Arkansas Fishing Report from Anglers for 2005

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December 30, 2005 - Beaver - G'day y'all from the Beaver Dam Store crew! email - Well 2005 is almost done, and what a year its been for us and everyone else. Lots of changes around the store in the past year, most notably the retirement of Charlotte and the new ownership. And plenty of exciting times ahead. We have also been through the development of a new management plan for the Tailwater, which of course brings new rules from January 1.

These changes are also accompanied by a major reduction in stocking numbers, to try and balance the food resource with the fish population. Yes fishing Beaver is going to be different and for the better. But the long-term need is still for a hatchery on Beaver. We have been promised it for 30 years, we have the land available and the water supply, all that is needed now is the funding. Speaking for most anglers we don't believe where the money comes from is important, Federal, State, local or even private resources. But we want that money provided now. We, all of us who fish this tailwater, have waited long enough.

* FISHING REPORT

Beaver Tailwater: Fishing is getting better once the day warms a little. Before the midge hatch try Zebra midges (black, brown or red); Razorback Midges; Charlotte's Redneck Midge and other midge pupa imitations. During the hatches (mid-morning to early afternoon) particularly on cloudy days try Parachute Adams (20-22), Adams (20); Midge Adams, Cream Midges, or our newly unpacked Adult Midge Light, Snowshoe Midge Emerger, or Parasol Midge Emerger.
We have Wapsi's Razor Foam Midge tying kits ($8 each) to whip up some of Pat Neuman's great little fly. Tie it as a pupa or an adult. Its simple fast and effective. If you don't fancy dry fly precision try swinging a soft hackle, Olive Submarine, Dark Olive Dun and Peacock and Patridge and in deeper or swifter sections try the new Fulton's Tungsten Wired Red Ass.
Subsurface sowbugs remain the fly of choice through much of the upper section of the tailwater. Try our gray sowbugs 12-18 or the sweet McLellan's Woven V-Rib sowbug.
Olive Woolly Buggers, and Egg patterns are performing well particularly in peach colors, Umpqua's superb low water Flashtail mini eggs, and the bead head Veiled Eggs for faster runs. We have also been able to finally get in some teeny size 18 Flashtail Eggs which should be gobbled up.
As the cold weather increases watch for more early morning water releases, particularly on weekdays. Generation has been starting in the evening on dusk. Call 417 336 5083 for a real time recorded message (after the Table Rock report) on water releases.

Norfork Tailwater/Bull Shoals: Low, low water over the Christmas break meant plenty of fishing and catching.Similar conditions can probably be expected this weekend. Olive midges, gray sowbugs, olive/brown scuds all were working well on Norfork on Tuesday when Steve guided three generations of the Lenard family. (We will save the tale of Dry Run Creek for when the photos arrive). Lots of midging fish from McLellan's downstream, great time to try soft hackles or dries, mentioned above. Sunny days try the Pearl submarine in particular. Overcast days have seen nice blue wing olive hatches on both the White and Norfolk. Small pheasant tails, or the many micro mayfly variants can be effect in the early stages of the hatch.
Egg patterns have been very effective, particuarly around Wildcat Shoal and Rim Shoal has also been fishing well

NEW FISHING REGULATIONS _ JANUARY 1

It seems a long time since March when we first started telling you about the proposals for Beaver Tailwater to get its own management plan, and better yet drafted with input from those fishing the river. Well finally, on January 1 the new regulations underpinning the plan will come into effect.

If you're a catch and release fly fisher currently you probably won't notice much difference at all. The main changes only really affect those taking trout or bait fishers. But everyone should support the goals of the new plan _ top produce better sized rainbows and more trophy browns.

To that end stocking levels have basically been halved and a slot limit introduced to allow fish to grow, relatively unmolested from 13" to 16", replacing the existing minimum size limits.
Bait fishers will have to use barbless hooks on the whole river, from the Dam to Houseman Access. The current Catch and Release Area has become a "no bait zone" which will carry pretty much the same rules as the former catch and release area, including single barless articials and no chumming. The final management plan, which will run for 5 years, will not be finalised until early next year.

The regulation changes are:

*
13" to 16" slot limit for all trout All trout between 13" and 16" must be released immediately..
*
Daily creel limit remains 5 trout but only one trout may be over 16".
*
Single barbless hook restriction on bait fishing to reduce hooking mortality of released trout, hooking point barb must be mashed down or removed. Bait holder barbs on hook shank are allowed.
*
From Beaver Dam to Houseman Access, possession of trout within the slot limit (between 13" and 16") will not be allowed.
*
The current Catch and Release Area has been converted to a no-bait zone where only single barbless artificial lured may be used but the same slot limit harvest rules apply. Chumming is not allowed in this area.
*
A Trout permit is required to fish Beaver Dam to Houseman Access, or to retain trout from any state waters.
*
Other statewide trout regulations are unchanged and still in place. See the Trout Fishing Guidebook or Fishing Guidebook for those regulations.

Tight Lines from the Beaver Dam Store staff,
Lisa Steve, Shirley, Tom and Kevin.

December 26, 2005 - Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood Lake Guide Service - Merry Christmas to all and a prosperous and healthy wish for 2006!

Water temps: 48º - 56º ; Lake just slightly below normal level, & Discharge = 157CFS.
Current = reduced and slow.

Patterns for Largemouth (Black) Bass are relatively unchanged over the last couple weeks. The bass are relating to the deeper drops in Little River yet close to creek mouths, and run up shallow on warm, sunny days. Largemouths remain fair to good between 2 & 4 pounds, on War Eagle spinner baits in copper-peach and spot remover colors, along the pad stems in Little River adjacent to creek channel swings and mouths. We are fishing the lightweight spinner baits slower and deeper for the past few weeks. Using a 1/4oz size spinnerbait, we are attaching clip on weights to the arms or hook shanks of these smaller lures to slow them down, fishing them deeper in the strike zones where the Largemouths have apparently dropped several feet in the last couple weeks.

Crankbaits and Rat-L-Traps in various shad patterns, remain taking fair to good size black bass and Kentucks between 2-3 pounds. We have had success with the mid-to-deeper running cranks like the Deep Little N, in Suncraw color, and the Bandit crankbaits in the brown back/orange belly craw patterns. The 7-9 foot depths of creek mouths around Snake Creek, Mud Lake and Hurricane Creeks in the last week seem to be holding the crankbait fish. Points on the main lake were yeilding some nice 2-3 pound black bass along Little River using the larger sized Rat-L-Traps and medium running crankbaits.

