Dave Harpold, from NC with a nice Rim Shoals rainbow
AFTER the monsoon’s of last week the weekend, and the days this week have been just gorgeous. Big blue skies, that lovely fall light early and late, and 60 degree plus days.
The Journal spent Sunday floating Dave Harpold, for his first shot at fly fishing, of NC at Rim. Davy Wotton and Marc Poulos were there too with a group of 4 fly fishers. You couldn’t have asked for nicer weather, and there were big grins all around as the fishing was very good.
One of Davy’s client landed an hefty 18.5″ fish, Dave got the fish above which was close enough to 18″ despite making his first ever cast at 8.30 am. And the picture below of Marc and his clients was the conclusion of one drift where they had three doubles in about 300 yards. I wasn’t quick enough with the camera, sorry guys.
Suffice to say if this weather holds, as it is forecast, then its going to be a great time to be on the river. Give us a call to book one of our guide team.
Marc Poulos and fly fishers enjoy a beautiful and fish filled afternoon at Rim
IT IS Finally on its way _ RISE – The Movie _ the sequel to last year’s dynamic film Drift. Fantastic footage and some very cool locations. Join Rene Harrop on the Railroad Ranch section of the Henry’s Fork, Drake magazine editor Tom Bie in New Orleans for redfish, hit Argentina and the Katmai region in Alaska.
But our favorite section has to be the paolo worm hatch in the Florida Keys with Capt. Joel Dickey and Capt. Bruce Chard. Not only is this some of the coolest tarpon action you are ever likely to see but these guys fished up here with Chad. Good guys and good guides. We still converse.
We confirmed this afternoon our first shipment of Rise is heading our way, hopefully it will land before the weekend. Enjoy the trailer.
Kurt Sleighter and Clint Wilkinson and a beautiful fall White River brown trout
A GORGEOUS 30″+ brown trout capped off a hard week for Kurt and Teresa Sleighter. The couple were in town for their annual fall trip with guide Clint Wilkinson, and it seemed the heavens opened purely for their arrival.
They scored several fish over 20″ on streamers but when Teresa lost a seriously big fish earlier in the week, maybe they were going to have to settle. Then the flows dropped, the rain eased and Kurt found this trophy blind fishing a run.
Well it took a while but we finally got a trip report out of the boys on their annual Louisiana Marsh trip. And after putting this report together I have a serious jones to head south myself.
If you are keen to head to the Marshes we have a good guide lined up, one of the Journal’s buddies Nate Horn who is guiding out of New Orleans. Chad can fill you in on what you need to take, and what you don’t. And these are big fish months.
Thanks to our local Trout Unlimited chapter president Bill Thorne for putting the words together, plus the pics from Chad and Joey.
LAST Saturday, the Journal, had something of a rarity of late a Saturday without commitments of classes, speaking engagements, guiding or the shop itself. So I actually had a plan, get the girls out of bed and head over to Dry Run Creek, take some photos, and generally goof off.
But the best laid plans were tossed out the window when Lynsey ended up with a bad reaction to her flu vaccine shot on Friday, so instead a lazy day was spent around the House. Thank goodness for these cool photos from our mate Don Allenbaugh. Check out the lamprey attached to the fish in the pic below
ITS Become doggie central around here. Our effevescent tier “T-Bird”, dropped in with her package of Davy Wotton Custom ties Friday and brought along one of Davy’s Jack Russell’s Siana to meet Madison. If you were here for that circus as these two chased each other around the shop, it was something to remember. Continue Reading »
A sample of the Duane Hada "Rainbow Release" Fly Box in Maple
DUANE Hada wandered in this morning with what should be one of this seasons hottest Christmas gifts, a limited edition run of wooden flyboxes laser-etched with his art.
The maple and cherry boxes will feature 5 unique Duane Hada drawings:
Rainbow Release (pictured above)
Trophy Brown Trout
Brookie
White River Grand Slam
White River Fly Fisher
Each box can be laser etched with the recipient’s name.
Only 100 of each box will be produced and each will be signed and numbered.
You can fill the flybox with a White River fly selection or give as they are. There boxes make a tremendous decoration in any den or office. The boxes feature brass hinges, a magnetised closer and are lined on one side with flat foam the other with ripple foam.
The full set will be available in the store by Tuesday. We will take pre-orders for this limited release. Call the shop on 870 435 6166
STOP PRESS: Bull Shoals powerhouse shut down 10am. Norfork also Shut down.
WE have been getting good reports from the daily wadeable water on Norfork, while the White has been fishing very well either wading or boat fishing on lower flows. Both rivers should clean up fairly quickly once the rainfall eases later this morning with the generation at the time of posting.
Even the living legend of fly casting instruction Lefty Kreh told April and the Journal last weekend “I can teach anyone in the world to fly cast _ except my wife.” The Journal knows the feeling. But April’s last class even convinced the Journal’s very shy wife, Bec, to join the fun and let her fly cast out in public. Click here for this slide show of the class
April manages proceedings with a deft touch, with plenty of one on one interaction, a very warm sense of humor. You will learn how to tie your own knots, casting skills, and a whole bunch more. The 4-hour class runs from 10am (be at the shop around 9.30am) and all you need is your flyrod, line and reel, clothing appropriate for the conditions and sunglasses for protection. Lunch is included. The cost is $100, call the store on 870 435 6166 to reserve your spot. The fee is non-refundable.
An ungrateful squirrel abandons ship after his rescue
WHEN this picture showed up in the Journal’s inbox alone, sans the accompanying text and photos of Davy Wotton and clients performing a rescue, my first thought was cool photo, then who launched the squirrel?
The yarn from Davy below explains the rescue then the squirrel’s death defying leap. And this isn’t the first report we have had of squirrels swimming across the White this fall, but this report has the best pics.
The swimming squirrel
Last Sunday while at Rim fishing with my guys John and Seamus, interesting day here as there was a Irishman, a Scot and a Welshman in the same boat, you could call it a Celtic day out.
Fishing was awesome, over 80 fish for the day, the highlight for the guys was to see the swimming squirrel, something l have seen many times for them not.
OK, Seamus need a good pic, so in the net the unfortunate tree rat was rescued from the torrent of the river, but not for long , l guess it figured out it would rather take a chance with a monster Brown than end up on the fly tying table.
TERRY Beeson has always been one of the good guys. Big, smiling, always ready to talk fly fishing or share a joke, even in adversity. Terry’s career path, for those us who knew him seemed troubled, every career step he took seemed to be with a company which would collapse, some would have seen it a curse.
But for us, and perhaps him as well it was a blessing in heavy disguise as it delivered motivation and the time to finally put pen to paper, and deliver to a wider audience the yarns he had been delighting us with.
You might also recall the Southern Council of the FFF recently awarded Terry the Man Of The Year award.
We are proud to have Terry’s first book “Dragonflies On My Rod Tip” now in the shop. It is a collection of short stories about growing up in the Ozarks, with fishing, hunting and family. Drop in and pick up a copy.
If you would like to hear more from Terry head over to Rick Coffman’s Live to Fly Fish Radio for a podcast with the man himself.
MEET the newest Mountain River Fly Shop staffer, our head of public relations and security, Madison.
Madison, a black lab cross joined the Journal’s family earlier this week, after turning up on a friend’s property, tick and flea ridden, but as happy and gentle as a lamb. She has taken to running the shop like any budding trout bum; sleeping, scratching and bumming treats off strangers.
But so far she hasn’t devoured any of our bucktail, chewed up any waders or totally disgraced herself. Indeed she has become more than a little popular among our regulars, and its only been a week. Drop by and say Gday
