Magazine Writer With Question

[Enickens]

Hello --

I'm an editor-at-large with Field & Stream magazine. I'm headed to the Ozarks later this month with a photographer, to put together what we hope will be a compelling portrait of the fishing culture there. I'm not out to uncover anyone's secret spots; this is not a where-to or how-to story. I'm hopeful I can meet enough interesting people, see enough gorgeous country, and catch enough fish to write an insightful piece that explores how fishing and the Ozarks meet to create a sense of place and a culture unlike anywhere else.

Soooo, I'm on the lookout for local color, local characters, local diners and dives and historic campgrounds. We'll be in the White Plains/Current River area, mostly. Spin and fly, smallmouth and trout. I'd be quite interested to gain any insights and input you folks might have. Feel free to reach me at my personal email, enickens@nc.rr.com.

Many thanks in advance. I'm very much looking forward to seeing a place that I've heard about for so many years.

T. Edward Nickens

editor-at-large / Field & Stream

contributing editor / Audubon

[ColdWaterFshr]

You need to get hooked up with Paul Dallas, pronto. He is Mr. Ozarks, and I'm sure he could show you around and give you the proper flavor of the area that your readers might enjoy.

He used to have his own fishing show, though it never did well, in part due to some entanglements with the FCC over content, and oh yeah, a few sponsors abandonment. Throughout his checkered career he has been overshadowed by the fame of his first cousin, Jimmy Houston, who stole most of his fishing techniques and ideas. Despite his many setbacks, his fishing resume would make most on this website blush:

-- he holds multiple IGFC records even though the commission refuses to officially recognize him due to various scandals not related to fishing

-- his TV show is currently in late night syndication in Japan

-- BASS Master Angler of Year Awards (later retracted)

-- created his own line of fishing scents and colognes

-- he invented monofilament

-- childhood friend of Risto Rapala and Herve Villachaize

I might have his phone # around here somewhere, or you could just contact the Dent County Sherriff's office.

[Terry Beeson]

Local characters? Around here? (Shuddup, Dano... Don... Leonard... Ronnie... Duane... Michael... Web... and the rest of ya'll... )

Uh.. Current River, huh? You ever see that movie "Deliverence?"

Honestly, while you are planning on coming to a really great area, you are very much limiting what there is to offer in the Ozarks for sure. Roughly from I-40 in Ft Smith, AR to Little Rock, AR then US-67 from LR to Farmington, MO west to I-44 all the way to Joplin, then US-71 to Ft Smith you can virtually throw a dart inside those boundaries and land on a great area for fishing, camping, hunting, hiking, with all kinds of local flavor.

And you said "White Plains"... You mean West Plains? If so, you gotta do a day at the Spring River in Mammoth Spring, AR... Just half hour from West Plains. My step-daughter works at the River Bend Restaurant there, but Fred's Fish House is more famous. You might consider the North Fork of the White River over towards Gainsville, MO as well.

There are several locals on this forum from that part of the state that I'm sure will chime in here....

I know you'll enjoy your trip, but I hope F&S will see that there could be several articles in several issues on these here hills...

Ever consider an article about a fly fishing event like the Conclave in Mountain Home, AR or Sowbug Roundup (also in MH.)?

[Gavin]

Lots fun stuff to do in that part of the Ozarks..

Have fun with the flower children

http://www.eastwind.org/

Have a spiritual awakening

http://www.assumptionabbey.org/

Camp out with the guys..

http://www.cactuscanyoncampground.com/aboutus.htm

Let us know if you need additional suggestions.

[Danimal]

Wow.

[flyfishmaster]

I think I just ordered an Abbey Monk-Made Fruit cake. I felt like I had to...

FFM

[Paola Cat]

That's some freaky stuff. I think I just signed away all my earthly posssession to the "community" or maybe it was the Abbey ... anyway, I don't feel like going camping anytime soon. PC

[techo]

You can't go wrong with Charlie Campbell either. Babler is our own little character.

[JobyKSU]

... to write an insightful piece that explores how fishing and the Ozarks meet to create a sense of place and a culture unlike anywhere else.

If this is truly your goal, you should spend some time talking to the owner/operators of fishing message boards such as this one. A phone call with our own esteemed Mr. Lilly and John Wilson of Flyfishingarkansas (and Missouri, too!) would probably shed some light on the 'community' of anglers in the area. I'm sure there are a number of other boards that I'm not aware of that would be equally appropriate.

[swellcat]

Abbey Monk-Made Fruit cake

A little something to wash it down: