subscribesubscriber servicescontact usabout ussite map
Sun, Jul 05 2009 

Published July 25, 2008 12:43 am -

A high-water pursuit of trout on the White River



I was back-paddling and reeling as quickly as I could.

We’d been drifting along on the White River with our fishing lines out. I was using a small blue and white spoon with a single treble hook. Just as I had hooked my first fish, the trophy area sign had come into view.

The rules change in a trophy-only area, and only a single hook can be used. I normally don’t use a treble hook but had one on and wasn’t sure if it was within the regulations. I made sure that I got the rainbow trout into the boat and unhooked way before reaching the sign.

Steve Langford and his son Rusty, my brother-in-law Max and my nephew Eli, Ron Vocelka and his son Cooper and I had just finished a day on the Buffalo River and had moved to the White River for today. We’d packed up the tents and hammocks and transferred to Steve’s cabin at the dam near Eureka Springs, Ark.

On our way to launch the boat we had to make a stop at the Beaver Dam Store. In addition to a few supplies, we needed to check their fishing tips message board and stock up on any of those “hot lures” that we’d failed to bring.

Lisa, a fishing guide for the store, suggested several flies and warned us that the water was very high and that we should fish as far back in the trees as possible. She also suggested the blue and white spoon. I bought two but failed to notice those treble hooks.

As we arrived at the water and walked down the ramp, we could see that the water was almost to the handicapped parking lot and that none of the gravel banks remained. After the gear was loaded into the boats, Cooper and Ron’s into their Mad River, Steve and Rusty’s in one of Steve’s big Blue Hole canoes and Max and Eli’s in the other and mine packed into my Mohawk solo boat, we started down the river.

We’d planned to travel only a short distance that day to allow plenty of time for fishing.

However, just as we paddled away from the parking lot, the first horn sounded, announcing the opening of a gate at the dam. The water began to rise even higher almost immediately. We’d known that the fishing was going to be tricky in the high and fast water, but it was getting worse.

Following my first cast, the second horn sounded as even more water was released from the dam. At least there wouldn’t be much of a need for paddling today.

We spread out across the stream and began our drifts with our fishing lines out, slowing and correcting the boats as we could. We were hooking fish but they weren’t staying on long enough to make it back to the boat. The submerged trees occasionally snagged a lure, causing us to lose a few.

We’d planned a lunch break at the river access at Parker Bend. With the water this high it was one of the few opportunities we’d have for an easy stop. The long concrete walkway that can normally be seen sweeping way out into the water was almost completely submerged. Only a few feet of its rock wall were visible. We swung the boats into what was left of the protected area created by what was left of the walled walkway.

We’d had no luck with Lisa’s suggestion of fishing deep in the trees, and although we had hooked a few fish while trolling, it wasn’t a banner day for the White River.

Once back at Steve’s cabin we lounged around, some inside watching television, others parked around the grill watching the burgers cook and talking about the day.

Landing a few more fish would have been nice, however; with perfect weather and easy paddling, we couldn’t complain for long. Soon we began to plan for a return trip later in the year, once the water drops and the gravel bars and riffles return.



print this story    email this story    comment on this story   

Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.


Add a comment on this story





monster
autoconx
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide
Click here!!

We Blog!
We Pod Cast!

We Twitter!

: Special Offer For New Subscribers : 32 buy 1 get 1 free offers

Click Here!

TV LIsitngs



Find a job! Find a Home! Find a car!
Featured Jobs

TEAMS NEEDED

SIGN-ON BONUS $3000
Benefits and West Coast
$$ Scheduled Raises $$
HIGH MILES WEEKLY
72hrs
...>MORE

LIFEGUARDS
All shifts available, Apply in person at either Joplin Family Y location.
www.joplinfamilyy.org.
...>MORE

MEDICAL OFFICE
seeking Insurance Clerk. Coding experience required. Will pay for experience. Benefits. Send resume: Globe Box 94, 117 E...>MORE

NURSING PROGRAM COORDINATOR

for Crowder College in Cassville. Requires Master‚s in Nursing and two years of experience within the last five ye
...>MORE

ACCOUNTANT
Local Construction firm needing full charge accountant, duties include general ledger, accounts receivable/billing, acco...>MORE

LIBRARY SPECIALIST
Crowder College Lee Library, 25 hours a week. For complete information, see www.crowder.edu, employment section, or call...>MORE

OPINIONS WANTED
For legal research project. Participants will listen to presentations and express their opinions. Project scheduled for ...>MORE

REVETER WANTED
EXPERIENCED for brake manufacturing. Please apply in person at 3215 E. 20th, Joplin, MO. ...>MORE

DRIVERS WANTED
DRIVERS WANTED Drivers needed for Waste Corporation of Joplin, a growing company in the Joplin and surrounding areas. ...>MORE

