Southern Trout Magazine: Ozark Edition Issue 3 by Southern Unlimited, LLC

issue 3

March 2017

Souther nTr out

“Ozark Edition”

www.southerntrout.com

THE BEST TROUT FISHING RESORT ON THE

LITTLE RED RIVER FOR NEARLY 50 Y EA R S

All cabin and motel units completely remodeled. All new, expanded Pot O’ Gold Restaurant, office and retail store complete with apparel and fishing supplies.

350 Rainbow Loop • Heber Springs, AR 72543

(501) 362-3139 For Reservations Only:

1-800-305-8790

Located off Hwy. 25 North past the dam on the Little Red River.

LINDSEYSRESORT.COM

Publisher’s message

y grandmother was fond of the saying, “Even blind hogs find a few acorns.” The adage aptly applies to our luck in landing Terry and Roxanne Wilson as co-editors of Southern Trout “Ozark Edition.” The well-known duo is now at the helm of the title, and we could not be happier with our good fortune to have them in the ST family. We do things a little differently here. Editors have a pretty free hand to steer their ship’s content and to define the personality of their publication. Terry and Roxanne Wilson are Illinois flatlanders by

birth, and they relocated to the Ozarks of Southwest Missouri by choice. Between them, they have been fly fishers for over 100 years. They have written four books and over 400 articles in outdoor magazines. They have performed educational presentations for more than 35 years at fly fishing clubs, and fly fishing shows regionally and internationally. The Wilsons are active life members of the International Federation of Fly Fishers, the Missouri Smallmouth Alliance, and Missouri Outdoor Communicators of which Terry is past President. For their contribution to fly fishing, they were presented the Don Harger Memorial Award of the IFFF in 1996. They were honored by the Southern Council of the International Federation of Fly Fishers as “Educators of the Year” in 2014. Roxanne was honored as the Southern Council of the International Federation of Fly Fishers' “Woman of the Year” in 1994. Roxanne has been Terry's constant fishing friend, writing companion, and photographer for more than 50 years. Their original flies are distributed by Orvis, Pacific Fly Group, and through their own website.

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Publisher Don Kirk Assoc. Publisher Jerry Davis Editors Terry and Roxanne Wilson Managing Editor Leah Kirk Designer Loryn Lathem Assoc. Editor Adam Patterson Editorial Consultant Olive K. Nynne

For Advertising Rates and general information please call 205-735-9500. Contributors

Steve Moore Bob Mallard John Berry Dave Wotton Keith Gann Trent Fleming

Publisher’s message (cont.) Their first book, Bluegill Fly Fishing and Flies, was published by Frank Amato Publications, Inc. in 1999. It was followed by Largemouth Bass Fly Fishing: Beyond the Basics c2001, Smallmouth Bass Fly Fishing: A Practical Guide c2007, and Crappie Fly Fishing: A Seasonal Approach c2013. The Wilsons’ website is www.thebluegillpond.com and their fly fishing news and views can be found on Facebook at www.facebook. com/warmwaterflyfishing. Well…the ”Ozark Edition” is in good hands.

ON THE COVER: Captain Adam Debruin

www.redhookfishinglcom

THIS ISSUE From the Publisher

Roundabout Boats

Lindsey’s Resort 18 Heber Springs, AR Southern MO’s Spring Creek 28 Trout in a Dash

Favorite Flies of the Little Red

White River Boat

Featured Fly Shop The Ozark Angler Heber Springs

High Sticking Dry Flies

Missouri’s Largest Fly Fishing Show

Going Soft on Spring Caddis

In Praise of Hydro- Electric Impoundments

100

North Fork Under Gray Skies 104 Featured Guide-- Greg Seaton114 The Little Red Fly Fishing Guide Service Angler’s Expo and Outdoor Show

124

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Thinking Outside of the Box Float Fishing

hey’re popping up like mushrooms on the rivers and streams of the Ozarks, and as more fly fishermen discover Roundabout Watercrafts, you can expect to see more of the high-technique “wash tubs.” Arguably, the most innovative fly fishing machine to come along since the advent of float tubes, Roundabout Watercrafts. Odds are you have seen one on the water and wondered, “What the hell is that odd looking watercraft?” “The idea came about from a boat called a coracle”, explains Todd Foucher, a managing partner in the company that is making and marketing Roundabout Watercrafts. “It is a round boat that has been used since the Pre-Roman Era, and it is still in use today in the Far and Middle East. We just modernized it. Utilizing the ancient coracle’s basic principles and round shape, we added storage compartments, a spacious level deck, and a flat bottomed hull to create a stable, lightweight, oneman boat ideal for fishing.” www.SouthernTrout.com l STOE l March 2017 l 7

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The 360-degree open radius provides an ultra-skinny water skiff that is completely different than any other one-man boat, including kayaks. Roundabout design features include a Carolina flare leading up to the bow that suppresses chop while also preventing waves getting over the gunwales. Water that does manage to make its way aboard is self-bailed out through drainage channels located at the center of the hull of the boat. The specs on the Roundabout will get your attention. The one-man model has a deck that is 6 feet from side to side, and 75 inches from tip of bow to stern. Its gunwale is 3-inches wide, and 6-inches in height, with the overall height of the Roundabout being 20.5-inches. At 120 pounds, the Roundabout is lighter than many rigged-out fishing kayaks. Its 674 pound capacity is quite astonishing. www.SouthernTrout.com l STOE l March 2017 l 9

The method used to mold the Roundabout is out of polyethylene which ensures that these boats are exceptionally durable, yet still light enough to easily transport. The company offers a spacesaving, custom-fabricated aluminum trailer for towing, launching and storing these small round boats. Sturdy nylon cleats are brass inserted to the Roundabout to allow it to be tied off to a dock, anchor line that allowing you to stay in place when needed. We loved the molded rod holders that enabled us to bring an arsenal of fishing rod. Molded cup holders integrated into the design are a nice touch. Roomy storage compartments make for a clutter-free deck. The Roundabout is virtually impossible to capsize. We tried and tried to tip our boat over with zero success. This is a pretty cool feature when you are clumsy as the staff at Southern Unlimited. In terms of application to fly fishing in the Ozarks, the Roundabout proved to be very versatile. Standing

up to cast in many of the boats on these rivers often can be a dicey adventure, but this is not so using a Roundabout. On this we give it an A+. In fact, as fly fishermen, we really canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t say enough in regards to the casting platform provided by a Roundabout.

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One question we had pertained to how much current a Roundabout can handle. In even flowing rivers, the Roundabout is able to make its way upstream. The company that developed the Roundabout is located in Florida on a tidal river

with a pretty good flow that easily engaged the Roundabout moving up the current. In addition, the Roundabout will hold up to a 2 horsepower motor with no problem. Thus the Roundabout is excellent for use on Ozark tailwaters and other rivers

with moderate flow rates. These little boats are tough enough to skitter over rocks, although when in that type of water, one must remain mindful of your higher than normal center of gravity needs to be taken into consideration.

We used a group 27 AGM battery that lasted 9 hours for us. Another option preferred by some is a 31 AGM battery that will last up to 12 hours. You can put extra batteries in the storage units. As is the case with many watercrafts, the

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Roundabout has limits on tailwater rivers when the turbine releases at dams is high to moderately high. Also, when using a Roundabout in a tailwater river, it is imperative to remember that your trolling motor is only useful when the battery is sufficiently charged. Before tackling fast current situations, play around with a Roundabout to determine the limits of your batteries. Hereto, we have never needed to switch over the backup battery we have carried along on our river outings. “The Roundabouts are being very well received,” says Foucher. “We have over 300 in the market place in our first year, and we are growing at a very good pace as of right now”. Roundabouts are available in five different packages that range in price from $1095 to $2495 and can go up from there depending on the extra accessories that you want to include. Roundabout’s Sport RWC or a Woodsman boat-only package carries a $1,095 sticker. Like all Roundabots

packaged, it is offered in nine color options. Quite popular is the Roundabout’s Sport RWC or Woodsman boat with a seat and a Minn Kota trolling motor option that is $1,400. Most recently added to

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the Roundaboat line is the 2 Seat Upgrade boat and Minn Kota trolling motor that is available for $1,700. “We are always looking for more accessories for the Roundabout,” says Foucher. “As far as upgrades to the actual boat we do not

forsee any in the near future, just upgrades with accessories.â&#x20AC;? Roundabout Watercrafts offers a unique one-man boat that enables fishermen to target freshwater or saltwater fish. It is also great for

hunting your favorite waterfowl. Roundabouts are lightweight and mobile, allowing you to jump from pond to pond, lake to lake, or river section to river section. Yeah, we like â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;em.

