Thanksgiving Visit.

[Kstoll]

I couldn't think of a better way to give Thanks for my sons survival of a nasty motorcycle accident than to celebrate it with fishin the White and Bull Shoals. He has been recovering for 3 months and is finally up on both legs as of this week. We have guide dates for Friday and Saturday and I can't wait to get back there. I'm dreamin of fish fry with Nona Bell's. I hope this Thanksgiving is truly memorable for both my boys.We have never been out on Bull Shoals before. This will be our third trip catching rainbow on the White. Cheers to all the Ozark Anglers. You are truly blessed with paradise.

[jdmidwest]

Thanksgiving has been the season of survival for me also.  3 years ago this coming Monday, I underwent surgery for cancer and spent the next 7 days in Barnes Hospital recovering thru the Thanksgiving weekend. 

This year, I am spending the first part of the week at the farm watching deer.  Then off to TN to fish for big smallies for a few days.  Thanksgiving Day with the family.  Then off to Mountain Home to fish for lunker trout on the fly rod.  Something I have longed for  the past few years.  Maybe we will cross paths.

Life is short, live it all.

[Kstoll]

Was one year from retirement. Now looks more like it will be 2+ to get S past this blip. I realize I still have much to learn. Gonna do some of that learnin holding a fishing rod. I hope your trip/family visit brings U joy!

[Ham]

Kstoll, If it were as easy as picking up acorns, it wouldn’t be nearly as much fun. 

There are Lots of fishing opportunies in this area. You’ll have fun learning how you enjoy catching them. 

[Kstoll]

Friday looks to be a rainy day on the White. Should be good catchin weather.

[Ham]

1 hour ago, Kstoll said:

Friday looks to be a rainy day on the White. Should be good catchin weather.

Good for Browns maybe, but in General I like moderate flows and sunny weather. 

[Kstoll]

Friday was a overcast drizzly day on the White. we did catch our limit on rainbow so we did enjoy a Friday night fish fry. Saturday started cold and foggy on Bull Shoals. Warmed up nice but it was a bust for catchin.  Had a good time with my boys and that's all that mattered.

[jdmidwest]

The skunk was on Sat.  I waited for the fog to boil off and headed for Norfork.  Found it pretty crowded, lower parking lot full at the catch and release area. 

Drove up to the Bull Shoals Dam State Park and found it empty, no fishermen wading.  Found out soon why, no fish to be seen.  Nice hatch going on, truck filled up nicely with tiny little mayflies.  Aired it out on the way back to Cotter.  Parking lot full there.  Waded out from lower part and still could not get into the fish.  Called it quits and headed back to the Spring River on Sunday.  Not much better there.

It had been 15 years since I had been in the Mountain Home area and things have changed, alot.  Next time, I am bringing a kayak and floating thru.

[ZigJigman]

The catch and release area below Bull shoals dam is closed until Feb 1.

[jdmidwest]

There used to be good Wade fishing from the trout dock down thru the park. But now it seems to be a flat barren wasteland devoid of structure and fish. I fished from the spring down thru the first riffle.