Members Matt Tucker Posted October 27, 2009 Members Posted October 27, 2009 Every year I make a fall trip to the White River with my two friends Craig Peterson and David Stinnett. Craig and I get to fish together fairly frequently, but this is only an annual trip for David as he has to travel north from Dallas to fish the White River. This trip isn't as much about the fishing as it is about hanging out with close friends. But the fishing is always good. So i got a new camera / lens (Nikon D200 and Tokina 11-16) last week and had to try it out on my last trip to the White River. Combined with my Olympus Stylus 730sw the below is a little photo essay of the trip. Hope you don't get bored, but figured I would share. Matt Tucker www.OzarkChronicles.com ================== The view from the deck of our cabin on the White River, near Bull Shoals, Arkansas. We stayed at RiverCliff Cabin, and the cabin had its own boat ramp, and boat dock, as well as nice accommodations. ============ We fished with Jim Traylor, who is a fly-fishing guide and personal friend on Thursday morning before the heavy rain hit. ============ The rain hit hard on Thursday afternoon, so I helped Jim with his web site while David and Craig hit the river again in RiverCliff's boat and met up with me on the deck for some more brews. Miller Lite isn't normally my beer of choice, but my friend from Texas didn't know any better and well any beer is better than no beer. ============ On Friday (10/23/09) we took out my drift boat and this was the view from the top of the dam......wind was on the forecast today according to the flag. ============ Craig spent the day in the bow stripping streamers, with no reward other than a good follow from a large rainbow only to get rejected. ============ We caught plenty of fish, just nothing to shoot photos of as the dinks weren't worth the effort of breaking open the Pelican Case. But the camera case did prove handy come lunch time as a platter for lunch. ============ Lunch was good, but dessert was perfect. ============ As was dinner.... ============ We woke a little late on Saturday morning suffering from a Biscuits & Gravy to Alcohol imbalance and had to rectify that at Gaston's Restaurant (breakfast is about the only thing that Gaston's does on the cheap). ============ After filling our bellies we were ready for a morning back out with Jim Traylor in his boat, but we were sporting monster hangovers that are just starting to show. ============ After an afternoon nap, we woke around 4pm to find the river calling us. ============ We float fished until we got to the top of Cane Island, where we got out and wade fished. ============ We pulled off the river at dark, after nearly missing the Gaston's boat ramp because it wasn't lit up and after dinner with friends in Mountain Home, we headed back to the cabin and a campfire. ============ We started our drift early on Sunday (10/25/09), so much so that the coffee drinking actually got in the way of the fishing. ============ But once the sun broke, we knew that there was no better place to be then where we were at on the river. ============ We started the trip with three friends and ended it as three friends, even if the darn Texan forgot the keys to our shuttle vehicle at the put-in, it is always a good trip. ============ We didn't shoot many fish photos, but caught a ton of fish, it is hard to justify shooting photos of "dinks" when you are on a river as great as the White and catching them on SJW's and Eggs, but it was fun and that is what this trip is about. But here is the ubiquitous fish photo, hope you enjoyed. ============ =================================================== The pursuit of Ozark trout on the fly. http://www.OzarkChronicles.com ===================================================
Danoinark Posted October 28, 2009 Posted October 28, 2009 Always good stuff Matt...thanks. Dano Glass Has Class "from the laid back lane in the Arkansas Ozarks"
Flysmallie Posted October 28, 2009 Posted October 28, 2009 Very Nice Matt. How do you like that D200? I saw you asking about it over at IA. Was interested in what made you choose it over a D300. I have been thinking about getting a D300 for awhile now. Probably make some kind of purchase in the spring. Keep those pics coming. Â Â
Members BobK Posted October 28, 2009 Members Posted October 28, 2009 Thanks for sharing. You ain't a live'n if your not a fish'n
Wheatenheimer Posted October 28, 2009 Posted October 28, 2009 Awesome report! Thanks for sharing! What is it with Texan's and Miller Lite, anyway? (no offense if your from Texas and you know better.)
Members Matt Tucker Posted October 28, 2009 Author Members Posted October 28, 2009 Very Nice Matt. How do you like that D200? I saw you asking about it over at IA. Was interested in what made you choose it over a D300. I have been thinking about getting a D300 for awhile now. Probably make some kind of purchase in the spring. Keep those pics coming. Thee D200 is probably more camera than I need. Quite frankly, my D70 still fits my bill for my uses as I don't think I will ever end up selling an image and have only printed over 8x10 once so the more megapixels = better photo doesn't work for me. All that being said, the sole reason I picked a D200 over a D300 is because I wanted a wide angle lens. I couldn't justify spending the cash on a D300 and a $700 lens, but I could in picking up a D200 and the lens. I am a huge believer in spending money first on glass and then on the camera body. As far as how I like it......I like it alot. The controls are different than my D70, but I think it will force me to slow down and think about shots and what not. I am more impressed with the Tokina 11-16mm ATX that I picked up though. That lens is incredible. From my rowers bench in my boat, I can get the entire bow in the frame. That is going to lend itself nicely to fishing photos. The photos that I posted above look a little weak in my opinion because they were resized for the web to 500pixels and only "good quality". The lens is tack sharp and really impressive. I really do like Tokina Lenses. I have an older 28-70 2.8 that was my primary fishing lens. As far as which to buy, I would say that if you have your lenses the way you like them, then get the D300. But if you don't, spend the money on the lenses, because that technology doesn't change as fast as the camera bodies. --Matt Tucker =================================================== The pursuit of Ozark trout on the fly. http://www.OzarkChronicles.com ===================================================
hank franklin Posted October 28, 2009 Posted October 28, 2009 Love the photo of the guy in the bow with sun breaking the clouds behind him. Top-notch.
ness Posted October 28, 2009 Posted October 28, 2009 Good stuff Matt. I love what you can get with that ultra-wide lens. Money spent on glass is usually money well-spent. John
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