RoundaboutWaterCrafts.com

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featured lodge

Lindsey’s Resort Heber Springs, Arkansas A

lthough less than a century old, trout fishing in the Ozarks has already established a rich tradition. At the top among the Ozark’s trout fishing tradition is Lindsey’s in Heber Springs. Located on the edge of the Arkansas’s famous Little Red River, every generation of Ozark trout fisherman have been there at one time or another. Today as years ago, Lindsey’s Resort the most unique “trout fishing” hub on the Little Red. 18 l Marchl 2017 l STOE l www.SouthernTrout.com

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featured lodge

“ Here at Lindsey's Resort we offer everything a guest would need to have a great getaway on the Little Red River,” explains Lindsey White, head honcho at the riverside resort. “Guests can reserve a cabin, rent a boat, book a guided fishing trip, go kayaking, dine at our onsite The Pot of Gold restaurant, and even plan a wedding at our facility. We strive to maintain the tradition here is that we truly want to make guests feel like they have a home away from home here. “Trout fishing on the Little Red River offers so much of what is great about the Ozarks, all in one place,” says Lindsey who assumed the helm here in 20…“If you love fishing, then here on the Little Red we have of the country’s best trout streams. Those whose passion is nature, can take in the beautiful landscape as well as catch a glimpse of our resident bald eagles soaring overhead. Those looking for adventure, you can explore every part of the Little Red in a kayak or canoe. The Little Red River is a place like no other in the entire world.”

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Lindsey’s grandfather, Bill Lindsey, had a vision. With the help of his wife, children and friends, they started slowly working to make Bill’s vision a reality. The resort began with the initial construction of a few cabins and the creation of RV sites as well as some mobile home rental units. Bill built a dock on the river where he began renting boats. To ensure visitors to the Little Red at a great fishing experience, the resort offered guided fishing trips. Over the years the resort added more cabins, a conference facility, an onsite restaurant, and a larger dock. Over the span of 50 years, the resort grew to what it is now; the premier trout fishing resort on the Little Red. Since Lindsey assumed management of Lindsey’s Resort, he has be responsible for a number of major changes and renovations of the property. These upgrades include updating the resort’s cabins with new bedding, LED lighting, bathroom fixtures, and other guest friendly amenities.

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featured lodge “We have added brand new Yamaha 9.9 4-Stroke motors to all of our boats,” explains Lindsey. “Additionally, we have also increased the size of resort’s fleet of river boats, adding more rental boats as well as two new party barges for guided fishing trips. Other upgrade include paving the parking where there once was gravel, and we have focused on enhancing the landscaping of the already beautiful riverfront property. We have also started renting canoes and kayaks which has really been a success during the first year. We are planning on adding more amenities and outdoor activities for our guests in the very near future.” One thing we like is the many different lodging options here at Lindsey's Resort. They offer motel style log cabins with two queen and one king bed options. The resort has family style cabins with separate bedrooms and bathrooms capable of accommodating up to eight guests. Also available is couple's style cabins with one king bed, a fireplace, a two-person Jacuzzi and a bathroom and kitchen. All of the resort’s cabins and motel style units have bathrooms, updated mini-split heating and air conditioning units, kitchenettes, and stainless steel outdoor grills. As in its beginning, Lindsey’s Resort also offers camping and RV site rentals. Their RV sites have water, sewer, cable, electricity (30 & 50 Amp), and Wi-Fi. The restaurant, meeting facilities, RV sites and cabins all offer Wi-Fi as well.

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If part of your trout fishing getaway to the Little Red River include great food, the Pot of Gold is your ticket. This onsite restaurant is open throughout the year (its hours change with the season, so it is always good to check the hours during your stay). The Pot of Gold offers everything from USDA Choice Ribeye, Catfish, Crab Cakes, Shrimp Taco's, and Pasta. They will even cook your catch for an incredible stream to table experience. Amenities aside, anglers visit the Little Red River to catch fish. Lindsey’s the top guide on the river, many who have over 25 years at the resort. The resort also offers fly fishing classes. They offer complete guided fly fishing trips, as well as fly casting instruction so that beginners (or those wanting to brush up on their casting skills) can develop an understanding of casting before they get in the boat. “We want to share the beautiful Little Red River with everyone,” says Linsdey. “The resort offers everything you need to have a relaxing getaway and experience the Ozarks at its finest.”

http://www.lindseysresort.com/

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SWEETWATER BREWING CO â&#x20AC;¢

• GEORGIA • SWEETWATERBREW.COM

Natural State Fly Shop is located within walking distance of the fabled White River, just up the road from the Cotter boat launch and public access. A full-service retailer and outfitter, Natural State Fly Shop offer flies, tackle, rental driftboats, shuttles, guided float trips on the White and Norfork Rivers, and guided wade trips on Dry Run Creek. Featuring products by Winston, Ross, Galvan, TroutHunter, Catch Fly Fishing, and many more; Natural State Fly Shop offers everything that the visiting fly fisherman needs. Natural State Fly Shop Shop: (870) 471-9111 Shop: 870-471-9111

3392 Cotter Road Mobile: 870.321.2792 Mobile: 870-706-0820

Cotter, Arkansas

www.naturalstateflyshop.com flyfishcotter@gmail.com

Southern Missouriâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Spring Creek by Keith Gann

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n early April, my fishing partner Bob Sadrakula and I met for breakfast at the local Cabelas’ store. We both had retired from its flyshop several months ago but are always finding an excuse to go back. This time it was to try again to plan our spring, summer and fall fishing trips. Excessive rain (bank full rivers), family commitments (new grand babies), Bob’s workout schedule (he’s a marathon runner), and my hunting trips (finally some quail to shoot at), had kept us off the water most of the winter. I had been busy either designing new flies or improving old ones, and I was anxious try some on fish. Pulling them through the water’s surface in the kitchen sink wasn’t proving much. www.SouthernTrout.com l STOE l March 2017 l 29

We finally put together a rough outline so we could start researching some new places, and as a side note decided to give an old acquaintance a phone call to see if we could make a quick trip to his private stretch of water on Spring Creek down in the Missouri Ozarks. Bob promised to forgo his standard offering of Elk Hair Caddis, use some of my new flies, and give me an honest opinion of them (I also gave them to him for free, which always gets his attention). He called our old acquaintance, got permission, and we headed south a few days later. Spring Creek in the Missouri Ozarks runs north for ten miles through a portion of the western section of Phelps County and the Mark Twain National Forest, picking up water from several small springs along the way, then finally dumping into the Big Piney River (smallmouths) at the junction of Missouri’s “M” and “J” highways. Although Conservation Department maps show 6.2 miles of fishable of water, from Relfe Springs down, only 2 to 3 miles of that is open to the public (that stretch is “as the crow flies” so with all 30 l Marchl 2017 l STOE l www.SouthernTrout.com

of its twists and turns, the stream fishes much longer). The creek falls under the Department’s “Blue Stream” title meaning that it is not stocked, contains a selfpopulating strain of (in this case) rainbows, is artificial flies only, and only one 18” fish per day is allowed to be kept. (Don’t get your hopes up. I’ve never seen anything bigger than 13”, and I’ve fished the water hard for several years). Spring Creek has several things going for it. One, it has little or no traffic. In eight years, Bob and I have only seen a landowner and his son, and three retired Forest Service guys chasing rabbits with their little Beagle hound. Two, it’s a natural stream with no artificial bank containment work. That means that it’s filled with downed trees, root wads, gravel bars, decayed leaves, and banks covered with thick brush. Three, that being said, it still has ample casting room, its water is crystal clear, cold, and carries a good population of small rainbows mostly in the 6” to 8” range, but with dark olive par marks and pale multi-hued rainbow side stripes, who fight like much bigger fish. www.SouthernTrout.com l STOE l March 2017 l 31

