Wheatenheimer

Hey FFM! Happy Meadows is just north of Highway 24 near Lake George. There is a small campground there and there are many public access points to the river. It doesn't seem to get the pressure that the "Dream Stream" area and Cheesman Canyon do. Ronnie, I mailed that invite to ya a month ago, I even waited at the airport for ya! What happened? Hehehe! Hey thanks for the comments guys! Kevin

So this our third consecutive year of going to Colorado at the end of summer to stay at my buddy's cabin on the back side of Pikes Peak. This time I fished on Sunday the 30th of August on the South Platte just below Happy Meadows. I knew it was going to be a good day when I caught a stunning little Rainbow on my first good drift. I continued to fish and it seemed as though it was all up to me on how well I would do. If I made a good presentation and executed a drag-free drift........Bam!!!!!! If I flubbed up the drift.........Nada!!!!! Diane had a good time taking pictures of flowers and bee's and such......... ........while I was in a euphoric state with some choice Rainbow's. Granted none were all that large, but it sure was a fantastic sense of satisfaction to get rewarded by a decent cast and drifting along that seam just like you pictured it in your head right before you started making a couple of false casts. ...........and now, there's nothing but flower's! Thanks for lookin', Kevin

So for a few years now I have threatened to put a flyrod in the hands of a good friend of mine. Today was the day we made it happen. We got down to the park area on the Finley in Ozark around 10 AM and the weather was not cooperating much. So we sat in the wagon and told jokes and talked about critters and life and such and hoped that we would get a break in the weather. Well, we did and we got out and strung up a couple of flyrods and I gave him a quick casting lesson. While he was practicing his cast, I got the canoe down and ready to go. The sun came out as we paddled upstream to Riverside Inn. We got out and waded around and Andy caught his first fish on the fly.........a beautiful Pumpkinseed. We decided to start making our way back downstream and this is where my friend found a new addiction! I don't care if they are all the size of Hummingbirds.................when your with someone that catch's their first fish on a flyrod, we all turn into 12 year olds with grin's from ear to ear! I'm thankful for a great day on the river with a great friend! Kevin

So we have been chomping at the bit to take the new canoe to the NFOW since we got it a month ago. Saturday was the day that fit our schedule best. I called ROLF on Thursday to set up our shuttle and we left out of Springpatch early enough to make our 10 AM ride from ROLF to Hammond Camp. As we were crossing the bridge at Hammond, my lady and I looked down the river to see what appeared to be 10's of Thousands of other canoes putting in. We looked at each other and said "Did someone forget to tell us that this is a holiday weekend?" Well, that's OK. We were just happy to be on the river. We took our time and let all the masses get out ahead of us a way's then we started down the river. I did not expect to catch any fish considering the high traffic. Once we got down to trout water, I started half-heartedly fishing a bit. I took Brian Wise's advice and used a big nasty Stonefly Nymph and dropped a bead-headed Prince off it about 18" or so. On about my second cast............Bam! Caught him on the Prince! Not long after that.................Kerplow! Looked like twins! Great day, despite the crowds! Thanks for the advice, Brian! I love this river!

They don't have any solo models yet. They are a grass roots company, the 14 footer is their first run of boats and the 16 footer will be coming out soon. I have taken my 14 footer out by myself and sat in the front seat facing the stern and balanced out beautifully. Seriously, if any one lives in the Springfield area and you interested in one of these boats, you are more than welcome to come by and look at mine before you make the drive to NW Arkansas. Just send me a PM and we'll get together. Kevin

Thanks Man! Unfortunately the funny little car is an upgrade, they'll charge ya an extra 50 bucks for one of those!

Weighs about 60 lbs and the carrying capacity is estimated at 550 lbs. I've taken mine out a few times now, and I love it. It balances really well on the thwart when I carry it and floats nice and high, whether going tandem or soloing. Thanks for looking Dano! Kevin

Well, looks like now is a good time for me to plug my buddy's canoe business! A couple of weeks ago I picked up my very own Two Brothers Canoe. It is a 14'3" Royalex that the Shaw Brothers built. Louis is a good friend and he and his Brother build a heckuva boat. They have a couple of the 14 footers left and they have began production on a 16 footer that should be ready in a couple of months. Their prices are very reasonable (about 35% less than Old Towne, Wenonah and Buffalo.) Here is a pic of mine. Check out their website at http://twobrotherscanoe.com/ Kevin

That's funny I think I spotted that same turd at Roaring River not too long ago, but it was stuffed into a pair of Simm's waders! I find it ironic that due to the double posting you have elevated yourself to a "Brown Trout"!!!!!! But then look at me.............I'm a Bigmouth Buffalo!!!!

