Love the Site

[Robert R.]

Hey all. Been looking at the site for a few months now and absolutely love it. Recently registered so now I can get in on some of the great convo in here.

Little bit about me - Born and raised in Iowa, I went to college in Russellvile, AR at Arkansas Tech University (Go Wonderboys) and Graduated in 1989 with a B.S. in Fisheries and Wildlife Management.

I now live in the MS Delta, married and have 2 wonderful daughters 12 and 10. I am a Wildlfife Biologist working for a Private, Non-Profit organization. I work mostly in MS and LA but do some work in the AR Delta as well. Most of my work revolves around bottomland hardwood restoration and migratory bird habitat.

I started trout fishing in the late 70's on vacations down to AR. Did alot of trout fishing while in college, all of it on the Little Red River as I had granparents that lived about 30 miles from there. I started flyfishing about 1985 and I have been an addict ever since.

Funny, it took me moving here to MS before I ever ventured up to the White and Norfork Rivers. Absoultely fell in love with those tailwaters and now spend 95% on my time flyfishing there. It's great "therapy" to get away from all this flat land and be waist deep in all that beauty. I tell my wife some day when I retire, I will be a flyfishing, turkey hunting bum living somewhere in NW AR.

I guess I started out like everyone else. Sticking flies in my arm and ears and shirt sleeves. Fumbling around and lucking up and catching a trout here and there. Luckily I had a good friend in college who flyfished and tied flies and he was a great help to me. I believe he now lives in Tulsa, Ok and does some guiding on the White. Anyway - fished for years with the usual wooly buggers and 56'ers and chuck's emergers and actually started catching alot of fish. Then one day at Roundhouse I was bound and determined to make myself learn how to fish with a strike indicator. So I tied on a #18 scud and stuck an idicator on and I caught over 80 fish that day. Nothing big, but did that day ever give me a confidence boost. Pretty versitle now, but still learn something new everytime I go - as it should be. Still have much to learn, but thats what makes it fun and keeps me going. Best fish to date was last June. Caught a 20-21 inch rainbow on a sowbug at Rim Shoals.

Been reading alot about the night fishing on Taney and I gotta say you guys have really peaked my intrest. I was recently in Branson on a family vacation. Took all my gear, but it rained almost every day we were there so I did'nt get to fish. Actually went to the hatchery and let the girls feed the trout ( I was making mental notes and douing recon if you know what I mean). I hope to get up there sometime soon and experience what all you guys are talking about.

Thanks again to all of you for a great site.

Hope to see you on the River!!!!

[Terry Beeson]

Robert,

Greetings from another ATU alumnus! (Class of '81) You'll find another ATU grad guiding on the BS and Norfork tailwaters. A fellow by the name of John Wilson... who some folks around the fly fishing community have heard of... Who are you talking about from Tulsa that does some guiding on the White?

I've duck hunted quite a bit in the Sunken Lands WMA east of Jonesboro, AR so thanks for all your help on the migratory bird program.

Rain stopped you from fishing? The fish don't know it's rainin'... Now lightning is another matter... especially with a nine foot long lightning rod in your hand...

Come on up to Branson sometime and we'll introduce you to the world of Taneycomo night time slow stripping...

[gonefishin]

Welcome to the site. Lots of good convo's here, feel free to jump in anytime.

[Steve Smith]

Hey Robert; before gas prices went through the roof, I fished Dardenille [sp] Lake in Russellville. I used to go in the fall and swim a jig and chunk across the weedbeds. The weeds would just explode with huge black bass. Welcome

[Robert R.]

Hey Terry - a fellow Tech Grad. - great to know. I recently went through Russellville, taking the long way around to Iowa. Man I could not believe how that place has changed. Would love to take you up on the Taney night fishin some day. Tell ya what, I'll make a run by the Tech bookstore and bring you an ATU cap!!! I'd also stop and get you a Whatta Burger and fries, but doubt they'd make it all the way to Branson.

The guy I was talking about is Bill Davis. Last I knew he was doing some guiding ouut of River Cliff Trout Dock (which last I knew was owned by some friends of mine and also Tech grads Jamie and Kelly Link). Been out of touch with all of those guys for quite awhile.

Steve - spent many an hour chunkin and winding on Dardenelle. Also spent many an hour at the Nuke plant smakin some slap crappie. Man do I miss those days and all that good eatin.

[Terry Beeson]

Oh man... A Whatta-Whatta with cheese... NIRVANA!!!

Not the same since Mr. Feltner passed, but still a great burger. I was travelling with a co-worker on I-40 a few years ago and he told me his brother went to Tech and was always talking about Whatta-Burger. Well, we pulled into R'ville about lunch time and I introduced him to Mr. Feltner's creation. He said he now knew why his brother had said it was the best hamburger in the world!!

Yeah, the last time I was through there, I didn't recognize anything but Tucker Coliseum... Sure has changed since I was roaming the halls of Dean Hall and getting caught in Roush and Jones... Uh... I mean.. uh... visiting girls in the lobby of Roush and Jones...