We were fortunate. Several years ago we chanced to meet one of the owners of a private stretch of water up stream from the public water, and gained access to his land, and of course his water. This added another mile of stream that we could fish. Rumor has it, that a land owner further up stream had stocked his waters at one time, so the closer we got to his property line, the better the fishing got. We are mostly dry fly fishermen, so we tend to catch only the smaller fish that set up in the shallow rifles. I know that the deeper holes have bigger fish, but that entails casting weighted nymphs, streamers or crawdad patterns. With our lightweight rods (I use a 6’ 4” four-weight bamboo, and Bob a 7-1/2’ 3-weight graphite), casting the deep running patterns is a chore. As a matter of fact, guys who stand at the top of a deep hole, and who cast a heavy pattern down stream, pause for it to sink, then strip it in, have been known to catch some of the 18” fish that you can keep. I was trying to find some middle ground by designing a fly that could act as a dry fly then be pulled under and retrieved just under the surface as a wet fly. Ed Story, over at FeatherCraft in St. Louis developed a fly in the 1950’s that he called a Crackleback. It has a lot of followers in the Ozarks, and it is fished up and across stream, either dry drifted or twitched to the end of the line, then twitched a few times, and finally pulled under water to be stripped in as a wet fly or streamer pattern. I had already designed a caddis pattern that I called “Bob’s Quivering Caddis” that did roughly the same thing. It was working fairly well (in the kitchen sink), but I wanted to add some bulk to it, so I tied a half dozen on #14 nymph hooks, and expanded the body with a wrap of peacock herl. 32 l Marchl 2017 l STOE l www.SouthernTrout.com

The idea was to still have a fly that floated, but one that could go under the surface when needed and maybe dive a little deeper. Both the “CDC Peacock Caddis” and “Bob’s Quivering Caddis” were the result, and on the stream, they worked surprisingly well, especially when stripped in from the head of shallow riffles. Both have a palmered CDC hackle along the body, a dual strand of Uni-Yarn as a shellback, a wing of yearling elk hair; and a front hackle wrapped on a large tapered head that (in theory) would dive below the water's surface like a plow when given a couple of quick jerks. Undressed flies, of course, got under the surface faster. I have to admit that the first fish caught on the “jerk it under” technique was caught as I turned to head up stream from a riffle, and was reeling the fly in when the fish hooked itself. Of course, Bob noticed immediately and made a snide comment, but he also had to agree that the fly worked. I lost a couple of bigger fish in the deeper water at the base of some riffles, but I had enough strikes and caught enough fish both as a dry and a wet, that I felt like the flies should be added to my box as standards. Besides, they were both a lot of fun to tie. I stood at the head of a riffle, and either let a dry fly float down stream then tugged it under for an upstream strip or cast down to the foot of the riffle, pulled it under, then stripped it in.

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We don’t fish the stream after Memorial Day or before November 1 even though the best time for bigger fish seems to be between mid April and mid June. These fish are considered to be spring spawners, so from late winter to early spring (say February 1 to March 31) they head up stream towards Relfe (once known as Coppedge) Spring to spawn. Relfe is out of the legal fishing area, but puts out an average of 12,500 gallons of pure, cold water per day, so serves its purpose well to help keep the wild population going. Since we suspect that some hatchery fish have been introduced into the private water sometime in the last several years, this spawning season can vary since hatchery fish don’t always follow the rules. Anyway, by late June, the water warms up in the stream’s lower reaches, and the fish migrate up to cooler and also private water nearer its springs again. For us, it’s a filler stream that “fills” our fishing time when the Current River is running too high to wade. As a matter of fact, the Missouri Ozarks offers year round fishing, but is mostly deserted from November to March, and that’s when we like it. 34 l Marchl 2017 l STOE l www.SouthernTrout.com

Stream access is fairly easy. Off of I-44, east of Waynesville/St. Robert, follow “J” south to “M”, west on “J” a short distance past the vacant Crossroads Store, and before the Spring Creek Bridge, a fisherman’s access road turns south and follows the stream for several hundred yards. Crossing the bridge, CR-217 (CR 6410 on some maps) heads south off of “J” and parallels the water at varying distances all of the way up the valley. At about the one-mile point, an unmarked forest road leads off to the left (east) for several hundred yards, and an unimproved parking lot borders the streamside. Maps show the road crossing the stream here, but it’s one of those famous Ozark fords and a Hummer or half-track might make it across but probably not you and your Buick. This is always a nice stretch of water to warm up on but ends at the private water with a brushy hike to the road, or a stumbling hike back down stream to your car. We like small rods here - six to eight footers. I’ve considered carrying a five or six-weight five-piece pack rod in my vest pouch to use for weighted streamers on the deep holes, but seem never to remember to bring it. If you do bring a heavier rod, then bring a selection of MoHair Leeches, small spinners, smaller crawdads, or some black or olive bead head Wooly Buggers in #10 to #8. Dries include #14-16 Elk Hair Caddis, Adams, or Stimulators. You can’t go wrong with a 14” to 18” dropper of either a Beadhead Hare’s Ear, or Flashback Pheasant Tail. www.SouthernTrout.com l STOE l March 2017 l 35

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Motels are plentiful back west in Waynesville/St. Robert, but from Thursday to Saturday night, Fort Leonard Wood has training camp graduations year round and motel space is hard to find. Better is back east at Rolla. Camping is permitted in the forest, but it’s primitive conditions, no pit toilets or water pumps. Flyshops are hard to find. Plan on bringing everything with you, however both Rolla and Waynesville/St. Robert have Walmarts. The Missouri Department of Conservation has a good map available via the mail. Call them in Jefferson City or check their website and they might send one out for free. Chuck and Sharon Tryon’s book, “Fly Fishing for Trout in Missouri”, Ozark Mountain fly fishers, Rolla, Mo. Revised 1992, is the local “bible”. It maybe out of print. Three good guides with a lot of “on the water time” are Norm Crisp of Streamside Adventures (www. streamsideadventures.com), Sam Potter (www.tightlines.biz), and Walt Fulps (www.missouritrouthunter.com). The plus for this stream and for the other spring-fed creeks near by, is that they are no more than 250 miles away from many major cities ---- Kansas City, St. Louis, Little Rock, Tulsa, Davenport, Evansville, Springfield, Ill., and Memphis. We can be on the stream by 10:00am, fish until dark, grab a motel, and be home the next day before noon. Only better is having a trout stream in your back yard, and for 99.9% of us, that ain’t going to happen! www.SouthernTrout.com l STOE l March 2017 l 37

Yep, it’s just that easy with Western North Carolina’s premier fly shop and guide service. Kevin Howell and his experienced staff have been fishing the surrounding 500 miles of prime trout waters so long, they know all the fish on first name basis. And they’ll be more than happy to make a few introductions.

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ash

Ingredients 3 oz cooked trout 1 large egg 1 tbs (7g) coconut flour 2 tsp garlic and herb seasoning (Mrs Dash Salt Free) Salt & Pepper, to taste 1 tsp coconut oil Instructions Flake your trout in a bowl. Beat your egg in a separate bowl. Combine trout, egg, coconut flour and seasonings. Allow mixture to sit while you heat up your pan. Add 1 tsp coconut oil to pan over medium heat. Divide fish mixture into 2 and form into patties. Add to warmed pan. Cook for about 3-4 minutes, or until golden. Flip and repeat. Serve warm.

