Arkansas River, Zink Dam

[Okieflyfisher53]

I fished the arkansas river below Zink Dam the last two days. Yesterday I met four guys from Springfield down here for the first time and showed them a couple of spots that I usually fish. Mike, Jason, Rob and Rodney did pretty well after I had to leave yesterday, but they had an outstanding day today. The four of them caught over 150 stripers and hybrids, the biggest being a 10lb striper. I was fishing upstream from them this afternoon, catching only whites and small hybrids and one saugeye. After a while I decided to walk down and see how they were doing, and found out what I had been missing out on! I enjoyed meeting you guys and look forward to fishing with you again when you can make it back this way.

Steve

[jay bird]

Steve, what part of the area where they fishing?

[Phil Lilley]

I heard Michael was down there fishing this weekend... I wonder if he ever got his computer fixed?!

[Okieflyfisher53]

Steve, what part of the area where they fishing?

jay bird,

They were fishing on the west side of the river, near the PSO facility. The flow rate today was at 351 CFS, which seemed to be ideal for fishing that area.

Steve

[Bill Butts]

I heard Michael was down there fishing this weekend... I wonder if he ever got his computer fixed?!

Phil,

I talked with Michael while they were on their way back.

They were really pumped to have great fishing on their first trip there.

Michael has registered on the Forum and will be posting a report, soon.

They apparently tooks quite a few pics

Stay tuned.

[jay bird]

The day we fished I think that is never got below 1000. I am really wanting to go back after that report. Road Trip Take 2.

[Bill Butts]

The day we fished I think that is never got below 1000. I am really wanting to go back after that report. Road Trip Take 2.

If you notice the flow during the 4 days previous to Sat/Sun, it was pretty high.

http://waterdata.usgs.gov/usa/nwis/uv?site_no=07164500

This of course gets fish moving up and around the area below the Dam.

Then, when it does settle down to a very low level the fish do get concentrated at times.

[Micheal Kyle]

Hey all. Steve, very good to meet you and thanks for the info. on the area. We will definately hook up again on another trip. Lilly, I did get my computer fixed and will begin checking out the forum more often.

Ok. Lets get down to it.

Took off for Tulsa Sat. morning in hopes of doing a little recon and maybe fooling a few fish on the Arkansas. Two other guys and I left Springfield around 9 AM and we were in the water casting by 1:30 (had a few distractions & our first time in the area). We met 1 other fella down there and took off. Mostly stayed on the upper end near the dam Sat. afternoon. We had clear skies with ~10 mph winds and temps in the low 40's. The fish coorperated with us as we hooked and landed several small stripers, whites, and hybrids between the 4 of us. We sort of cruised around the area scoping out holes and basically getting a feel for the river. We met and spoke with several folks, including Steve, who were really nice and willing to talk about the area.

Sun. we were casting by 10:00. Partly cloudy skies and temps in the 30's. Pretty chilly with the winds howling at around 20mph. Began at the dam and worked our way down stream to some other good looking water that we did not get to the previous day. The upper area only produced a hand full of fish for us (smaller fish like the day before). The lower section turned out to be the ticket. From about 12 till we left the water at 4:15 the 4 of us hooked and landed 150 or so fish. Stripers, hybrids, and whites with the largest being a #10 & #8 stripers. We landed 8-10 of those brutes in the #4-6 range and a handfull of really nice whites (big James River female class). There were a few other big fish hooked but not landed. Most of the other fish were a mix of hybrids, whites, and stripers in the 10-15" range. So much fun we couldn't hardly stand it.

Along with the "sand bass", we managed to hook a few saugeyes, large jaws, buffalo, and a couple of drum. The crew also saw paddle fish and some nice gar roaming the waters.

Overall we had a phenomanal experice for our first outing to the Arkansas & are already planning the next excursion.

I am planning to post some pics as soon as I get it figured out. Still feeling my way around the site.

Michael Kyle

Backcountry Outfitters

[Phil Lilley]

Wow- I'm ready to go.

Hey Michael- send the pics to me and I'll help you. If they're big- scale them down if you have a image program. If not... well I may have to come up and load something for you to help.

Warms my heart to see you on the forum... you're a great asset for all of us.

[Micheal Kyle]

Wow- I'm ready to go.

Hey Michael- send the pics to me and I'll help you. If they're big- scale them down if you have a image program. If not... well I may have to come up and load something for you to help.

Warms my heart to see you on the forum... you're a great asset for all of us.

That would be great, I will send you the pics. I do not have a image program so that would be great if you would post them for me. I have great camara that I use when I'm on fishing trips, its the Pentax Optio 6.3 mega pix and the cool thing is it's waterproof.