Hey Ronnie, I guess now is as good of a time as any................Can I borrow your 14' canoe and use it to paddle upstream on the James for a week? No, really, I am planning on purchasing a 14'3" Royalex canoe from Two Brothers Canoe in Garfield, AR. One of the brothers is a buddy of mine and although I haven't seen his boats in person yet, knowing Louis, I'm sure they are top knotch! So here in a couple of weeks I will be picking up my new boat. Now to address the "float" upstream part a little more. The other night after having a few, I thought wouldn't it be cool to pick up my new canoe and have my buddy drop me off with it below Beaver Dam on the White. I could paddle all the way into Table Rock Lake, up the James river arm and then upstream all the way to Springfield Lake, which is close to my house. What a way to Chrisen a new boat, eh? Then I sobered up and reallized that unless I was willing to take a couple of months off work (which I can't afford) and look for a new girlfriend when it's over (which I can't afford) I should reduce my Journey to the last and probably the most difficult stretch. And now I'm thinking I should drive down to AR, pick up the boat, do a day float on the Buffalo and then strap it on top of the wagon and bring it home. Thanks again to everyone with your encouragement and advice! Keep it coming! Kevin

Hey guys, thanks for all the input so far! I really appreciate it. If and when I give this a go, I will be doing a moderate amount of fishing along the way, which I know will slow me down. I was thinking of trying this over a four-day-weekend, but it's looking like that may not be enough time, so maybe I'll put it off until I have vacation the first week of September. That is if the lady will let me do a soul-searching-dissapear-from-society stunt like this! Thanks again and keep posting your thoughts and opinions on this.......I love it! Kevin Oh and Cricket.....yes, I have lost my mind, ask Flysmallie, there wasn't much there to begin with!

Ok, if you didn't already think that I am a bonehead, I am about to change your opinion! Calling out to all of you wise River Rat's (and I mean that with the deepest respect!) How tough do you think it would be for one man to paddle, portage and pull a 14' Roylex canoe from Galena to Springfield Lake Dam? And how long do you think it would take? I think it is about 45 river miles, roughly. Think about and let me know, I take constructive criticism, quite well. Thanks, Kevin

Then you dare your buddy to pull the dowel rod out with his bare hands!

Sounds good! Stop by Sams Club on your way out of town, they have a sale on Coppertone SPF 40, it comes in a 5 gal bucket......you might pick up two! Have a good time, I'll talk to ya when you get back!

On a flyrod, none-the-less!!!! Very impressive, man! I couldn't tell what your secret Gar-slaying pattern was in the picture. You got a recipe? Thanks for sharing! Kevin

Pacer station wagon! That would be so sweet! Hey, wasn't that your purple Miata I saw backed into a parking spot at Taney last week? Why did you have a watermelon sitting on the dash? Yes, we need to fish soon!

I'll always know you as Cadilac....or is it Pontiac?!? or some other GM defunct brand!...................sorry I still drive an AMC! Enjoy your comments, no matter what you call yourself! Cheers! -Kevin

If only I had an extra 27 G's lying around, one of those would be mine! That is too cool! Thanks for making me drool!

Eugene was an awesome place to live or at least it was in the early '90's when I was there. Just about the right size town, plenty of culture but yet wilderness all around you and great fishing with the McKenzie, Willamette and all of their tributaries. The only drawback about living there I found was the difficulty to find work. The University of Oregon is located in Eugene and the students that move in from out of state fall in love with the area, rightfully so, and never leave. So, with that being said, you find people with Masters degree's pumping gas! Sorry it took me so long to answer! Thanks again for posting, makes me a little teary eyed thinking of Oregon! Kevin

My computer got really slow when I clicked on this thread. I think the Fed's may be watching us...........or maybe I'm just paranoid?!?!?

Congratulations, Clay! Ahhh.........Multnomah Falls! I miss the Pacific NW, I used to live in Eugene, OR. I'm sure it was a great trip for the two of you! Thanks for sharing! Kevin

Thanks for the report and congrat's on the 4 pounder! I was thinking about launching my float tube under 65 bridge tomorrow afternoon if the weather cooperates, but by the sound of your report, I might end up washing over the dam if I give it a shot! Thats a long walk back! Thanks again! Kevin

Hehe......that's too funny! I'll ask my buddy about that!

A buddy of mine and his brother in NW Arkansas build their own canoes out of Roylex. Give Louis a call, I have yet to float in one of his boats, but knowing the perfectionist that he is, I'm sure it is top notch! Here is the link............. www.twobrotherscanoe.com Chief, as close a you are to the Rogers/Fayetteville area, I'm sure he'll meet ya somewhere close with a boat to look at. Kevin

Well, Pops and I decided to brave the winds and head to Beaver this morning. We arrived at Beaver Creek Boat ramp around 0900. We ran up the creek maybe a quarter of a mile. On my 3rd cast I caught a little male. I caught him on a pearl and gray wooly bugger. About an hour later pops caught a real nice crappie on a chartreuse crappie jig. The water temp was around 48 in the creek. After another couple of hours of nothing, we headed back down to the White River chanel and started fishing along the mouths of small creeks. The wind was not cooperating and soon the trolling motor joined the "Buck the Wheat's" party. The batteries ran out on the trolling motor so we headed back to the truck around noon. I tried to post some pic's, I'm not a real techy person, so we'll see if it worked! Cheers to all! Kevin