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ÂŽ

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Sunburst Trout Farms Is located below the Shining Rock National Wilderness in the Pisgah National Forest. Since 1948 they have been growing rainbow trout, and the farm is now run by third generation brothers Wes and Ben Eason.

Sunburst has a long standing commitment to quality. Their fish are hormone and antibiotic free, and the feed is made especially for them containing no mammalian by-products. All trout are cut to order in small bathces, mostly by hand, thus ensuring all products are of the highest standard. In addition to Sunburst’s flagship fillets you can also find their award winning caviar, as well as trout jerky, hickory smoked trout, cold smoked trout, smoked trout dip, trout sausage, and even some non trout products, pimento goat cheese and smoked tomato jam. Be sure to stock up on their Original Jennings Jerky! It’s shelf stable and perfect for those long days fly fishing. To order go online to www.sunbursttrout.com

314 Industrial Park Drive Waynesville, NC 28786 828-648-3010 • 800-673-3051

Favorite Flies of the Little Red River by Bill Willmert Photography by Don Newton Flies tied by Kent Stone

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t’s not a secret that the Little Red River is one of the best trout fisheries in America. What is secret to success on the Little Red? It’s having the best flies that work here. Interestingly, our favorite flies for the Little Red are time tested, easily tied patterns that can be varied according to the fly tier’s and fisherman’s preferences. Some of them are the flies that we grew up with and have fished countless times in other rivers all over the country.

The Glow Bug. The original glow bug was tied as a trout and steelhead pattern in California over fifty years ago. This egg pattern is largely attributed to Tom Anderson. Typically the pattern is tied with Glo Bug yarn or McFly Foam. Flies are tied in a variety of sizes. The most popular for our river just larger than a canned pea. Common colors are yellow, pink and orange. Variations include wire weight, beads, veils, and hot spots of contrasting colors. Glow bugs are normally dead drifted just above the bottom under an indicator, or used as a dropper fly functioning as an attractor. The glow bugs effectiveness coincides with the spawning of the fish in the river. Therefore it is the most effective in the fall through the spring.

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The Woolly Bugger The Woolly Bugger was first tied by the late Russel Blessing in the mid 1960’s as a hellgrammite imitation. Eric Leiser claims the fly would be a mere “local favorite” were it not for the promotion of a tireless Barry Beck. The woolly bugger is a variation of either the woolly worm or the blossom fly. Either way, this fly is tied and fished all over the world and may be the world’s most popular fly. This fly has infinite variations and every tier I know has his own model. Blessing tied the original pattern with rooster hackle, but the pattern that I have, tied by Russell himself used schlappen as a hackle. Normally the pattern is stripped as a small streamer, or a leech, or in small sizes drifted and fished as a nymph.

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The San Juan Worm The San Juan Worm was created by Bob Pelzl. The original fly tied on a straight hook in an umber color, was designed to imitate an aquatic worm found in the San Juan River. As it turns out, these worms are found in most tailwaters in various colors and sizes. This fly is normally fished under an indicator as a single fly, or in tandem either as a point fly or dropper. Popular combinations will pair this fly with an egg or a midge. The fly pictured is a beaded version.

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The Fur Bug The ubiquitous fur bug is probably fished more on the Little Red River than all other flies combined. The origin of this fly is unknown. At itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s simplest, it is a bead head on a hook with dubbing. Sometimes it is additionally weighted with lead wire. This fly is tied in every imaginable color from sizes 18 to 12. Hot spots, ribs and shellbacks are often added. Many fly shops call this fly a sowbug, though it more closely resembles a caddis pupa. Maybe the reason this fly is so very effective is because it resembles so many things. Tied in the appropriate color it could be a snail, caddis pupa, sowbug or scud. This fly is usually fished near the bottom of the river bed under an indicator as a single fly or a point fly on a multi fly rig.

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The Hare’s Ear Nymph

It’s unclear when the hare’s ear nymph emerged on the fly fishing scene. Halford used a dry fly with a body of hare’s ear and there are records of wet flies and soft hackles with a hare’s ear body since the mid 1800’s. Just who originated the hare’s ear is uncertain. The fly’s appearance is vague and somewhat unkempt just like its history. Perhaps this is the fly’s secret to its remarkable success. It doesn’t look exactly like anything. It resembles many things. Its buggy profile suggests a sow bug, a BWO nymph, a PMD nymph, or even a caddis. Generally this fly is fished under an indicator, swung on a tight line or slowly stripped. If you don’t know what they are hitting, this is a great fly to start with.

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The Pheasant Tail Nymph Frank Sawyer developed the Pheasant Tail Nymph. He detailed instructions for tying and fishing it in his breakthrough book â&#x20AC;&#x153;Nymphs and the Troutâ&#x20AC;?. It was published in 1958 while he was the keeper of the Avon in Wiltshire. The original nymph was tied with pheasant tail fibers and copper wire, with no thread. The fly was originally sight fished on a dead drift and gently raised in front of a fish or at the end of a drift. This technique was dubbed the induced take. The pheasant tail nymph pictured here is the American version, tied with thread and a peacock herl thorax originated by Al Troth. This fly can be stripped, but normally is dead drifted under an indicator. There are countless variations of this fly, including flashbacks, soft hackles, jig heads, beadheads, and flies with wire bodies. This is fly is fished worldwide and is well known in competitive events.

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The Zebra Midge The Zebra Midge was designed by Ted Welling in the mid 1990â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s while guiding for Lees Ferry Anglers. This fly may be the most popular midge pattern in the Ozarks. The original pattern was tied with a black body, silver wire, and a silver bead. The fly has great contrast so even though it is generally tied in small sizes, it is a good searching pattern. Variations are limitless. Brown bodies with copper ribs and beads, or red bodies with gold ribs and beads are popular. The fly is usually tied in sizes 18 through 20. This fly can be fished as a single under an indicator, or as a dropper with a weighted fly, such as a bead head sow bug. Zebra Midges can fished anywhere in the water column usually in slower currents.

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60 | Southern Trout | February 2013 | www.southerntrout.com

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White River Boat by John Berry

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t’s an awe inspiring sight, slowly emerging through the early morning mist a boat silently floating through the shoals. Two anglers are drifting their flies over likely spots as their guide expertly threads his boat through the water. Suddenly the surface erupts with the violent take of a large brown trout. A struggle ensues that will be repeated several times that day. Rainbows, cutthroats, and a chunky brook trout make it an occasion to be remembered for years to come. How many? The action is too fast and too intense for the anglers to count. Are they fishing from a drift boat on some renowned western stream? No they’re on a float trip on Arkansas’ White River fishing from a unique craft, the White River boat. Over a thousand miles from the McKenzie River where the McKenzie boat (drift boat) was created as a way to access mountain streams, a boat evolved that is equally well suited to its environment. The drift boat was designed for trout streams that originated in the high mountains of the Pacific Northwest, which have a steep gradient, the boat’s high sides and rockered bottom allows it to turn on a dime to avoid obstacles. The white river boat evolved in the Ozarks, which are much older and lower mountains, and the gradient gentler the boat was designed to negotiate shallow shoals with ease. The White is a tailwater river and is subject to extreme fluctuations. The water can rise eight or more feet in a matter of minutes. You need a craft that can operate in a variety of water conditions on the same day.

