North Fork/Bryant Creek Stripers & Hybrids

[Bill Butts]

Bill, I'm a member of Ozark Fly Fishers in St. Louis. I've only met Shawn a couple times, but he and Bink gave a really good presentaion. Will have to get down to Norfork or Beaver and do some striper fishing soon.

Gavin

Gavin,

Thanks for your follow-up.

I thought maybe you lived in that area.

I've known some of the long-time members of the OFF for many years like Jerry Jarousek (I probably misspelled his name, again), Caesar Carneghi, Bob Heine and others going back to the early years of the Conclaves in Mt. Home in the early 70's.

That has been a very strong club for many years.

I understand they were awarded the FFF National club of the year in 2005.

That's great recognition, considering how many clubs there are in the country.

Anyway, keep in touch on the Forum, things will begin heating up in the coming weeks.

Hope we get some rain, we need lots of it all over the Ozarks Region.

[doctorbrady]

Butts,

Yeah I fish with Jason "Jay Bird" regularly. In fact, what he still owes me $5 for hooking the first (and other 5) fish during our AR river trip . War Eagle is usually pretty easy access unless things have changed drastically. Though they may not want you parking just to fish no one will object. There are a couple of parking spots right at the mill that are used mostly to access the water at the dam. Like most "navagable streams" in Arkansas, you can fish it if you are in the water. Still at War Eagle you can fish from the bank below the dam. Most spring days there will be plenty of people there to prove it. Also, there used to be easy access for a small $2-3 fee just below the dam. We always called it the "dollar hole". This may have been shut off as they were getting a lot of immigrants camping on the property for extended periods of time. I have accessed the water by canoe from several spots but will have to do my homework to see what and where is still open to get to. A canoe or even a pontoon or belly boat should give you access to as much water as you can stand. The best part is even if the stripers and whites don't cooperate there are a ton on good smallies and rock bass to hook up with. Brady

[jay bird]

I will get you the 5$'s tonight if you go fishing, and I hope that I can win it back before the night is done. Let's say first to five. A little healthy competition always makes a fishing trip fun and makes for great bragging rights the next day. See ya

[Bill Butts]

Butts,

Yeah I fish with Jason "Jay Bird" regularly. In fact, what he still owes me $5 for hooking the first (and other 5) fish during our AR river trip . War Eagle is usually pretty easy access unless things have changed drastically. Though they may not want you parking just to fish no one will object. There are a couple of parking spots right at the mill that are used mostly to access the water at the dam. Like most "navagable streams" in Arkansas, you can fish it if you are in the water. Still at War Eagle you can fish from the bank below the dam. Most spring days there will be plenty of people there to prove it. Also, there used to be easy access for a small $2-3 fee just below the dam. We always called it the "dollar hole". This may have been shut off as they were getting a lot of immigrants camping on the property for extended periods of time. I have accessed the water by canoe from several spots but will have to do my homework to see what and where is still open to get to. A canoe or even a pontoon or belly boat should give you access to as much water as you can stand. The best part is even if the stripers and whites don't cooperate there are a ton on good smallies and rock bass to hook up with. Brady

Brady,

Thanks for the great input on War Eagle Creek.

I had thought about dropping a canoe in at the Mill and floating down to the highway bridge, some time, to be able to see the entire stretch. With the lake 15' below normal, the creek would extend down a long ways, right now.

Any one have any idea how close moving creek water would be to the bridge, at the current level?

I've intended to experience that creek during the past two years, but never did it.

I recall Michael McLellan was catching Whites, and maybe some Hybrids, up there last spring with a light weight spey rod. Interesting.

Perhaps this year.

Thanks again.

[Gavin]

Bill, I dont have my map handy, but I think its only 2-3 river miles between Dawt and the 60 bridge. There are a couple longer floats available on the lower Bryant. Its probably 7miles from Hodson Mill to Warren Bridge, about the same between Warren and MDC's Florence Cook Access, and about 3-4 from Florence Cook to 60. Cheers.

[Bill Butts]

Gavin,

I talked with a fishing friend that lives near Ava and fishes daily during the spring runs from Walleye to Hybrids and Whites.

He said the river channel way down below Tecumseh is tiny is some places.

He thinks we must have lots of rain and rising lake level to have a chance for significant numbers of fish to reach Tecumseh or above.

Norfork Lake is almost 13 feet below normal pool, so like BS, TR and Beaver they are all in dire need of water and lots of it.

Pray for rain.

[bryantsmallie28]

I know before this last rain we had it was still creeklike at the stumphole. the ramp there was wrothless. I think looking from there it looked like what some people call the goat hole, which is the bend below the stump hole conservation ramp, seemed to be lake water. And then udall is really low but it is lake water because i saw a guy in a bass boat fishing out in front of there. but dont ask me how he got there because I have heard it is tough to even find a ramp to put a bass boat in, even in northern arkansas.

[Bill Butts]

I know before this last rain we had it was still creeklike at the stumphole. the ramp there was wrothless. I think looking from there it looked like what some people call the goat hole, which is the bend below the stump hole conservation ramp, seemed to be lake water. And then udall is really low but it is lake water because i saw a guy in a bass boat fishing out in front of there. but dont ask me how he got there because I have heard it is tough to even find a ramp to put a bass boat in, even in northern arkansas.

bs28,

That friend I talked with said he and a buddy put in at Red Bank Access (I think that's right) and found masses of fish around points 8 and 9 on their graph. His opinion was that there would have been wide variety of species including lots of staging walleye and whites/hybrids. They spent lots of time looking but didn't fish that trip.

It's tough when you can fish every single day and don't have to wet a line every time you're near the water.