EMERGENCY SERVICE WORKER
EMERGENCY SERVICE WORKER/ EMERGENCY ROOM ADVOCATE Part-time position in women’s treatment/ trauma program. This positio...>MORE

See all ads

Featured Transportation

FORD 2001 ESCORT
FORD, 2001 Escort, 4 cylinder, automatic, good condition. $1800. (417)437-5682....>MORE

1979 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
350 automatic, $5000 or trade consider. (620)230-0459...>MORE

YAMAHA 1999 ROAD STAR
Yamaha, 1999 Road Star 1600 excellent condition, less than 10,000 miles, saddle bags and highway lamps. $3500. Cell phon...>MORE

1957 CHEVROLET
2 door post, project, rust free Texas car, no motor or transmission, good Missouri title, $7500.
Bob 417-781-1932
...>MORE

FORD 2000 1 TON
Ford, 2000 1 ton, 4X4, 6 speed, duals, flatbed, 7.3 diesel, $6800; 1998 Bucket truck, 55’ Altec. 417-358-8636, 483-9700....>MORE

2005 HONDA SHADOW VLX 600
2,000 miles, color white, $3950. (417)673-3860....>MORE

LEHMAN TRIKE
LEHMAN TRIKE, 2007, excellent condition, rider has health problems. $20,500. Serious inquires only. (417)529-9554....>MORE

1932 FORD
5 window, coupe, glass body rolling chassis, torch thrust, 2 wheels, etc, $18,000. (417)781-1932, or 417-437-9942...>MORE

2006 CHEVROLET HHR LT
automatic, 40,000 miles, loaded with options, $6200. (417)434-2949....>MORE

MAZDA, 2000
B3000, 4x2, V6, automatic, high miles, $2150. (417)843-2613....>MORE

See all ads

Featured Homes

2-3 BR
Basement, newly remodeled, oak cabinets, nice wood floors, privacy fence. $79,200. 2525 N. Ozark. (417)483-0900....>MORE

OWNER FINANCE
OWNER FINANCE. $650 down, $435 monthly. 201 N. Washington, Joplin, 3 BR, garage, Full price $32,500. 417-359-4113. ...>MORE

LAKE FRONT MOBILE
Lake Front Mobile Grove, OK 1972 14 X 46 1 Bedroom, 1 bath lake front mobile home weekend getaway. Complete with furn...>MORE

OPEN HOUSE
OPEN HOUSE 7/5/09 1:00-4:00 2281 sq. ft. Updated kitchen 4 br + bonus room 2 living areas Metal roof. Stapleton school ...>MORE

INVESTORS OR START-UP
INVESTORS OR START-UP 1217 Central. $67500 2 bedroom, 1 bath, very nice,room to build more. See more at homesbyowner.co...>MORE

HANDYMAN SPECIAL
Handyman Special, only $500 down, owner financing, 11% interest, $345/ month, priced at $23,900. 1120 W. 12th Street (41...>MORE

OPEN HOUSE
405 Keeney Street, Carl Junction. Sunday July 12 • 2 p.m.-4 p.m.
This home is owned by Carl Junction R-1 School Di
...>MORE

See all ads

Other Cool Stuff

ANTIQUE RADIO
ANTIQUE Radio; hanging lamps; china cabinet; carnival glass; Singer featherweight machine; 2 ladies and men diamond ring...>MORE

LAB PUPPIES
lab puppies, AKC 1 chocolate male 1 chocolate female 1 black male 1 black female Master, senior, and junior hunters on ...>MORE

MINIATURE DACHSHUND PUPPIES
6 weeks old, $100. (417)781-4099....>MORE

YORKIE-CHORKIE
Yorkie-Chorkie, 6 weeks, weight 12 oz. and up. 417-358-4202....>MORE

PATTERN TORCH
Industrial, $500. (417)781-1932....>MORE

SHIH-TZU PUPPIES
$125 each; Shih-tzu adults free to a good home, (417)439-5568....>MORE

COLLEGE STUDENT
COLLEGE STUDENT LOOKING FOR FEMALE ROOMMATE
I am looking for a female roommate with Christian values to share my du
...>MORE

MALTIES PUPS
$150-$300; Yorkies, $300; Morkies-$200. 592-7827, leave message....>MORE

AMPLIFIER
1953 Gibson BHR, $250. (417)437-9942....>MORE

2002 LOWE TAHITI
2002 Lowe Tahiti 22 Deck Boat with 2002 Johnson 150 hp motor, fully loaded and lake ready, $12,500. (620)856-5165 or (41...>MORE

See all ads


 

Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.CNHI Classified Advertising NetworkCNHI News Service
Associated Press content © 2009. All rights reserved. AP content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Our site is powered by Zope and our Internet Yellow Pages site is powered by PremierGuide.
Some parts of our site may require you to download the Flash Player Plugin.
View our Privacy Policy
Advertiser index

 

 

The Joplin Globe Electronic Edition