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I have seen modifications to some boats obviously inspired by drift boats, leg braces or extended railings all made with the idea of enhanced stability for standing casters. None seem to have caught on and the norm is to cast from the seated position. The low sides of the boat and raised seats create an effective position for casting. The boats judging by their boxy shape and straight lines have a lot in common with traditional Jon boats. They grew longer and thinner over time. This not only gives them an elegant look but also allows the boat to have a shallow draft and be narrow enough to fit through the tightest passages in low water. The length provides plenty of room for two anglers and a guide, though it is always a good idea to try and coordinate your casts. They have a unique raised transom that creates more propeller clearance and allows the boat to negotiate very low water. While the rear seat for the guide is fixed, the other seats are freestanding and often removed for seating during the shore lunch. On the older boats the seats are directors chairs held in place by bungee cords, while the newer models sport padded swiveling boat seats

mounted on stainless steel stands. The guideâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s seat is normally higher than the passengers. This allows him to see over them so that he can avoid obstacles. When negotiating treacherous water the guide might stand to give him an even better view of the water ahead. Engines used on the White River boats tend to be small by bass boat standards. This is not a boat designed for speed. Most boats have engines as small as eight horsepower and few are over twenty. The engine allows for travel upstream so that you can access water or drift through productive sections

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more than once. The constantly changing nature of the river and numerous obstacles make speed impractical. The motors are pulled up to avoid under water obstructions. For the ones the guide doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t see the motors are equipped with skeg guards to prevent damage to lower units. A recent innovation is the use of jet motors. Their lack of propellers allows them to run through incredibly shallow water. Their disadvantage is the cost to buy and maintain them. Four-cycle engines are starting to gain favor. (Starting in 2006 two cycle engines are no longer manufactured). They run quieter and produce less pollution. The down side is they are a bit heavier and are therefore a bit more difficult to raise out of the water when avoiding underwater obstructions. The guide drifts his boat downstream backwards. That is, he floats stern first. Since the long boats take so long to turn it is often more effective to avoid obstacles by motoring back upstream. To easily maintain this stern first drift, most guides utilize a drag chain at lower water levels that allows the boat to drift straight. This is a small section of chain attached to a piece of rope (rope and chain together are shorter than the length of the boat to prevent it from tangling in the propeller). This is then attached to the front of the boat with a quick release so that if the chain gets caught on the bottom the rope will disengage from the boat. There is a float on the rope to allow for recovery. The older boats are usually 33 inches wide and are light and easy to push through low water but are not as stable in rough water while newer boats are up to 54 inches wide and therefore more stable in high water but are heavier and more difficult to push in lower water. When considering the purchase of a boat for fishing the White River, the choices are many, but are those best suited for you and trips on this legendary Ozark tailwater river. www.SouthernTrout.com l STOE l March 2017 l 65

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Featured Fly Shop

Heber Springs

ly fishermen are drawn to the warm glow of fly shops as much as moths are ensnared at night by bright street lights. It’s just how natural works, eh? The Ozark Angler in Heber Springs has been the gathering point on the Little Red River for over a generation, and for good reason. It’s just too much fun to explore to permit any fly fishermen passing its way to resist at least a brief stopover. “The amount and the quality of fish you have the opportunity to catch in our rivers makes it second to none anywhere in the world,” says Chad Kneeland who bought the Ozark Angler almost ten years ago. “Over the last two decades trout fishing interest and the fly fishing business in the Ozarks has changed a ton. What’s really exciting is the new segments of customers we are reaching. The two largest growing of these that we’ve seen has been interest in streamer fishing and the fast growing participation of women in the sport of fly fishing.”

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The Ozark Angler predated Kneeland’s ownership, but not his patronage. One of the oldest fly shops in the Ozarks, the shop itself has been in continuous operation since 1989. Kneeland bought the shops in 2008, noting that it was his favorite store and that he wanted to be a part of it. The Ozark Angler has locations in Little Rock and Heber Springs. “What we really push at the Ozark Angler is customer service,” explains Kneeland. “There is such a high level of intense competition in the Ozarks fly fishing business world, that delivering great customer service is mandatory. Our customers are our friends and we treat them that way you would a valued friend.” “There has been a definite surge of interest in fly fishing in the Ozarks,” says Kneeland. “Every year we see lots of new faces entering our sport. This is fantastic. People are starting to see that fly fishing can be for everyone. At the Little Rock there are more people coming through the shop during January and February. Starting this month the numbers going through our Heber Springs location increases as the temperatures rise.” From the onset Kneeland recognized the vital importance of the Ozark Angler to be a full service shop in the competitive Ozark fly fishing marketplace. He credits this with why the Ozark Angler has remained a strong business after all these years. Most of his competitors do not offer the service that Kneeland does. Key among this is the Ozark Angler’s practice of offering guided fly fishing trips that are done with their crew of expert, inhouse guides. 70 l Marchl 2017 l STOE l www.SouthernTrout.com

Another key to the Ozark Angler being a highly successful full service fly shop is the role which fly tying plays in this retail operation. Probably no other region of the South has so many fly fishermen who are also avid fly tiers. In fact, it is one of the things that makes the Ozark such a unique fly fishing culture. According to Kneeland lots of the Ozark Angler’s customers have success on the flies that they tie themselves. The Heber Springs and Little Rock locations is as impressively stocked with fly tying materials as any other top tier fly shop in the entire United States.

“We tie flies in the stores,” says Kneeland, “and encourage customers to try to tie them at home. We also offer fly tying classes at both of our locations. Being well stocked in terms of fly tying materials is the tip of the iceberg. We are really proud of the product lines carried at the Ozark Angler, which include Orvis, Sage, RL Winston, Hardy, Simms, Howler Brothers, Rep Your Water, Fishpond, Korkers and other top notch fly tackle manufacturers.” When asked what the Ozark Angler offered would-be fly fishermen in terms of advice, support and instruction, Kneeland quickly responded, “We always offer advice and best places, fly patterns, and ways to be more successful on the Little Red River. In the last two years we have offered free of charge, fly fishing 101 courses on and off the river for our customers. Everyone has responded in a great way to these new classes.”

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“What I would you like to convey to readers on a personal level regarding your shop is to please come and see us at either location,” says Kneeland. “We will give you great advice, free casting or fly tying lessons any time. We are here for our customers and will do anything possible to gain you as a friend.”

659 Wilburn Rd Heber Springs, AR 72543 (501) 362-flys (3597)

http://www.ozarkangler.com/

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High Sticking Dry Flies John Berry

s time passes I spend more and more time fishing dry flies. When I first started fishing them I was overwhelmed. The casting was fussy and had to be precise. The flies were so tiny that they were almost impossible to see. Success did not come easy but I eventually began to catch fish by traditional dry fly methods. I had a lot of trouble seeing the fly if I was fishing over twenty feet of line. One day I was high sticking nymphs when I had a brainstorm, high sticking dry flies. I was catching fish that were just a few feet from my body. Then a fish hit my strike indicator. I tied on an elk hair caddis and fished the same water that I had been nymphing. I only had a couple of feet of fly line out and I fished it just like I would a nymph. I flicked the fly up stream and let it drift down. It went about five feet and a nice rainbow slammed it. I landed that one and quickly revived the fly with dry fly crystals. Again I flicked the fly upstream and let it drift down. This time it went ten feet before an eighteen-inch cutthroat rose from the depths and nailed it. I stood in that riffle and caught a dozen good fish. The technique is simple and effective.

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This is contrary to everything that my brother Dan did. He preferred seventy-foot casts over glass smooth water with tiny flies. He set the hook when he saw a rise near where he thinks the fly is. You cannot see a size 18 fly that is seventy feet away. High sticking gives you three things, you see the fly, you can make an effective presentation, and you can better control the line. You can see the fly because it is only a few feet from you. With this method I can easily fish dries as small as a 20 or smaller. You make an effective presentation by just flicking the fly up stream to for a soft landing. Since there is nothing touching the water except the fly it is easy to achieve a perfect drift when you do not have to deal with complex currents. The shorter line enhances line control because you can easily set the hook at any part of the drift because there is no slack in the line. www.SouthernTrout.com l STOE l March 2017 l 79

I prefer to use this method when fishing riffles. I particularly like fast riffles that run over gravel and have a drop off. The broken surface helps to conceal my movements and allows me to get very close to fish. The greater water speed does not allow the trout to study the fly. He must decide whether to take the offering very quickly and without hesitation. Finally riffles are generally loaded with fish making them more productive. Since I fish heavy water I have to fish flies that can handle the current. I favor elk hair caddis and Wulff patterns because they float like corks. Hoppers and power ants work well later in the year after the major hatches are gone. The next you notice some top water action try a method that is easy and effective, high sticking.

