Rain, Rain And More Rain...

[Bill Anderson]

I sure hope this rain event doesn't lead up to another high water year like last year. I don't own a boat and my fishing on the tailwaters depends on no-generation. I guess all we can do is sit by and watch and keep our fingers crossed. I only live 47 miles from Beaver Dam, and really like being able to go fishing on short notice, but high water leaves me bank-bound.

[Ham]

How far are you from Roaring River? It recovers from high flow quickly and there is water there that isn't like Disneyland.

[Bill Anderson]

Roaring River is my ace-in-the-hole. I'm only 27 miles north of it, a 35 minute drive from my house, so I do get down there pretty often. The only thing I don't like about it are the crowded conditions you often find there. I make several trips there during the winter catch and release season, too. I won't go there this time of the year on weekends, but week days are not too bad. Sometimes, I will just drive down to visit Tim Homesley at Tims's Fly shop and kill some time and spend a few bucks. I am also only about 30 miles from Crane Creek, and 15 minutes from Capps Creek, and Hickory Creek at Neosho is only 30 miles or so. Taneycomo is a bit over an hour from here, so that is always an option, but again, you're at the mercy of the water levels. I really prefer fishing there or below Beaver, but as they say, any port in a storm. But the big White River has always been by first love. I started my love affair with Norfork and Bull Shoals in the early 1960s, and have spent countless hours over the decades fishing there. So, while I live in a good area for flyfishing, you just have to play the high water game.