Dam Store Report _ Dec 23

[Guest flyfishBDS]

BEAVER DAM STORE REPORT

December 22, 2005

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G'day y'all from the Beaver Dam Store crew!

And a very Merry and Fishy Christmas to all. Only four more sleeps till the big-boned bloke in the red suit and abundant whiskers comes sliding down the chimney. We are reliably informed that there's plenty of fly fishing gear for those of you who have been good. The rest of you get wax worms and powerbait!!!!!

Ok only kidding. But you need a giggle at this time of year. Most of us are busier than a one-armed wallpaper hanger, what with shopping, Christmas cheer, family demands _ the whole Dam pre-Christmas nightmare. But it will be worth it around midday Christmas Day, when the floor is a mess of wrapping paper, the turkey's smelling good, and you are playing with some new fly fishing goodies! Just don't take your eye out.

In case anyone decides to dash up to the Tailwater to try their new gear out on Christmas Day, we actually will be closed. But the doors reopen Monday 7am.

In this week's report as promised we go over the new fishing regulations, due in on January 1, we let you know about our resident dry fly addict's new class, rerun the Christmas list _ in case your really in trouble _ and of course the fishing report.

NEW FISHING REGULATIONS _ JANUARY 1

It seems a long time since March when we first started telling you about the proposals for Beaver Tailwater to get its own management plan, and better yet drafted with input from those fishing the river. Well finally, on January 1 the new regulations underpinning the plan will come into effect.

If you're a catch and release fly fisher currently you probably won't notice much difference at all. The main changes only really affect those taking trout or bait fishers. But everyone should support the goals of the new plan _ top produce better sized rainbows and more trophy browns.

To that end stocking levels have basically been halved and a slot limit introduced to allow fish to grow, relatively unmolested from 13" to 16", replacing the existing minim um size limits.

Bait fishers will have to use barbless hooks on the whole river, from the Dam to Houseman Access. The current Catch and Release Area has become a "no bait zone" which will carry pretty much the same rules as the former catch and release area, including single barless articials and no chumming. The final management plan, which will run for 5 years, will not be finalised until early next year.

The regulation changes are:

13" to 16" slot limit for all trout All trout between 13" and 16" must be released immediately..

Daily creel limit remains 5 trout but only one trout may be over 16".

Single barbless hook restriction on bait fishing to reduce hooking mortality of released trout, hooking point barb must be mashed down or removed. Bait holder barbs on hook shank are allowed.

From Beaver Dam to Houseman Access, possession of trout within the slot limit (between 13" and 16") will not be allowed.

The current Catch and Release Area has been converted to a no-bait zone where only single barbless artificial lured may be used but the same slot limit harvest rules apply. Chumming is not allowed in this area.

A Trout permit is required to fish Beaver Dam to Houseman Access, or to retain trout from any state waters.

Other statewide trout regulations are unchanged and still in place. See the Trout Fishing Guidebook or Fishing Guidebook for those regulations.

DRY FLY CLASS

In case you missed last week's Special report, we are running Advanced Fly Fishing Classes in Dry Fly Midges over the next couple of weeks _ or however long the excellent midge dry fly action lasts.

Its one of the benefits of being on the river, we can take advantage of interesting happenings like this.

The Class will work like this:

Minimum of two people, maximum of 4 people

One hour class discussion going over rods, leaders flies and whiteboarding techniques.

Hit the river as the hatch gets underway

Three hours fishing under Steve's guidance.

We recommend this class for those with some fly fishing experience. This is not a casting class, but technique specific. But if you can cast accurately to 40-50 feet you can do well. The lessons learnt will have you prepared for midge hatches on Beaver and other tailwaters throughout the USA. You will also be good to go on mayfly hatches everywhere from here to Roaring River, the Norfolk and even hallowed waters like the Henry's Fork, the Holy Water of the Au Sable and the spring creeks of the Yellowstone Valley _ Steve's played on them all.

Cost

2 people class $90 each.

3 people $65 each

4 people $50.

We will endeavor to put people together (unless you don't want the larger group _ please specify) to reduce your costs.

We can arrange limited numbers of light "midging rods". Bring waders, warm clothes, polarised sunglasses, gloves. Flies, leaders, refreshments etc not included. As always gratuities not expected but gratefully accepted for good service.

Start time will be 10am. Finish at 2pm but you can keep fishing.

Classes available every day this week. No classes will be booked between Sunday 25th and Wednesday 27th.

CHRISTMAS EMERGENCY LIST _ "You might still need the inspiration"

If you are still struggling with the perfect gift for your favorite fly fisher (which might be you) we have a rescue list of goodies for you. We have a bunch of items big and small little stocking stuffers or once in a lifetime dream gifts to delight any fly fishers heart.

Check under our Christmas tree for some of our gift ideas. You might notice we have been juggling the store around too, trying to make the most of our little fly fishing space.

Besides its a good excuse "honey, I'm going Christmas shopping" to dodge the Christmas mayhem, throw the waders and a rod in the car and do a little fishing as well. And if your too busy to make it up here in the Christmas rush _ well we can arrange shipping to your door.