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MISSOURI'S LARGEST FLY FISHING SHOW by Terry and Roxanne Wilson The Tri-Lakes Fly Fishers of Bolivar, Missouri will host their 20th annual Fly Fishing Expo on Saturday, April 8, 2017 from 9 am to 5 pm at the education complex of the Brighton, Missouri Assembly of God Church. Thirty of the best fly tiers from 7 states will demonstrate their skills and creativity, vendors including fly shops and outfitters will offer special buys, and the Missouri Department of Conservation will be on hand to answer questions and offer free printed guides and maps. Admission to the Expo and all programs are FREE. Breakfast, lunch, and snacks prepared by the church’s men’s organization will available at a nominal cost. This year’s featured guest, “Boot” Pierce of Sullivan, Missouri, will present two programs. One will cover the “Driftless Area” of Southwest Wisconsin and Southeast Minnesota. The second will highlight fishing tactics and fly presentations at Westover Farms in Eastern Missouri. A casting pool with Master Casting Instructor Kim Schultz offers lessons on casting instruction for novices to experts with demonstrations and opportunities to try out vendors’ new fly rods. 84 l Marchl 2017 l STOE l www.SouthernTrout.com

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Proceeds from bucket raffles, card raffles, silent auctions, and a live auction benefit the club’s projects and fund and staff teaching fly tying and fly casting to Good Samaritan Boy’s Ranch students and an annual fishing outing for Project Healing Waters’ wounded veterans. Auction items offer destination trips including a week-long stay at a privately-owned beach house in the white sands of St. Joe Beach, Florida. The house sleeps 12. Inshore wade-fishing species include redfish, sea trout, flounder, and Spanish mackerel. Guides and charters are available nearby for exploring the Gulf. A nearby state park, located on a barrier island, offers further wadefishing opportunities.

The Tri-Lakes Fly Fishers is a small organization with a big agenda. In addition to sponsoring their popular Expo they provide fishing for their membership by leasing a pond with exclusive access. They meet on the first Monday of each month to enjoy instructive programs on various aspects of their sport. All-day fly tying seminars, casting instruction, rod-building classes, and fishing outings are regularly scheduled. The club is also focused on sharing fly fishing by teaching a two semester class in fly tying and fly fishing at Good Samaritan Boys Ranch, and two day fly tying and fly fishing class for the Outdoor Recreation class at Bolivar High School. They also donate

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Year” Award in 2011. Whether you want to learn or refine your fly tying and casting, explore new fishing destinations and gear or seek bargains in the raffles and auctions, April 8th should be on your calendar. To reach the Expo site travel north of Springfield, Missouri on Highway 13 for 15 miles, turn annually to Reel Recovery and Reeling and Healing east on Highway 215 to assist cancer survivors. The club’s diverse projects for ¼ mile then turn north and instruction earned the Southern Council of the to the Expo in ¼ mile. International Federation of Fly Fishers’ “Club of the www.SouthernTrout.com l STOE l March 2017 l 87

BLUE R FLY S

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Blue Ribbon Guides is a group of dedicated river savvy guides that have been involved in the guide business for a number of years. We provide a high level of service and quality angling experience that the fly fishing public has come to expect. Blue Ribbon Guides is the official guide service for Blue Ribbon Fly Shop located in Mountain Home, Arkansas. We are dedicated to providing the fly fishing community with one stop for guides and information. We look forward to assisting you with your next great fly fishing adventure. Our guides are licensed and insured as well as CPR and First Aid trained.

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Going Soft on Spring Caddis by Davy Wotton

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arch is the time of the year that we start to see the emergence of caddis fly here on the White river system and many others around the country. This is a time of the year that I always look forward too. The caddis fly brings about a feeding frenzy very unlike the slow deliberate rise forms associated with a emergence of may fly and midge. And in many cases the caddis will be the larger of the invertebrate species that are available to the fish in that particular water system.

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Early season fish are hungry as many of the other food sources are not as yet in great abundance and it is not unusual for trophy fish to lose a great deal of caution that they will naturally attain as the season progresses. I have in my time caught many great fish during the caddis hatch. In the early season the majority of caddis will emerge during the hours of daylight. As the warmer weather takes over then the caddis emergence will take place during the dusk to dark period and at times way into the small hours of the morning. If you are out at such times you can really have a ball I can tell you, and again those big Browns just love to feed at such times. The only main difference between species of caddis is size and color orientation so far as its relationship to a catching fish is concerned. You have a number of ways that you can deal with a rise to a caddis emergence from fishing pupae imitations to the adult winged insect. Some of the techniques that I use allow for all three stages to be fished at the same time. The fly I am going to introduce to you is generally known as the green tail. This fly has some past historical aspects. It is one of the best soft hackles you will find to fish with during a caddis emergence regardless of the species. Back in the UK this fly is used when the 92 l Marchl 2017 l STOE l www.SouthernTrout.com

Grannom sedge fly emerges, the female does carry a very distinctive green egg sac, which is why the fly is called the green tail. Regardless of the caddis species that is abundant at the time, you will not go far wrong with this fly. I have introduced some variations to this fly over the years and for that purpose I will give you three green tail patterns to tie. You may of course fish with more than one at a time by techniques from up stream dead drift to slow retrieve pulls and pauses.

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Size of the fly can be determined by the species you have on your water and you can of course alter the overall color tone of the fly by body and hackle combinations. Hook Size: From size 10 to 18. 12 and 14 being the most useful Tying Thread: You may use brown, tan or green. Tag: Fluorescent green or chartreuse. Body: Natural hare fur from the mask of a hare or other dubbing to suit your species color. Rib: Gold oval tinsel Hackle: For the lighter shades brown partridge for the darker species English grouse. You may also use a real soft webby hen hackle, from light ginger to dark ginger. To tie the fly run a thread wrap from midway of the hook shank to the bend. Here build a not too large butt of the green thread. Take the length of gold oval tinsel and tie this in below the hook shank with three thread wraps. Build a neat dubbed body of the hare fur. Then make the 5 spirals of gold rib to the thread and cut off the excess. Take the Partridge hackle and strip all the base waste fiber off. Tie in the hackle by the tip and make 2 or 3 full winds. When done secure the hackle and cut off the excess. Whip finish and varnish.

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2441 Parkway, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863 (865) 868-1000 www.bullfishgrill.com

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This fly pattern differs from the first by having a light ginger hen hackle palmered down the body of the fly before the Partridge hackle is tied in at the head of the fly.

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This fly pattern differs from the first only by the fact that it has a tail either from ginger hen or Partridge hackle.

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In Praise of Hydro-El B y and large, southern fly fishers are tailwater fishers. In a region with few spring fed streams, and virtually no glacier or snow melt, it takes a dam to create water conditions that help trout to thrive. Hydroelectric power has been a boon to many areas, providing abundant and inexpensive power, while producing cold, clear, oxygenated water with many food sources. Hard to believe they weren’t built solely for the benefit of we trout bums. I wanted to share two books with you that will increase your pleasure of fishing tailwaters in general, and southern tailwaters in particular. The first is “Ozark Trout Tales” by Steve Wright. I’ve read this one over and over, having originally stumbled on an autographed copy at Dale Fulton’s Blue Ribbon Fly Shop near Mountain Home, Arkansas. Wright’s book, written in a flowing, easy to read style, sets the stage

by providing a history of fishing on the White River System, and discussing the impact of the dams built for hydroelectric power. Starting with Beaver (one of my favorite tailwaters) and continuing downstream through Table Rock, Bull Shoals, North Fork, and finally the Little Red, the author takes us on a survey of key spots for trout fishing in the Ozarks. More than a book for your favorite reading chair, Wright has given us a stream side companion, a book that will spend as much time in your vehicle as on your coffee table. Each destination is treated with care, including river access details, local history, and attractions. While purists (guilty) may recoil at the idea of

