Zack Hoyt

River levels are 3.95 feet and 539 cfs. Water temperatures have risen 10 degrees this last week to 52 degrees. These are very good for this time of year. If these levels stay the same for awhile the smallmouth fishing should pick up. Best bets for flies will be patterns that hug the bottom such as crawdad and darter/sculpin imitations. Patterns like the Clouser,madtom, darter and minnow, crazy dads and creek crawlers and sparkle grubs should work well especially in natural colors. In the lower river, walleye and white bass should be beginning to stage for the spawn. Minnows and crawdads will be the best baits.

Some small male white bass are starting to show up at the mouth of Richland Creek. With the recent warm weather water temperatures have risen quickly to 54 degrees F. Olive/white Slumpbusters were working well.

Plenty of low water has provided ample opportunity for wade fishing. Midge fishing is the more productive method for good numbers of fish. Gray Zebra midge with black bead and silver wire followed by an olive body with black bead and black wire in sizes 18-22 are two of the better colors. Small olive streamers, tan or gray scud and sowbug patterns in sizes 12-16 are working well also. Fish have been caught down to 62 bridge and beyond.

My story too GD. Looks like a killer weekend. Havent seen Red and the trouble makers for a while.

Since this will pop up as well......here are a few links to great products for keeping your gear waterproofed. I use the SealLine stuff personally. http://cascadedesigns.com/sealline/protective-cases/category Otterbox http://www.otterbox.com/waterproof-cases/waterproof-cases,default,sc.html I also keep a 1500series Pelican case on the boat. http://www.pelican.com/case_category.php?CaseSize=Small%&New=% Aquapac http://www.aquapac.net/usastore/water-electronics-mp3-889-0.html Also, humidity is an issue with most electronics.....so using these Desiccant Sachets are a good idea. http://www.aquapac.net/usastore/water-accessories-desiccant-911-0.html

I keep my phone on me all the time. Too much can go wrong, not to mention them being able to GPS track you, god-forbid, something very bad happen. Not to mention being able to upload water info, pic, etc at a moments notice. I spoke a little at a TU meeting on how technology can be used for "good" instead of it all being "evil". I know of a few circumstances where water releases trapped someone on the other side of the river.......cell phone is what got them picked up. Just my thoughts. Edit: To comment on your thoughts.......I dont see much reason to use it while on the water for a full conversation. I love tranquility as much as the next guy.

Just for you......

Ummmmmmm.......yeah. 14" so far here in the Ridge. I attempted to drive into Bentonville and got stuck once after I had turned around. Still coming down like crazy. Calling for maybe close to 20" when its all said and done.

Thanks for the article Dano. Great idea and a very real issue. Especially to those who volunteer with the various cause organizations. We have used straps to lock a chair in.......but that platform is awesome.

Thats a great map Larry.

The best book I have found with such a break down is the Homewaters book put out by the Mid-South Fly Fishers. Our very own John Berry put alot of work into it. http://www.msff.org/ Also Scott Branyan has a great breakdown that you can load into your Google Maps program.

Derogatory comments and constructive criticism are at two total opposite ends of the spectrum......I am hoping this was an attempt at the nicer of the two..... I have dealt with Justin, and will in the future. With any business venture there are lots of growing pains....and always someone who falls between the cracks. I would say don't pass judgment on a business based on a single order. I had an issue with my very first order, and all it took was a message on FB and a little research to get it fixed.

We at just Fishin' Guides would like to invite all our friends to join at the “Meet the Pro's” event on Februaruy 28th. This event is put on by the First Baptist Church of Bentonville, Arkansas and is based around the yearly FLW tournament held at Beaver Lake. This is a great event that will provide some very good information and learning opportunities. Also there are quite a few great give aways including a new Ranger bass boat, canoe, and lots more. Key note speaker for the night will be Mark Rose(http://www.roseoutdoors.com/). The following will be doing small group sessions about their certain fishing styles: Clifford Perch, Greg Bohannon, Jay Yelas, Clark Wendlandt, Darrel Robertson, and Scott Martin. Along with the big bass guys, there will be lots of local vendors that will have different items on display. JFG has had a booth at this event for the last few years and enjoy it more every year. It is a great time to rub shoulders with other fisherman as well as learn some valuable information about lake fishing techniques. Some may ask.....what will a fly fisherman learn at such an event?? Both fly fishing and spin fishing seek to achieve the same thing. We just go about it in different fashions. Both disciplines still use the same knowledge, techniques, and fishing mentality. These guys are on the water many days out of the year. They know habitat, and they know techniques. As Kevin says often, there is not much a spin rod can do, we arent able to with a fly rod. It just takes a little work. So come on out and say hello. It will be a great night of learning, laughing, and fellowship. Here is their website along with the show information: www.NWAPros.com Meet the Pro's 2011 Monday, February 28th John Q Hammons Center 3303 Pinnacle Hills Parkway Rogers, Ar 72758 Doors Open at 5:30