So here are some of our suggestions for under your Christmas tree:

Sage VT2: Sage's newest stick. An elegant blue blank with a seriously lovely action at a moderate price. These are as close as you will get to and XP or SLT without forking out $600. All are 4-piece rods with a nice progressive action and very nice if your looking to step up from your first fly rod. We have two of the most popular models in stock the 9' 5wt, a great all round trout rod for Arkansas' tailwaters. The 9' 4wt is a great choice for a lighter touch on Beaver in particular but also Norfolk or the Little Red and Bull Shoals.

Temple Fork Finesse 7'9" 3wt. Fun Fun fun in a very practical tool. The new Finesse series from TFO is smooth and delicate for smaller streams and midging days on the tailwaters. Would also be a blast on panfish or smallies. Classy reel seat and makes a great gift at $179.95.

Ross Spool and Cortland Line: A great idea for the fly-fisher who has almost anything. Sure a floating line will cover most freshwater fishing applications but sometimes a intermediate sinking or sinktip fly line is what you need for windy days, tossing woolly buggers or for high water fishing. We have a wide selection of Cortland sinking and sink tip flyline on sale. Team it up with a spare Ross reels spool, (most models in stock) and you have a great gift.

Dam Store Dozen: Our most popular fly selection. Twelve Beaver favorites (flies change according to what is working) packaging up in our labeled small plastic flyboy. You can never have too many flies _ especially when the fishing is good. These run around $23-$25 depending on the selection. Or get us to put together a fly-box package to meet your Budget.

Home Waters (A Guide To Fishing Northern Arkansas, Western Tennessee and Southern Missouri): A great resource, this book from the Mid-South Fly Fishers Club in Memphis has everything you need to know for waters in our region. This has great maps, including access points, roads, floats and so on. Even has a section on Beaver. Great for newcomers and locals alike $28.

Tight Line Magnetic Rod Guard: A great little gift. Your getting ready, rod strung up and you lean it against your car. Chances are pretty good wind or gravity is going to let it fall _ ugly scenes ensue. Unless your lucky you might end up with scratches down your paintwork or even a broken rod. Which is where the Rod Guard comes in. A handy little magnetic chey chain device it holds your rod upright while you climb into your waders. A bargain at $7.99.

TIP OF THE WEEK

You know the scenario. You are catching fish after fish, its easy and your relaxed. Then comes a really good size fish, maybe a trophy and ping, the trout it gone. Such calamaties are all to common, but easily solved by getting into the habit of regularly checking the front end of your leader. Trout teeth, rocks and mixed casting can all put wear and tear on the business end of the leader, wind knots too can "appear" without you noticing, similarly indicators can sometime slip their way down. So pull the line in and check your depth. Then grab the leader between your forefinger and thumb and slide it down the length to the fly, windknots are easy to find as a small bump, but also feel for nicks and abrasion, which make your leader weaker. Any problems cut out the offending section and retie. Last thing on the checklist is the fly, look for weed or moss, make sure the hook is the right shape, the point isn't turned over and the bead is still there. You can check for hook sharpness by pulling the point across a fingernail, If it digs in its sharp enough. Now your good to resume fishing.

FISHING REPORT

Beaver Tailwater: Fishing is getting better once the day warms a little. Before the midge hatch try Zebra midges (black, brown or red); Razorback Midges; Charlotte's Redneck Midge and other midge pupa imitations. During the hatches (mid-morning to early afternoon) particularly on cloudy days try Parachute Adams (20-22), Adams (20); Midge Adams, Cream Midges, or our newly unpacked Adult Midge Light, Snowshoe Midge Emerger, or Parasol Midge Emerger.

We have Wapsi's Razor Foam Midge tying kits ($8 each) to whip up some of Pat Neuman's great little fly. Tie it as a pupa or an adult. Its simple fast and effective. If you don't fancy dry fly precision try swinging a soft hackle, Olive Submarine, Dark Olive Dun and Peacock and Patridge and in deeper or swifter sections try the new Fulton's Tungsten Wired Red butt.

Subsurface sowbugs remain the fly of choice through much of the upper section of the tailwater. Try our gray sowbugs 12-18 or the sweet McLellan's Woven V-Rib sowbug.

Olive Woolly Buggers, and Egg patterns are performing well particularly in peach colors, Umpqua's superb low water Flashtail mini eggs, and the bead head Veiled Eggs for faster runs. We have also been able to finally get in some teeny size 18 Flashtail Eggs which should be gobbled up.

As the cold weather increases watch for more early morning water releases, particularly on weekdays. Generation has been starting in the evening on dusk . Call 417 336 5083 for a real time recorded message (after the Table Rock report) on water releases.

Tight Lines from the Beaver Dam Store staff,

Lisa Steve, Shirley, Tom and Kevin.

PLEASE NOTE: The Beaver Dam Store Report comes out weekly in an email form. If you would like it delivered, in living color, to your email drop us a line _ beaverdamstore@ipa.net