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fishing with worms or live sculpin, these are included, as are key fly patterns for each area. This book is a treasure for the beginner and seasoned Ozark angler, alike. Wright’s eye for unique individuals in the region adds a special flavor to the book with insights into fishing methods, the character of the river, and the impact on the region of these “man-made” trout streams. An example is Charlie Vincent, a transplant

lectric Impoundments A newer book, “50 Best Tailwaters to Fly Fish” seeks to provide national coverage of tailwater fishing opportunities, and (you’ve been warned) may create serious wanderlust, mapping, and planning activities for the more adventuresome. Seriously, the book is a virtual national compendium from the high plains of of tail water fishing western Kansas, who has opportunities, and perfected the art of luring provides great detail for big trout with nightcrawler each fishery it covers, in the White River near from fishing methods to Branson, Missouri. If you think you know guides to lodging and food. Generally written by locals, everything about trout and curated by Terry and fishing in the Ozarks, this Wendy Gunn, this book book will gently prove you takes a bit of a chance wrong, while encouraging with such a wide range of you to revisit favorite spots and try new ones. While the streams, and pulls it off well. book is, sadly, out of print, Fittingly, a section an online search revealed on our beloved south is several sources of used included, with specific copies in good condition.

by Trent Fleming

coverage of Ozark streams including the North Fork, White, and Little Red. On those streams in particular I was able to vouch for the integrity of the included material. I also noted that the section on Tennessee’s Caney Fork River was well done, including information about access to the river from the Interstate 40 westbound rest area near Lebanon. “50 Best” is a great way to become acquainted with great fishing opportunities across our great land, and is an excellent resource for both travelers who look for local fishing opportunities, and those seeking to plan an expedition solely for fishing one or more of these great locations. I’ve already dogeared page 7, on the San Juan River in New Mexico. Stay tuned. I hope you will find time to enjoy one or both of these books on a rainy or snowy day, and then take them afield with you.

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North Fork Un 104 l Marchl 2017 l STOE l www.SouthernTrout.com

he river held the gray sky in its mirror, and two different colors of polarized glasses did nothing for bottom visibility, so I resolved to wade carefully across and down stream, seeking a spot to cast into the faster water against the far bank. I settled my boots into the rocky bottom, stripped line from my Allen Trout 2, and began to cast a size 10 olive wooly bugger across the current. Drift, strip, repeat. On the third cast, a small rainbow investigated the critter and was soon brought to hand for a quick look and release.

nder Gray Skies Trent Fleming

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Heading northwest out of Memphis that morning, I enjoyed dry weather and light traffic for the first 90 miles. I found the rain near Jonesboro, just in time for the Interstate to end, and the dwindling wider roads began to lead me to two lane trails through Ozark foothills. The day before had been a perfect February day for trout fishing in north Arkansas: sunny, a light southerly breeze, and mid 70s. Everything this day was not. Gray, low hanging clouds scurried in ahead of a cold front, alternately producing a light mist or a heavy downpour. Twice, at crossroads, I considered abandoning my circuitous route in favor of an early arrival and a decent meal at my destination. But I pushed on, the rain settling into a steady pace for the last 50 miles or so. I told myself that as long as no lightning was around, I'd be fine on the river, even if I needed my rain gear. No storms materialized, this was just a soaking rain that my Delta farmer friends pray for in winter. www.SouthernTrout.com l STOE l March 2017 l 107

As I arrived at Quarry State Park, the skies lightened and the rain abated. It seemed the front was pushing east and offering me a break in the weather. I parked and took a quick walk down the ramp to see how the river looked. In the lower parking lot a handful of trucks with empty trailers announced that fisherman were on the river, but no one was wading. I walked back to the truck and geared up. The North Fork begins its roughly 170 mile trek in southern Missouri, and soon pools into Norfork Lake, held in check by the deep base of Norfork Dam. Minimum flow

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regulations result in a steady release of rich, oxygenated water, as the North Fork returns to its channel and flows the five miles or so to its confluence with the White, just past the Arkansas Hwy 5 Bridge. Dry Run Creek, a speciality fishery (16 years and under, artificials only) flows into the river near the dam. During the spawn the gathering of Browns up into the headwaters of Dry Run Creek is nothing short of spectacular. Henry Reynolds, late outdoors editor of the Memphis Commercial Appeal, was quoted as saying â&#x20AC;&#x153;if you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have a kid under 16, rent one so that you can fish Dry Run Creek"

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A few more casts, and another Rainbow was brought to hand and released. I still had the river to myself. I waded a bit further to investigate a riffle heading up a deeper pool, and was able to convince a couple more fish to accept my offering, including a hybrid "Cutbow" with a gorgeous slash of red on each side. While there are Brook trout in this river, I have never taken one. More than an hour had passed, and I had miles to go before I slept, so it was time to call it a day. One rig, one fly, and a successful, short excursion.

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Fisheries like the North Fork are a treasure of the Ozark region, and offer excellent access even when you don't have a full day to fish. If you do have more time, there's excellent camping at Quarry State Park, and the fish hatchery offers a great look into the efforts required to provide stocking fish for the White River system.

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featured guide

Greg Seaton The Little Red Fly F

Heber Spring, AR 114 l Marchl 2017 l STOE l www.SouthernTrout.com

Fishing Guide Service

“W

hen I retired at age 60 from 40 years in the restaurant business, my wife and I moved to Heber Springs,” says Greg Seaton, owner of The Little Red Fly Fishing Guide Service. “I had a passion for fly fishing and it was a dream come true, and realized I still needed to spend some time productively. While I was hanging out at a local fly shop, the owner who knew me well, asked if I could take a guide trip as all of his guides were booked. “I took the trip and it went well. My fishermen told the shop owner that they had a great day and that I did a good job.” Greg was invited to guide for the fly shop, but he declined, preferring the independence of retired and not working full time. Subsequently Greg started his own fly fishing guide business and told the shop to call him they needed an extra guide. In short order Greg was taking most all the shop’s instructional trips. He has the needed patience and personality that make this a natural undertaking for him. Plus as he confided, he truly enjoy introducing people to the sport of fly fishing which has brought me so much pleasure.

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“This set up gave me the opportunity to take trips when it fit my schedule,” says Greg. “When the fly shop closed because of illness, I built a website for my guide service that has kept me busy for the last 10 years. It has been great way to

spend my retirement. I love introducing people to the Little Red River.” “The Little Red River is located in the foothills of the Ozark Mountains about 60 miles northeast of Little

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Rock and 135 miles west of Memphis, Tennessee,” says Greg. “It became a trout river in the early 1960’s when Greers Ferry Dam was built to create two lakes connected by a water-filled gorge called the Narrows.”

The Little Red trout water is 31 miles in length and home to an abundance of rainbow and brown trout, with a sprinkling of brook trout. It is one of the premier trout rivers in the country. The largest brown taken from our river was a 40 pound 3 ounce former world record. The

estimated population of trout in the river is said to be approximately 8,000 per mile. The regular stocking of rainbows and the natural spawning of the brown trout keep the Little Red’s trout population at this level.