The jig bite for the Largemouths continues improving the last few weeks. Texas Craw or pumpkin/ watermelon rind, or black/purple/blue continue to be the best colors. We are using Larew Hawg Craws in pumpkinseed, Zoom black or green pumpkin chunk trailers on jigs, with some success on Largemouths over 4 pounds each on bases of cypress trees close to the river. Best bite remains on the sunny side of the tree knees and root wads 2-4 feet from base of the actual cypress tree trunk.

The White bass have moved to deeper water in the river, and not been schooling the last few weeks, with the passage of the recent cold fronts and water temperature reductions. We have talked to several persons along the river catching the white bass on hammered spoons with white bucktails, in 12-15 feet depths in front of creeks along Little River.

Kentuckys (Spotted Bass) are still fair to good, along the river on the white/chart Rocket Shads, twitch worms or trick worms in green pumpkin, and small Rat-L-Traps in chrome/blue or chrome/chartreuse colors, around creek mouths and where they dump into Little River. Kentuckies remain stacked up in the mouths of Snake Creek, Hurricane Creek early this week, but bite has dropped a notch due to recent cold frontal passages.

Crappie are excellent, with many limits of huge slabs, coming in daily. Crappie remain slighly deeper in Little River, from last couple weeks. Crappie are being caught approx 15-16 feet deep along Little River. Best on jigs, in contact with planted brush piles and tops. The best bite remains mid-day this week. Areas working Crappie well are along Little River in front of Mud Lake oxbow, between White Cliffs and McGuire Lake oxbow, and between Yarborough Point and Outlaw trail on north side of Little River.

We are still noticing the water temps remain much warmer, further up Little River than the main lake body. Differences in water temps up to 8-10 degrees, can be found up river, and back in the oxbows, as compared to the main lake. Mud Lake, Horseshoe, McGuire Lake, and other oxbows, were in upper 50ºs to lower 60ºs this week, while main lake was a chilly low 50ºs and upper 40ºs. The activity level of the bass in these different areas of Millwood is dramatically more aggressive.

}><(((º> Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions Report <º)))><{

Water clarity is good, in Little River and is approx 2 feet. Clarity on the main lake is also slight improvement at approx 2-3 feet. North eastern sector of the lake around Okay Landing and Cottonshed, remains stained but improving. Lake level is just slightly below normal (259.2) at 259.1. Discharge at the dam is 157CFS with one gate open 0.4 feet. Cossatot and Little River current is slow. Several river marker buoys are missing or out of place due to recent high wind. Use caution in low light navigations.

The upriver oxbows on Little River, still have much better water visibility, estimated at approx 3-5 feet in places. We have noticed the water temps remain much warmer, further up Little River than the main lake body. Differences of up to 8+ degrees warmer water can be found up river, and back in the oxbows, as compared to the main lake. Increases of surface temps have been noted later in the day, depending on area of the lake and wind and sun. Monday the main lake surface temperatures ranged in the upper 40º range, and we found water up river in Cemetary Slough above 55º later in mid-day.

With the onset of cooler weather, and cold fronts, hypothermia can set in on a person in less than 5 minutes in water temperatures around or below the 50º mark, so wear that Life Jacket!! If you are thrown from your boat, it could be your only chance of survival.

December 22, 2005 - Beaver - Submitted by Jason Piper - JT Crappie Guide Service - As of Wednesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lakeâ¤™s elevation at 1,105.86 feet MSL. J.T. Crappie Guide Services said the lake is extremely low, and the water is crystal clear. Crappie fishing is fair on minnows near any visible brush. Bass are biting well, with many anglers reporting good numbers of fish on spinnerbaits and crankbaits near the ledges to deep water. Some reports of stripers have come in, with the striped bass biting well on whole life shad.

December 21, 2005 - Greers Ferry Lake - Submitted by Fish Finders Fish Service - the water level at greers ferry lake is 451-17 at present and falling -we need rain bad and the temp is high 40's to low 50's on a nice sunny warm day.

the hybrid and white bass fishing at greers ferry is good if you can stay on the shad and or follow the birds around and stay up with them you can catch them pretty good around 50 feet deep on spoons , in-line spinners , swimbaits, and jig's tipped with minnows.

the black basses can be caught on channel swings and chunk rock steep banks and also secondary points , with crank baits , spinnerbaits , if it is cloudy and if it is sunny they will be around 25-45 feet deep and can be caught with grubs , on football heads , on the bottom as well as swimming them if they are suspended and also c-rigged finesse baoits as well as c-rigged craw worms.

the crappie are still biting well but are a little deeper now being around 25-35 feet deep and can still be caught with your favorite baits and you can also pick up a few good bream at the same depth.

the walleye are still not biting real well but should get better real soom , with the water temp getting more stable and with the warm-up expected.

there is still no report on the catfishing this week

December 20, 2005 - Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood Lake Guide Service - Water temps: 50º - 56º ; Lake just slightly below normal level, & Discharge = 157CFS.
Current = reduced and slow.

Largemouth (Black) Bass remain fair to good between 2-5 pounds, on War Eagle spinner baits in copper-peach, spot remover or aurora colors, along the pad stems in Little River. We are putting clip on weights on the arms of 1/4 oz size spinner baits to fish them deeper and slower the last few days.

Crankbaits and Rat-L-Traps in various shad patterns, are taking keeper black bass and Kentucks between 2-3 pounds. The slightly deeper running crankbaits remain taking the larger bass. We have had success with the mid-to-deeper running cranks like the Deep Little N, in Suncraw color, in the 7-9 foot depths of creek mouths around Snake Creek, Mud Lake and Hurricane Creeks in the last week. Points were yeilding some nice 2-3 pound black bass along Little River using the larger sized Rat-L-Traps.

We are still noticing the water temps remain much warmer, further up Little River than the main lake body. Differences in water temps remain up to 11 degrees, and can be found up river, and back in the oxbows, as compared to the main lake. Mud Lake, Horseshoe, McGuire Lake, and other oxbows, were in lower 60ºs this week, while main lake was a chilly low 50ºs. The activity level of the bass in these different areas of Millwood is dramatic. We actually observed juvenile bass and Kentuckies trying to school in the lower 60º water up river this week.

The jig bite continues improving the last few weeks. Texas Craw or pumpkin/ watermelon rind, or black/purple/blue seem to be the best colors. We continue using the back half, business end, of Larew Hawg Craws in black or green pumpkin as our jig trailers with some success on Largemouths over 4 pounds each on bases of cypress trees close to the river. Best bite remains on the sunny side of the tree knees and root wads 2-4 feet from base of the actual cypress tree trunk.

The White bass have moved to deeper water in the river, and not been schooling the last few weeks, with the passage of the recent cold fronts and water temperature reductions.

