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docks gone


shawncat

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The fishing from the dock down stream is incredible. Starting at Otter Creek, the top of the catch and release area, I believe this section is the absolute best trout fishing in Arkansas. I frequently take clients here and often fish it with my wife, Lori. This is where I catch my big fish. Brookies up to nineteen inches, cutts up to twenty four inches and really big bows and browns. It can be a cruel mistress. The insects are small and the trout are picky, but the rewards are great. The problem here is that the good water is down stream from the access. When the water comes up you have to beat feet to safely get out. You will find yourself fighting rising water as you move upstream. Otter creek becomes a choke point and is too deep to wade with two generators. If you are late getting there you must walk through the pasture along Otter creek up stream untill you find water shallow enough to wade. I always carry a wading staff, a good idea whenever you fish tailwaters. The fishing guide Home waters has a good map of the Norfork and some detailed descriptions of this area along with some specific fishing suggestions.

John Berry

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John Berry

OAF CONTRIBUTOR

Fly Fishing For Trout

(870)435-2169

http://www.berrybrothersguides.com

berrybrothers@infodash.com

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Thanks John for the info. I guess I will have to give it a try in a couple of weeks. I will remember the wading stick. I got caught in a bad position once at Taney, lucky I got out, knocked down three times before I made shore.

"God gave fishermen expectancy, so they would never tire of throwing out a line"

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  • 1 year later...

Well it's been over two years since this post started.Any word what ever happened to Doyle{the develeper of overlook]?Fines paid?Still in court?Any word of lasting damage to Norfork?I wonder if any of the houses were ever built?Just can't bring myself to drive down that hill to Ruby's anymore.Drove down to Wildcat a few week's ago,was'nt the same.Had'nt been down there[three years]and man had it changed.House after house after house,all where there had been big fields.Just don't understand why someone would build right next to the river and take every foot of the river bank.Well.....yea I do. :( Million dollar homes next to trailers next to resorts next to the national forest and the only reason there's no houses there is because the bluff is 1400 ft. but...........there's houses on top.Where did all the houses come from in the bottoms of the national forest across from shipmens ferry?Well .......funny what a bottle of St.Jame's Country Red will do to yea.Here's to a new dawning day for a brighter tomorrow. :)

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  • 2 weeks later...
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Where did all the houses come from in the bottoms of the national forest across from shipmens ferry?

are you talking about down further in the bend where Matney is ? I owned 80 acres up top, my father in law owned much, much more ( almost he entire bend from where Big Creek runs in below Ships down to the bottom end of Matney). I sold because the price was good, Forrest Cotter and Worlow Land group figured out a way and had the resources to develope it. There is a new public loading ramp there now (albeit a steep sucker)

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I shudder to think what the McClellan's land is worth. I don't think 100k an acre would get the job done. I was horrified to hear that it sold. I've never tried to walk up from the handicapped access. Can it be done? I know I can canoe down, and can walk down if I'm extra sneaky, but how is the walking up? I used to love night fishing by the creek, and above and below the shoal that's upstream from the dock and below the long pool.

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Yes ,i was referring to the land across the river from the public ramp,downstream ,1/4 mile or so.Just did'nt remember that many houses ,or any before.Map shows this area to be national forest,but i know there is private land scattered in.

Walking up from handicap to old Mccellen's can be done.............but i would'nt......long walk upstream,dangerous[can't hear the horn blow that far down river] all the banks are private property.Better to float down IMHO.

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