Hi, new user here hoping to learn fishing in this region

[FoxMan2099]

Greetings,

My family and I recently moved to Fayetteville. I grew up past Ferndale, which is west of Little Rock. I spent the last six years in Fort Worth, TX. I took my son (and then sons!) fishing a lot there, but: 1. You pretty much can't eat fish out of most of the rivers and lakes in that area; and 2. The fishing was completely different down there! In the warmer waters down there we wore out Green Sunfish and Spotted Bass (and others) with a variety of spinners and tube jigs. The kids loved it. We always had a good time with catch-and-release.

I signed up to post on Ozark Anglers because I could stand to learn some new tactics for fishing in NWA. It's a different animal, that's for sure! We wade and fish some of the smaller creeks around us and have had some luck catching smaller sunfish (including my first and only Ozark Bass, which I had to look up online!).

I look forward to reading through the forums and posting lots of questions for everyone! I'm a life-long and very experienced bank, river, and creek fisherman, but this is a new region for me and I've got a lot to learn.

FoxMan2099

[fishinwrench]

You can't eat fish in Texas ? That sucks!

[FoxMan2099]

You can't eat fish in Texas ? That sucks!

The lakes near us (Benbrook and Worth) and all rivers and creeks in and near the Forth Worth metro are toxic enough to be either a no-eating-the-fish water OR so many restrictions on various fish that you don't feel comfortable eating anything else! We did make the occasional trip to a good state park (Mineral Wells) to bring home some panfish when the craving got too strong

[Feathers and Fins]

Compared to there you must feel like you are in the Land of Milk and Honey up here.

There is to many streams, rivers, creeks and lakes that you can wet a line in. One of the Best Books is "Flyfishers Guide to Missouri and Arkansas by Dan Limbaugh and Larry Kinder" It is a fabulous book that really talks about the area waters, though it might be more fly fishing related you get great maps and information on the area.

[ness]

Welcome to the forum, FoxMan2099. You ought to find a lotto good info through the site. Ask away!

[FoxMan2099]

Thank you, that sounds immensely helpful. One thing I need to learn is simply where to access all these great waters. With two kids and an educator's income (ha!) it'll most likely be a long while before a boat is even an option! I'll get this book ASAP, thanks.

Compared to there you must feel like you are in the Land of Milk and Honey up here.

There is to many streams, rivers, creeks and lakes that you can wet a line in. One of the Best Books is "Flyfishers Guide to Missouri and Arkansas by Dan Limbaugh and Larry Kinder" It is a fabulous book that really talks about the area waters, though it might be more fly fishing related you get great maps and information on the area.

[Ham]

First of all, Welcome aboard. Read the material posted here on waters closest to you and spend as much time actually on the water as possible.

Thank you, that sounds immensely helpful. One thing I need to learn is simply where to access all these great waters. With two kids and an educator's income (ha!) it'll most likely be a long while before a boat is even an option! I'll get this book ASAP, thanks.

My first boat cost $500 dollars. It was small and had no TM, no outboard motor, and no seats when I got it. I had to do a lot of rigging, but I caught a ton of fish out of it. So, you don't have to start with a 60K bass boat. You can find a canoe that you can take both kids down the river in for a few hundred dollars and have some amazing tips close to home.

Good Luck regardless.

[Gavin]

You have a lifetimes worth to explore within a couple hours drive. Lakes, creeks, ponds, and rivers abound. Picking where to fish is the hardest part. Welcome.

[Feathers and Fins]

If there was ever a place the good lord made a Canoe for it is this area. People get caught up in the Big Bass Boat craze but there is many days I miss my canoe and kayak. If you are afraid of Boat price on an edumicaters budget I suggest a Tracker, No haggle on price and monthly payments that are low. Bradford in Springdale is great. Or you can come by Hook Line and Sinker in Rogers and see what is there also.

You may want to get a Missouri License as well and visit Roaring River or even Taneycomo for trout. There is no way to fish all the Ozark waters properly in a lifetime or even two. But stay away from the ELK during summer with the kids just a friendly word.

[FoxMan2099]

I'm seriously thinking two kayaks, one for me and the teen, and when the teen is gone some day (already starting to get blue over that one!) my son who is now 4 will get it as a hand me down. I'm saving to do that next spring.

My brother in law who runs Moro Bay State Park waaaaay down in south Arkansas suggested it's mathematically cheapest to rent boats for half a day. I think he's on to something.

Thanks for the welcome everyone.

If there was ever a place the good lord made a Canoe for it is this area. People get caught up in the Big Bass Boat craze but there is many days I miss my canoe and kayak. If you are afraid of Boat price on an edumicaters budget I suggest a Tracker, No haggle on price and monthly payments that are low. Bradford in Springdale is great. Or you can come by Hook Line and Sinker in Rogers and see what is there also.

You may want to get a Missouri License as well and visit Roaring River or even Taneycomo for trout. There is no way to fish all the Ozark waters properly in a lifetime or even two. But stay away from the ELK during summer with the kids just a friendly word.