Kentuckys (Spotted Bass) are still fair to good, along the river on the white/chart Rocket Shads, twitch worms or trick worms in green pumpkin, and small Rat-L-Traps in spring bream colors, around creek mouths and where they dump into Little River. Kentuckies remain stacked up in the mouths of Snake Creek, Hurricane Creek early this week, but bite has dropped a notch due to recent cold frontal passages.

Crappie are excellent, with many limits of huge slabs, coming in daily. Crappie remain slighly deeper in Little River, from last couple weeks. Crappie remain suspended approx 13-18 feet deep along Little River. Best on jigs, in contact with planted brush piles and tops. The best bite remains mid-day this week. Areas working Crappie well are along Little River in front of Mud Lake oxbow, between White Cliffs and McGuire Lake oxbow, and between Yarborough Point and Outlaw trail on north side of Little River.

No report on Channel Cats this week.

}><(((º> Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions Report <º)))><{

Water clarity improved again from last week, in Little River and is approx 2.5 feet. Clarity on the main lake is also slight improvement at approx 2-3 feet. North eastern sector of the lake around Okay Landing and Cottonshed, remains stained but improving. Lake level is just slightly below normal (259.2) at 259.13. Discharge at the dam is 157CFS with one gate open 0.4 feet. Cossatot and Little River current is slow. Several river marker buoys are missing or out of place due to recent high wind. Use caution in low light navigations.

The upriver oxbows on Little River, still have much better water visibility, estimated at approx 3-5 feet in places. We have noticed the water temps remain much warmer, further up Little River than the main lake body. Differences of up to 11 degrees or more warmer water can be found up river, and back in the oxbows, as compared to the main lake. Increases of surface temps have been noted later in the day, depending on area of the lake and wind and sun. Monday the main lake surface temperatures ranged in the low 50º range, and we found water up river in Cemetary Slough above 61º later in mid-day.

Thank you to the USArmy Corps of Engineers and AG&FC personnel who are currently in process of evaluating the increase and spread of various vegetation species on Little River and Millwood Lake. A recommendation & report is pending, on potential control measures which would be the most physical effective manner of the vegetation growth explosion in all the creeks, oxbows, Little River and the main lake; as well as which methods could be the most cost effective to maintain.

Use EXTREME caution navigating Little River in low light conditions, and SLOW DOWN! Careful watch for floaters and debris in Little River's current, and wearing your PFD is a requirement!!

Don't forget, be safe, and respect the other guy's right to use the lake too. Release those big bass to spawn and fight again, and take home those little 16"ers to fry up! Use caution in low light conditions, wear your Life Preserver and SUNSCREEN! If you are suddenly thrown from your boat, or knocked unconscious, your life preserver can potentially be your only hope to survive. Hypothermia can set in on a person in less than 5 minutes in water temperatures around the 50º mark, so wear that Life Jacket!!

Visit us on the web for the most current Millwood Lake fishing report, updated weekly. See some great catch and release photos, sponsor links, tons of great information and resources on the lake available to you, along with excellent related direct links to Arkansas' State Parks, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, The US Army Corps of Engineers, and Arkansas.com. Be sure to check out our great arial zoom-in/out photomap (you navigate the map on your own PC at home, N, S, E, & W) of Millwood, the rivers, the dam and spillway, state park, etc., and you can view the entire lake, quadrant by quadrant, here:

http://www.MillwoodGuideService.com/

and just click the gold link, on the left column of our website, "Millwood Lake Map".

Let us know if we can help you, be of assistance, or provide seasonal information, on your next trip to Millwood Lake in gorgeous southwest Arkansas! The lake, which some biologists believe, is currently the home of the next potential Arkansas State Record Largemouth Bass, alive and swimming there right now!

Best personal regards, and Good Fishin'!

Mike

December 18, 2005 - Beaver - Submitted by Jason Piper - JT Crappie Guide Service - Beaver Lake: As of Wednesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lakeâ¤™s elevation at 1,106.11 feet MSL.
J.T. Crappie Guide Services said the lake is low and clear. The extremely cold weather has kept many anglers off the lake. Crappie fishing is fair in 6 to 10 feet of water around planted brush piles. Bass are shallow in the daytime, and anglers are doing the best on spinnerbaits and crankbaits on shorelines where the sun has warmed the water around mid-day. Stripers are biting well around the river arms. Anglers are doing the best on one-ounce spoons and hair jigs as well as 4 to 8 inch brooder minnows and shad.

December 16, 2005 - Beaver - G'day y'all from the Beaver Dam Store crew! email - Phone 479-253-6154 - G'day y'all from the Beaver Dam Store crew! - Christmas is approaching fast _ scary fast. Then its going to be New Year (our resolution is more fishing) and 2006, new fishing regulations. Should be a fun time on the tailwater. We are really hoping that the new regulations can help boost the average fish size and get them up to Arkansas' proportions. We will give you the full rundown on all the changes next week.

Fishing has been pretty good on the tailwater, plus you know you aren't going to see crowds. Between the Christmas rush and colder weather fly fishers have been few and far between. But the hardy are catching fish. Wrap yourself up, fish as long as you can stand it and drop into the Dam store for a hot coffee, snack and a bit of a yarn It'll do you good to get away from the traffic jams, screaming children and parents wired up on adrenaline and credit card overload at this time of the year.

FISHING REPORT

Beaver Tailwater: Sowbugs remain the fly of choice through much of the upper section of the tailwater. Though the midge hatches remain thick, sowbugs are thicker than fleas on a brown dog. Try our gray sowbugs 12-18 or the sweet McLellan's Woven V-Rib sowbug.

Zebra midges (black, brown or red); Razorback Midges; Charlotte's Redneck Midge and other patterns have been working well. If you wnat to try dries then our Cream midges, Adams Midges or our newly unpacked Adult Midge Light would be the fly of choice currently. Keep an eye on the natural's color, for the black midges try Befus' Adult Midge is another great pattern, or the Snowshow Midge Emerger, or Parasol Midge Emerger both new into stock. If you don't fancy dry fly precision try swinging a soft hackle, Olive Submarine, Dark Olive Dun and Peacock and Patridge and in deeper or swifter sections try the new Fulton's Tungsten Wired Red Ass.

Olive Woolly Buggers, and Egg patterns are performing well particularly in peach colors, Umpqua's superb low water Flashtail mini eggs, and the bead head Veiled Eggs for faster runs. We have also been able to finally get in some teeny size 18 Flashtail Eggs which should be gobbled up.

As the cold weather increases watch for more early morning water releases, particularly on weekdays. Generation has been starting in the evening on dusk . Call 417 336 5083 for a real time recorded message (after the Table Rock report) on water releases.

