BEAVER DAM STORE REPORT January 27

[Guest flyfishBDS]

BEAVER DAM STORE REPORT

January 27, 2006

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

So much for my weather forecasting last week. Well we were relying on the official forecasts, even so picking weather currently is like picking a Kentucky Derby winner with a pin. At least the fishing was good. The midge hatch remains plentiful providing some dry fly fun. We had a crew of Tusla based fly fishers in last weekend. Only one followewd our dry fly suggestion and he was the one sticking fish while his colleagues watched.

While we haven't really had a true winter blast yet this year, winter is traditionally a great time to learn to tie flies, or restock your fly boxes for the future. We are now putting together our schedule for fly tying classes for February and March. At this stage we are looking at one or more all-day intensive beginner classes and, after a number of inquiries, an introduction to dry fly tying class. You might also be interested in a saltwater/bass patterns like the Clouser Minnow and others ahead of white bass season. If you would like to put your name down for these or have suggestions for other classes drop us an email .

In this week's report we unveil some superb new additions to the Line-Up, let you know when the Store will be in Oklahoma City, fill you in on a possible state record rainbow taken by a Dam Store customer and of course the fishing report.

RIO AT THE DAM STORE

WHO is Agent X?. Well if you have been pondering this question in our last email well we can now say its the coolest, highest floating, slickest technology in the world of flylines since Isaac Walton's greased lines. Flyfishing's most innovative, funky and hardcore flyline company Rio is now at the Dam Store, part of our commitment to bringing you the best flyfishing equipment available.

Rio, started by Jim Vincent, has probably the finest stable of flyline tapers currently available and one of fly fishing's most recognisable brands names, synonymous with quality and innovation. Rio unveiled its Agent X manufacturing process and Super Flotation Technology at the Denver Fly Dealers Show in September last year which radically changes the way flylines are made and perform on the water. The new highly bouyant and super slick coatings adds durability, enhances pickup off the water and shootability. The good stuff has been introduced to RIO's most highly regarded flylines including the popular RIo Grand, a great allrounders line, the delicate Selective Trout line and the very cool Nymph line.

There are also Rio lines to suit everything from bonefish and tarpon in the salt, sinking lines for Beaver Lake Stripers and Spey lines are a specialty. Of course then there is the Rio tippet and leaders, including the Arkansas' guides' favorite fluorocarbon Fluoroflex Plus. We are now thankful to be able to drop the price of our favorite tippet spools from $13.99 to $12.95 under our new dealer agreement with Rio a double bonus.

Drop in and have a yarn if you want to know more about the Rio range.

DAM STORE HEADS TO SOONERVILLE

Since football season is over we will probably be safe enough. But the Beaver Dam Store and Spider Creek resort are headed for the Oklohoma Boat Show in Oklahoma City next weekend. We will have a bunch of Hobie Kayaks, probably a few fly rods to play with, and maybie even tie a few flies. Bring your friends drop by and have a yarn with us about your favorite getaway spot. The Show is being held at the State Fairgrounds from February 3-5. If your in Tulsa on February 9, drop by the Trout Unlimited Chapter meeting. Steve will be giving a presentation on fly-fishing in his home State of Tasmania, as well as answering

questions on flyfishing Beaver tailwater.

LEVI'S BIG 'BOW _ A STATE RECORD?

You might remember our photos a couple of weeks ago about a fine young fly fisher Levi Lenard and his huge Dry Run Creek rainbow taken on a guide trip with our guide Steve Dally .

The Arkansas Fish and Game newsletter this week reports AGFC trout biologist Stand Todd, as estimating the trout’s size, based on photographs taken by Levi's father Lewis as “somewhere near 25 pounds, give or take a few.”

The newsletter also stated that had the trout been weighed on certified scales, it almost certainly would have topped the state record of 19 pounds, 1 ounce.

"State regulations require that fish caught in Dry Run Creek be immediately released back into the water. " Unfortunately in Arkansas there is no recognition of catch and release records.

The article also has some great quotes from young Levi about what catching a fish of that size is like. For the full article Levi's Trout.

BIG DAM SALE

A close friend of mine used to live by the mantra "Never Pay Retail". Well here is your chance to extract a bunch of bargains well under retail prices from the Dam Store. We have a huge inventory of 2005 stock that has to get moved so we can stock the shelves with new stuff. Hobies, fly rods, reels, nets, fly lines, leader and tippet, flies _ you probably saw the list in our special report last week. If you missed it drop us an email and we can send it out again or better yet call in and peruse the deals.

And don't forget if you don't live within an easy drive of the store we can ship it to you. Free Shipping on Orders Over $100.

FISHING REPORT

Beaver Tailwater: If your like us and your midge box contains a bunch of black silver red and olive midges, do yourself a favor this coming week and opt for rusty brown with a gold or copper rib. This color choice is often a Beaver favorite but slipped from favor for most of 2005. Well drag it out for early 2006 for both Beaver and Taneycomo.

Its not that our favoreite patterns aren't working but it could mean the difference between just a few fish and a bonanza. We have also had some important lessons about the importan t of long leaders and fine flourocarbon in the past few weeks. If your finding the going tough on 6x flouro (our standard) try 7x.

The midge hatches have been reliable and some great fun on a dry fly _ if you haven't tried this style of fishing, or want to learn more, give us a call about our dry fly classes.

There is a strong hatch coming off daily around 11am, and another around 4pm. During the hatches a Parachute Adams (20-22) is a great all-rounder, Adams (20); Midge Adams, Cream Midges, or our newly unpacked Adult Midge Light, Snowshoe Midge Emerger, or Parasol Midge Emerger have all had some success. With so many fish up on the surface, picking a target fish and aiming for the best presentation is often the best approach.

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.

Before the midge hatch try Zebra midges (black, brown or red); Razorback Midges; Charlotte's Redneck Midge, Bryce's TDM and other midge pupa imitations. 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: If you wish to be taken off this email newsletter report don't hesitate to contact the Beaver Dam Store, either by email to this address, or by calling into the store, 479 253 6154 . Feel free to share this information with your friends, and if they want to sign up call into the store, or email us on this address.