If it's in the trunk, that's evidence that you don't intend to use it as a weapon, but rather to simply transport it. Strange, I know. There are two notable affirmative defenses to the charge. One is having a concealed carry license. The other is being "on a journey," which means a sufficient distance away from your home and usual associates to subject you to "the perils of the highway." Some people claim it's a certain distance, but it's a little more convoluted than that. The problem in my situation was that I was on park land. U.S. law regarding carrying weapons supercedes state law when federal property is involved. Hence my question. As it turned out, I did not carry and had no issues. I was just curious since I was going to be by myself.

Ha! Well, I was partially right. Bobber's comments are dead on accurate. If it's outside of hunting season, you can't have a loaded weapon at any time on park land. HOWEVER, as of February 1 (according to the Ranger I spoke with), the national parks including the Buffalo are going to mirror state law. That would mean that I could indeed carry a non-concealed (because I don't have a CCP) loaded weapon at any time on any part of the park unless otherwise specifically prohibited. Being in the park would be a sufficient distance from my home and sufficient circumstances for me to be considered "on a journey," which is an affirmative defense to the charge of carrying a weapon. So, I think I'll leave the pistol at home for this go-round and defeat any would-be attackers with my cunning

Very funny guys. You're all going to feel really bad when I get mauled by rabid opossums that I couldn't fend off with my canoe paddle. Maybe I'm being overly concerned here. Yes, I know the law, but national parks are a different animal. I've handled multiple "carrying a weapon" charges as both a prosecutor and a defense attorney. Once it's in the parks though, it's a whole new deal. There was some talk about changing the law in national parks to mirror state law with respect to carrying weapons, but judging by Bobber's comments I guess it hasn't taken effect.

Ordinarily I wouldn't be worried about it, particularly if I were in a group. But being alone in the lower wilderness at night....I guess it's just a peace of mind thing. Better to have it and not need it than the converse. Plus I'm going to have my dog with me. He's not big enough to scare anyone, but he's dumb enough to get tangled up with a hog or bear.

Will do Bobber. I just picked up a BRAND NEW curado E 201 to pair with my G3 and a couple of sammy's. After reading all the hubub about WTD's, I'm going to dedicate myself to giving them an honest shot. With the big water, I can drag an anchor and really take my time this weekend. I imagine I'll see quite a few flat bottoms, but since I"m going during the week and bow season will not quite be open, I'm thinking I'll be nice and alone for a good bit of the float. Can't tell you how excited I am. I'm going to try to make it a three day affair, but with this water level I know I could do it in one long day. Have to take it slow I guess!

I should know the answer to this, but I don't. At one point in time, I thought the law was that a pistol in the park had to be cased and unloaded. I also seem to recall talk about a recent law allowing national parks to mirror state law where they were located in regard to carrying firearms. I'm doing the lower by myself next week (water permitting), and would really prefer to carry a pistol. I wouldn't have it loaded during the day, but I would have it loaded and uncased at night. That would be fine insofar as the Arkansas laws with regard to "carrying a weapon" are concerned. I don't have a CCL. Anyone know the specifics on this?

Just checked the water level again today. She's dropping quick! I'm hoping for 5 on the first day of the float. I did it at 6 last time around. It was dead perfect floating, but fishing was tough and we got to the half way point of our three day float in about five hours! The forecast is looking good, so barring a freak storm I'll be putting in either Monday or Tuesday!!!!! Guess I'm living right, this big water couldn't have come at a better time.

Yeah, that's pretty much sums up what I've been thinking. On the bright side, we may be out of the woods as far as the big rains go. I'm not going to head out until next week, probably camp Monday and float Tuesday, Wednesday, and take out Thursday on the White. It looks like bright sunshine for the first few days, so hopefully things will clear up a touch. I'm thinking about five days of falling water might make for great conditions on the lower, but I'll have to contend with all the dang boats from the White again. Maybe the traffic will be light during the week, although I imagine quite a few bowhunters head up there. I can probably forget about camping at horseshoe bend. If it's six feet or less at 65 on the first planned floating day, I'm doing it. Anyone want to come along?

As I mentioned earlier, I'm switching jobs and have about ten days off. My wife has to work wouldn't ya know it Anyway, I'm planning on hitting the lower in about seven days. Unfortunately, the river is totally blown out right now. The graph shows a vertical line at Ponca from about two feet to ten feet as of a few minutes ago. It hasn't even slowed down. No telling where this one is going to stop. The lower hasn't caught up yet, but I'll be shocked if it's where I want it next week. What do you think Bobber?

Al's posts make lots of sense to me, and I agree that invasive species should be dealt with aggressively to a certain extent. However, you might want to be careful with this approach. Not sure about Missouri, but in Arkansas it's a game and fish violation to "waste the edible portion of game fish" if I'm not mistaken. I've done the same thing on private ponds for management purposes at the behest of the property owners; just don't want anyone to get in trouble.

Caveat: I am not licensed to practice in Missouri and have not read the "castle law" that's mentioned in this thread. My input is predicated solely upon my knowledge of Arkansas law and common law in general. There are some antiquated laws in some states regarding the use of shotguns as unmanned traps for property defense. Perhaps that's what he was thinking about? I've never heard of a law banning the use of a shotgun for home protection. From a logical standpoint, such a law would be extremely problematic. Is it legal to own a shotgun in Missouri? Absolutely. Is it legal to use a firearm in self defense? Absolutely. How can you constrain that to rifled firearms only? As far as folks getting penalized for the use of firearms in defense of home invasions, those stories are usually fabricated or exaggerated to the point of being NRA propaganda. There is not a state in the U.S. (with the exception of D.C. until recently) where the use of deadly force in self defense from a perceived deadly threat is a criminal offense. Now, that's not to say that you can go bombs away on anyone who sets foot on your property. If someone breaks in and you shoot them in the back while they're fleeing, that's murder. I'm not aware of any jurisdiction that permits the use deadly force to defend property - only your life or the lives of others. I would agree that a shotgun would be the weapon of choice for home defense. Nothing like the sound of an 870 racking to put the fear of God into an intruder. Also, you're far more unlikely to cause damage to neighboring property or injury to neighbors with a shotgun as opposed to a pistol or rifle.

Creek Wader: Just wanted to thank you for all the reports about your last WTD stream. My brother and I took a seine up there the other day and got into smallies by the hundreds! If anyone needs fillets, I don't think I can eat all of these in a year. Never would have thought such skinny water held so many fish. We tried again yesterday, but got skunked. Crazy...

Cody: How's the fishing for the browns now? I fly fish occasionally, but prefer to spin fish from canoes on the LR. I never fish anything other than maribou jigs, rebel crawdads, and panther martins. Care to share any tips for this time of year? My trip's really going to depend on the forecast. If it's a torrential downpour or any significant wind, I'll probably scrap this one and hit it up around Thanksgiving.

I'm headed down to Little Rock for a wedding this weekend (during the *@$%# Georgia game at that). My family has a place downstream from Lobo, and we're thinking about doing a float Sunday morning. Not sure where yet, just depends on water conditions. Either Dam to Cow, Cow to Swinging, or Pangburn to Ramsey. What have the generation patterns been like? We normally hit the water around 5 or 6.

Two commercial burglaries would deffinately come with pen time in Washington County. I doubt it's a probation case. Just make sure to document your damages and losses and follow up with your prosecutor with a request for victim restitution. They will make it part of his plea agreement. No, they can't make his folks pay for it, but if it's part of his plea deal there are at least some teeth behind it. What a moron.