TIP OF THE WEEK

We all know the story about worn tapered leaders. You have changed flies long, enough, probably cut out a few tangles, lost a bit more to a streamside tree until finally you have something about 0x on the pointy end. Its too thick to tie to your normal 6x Beaver tippet. Don't throw these sections away. Loop them up and keep in a ziplock bag (twist the butt loop through around the rest of the leader as they come out of the packet to keep them tidy. Then next time you need a leader for streamers, largemouth or white bass, you have ready made short leaders. Add a foot or two of 3x or 4x and you are good to go.

Tight Lines from the Beaver Dam Store staff,
Lisa Steve, Shirley, Tom and Kevin

December 14, 2005 - Greers Ferry Lake - Submitted by Fish Finders Fish Service - The water level at greers ferry is 451.29 at present and the temp. ranges from 48-51 degrees

The bass fishing is according if you can find them as they are bunched up for the winter tehy can be caught on crank baits and spinner baits as well as c-rigs, fish the steeper chunk rock banks , if the sun is shinning they will be right on the bank and can be caught with spinner baits up sunning and if it is cloudy they will be a little deeper and can be caught with the crank baits and do not for get jigs , the c-rig bite is better for the roaming scattered fish , with lizards and finesse worms on secondary points , their are still a few not bunched up and can be caught this way, and throw a jighead worm when you find them when the bite slows down somewhat and you can pick up a few more, as most of the fish you will catch now are keepers

the walleye fishing is not real stable right now but a few can be caught trolling big billed rebels and rogues as well as walley divers

hybrid and white bass fishing is real good if you find them as some of them have made their way up the creeks -in-li9ne spinners as well as jigging spoons are working as is the swim baits, watch for the birds and if you can find the shad you have found the fish, just slow down alot and if you think you are fishing slow enough -slow down some more.

no reports on the catfish at this time

the crappie are biting pretty well on jigs and minnows in the standing pole timber in about 15-25 feet of water and also around homade brush piles.
we find em you catch em!!!!!!
Tommy Cauley
Fishing Guide

December 13, 2005 - Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood Lake Guide Service - Water temps: 52º - 58º ; Lake just slightly below normal level, & Discharge = 154CFS. / Current = reduced and slow.

Largemouth (Black) Bass remain good around 3-4 pounds, on War Eagle spinner baits in smoke-mouse, chartruese pearl, or spot remover colors, along the pad stems in Little River.

Norman DLN and Big O cranks, 1/2 to 3/4 oz Rat-L-Traps in chrome on sunny days, and various shad patterns on cloudy days, are taking nice black bass and Kentucks between 2-3 pounds. The slightly deeper running crankbaits remain taking the larger bass.

Dead-sticking Bass Assassin Shads are still taking some 3 pound black bass, in the dying lily pad stems and hydrilla in same locations as the spinner baits, along Little River. We have noticed the water temps remain much warmer, further up Little River than the main lake body. Differences of up to 6 and 7 degrees warmer water can be found up river, and back in the oxbows, as compared to the main lake. Mud Lake, Horseshoe, and Cemetary Slough oxbows were in lower-to-mid 60ºs this week, while main lake was a chilly low 50ºs.

Carolina rig bite is picking up in the last few days using Lake Fork French Fries & 8" Zoom magnum lizards in watermelon-red, carolina pumpkin, and sour grape colors. The jig bite in Texas Craw or pumpkin/ watermelon rind colors, continues to improve. We have been using the back half, business end, of Larew Hawg Craws in black or green pumpkin as our jig trailers with some success on Largemouths over 4 pounds each on bases of cypress trees close to the river. Best bite was on the sunny side of the tree knees, upside to any (reduced) current in the river.

The White bass have not been schooling the last few days with the passage of cold fronts and dropping surface temperatures, and the huge schools that were massively feeding, have moved and shifted to deeper water in Little River. They have been caught on hammered Cordell spoons with white and red bucktail trailers, but not with the aggressive level as last few weeks.

Kentuckys (Spotted Bass) are still fair to good, along the river on the Rocket Shads, twitch worms, and small Rat-L-Traps, around creek mouths and where they dump into Little River. Kentuckies remain stacked up in the mouths of Snake Creek, Hurricane Creek early this week, but bite has dropped a notch due to recent cold frontal passages.

Crappie are fair to good, and remain slighly deeper in Little River, from last couple weeks. The Crappie are suspended approx 12-16 feet deep along Little River. Best on jigs, in contact with planted brush piles and tops. The best bite is mid-day this week.

Channel Cats are fair on cut bait, dog food, cottonseed mill cake, and shiners, approx 16-18 feet deep, outside river bends, on trotlines and yo-yos.k

}><(((º> Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions Report <º)))><{

Water clarity improved again from last week, in Little River and is approx 15-25". Clarity on the main lake is also slight improvement at approx 15-20". North eastern sector of the lake around Cottenshed, remains stained but improving this week. Lake level is just slightly below normal (259.2) at 259.17. Discharge at the dam is 154CFS with one gate open 0.37 feet. Cossatot and Little River current is slow. Several river marker buoys are missing or out of place due to recent high wind. Use caution in low light navigations.

The upriver oxbows on Little River, still have much better water visibility, estimated at approx 3-5 feet in places. We have noticed the water temps remain much warmer, further up Little River than the main lake body. Differences of up to 6 and 7 degrees warmer water can be found up river, and back in the oxbows, as compared to the main lake. Mud Lake, Horseshoe, and Cemetary Slough oxbows were in lower-to-mid 60ºs this week, while main lake was a chilly low 50ºs. Increases of surface temps have been noted later in the day, depending on area of the lake and wind and sun.

Thank you to the USArmy Corps of Engineers and AG&FC personnel who are currently in process of evaluating the increase and spread of various vegetation species on Little River and Millwood Lake. A recommendation & report is pending, on potential control measures which would be the most physical effective manner of the vegetation growth explosion in all the creeks, oxbows, Little River and the main lake; as well as which methods could be the most cost effective to maintain.

Use EXTREME caution navigating Little River in low light conditions, and SLOW DOWN! Careful watch for floaters and debris in Little River's current, and wearing your PFD is a requirement!!

http://www.MillwoodGuideService.com/

and just click the gold link, on the left column of our website, "Millwood Lake Map".

Best personal regards, and Good Fishin'!

Mike

December 9, 2005 - Beaver - G'day y'all from the Beaver Dam Store crew! email - Phone 479-253-6154 - G'day y'all from the Beaver Dam Store crew! - Ok, this week it feels like December! The Aussie's huddled by a heater under a blanket and muttering something about it being 85 degrees and duns hatching back home. Well it has been colder than a well-digger's wotzit over the past few days but when the going gets tough the tough go fishin.