“The Little Red is considered a mid-size trout rive,” explains Greg. “A guided trip on the river offers the best opportunity to see more of the river and fish the changing water conditions due to generation at the upstream dam. Most trout are caught on nymphs but streamer, wet flies and dry fly fishing is also available according to time of the year and water conditions”

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Greg also teaches a free fly fishing class each year that meets once a week for four weeks. This is an outreach ministry thru his church, Heber Springs First United Methodist. The class is usually the last two weeks of February thru the first two weeks of March. Greg began teaching this class four years ago with Highly versatile, Greg six beginning fly fishers. guides all levels of anglers This year 85 persons from true beginners (have registered for the class. He never been fishing) to is also sponsored by Trout advance anglers who have Unlimited and volunteers to fly fished fresh and saltwater. teach this class as a project As for fly fishing instruction, to promote fly fishing and he offers instructional trips being a good steward of our that start with a casting natural resources. lesson and during the day “It is my intent that my they are shown how to rig, students and clients leave what flies to use in different with a better knowledge of circumstances and how to fly fishing,” notes Greg. “I fish them. Greg’s main goal urge them to practice if during his lessons is for they want to be better and the fisherman to have an I want their time on the enjoyable day.

river to have been spent enjoying the beauty of the outdoors, action of catching fish and learning a type of fishing they can enjoy for a lifetime. These classes and my guided instructional trips are meant to give the angler a basic knowledge of fly fishing for trout so they won’t feel overwhelmed with fishing light tackle for trout in clear water. Fishing for fish that are selective of your offering, particular about your line and rigging and sometimes downright disdainful of your fly, can be discouraging.” “I have seen my clients catch their largest trout and others catch their first trout. I truly enjoy both, but overall I think the first fish is more exciting. To see the joy on their face, whether they are 5 or 85, is a true feeling of accomplishment for this guide. I supply all flies, rigged rods and all other tackle needed. I provide a 21 foot river boat with a 40 hp outboard jet, this allows me to navigate shallow water. “

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Two persons can comfortably fly fish from this boat. They can stand, fish, move about and ride with comfort and stability. Waders are not required since the boat provides a casting platform when anchored on a shallow shoal or for drift fishing. Waders are only necessary if someone wants to leave the boat to wade fish the shoals. Greg meets his clients at an easy to find location where they leave their vehicle and I take them to the section of river to be fish (he also will pick them up and return them to their lodging). Cold drinks and water are supplied on both ½ day and full day trips. Lunch is provided on full day trips. Winter….a warm homemade beef stew, chili or minestrone soup. Summer….sandwiches with chips, pasta salad and cookies or perhaps fried chicken with beans and potato salad.

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“After 11 years of guiding, I have many repeat customers, both ½ day and full day trips,” says Greg. “I do my best to provide the best day on the river that they can have! I try to guide them like I would like to be guided. My day is devoted totally to them. Instruction not criticism is my goal. Fishing should be enjoyable, not a chore! I am as flexible with bookings as possible…. if weather or water conditions are not favorable, I will be happy to reschedule their trip.” Connect with Greg at 501-690-9166 or visit his web site; http://littleredflyfishingtrips.com

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Angler’s Expo and Outdoor Show, Heber Springs

Special Guest - Calvin Johnston

n April 1st and 2nd, Heber Springs and the Little Red River are ground zero for Ozark trout fishing. These are the dates and venue for the 2017 Anglers Expo & Outdoor Show. A popular gathering, the event is an annual effort held by the Rotary Club of Cleburne County (Arkansas). “The show has grown to be the main focus of the Cleburne County Rotary Club as a fund raiser for our organization,” explains Doug Murray, spokesman for the event. “We want to high light all of the outdoor resources that are in the Heber Springs area, what better way than to have an outdoor show?” “This is our 4th annual Anglers Expo & Outdoor Show,” notes Murray. “Each year the event has grown a little bit bigger, attracting a growing number of vendors and attendees.” Heber Springs is the crossroad focal point of a pair of uniquely great sport fisheries. Below nearby Sugarloaf Mountain is the beginning of the Little Red River. The “Little Red” tailwaters is one of America’s cleanest and most scenic rivers. The home of excellent fly fishing, its cold, clean waters hold huge rainbow and brown trout. In 1992, local resident Rip Collins landed a 40-lbs, 4-oz world record brown trout that stood until 2009. Upstream in the Ozark Mountains foothills is Greers Ferry Lake. This 40,000 acres impoundment is nationally known for its celebrated cool and warm water fisheries. Greers Ferry’s Lake clear, clean waters draws anglers from across the country year-round.

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During its past three year run, the Anglers Expo & Outdoor Show has established a great reputation for bringing in outdoors world celebrities to headline the show. Special guest in the past have included celebrities from the TV series “Swamp People” and “Duck Dynasty” . “This year at the Anglers Expo & Outdoor Show our featured guest is Calvin Johnston,” says Murray. “In February of 2015 at Cotter, Arkansas, Johnston landed a 38 pound 7 ounce, 37

inch brown trout caught from the waters of Arkansas’ White River, which stands as the record.” The Cleburne County Rotary Club puts on the Anglers Expo & Outdoor Show. This huge undertaking is accomplished with generous help with several local businesses who sponsor the event. In the past the event has enabled the Cleburne County Rotary club raise money for several non-profit organizations in Cleburne County, Arkansas. Additionally, the event has provided funding for several scholarships awarded to students in the Cleburne Couny area. Activities that are associated with our show include fly fishing demonstrations and seminars. Each day of the show has a program agenda that includes several seminars featuring local fishing guides who cover tips and techniques anglers can use on the waters of the area. The two-day event will also feature fly tying demonstrations along with casting and knot tying demonstrations. www.SouthernTrout.com l STOE l March 2017 l 125

The Anglers Expo & Outdoor Show is more than just a get together for fishermen. The event will also showcase kayaking and bicycling demonstration which are new additions to the event for this year. According to Murray, the show may even have cooking demonstrations. At this time the Anglers Expo & Outdoor Show has the ability to allow in last minute booth seekers. “We expect to have approximately 80 vendor booths inside and another 20 vendors outside,” says Murray. “We welcome vendors who want to put their services or products in front of outdoors people. This include everything from RV campers and the different models of boats, to all of the different types of tackle.”

“The Anglers Expo & Outdoor Show will have several booths manned by conservation involved government agencies there to provide all kinds on information local fisheries and outdoor recreations. What is nice about our show is we usually have a cook out reception for our vendors one night of the show to express our thanks for their participation.” The vendor cutoff date for the Anglers Expo & Outdoor Show is March 24, 2017. For more information contact Doug Murray at 479-420-3001 or murray. doug95@gmail.com; or Mark Johnson at mjohnson9@suddenlink.net or 501362-5858. The mailing address is Anglers Expo; PO Box 463, Heber Springs, AR 72543 https://www.anglersexpo.com/

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The Community Centerâ&#x20AC;&#x2039; Heber Springs, Arkansas APRIL 1st and 2nd, 2017 Adults: $5.00 Children 5-12: $2.00 Children under 5: Free Boat Giveaway* Saturday 4:30pm Donated by Trout Tails Guide Service Larry and Debbie Levine *Must be present to win

A Museum for the Southern Fly Fisherman

The Fly Fishing Museum of the Southern Appalachians — originally

located in Cherokee, NC — has a new home in neighboring Bryson City where it shares a building with the Bryson City / Swain County Chamber of Commerce. It’s centrally located on the town square across the street from the visitor center. The Museum is open Monday thru Saturday from 9 am to 6 pm and admission is free.

The scope of the museum covers an

area with more than 14,700 miles of accessible trout streams — the nine Southern Appalachian States of North Carolina, South Carolina, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama; the Qualla Boundary, home of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians; as well as the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Bryson City, NC

PHOTO BY JIM HEAFNER

Through exhibits and videos you’ll

learn about legendary “Stream Blazers,” the evolution of rods and reels, basic knots, fly-tying, types of gear, types of gamefish, regional fishing waters, and the history of fly fishing in the Southeast. Whether you are a long-time fly fisherman, or have only attempted or never tried fly fishing, you will find something to enjoy and to learn from in the museum.

FLY FISHING MUSEUM

OF THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIANS

Fly Fishing Museum of the Southern Appalachians 210 Main Street Bryson City, NC 28713 800-867-9241

FlyFishingMuseum.org

Moose Creek Rods and Knives *Classic Bamboo Fly Rods *Custom Sheaths *Bamboo Display Rods and Reels *Handcrafted Knives *Custom Fly Tying Tools *Bamboo Rods *Restored and Repaired kmgann@sw bell.net 913-299-960 w w w.moosecreekrodsandknives.com