Heard great reports from the weekend. I was out of town, but had a buddy slay them down around Parker. I just posted a report from a week ago. Lots of fish in the water. Guess we can spend the next few days restocking the boxes.

Fishing is good on the Tailwaters lately. This is one of the years the AGFC stocks fingerling browns, so there are quite a few little guys moving below the dam. Earlier morning and later evening has brought about some very good midge action. Size 18-22 dries in olive and cream. Take an extra 5 minutes before you walk in the water to see where the fish are holding. It is always told that you should find the rise, and to cast to it. Well to take that a step further, if you can eye ball a few different rises, you can get a good idea of where the fish are holding. Maybe tight to structure, in a seam, in a channel line, etc. As I first approached the waters I noticed there were a lot of dimples very close to the underwater structure. Along a tree trunk and also downstream of the large rocks. I tied on a very simple fly that consisted of a # 18 scud hook, 3/32oz copper beadhead, and black Hares Ice dubbing. This seemed to be the ticket adjusted under an indicator. The black and copper look in a zebra midge is always a sure bet in Tailwaters all over the country, and the "simple fly" did well also. With the Ice Dubbing, as you catch fish and their teeth chew the fly, it gets a bit rattier, and uglier........a sure sign fish will eat it. It has been said "trout don't live in ugly places", well they don't live there, but they love to eat ugly things. I continued to drift along the lines I was seeing rises. Fish were in the middle of the water column. Very subtle takes. I worked my way down stream covering a good bit of water. As I got away from the structure and into the flats, the fish seemed to be less concentrated. Not many rises, and the fish were schooling instead of holding in one spot. There were very few fisherman to begin with, but along with the morning sun came a few more. It is always great to see other fly fisherman out enjoying the oddly warmer days of mid-January on the Beaver Tailwaters.

ICEPOCOLYPSE 2011!!!! Batton down!!!! Seriously guys, stay warm and safe.

Those will definitely catch fish. I love tying wets with partridge.

Welcome Slam. I don;t usually claim being friends with Leonard.....but will this time. I am a bit West of you. Beaver Tailwaters is good for trout. Kings River, Lake Leatherwood, Beaver Lake, and war Eagle Creek are great for warmwater. Feel free to jump into the water specific forums for some good threads on where, when, and what. Also feel free to pm me with any questions. Welcome to the area.

Fly tying guys are definitely top notch. If you get a chance, there is a fly fishing/tying show in Brighton, Mo. It's a great place to meet other tyers and pick their brains. April 2, 2011 Tri-Lakes Fly Fishers -- Missouri's Largest Fly Fishing Expo 9:00 am - 5:00 pm Brighton, MO Featured speakers, Capt Paul Sodamann, Craig Phillips and Larry Offner - plus tying demos, vendors and live/silent auctions

My first reel was a Flywater and IMO you cant go wrong with a Ross reel. I still use it alot, and it performs well.

Pm sent FC. Welcome to the hobby.

Done it many times......it will perfect your roll.

Hey Phil.......anyway we could get some OA branded foil hats???? Maybe a copper lined sombrero........just thinking out loud.

There are quite a few places around the Dam. Pointe West http://pointewestmotel.com/ Roadrunner Inn http://beaverlakeview.com/ Spider Creek Resort http://spidercreek.com/ Sugar Ridge Resort http://www.sugarridgeresort.com/

Great report Z. Must have missed this earlier. Beaver has done VERY well this year. Table Rock is very low, so there is tons of wading opportunity. We fished it last weekend on falling water and had a bit of a tough time. Saw lots of fish.....but it took and hour after fallout for them to get serious about eating. Doing a toon trip will really give you a good feel for the water. It also allows you to "scope out" some areas you might not otherwise try. Glad Beaver reclaimed some of it s gory for you.