One of our customers from Little Rock, Larry was hardy enough to brave the weather on Friday, and caught a bunch of rainbows on a sowbug from the Canebreak section of the catch and release area. He hads picked up one of last three Hodgman microfibre breathable coats on sale and was raving about how well it worked.

Together with the Wind River gloves, and a Temple Fork fleece ball cap he said he hadn't felt the weather at all. Big wraps since the temperatures were cool enough to have the guides on his rod icing up. Thankfully the Arctic Edge will be off this weekend with Sunday expected to nudge the 50s again so come out and enjoy the river.

TIP OF THE WEEK

Probably the smartest move you can make in preparation for winter fishing in Arkansas is pack a second bag, with spare clothes. Yes we know it is just something else to remember but they don't have to be your Sunday best. Stick spare socks, underwear, shirt, old track pants, a pullover and a towel into an old gymbag and leave it in your fishing vehicle or with your fishing gear, so it doesn't get forgotten. You can get hypothermic pretty quick with the sort of air temperature and windchill we have currently if you take a spill on the river.

FISHING REPORT

Beaver Tailwater: Midges hatches have been thick for the past two weeks, particularly on overcast days. Definately time to break out a 3wt and go hunting with emergers or dries on 7x. Long fine leaders are the choice, but thankfully the midges are an 20 and not a size 46. Cream midges or our newly unpacked Adult Midge Light would be the fly of choice currently. But keep checkling the naturals as this can change.
Befus' Adult Midge is another great pattern or you might try the Snowshow Midge Emerger, or Parasol Midge Emerger both new into stock. These patterns are finally emergers you can see.

If you don't fancy dry fly precision try swinging a soft hackle, Olive Submarine, Dark Olive Dun and Peacock and Patridge and in deeper or swifter sections try the new Fulton's Tungsten Wired Red Ass.

Olive Woolly Buggers, zebra midges (black, brown or red); Razorback Midges; Charlotte's Redneck Midge and other patterns have been working well. Egg patterns are performing well particularly in peach colors, Umpqua's superb low water Flashtail mini eggs, and the bead head Veiled Eggs for faster runs. We have also been able to finally get in some teeny size 18 Flashtail Eggs which should be gobbled up.

There are also bunches of sowbugs, from tiny 18s all the way up to behemoth 12s in the upper part of the tailwater.

As the cold weather increases watch for more early morning water releases, particularly on weekdays. Generation has been starting in the evening on dusk . Call 417 336 5083 for a real time recorded message (after the Table Rock report) on water releases.

Tight Lines from the Beaver Dam Store staff,
Lisa Steve and Kevin

December 7, 2005 - Greers Ferry Lake - Submitted by Fish Finders Fish Service - The water temp at greers ferry is 52-55 degreers and the level is at 451.57 and falling .

The black bass can be caught with crank baits and spinner baits on steep chunk rock banks on sunny afternoons and out deeper on gitzts and jigs on cloudy days and a few are falling for the jerk bait also, kentuckies also, the smallmouth are still in about 20 feet of water on secondary points and bluff banks and can be caught with c-rigs with a 5 inch lizard and also with a jighead and a 4 inch right bite cinko in watermelon candy, with the jighead catching the suspended fish.

The crappie are still biting pretty well in 15-20 feet of water on live bait it semms to be better than jigs at present up all creeks as alot of shad are present around the pole timber and you can pick up a few bream also.

The hybrid and whites have followed the shad up the creeks and when you find the bait you can catch them on jigging spoons , in-line spinners and swim baits and the swim bait bite will continueto get better as the winter goes on as the shad have grown up in size and are eating alost for winter also .

The walleye are biting fair and it should get better with the new front .

December 3, 2005 - Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood Lake Guide Service - Water temps: 54º - 60º ; normal level, & Discharge = 172CFS.

Largemouth (Black) Bass from 3 to 5 pounds, good on War Eagle spinner baits in smoke-mouse or firecracker colors, along dying lily pad stems in Little River. Norman DLN and Cordell Big O cranks and 1/2 oz Rat-L-Traps in white or chrome, and various shad patterns are taking nice black bass and Kentucks around 2 pounds. The slightly deeper running crankbaits are taking a few of the larger bass. Bass Assassin Shads are still taking some fair keeper size 3-3.5 pound black bass, in the dying lily pad stems and hydrilla and in pockets in backs of creeks. We have noticed the water temps are much warmer further up Little River than the main lake body. Up to 6 and 7 degrees warmer water can be found up river as compared to the main lake. Carolina rig bite is picking up in the last few days, and the jig bite is beginning to improve.

White bass are still randomly schooling, in Little River above and below Hwy 71 bridge in Little River where the creek mouths dump in, and continue hitting Rat-L-Traps in chrome, Rocket Shads in white, Little Cleos and Rooster Tails. These are catching the whites where you see baitfish flicking the surface of the river in huge schools. Work these baitfish schools and all around the edges of the bait schools you see on the surface or depth finder.

Kentuckys (Spotted Bass) are good, along the river on the Rocket Shads, twitch worms, and small Rat-L-Traps, around creek mouths and where they dump into Little River. Kentuckies remain stacked up in the mouths of Snake Creek, Hurricane Creek early this week.

Crappie are fair to good, and have moved to slighly deeper drop-offs in Little River, from last couple weeks. The Crappie are suspended approx 11-13 feet deep along Little River. Best on jigs, in contact with planted brush piles and tops. The best bite is mid-morning.

Channel Cats are fair on cut shad, chicken hearts, hot dogs, and shiners, approx 12-14 feet deep on trotlines and yo-yos.

}><(((º> Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions Report <º)))><{

Water clarity improved again from last week, in Little River and is approx 15". Clarity on the main lake is also slight improvement at approx 12-14". North eastern sector of the lake around Cottenshed, remains stained. Discharge at the dam is 172CFS with one gate open 0.4 feet. Cossatot and Little River current is slow. Several river marker buoys are missing or out of place due to recent high wind. Use caution in low light navigations.

The upriver oxbows on Little River, still have much better water visibility, estimated at approx 3-5 feet in places. Water temperatures have decreased in the last week and range approx 54ºF early to 65ºF later in the day, depending on area of the lake and wind and sun.

Thank you to the USArmy Corps of Engineers and AG&FC personnel who are currently in process of evaluating the increase and spread of various vegetation species on Little River and Millwood Lake. A recommendation & report is pending, on potential control measures which would be the most physical effective manner of the vegetation growth explosion in all the creeks, oxbows, Little River and the main lake; as well as which methods could be the most cost effective to maintain.

Use EXTREME caution navigating Little River in low light conditions, and SLOW DOWN! Careful watch for floaters and debris in Little River's current, and wearing your PFD is a requirement!!

December 2, 2005 - Beaver - G'day y'all from the Beaver Dam Store crew! email - Phone 479-253-6154 - G'day y'all from the Beaver Dam Store crew! - Can you believe its December? Seems like only yesterday we were welcoming in 2005, with a very full Beaver Lake and a whole bunch of generation. Now Beaver is way, way, way down and it's getting hard to recall what the tailwater looks like with a couple of units running. Even with cold temperatures this morning, when normally the power station would be cranking out electricity, nothing was running.

So rug up nice and warm, climb into your waders and go fish. The trout are hungry.

FISHING REPORT

Beaver Tailwater: We say it often enough but get your butt out of bed for the best fishing. Morning midge hatches have been good, but you will need your winter woollies. We gave up bothering to strip line, swinging soft hackle this week, relying instead on judicious twitches of the rod tip to enhance the fly's action _ hey we had got sick of trying to clean the ice out of the guides. Steve left the Stanley's Ice Off in the store and has been paying ever since.

The midges were turning on just before 7am, and Pheasant Tail soft hackles, Fulton's Tungsten Wired Red Ass, the Olive Submarine, Dark Olive Dun and Peacock and Patridge patterns were all working well.

Olive Woolly Buggers, zebra midges (black, brown or red); Razorback Midges; Charlotte's Redneck Midge and other patterns have been working extremely well. Egg patterns are performing well particularly in peach colors, Umpqua's superb low water Flashtail mini eggs, and the bead head Veiled Eggs for faster runs. There are also bunches of sowbugs, from tiny 18s all the way up to behemoth 12s in the upper part of the tailwater.
As the cold weather increases watch for more early morning water releases, particularly on weekdays. Generation has been starting in the evening on dusk . Call 417 336 5083 for a real time recorded message (after the Table Rock report) on water releases.

This week, we check out our neighbor and sister company, the Spider Creek Resort, a great system for carrying your rods safe and sound, the fishing report.

*
SPIDER CREEK RESORT _ OPEN ALL WINTER

Your favorite flyshop, the Beaver Dam Store, is now part of family with the Spider Creek Resort, the finest accomodation on the tailwater. Many of our customers are regulars at the Resort, enjoying the comfortable cabins overlooking one of the prettiest sections of the river. The jacuzzis are a sweet way to end another great day's wading on the river.

This year for the first time Spider Creek Resort will be open all winter. Bring your partner, they will appreciate the warmth and comfort of the cabins, or grab a group of fishing buddies and share a larger cabin for a winter getaway from city stresses. Spider Creek also offers canoe, kayak and jon boat rentals for those wanting to explore the river or fish high water periods. Its just a short stroll to the Dam Store for all your fly fishing essentials.
And its an even shorter stroll to the Spider Creek hole on the tailwater, one of the prime big fish holding sections of the river.

*
NORFORK TAILWATER DRIFT BOAT TRIPS

House guide Steve Dally has been chafing at the bit to get up and running drift boat trips on Arkansas' famed Norfolk Tailwater. This short but sweet tailwater is noted for huge fish, some nice mayfly hatches and as simply great fly fishing water. But while low water wading is superb, there is plenty of great spots relatively untouched by wade fishers. It can be a bit nerve-wracking going too far when you can't hear the generation warning siren. So a drift boat can get you into places away from the crowds and offer the opportunities to keep fishing during generation periods. The stream fishing on overcast days in winter can be superb. In many ways Beaver could become a second Norfork if the long promised hatchery comes to fruition.

We are now ready to take bookings for driftboat trips on the Norfork. These are full-day trips only, including lunch, for one or two people for $300. Our 15' Clackacraft tunnel hull drift boat, the Ferrari of drift boats, only hold 2 clients but call us about larger parties and we can arrange additional drift boats to suit your needs. Steve has been devising some mean, hot lunch to stave off the winter chill and keep you in peak fishing form..

Steve fished the Norfork this week for good result, on midges and scud patterns. Generation this week has largely been morning and evening flows, and though the water is colored, the trout are feeding strongly. A bunch of 17" browns and some very feisty cutthroat also came to hand.

Give us a call about a trip!

TEENY WEENY INDICATORS - Part II

Ok last week we told you about the many uses of the Lighning Strike Dots mini stick on indicators. Just to prove we don't think of everything, our Sage guru Cary Marcus wandering in on one of his suprise visits on Monday and was perusing our offerings and lobbed this idea at us. If your drifting small midge pupa grab two of the dots and stick them together, either side of your leader. Hey presto an extremely low profile mini indicator.

Tight Lines from the Beaver Dam Store staff,
Lisa Steve and Kevin.

December 1, 2005 - Beaver - Submitted by Jason Piper - JT Crappie Guide Service - As of Wednesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lakeâ¤™s elevation at 1106.76 feet MSL.
Southtown Sporting Goods said the lake clarity is good, but the level is low. The area could use some rain. Crappie fishing is excellent using minnows and chartreuse tube jigs in the river arms. Bass fishing is good from 20- to 25-feet deep using crankbaits, jigs, spoons and top-water lures on Point 12 and War Eagle. Stripers using jigs or live shad. Bream fishing and catfishing are both poor.
Hickory Creek Marina said the water temperature ranges from 54 to 56 degrees. The water level is low and the color is ideal for black bass. Given the current weather spinnerbaits could produce some nice fish on the flats. Given the water drop, water temperature and color, look on the long points for the best action. Stripers are roaming finding schools of shad. Look at every sharp bend in the river near a flat, and try fishing from 10- to 25-feet deep with shiners or shad. A few stripers have been caught at Horseshoe Bend, up War Eagle, in the river mouths and near War Eagle Marina. There have been some 20+ pound fish caught. The crappie bite is picking up along drop-offs in 12 to 15 feet of water. Some "Spider Riggers" are having some luck in open water at the mouth of coves, such as Big Hickory, Eden Bluff, Mouth of War Eagle. White bass have been moving. Look for surface activity both early and late in the day, and use anything white or yellow about 1.5 inches long. Jigging spoons (3/4- to 1-ounce) are producing in the channels around balls of shad. Some good spots are across from the water intake, from the "power lines" to the "sidewalk hole" up War Eagle and across from Eden Bluff. The incidental catfish catch continues to be awesome. Some major fish have been caught around schools of shad while fishing for other species. Jigging spoons the most popular bait, but large minnows are also producing fish. The bluff line at Hickory Creek continues to produce large fish. Most of the catfish taken have been over 20 pounds. Bream have moved to deeper water and appear to be biting on assorted plastics

November 28, 2005 - Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood Lake Guide Service - Water temps: 57º - 62º ; 0.25 inch below normal, & Discharge = 172CFS.

Largemouth (Black) Bass from 3 to 5 pounds, remain very good on War Eagle spinner baits in smoke-mouse and copper-peach colors with gold Hildebrandt Indiana blades, along dying lily pad stems in Little River. Pitching into the pad stems and helicoptering in 6-9 feet depths, is the best technique. Norman DLN cranks and 1/2 oz Rat-L-Traps in white or chrome, and various shad patterns are taking black and Kentucky Bass from 2 to 3 pounds. The slightly deeper running crankbaits are taking a few of the larger bass just under the 2 pound swimming school bass. Bass Assassin Shads are still taking some fair keeper size 3-3.5 pound black bass, in the dying lily pad stems and hydrilla and in pockets in backs of creeks. Swimming Southern Pro Fatbutt tubes, weightless, remains a good technique, in purple smoke or smoke/red flake colors, around cypress trees and stumps, in close proximity to Little River around creek mouths dumping into Little River.

Yearling bass are still randomly schooling up Little River between White Cliffs and AR Hwy 71 bridge, and remain excellent, up to 2.5 lbs each. Baby Torpedos, Johnson spoons, Rat-L-Traps and white Dying Flutters are catching the schoolers from surface to 5 feet deep the last few weeks. A great time to take kids fishing is when they can catch bass, and that time is now!!

White bass are still schooling, as well, in Little River above and below Hwy 71 bridge in Little River where the creek mouths dump in, and continue hitting Rat-L-Traps in chrome, Rocket Shads in white, Little Cleos and Rooster Tails. These are catching the whites where you see baitfish flicking the surface of the river in huge schools. Work these baitfish schools and all around the edges of the bait schools you see on the surface or depth finder. Catches of 25-50 White bass are common in the last few weeks, in just a few hours.

Kentuckys (Spotted Bass) are good, along the river on the Rocket Shads, and small Rat-L-Traps, around creek mouths and where they dump into Little River. Kentuckies were stacked up in the mouths of Snake Creek, Hurricane Creek, and Mud Lake Creeks this week.

Crappie are fair to good, and have moved to slighly deeper drop-offs in Little River, from last couple weeks. The Crappie are suspended approx 11-13 feet deep along Little River. Best on jigs, in contact with planted brush piles and tops. The best bite has shifted to mid-day.

Channel Cats are fair on chicken livers, cut shad, and dog food prepared baits, approx 14-16 feet deep on trotlines around outside river bends.

}><(((º> Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions Report <º)))><{

Water clarity improved again from last week, in Little River and is approx 12"-15". Clarity on the main lake is also slight improvement at approx 8-10". North eastern sector of the lake around Cottenshed, remains stained. Discharge at the dam is 172CFS with one gate open 0.4 feet. Cossatot and Little River current is slow. Several river marker buoys are missing or out of place due to recent high wind. Use caution in low light navigations.

The upriver oxbows on Little River, still have much better water visibility, estimated at approx 3-5 feet in places. Water temperatures have decreased in the last week and range approx 56ºF early to 62ºF later in the day, depending on area of the lake and wind and sun.

Thank you to the USArmy Corps of Engineers and AG&FC personnel who are currently in process of evaluating the increase and spread of various vegetation species on Little River and Millwood Lake. A recommendation & report is pending, on potential control measures which would be the most physical effective manner of the vegetation growth explosion in all the creeks, oxbows, Little River and the main lake; as well as which methods could be the most cost effective to maintain.

Use EXTREME caution navigating Little River in low light conditions, and SLOW DOWN! Careful watch for floaters and debris in Little River's current, and wearing your PFD is a requirement!!

Mike

November 25, 2005 - Beaver - G'day y'all from the Beaver Dam Store crew! email - Phone 479-253-6154 - G'day y'all from the Beaver Dam Store crew! -
Happy Holidays from the Beaver Dam Store crew!

Well we hope your full of turkey and pie and all that good stuff. And a trip to the tailwater is a great way to use of some of yesterday's consumption. The fishing has been spectacular with many big fish being taken in the last month and not all of them have been kept. Cooler weather and hunting season has kept the hordes off the river so its a great time to fish.

Keep an eye on the generation charts, as the cooler weather comes in. We have had a little early morning generation on particularly cold days but this weekend should be ok.

TEENY WEENY INDICATORS
There aren't too many Beaver regulars who haven't been tempted to curse long and loud on winter mornings at the cruel combination of single fly regulations and thock pernickety midge feeders. Your good judgement prevailed obviously but small midge pupa and emerging midge feeders can be a pretty galling combination under catch and release regs in Arkansas. Out West we would probably all be running an 18 dry fly, ahead of WD40s, Fowlers Biot Midge, Jujubees or similar, as a indicator. Most of the normal ball or Palsa Indicators are just too big.

Then the folks at Wapsi came to the rescue with their new Lightning Strike Indicator Dots. You get a bunch of these little stick on foam circles for $3.99, in 2 sizes _ very small and teeny weeny. Just the ticket for attaching to your leader ahead of small midge emergers and pupa. You can also add them to the back of those hard to see low-floating beetle, hopper or ant patterns for summer dry fly fishing.

TIP OF THE WEEK
With cold weather coming _ sometime soon, we have a great suggestion to keep your tootsies warmer on the tailwater. Don't wear your wading socks on the drive up. Car heaters will cause your feet to sweat a little and damp socks in waders means cold feet. Instead change into your wading socks when your getting ready. Your feet wilkl thank you for your consideration.
FISHING
Beaver Tailwater: Low water opens up plenty of wading, and with little generation now is the time to roam stretches away from the Catch and Release section or immediately below the Dam. Discover how pretty and how much of the tailwater there is away from the crowds. The best fishing has been in the mornings, though it picks up again towards dark.

Olive Woolly Buggers, zebra midges (black, brown or red); Razorback Midges; Charlotte's Redneck Midge and other patterns have been working extremely well. Egg patterns are performing well, Umpqua's superb low water Flashtail mini eggs, and the bead head Veiled Eggs for faster runs. Soft hackles are working well for fish feeding on emergers. Check out our first shoipment of Dale Fulton's Tungsten Wired Red Ass for fishing deep, faster runs. McLellan's Hunchback scuds and Woven V-Rib Sowbugs are also reliable bets.

As the cold weather increases watch for more early morning water releases, particularly on weekdays. Call 417 336 5083 for a real time recorded message (after the Table Rock report) on water releases.

Tight Lines from the Beaver Dam Store staff,
Lisa Steve and Kevin.

November 22, 2005 - Greers Ferry Lake - Submitted by Fish Finders Fish Service - The water temp on the lake is 59-61 on the northend to 61-64 on the southend of the lake and the level is 451.61 at present.

The largemouth bass fishing is real good at present using rattletraps and spinnerbaits up real shallow on windy days with cloud cover and on sunny days use jigs is the greers ferry special around any small stick up .

The kentucky bass are on steep chunk rock banks and can be caught with spinner baits and crankbaits , wigglewarts.

The smallmouth are on secondary points , use c-riged lizards and centiepeds and right bits tubes in smoke red and x-mas tree in 15 feet of water.

The crappie and bream are good with jig-minnows or any of your favorite jig colors and or crickets in 15 feet of water around pole timber or home made brush piles.

The catfishing has slowed alot with the cooler water temp.

The walleye are fair trolling or back trolling leeches and night crawlers in about 33 feet of water.

The hybrid and strip bass fishing is great with the hendershot lure and a jigging spoon in 43 feet of water and a chugbug if they are on top and can be caught various places around the lake they are moving quite a bit with alot of 50- 100 fish days being reported and at times have the shad pushed right up on the bank it is a greart sight -we do have some gulls now and you can follow then around and that will help find the moving fish.

And we have also had alot of new eagles come into the area and they are beautiful to watch-tight lines.
we find em you catch em!!!!!! Tommy Cauley
fishing guide Fish Finders Fish Service
4710 hwy 92 east
Bee Branck,Ark. 72013 fishfinder@alltel.net
www.greersferr.com/fishfinder <http://www.greersferr.com/fishfinder> tel:
fax:
mobile: 501-654-2008
501-654-2008
501-940-1318

November 22, 2005 - Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood Lake Guide Service - Water temps: 60º - 67º ; 0.5 inches below normal, & Discharge = 172CFS.

Largemouth (Black) Bass up to 6 pounds remain very good on War Eagle spinner baits in firecracker or smoke-mouse colors with gold Hildebrandt Indiana blades, along grass and dying lily pad stems in Little River. Swimming Southern Pro Fatbutt tubes, weightless, in purple smoke or smoke/red flake with chartruese tail around cypress trees in close proximity to Little River and sudden depth changes around creek mouths dumping into Little River is working on 2-4 pound Black Bass. Bagley or Norman DLN cranks in various shad patterns are taking some schooling black and Kentucky Bass up to 3 pounds. The slightly deeper running crankbaits are taking a few of the larger bass just under the 2 pound schoolers. Bass Assassin Shads are still taking some fair keeper size 3+ pound black bass, in the dying lily pad stems and hydrilla and in pockets in backs of creeks.

Yearling bass are still randomly schooling up Little River between White Cliffs and AR Hwy 71 bridge, and remain excellent, up to 2.5 lbs each. Baby Torpedos, Johnson spoons, Rat-L-Traps and Dying Flutters are catching the schoolers from surface to 5 feet deep the last few weeks. A great time to take kids fishing is when they can catch bass, and that time is now!!

White bass are still schooling, as well, in Little River above and below Hwy 71 bridge in Little River where the creek mouths dump in, and continue hitting Rat-L-Traps in chrome, Rocket Shads in white, Little Cleos and Rooster Tails. These are catching the whites where you see baitfish flicking the surface of the river in huge schools. Work these baitfish schools and all around the edges of the bait schools you see on the surface or depth finder. Catches of 25-50 White bass are common in the last few weeks, in just a few hours.

Kentuckys (Spotted Bass) are good, and remain schooling with the white bass or yearling black bass, along the river on the Rocket Shads, and small Rat-L-Traps, around creek mouths and where they dump into Little River. Best areas in Little River are between White Cliffs and McGuire Lake.

Crappie are fair to good, and have moved to the next deeper drop in Little River, from last couple weeks. The Crappie are suspended approx 10-12 feet deep along Little River. Best on jigs, in contact with planted brush piles and tops. The best bite has shifted to mid-day.

Channel Cats are fair on chicken livers and hearts, cut shad, and cottenseed mill cakes approx 12-18 feet deep on trotlines around outside river bends.

}><(((º> Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions Report <º)))><{

Water clarity improved from last week, in Little River and is approx 10-14". Clarity on the main lake is slightly worse, approx 5-7". North eastern sector of the lake around OK Landing, remains stained. Discharge at the dam is 172CFS with one gate open 0.4 feet. Cossatot and Little River current is slow. Several river marker buoys are missing or out of place due to recent high wind. Use caution in low light navigations.

The upriver oxbows on Little River, still have much better water visibility, estimated at approx 3-5 feet in places. Water temperatures have decreased in the last week and range approx 60ºF early to 67ºF later in the day, depending on area of the lake and wind and sun.

Thank you to the USArmy Corps of Engineers and AG&FC personnel who are currently in process of evaluating the increase and spread of various vegetation species on Little River and Millwood Lake. A recommendation & report is pending, on potential control measures which would be the most physical effective manner of the vegetation growth explosion in all the creeks, oxbows, Little River and the main lake; as well as which methods could be the most cost effective to maintain.

Use EXTREME caution navigating Little River in low light conditions, and SLOW DOWN! Careful watch for floaters and debris in Little River's current, and wearing your PFD is a requirement!!

November 17, 2005 - Beaver - Submitted by Jason Piper - JT Crappie Guide Service - White bass and hybrid striped bass are prowling the Prairie Creek area.

The best fishing is at dawn and dusk with top-water lures around the islands north of the Arkansas 12 bridge. Deeper whites are being caught with jigging spoons 22 feet deep.

Fishing for black bass at night is excellent for anglers braving the chill. Jolliff said bass are hitting black spinner baits in shallow water.

Daytime black bass fishing is slow. Fish points with a jig and pig or a finesse worm on a drop-shot rig.
Crappie are hitting Minnows around docks in 20' to 30' of water.

Jason Piper

November 14, 2005 - Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood Lake Guide Service - Water temps: 63º - 70º ; 0.72 inches above normal, & Discharge = 172CFS.

Largemouth (Black) Bass up to 4 & 5 pounds are good on buzz baits, and War Eagle spinner baits in firecracker or smoke-mouse colors along Little River (tip: try replacing the factory willow leaf blades with gold Indiana Hildebrant blades for a little different thump & something they aren't seeing everyday!!). 1/4 to 3/4oz Rat-L-Traps; Bagley or Norman cranks in white; chrome/blue and various shad patterns are taking some schooling black and Kentucky Bass up to 2-4 pounds. The mid-depth runner cranks are taking a few of the larger bass just under the 2 pound schoolers. Zoom Horney Toads and Bass Assassin Shads are taking some fair keeper size 3-5 pound black bass in the dying lily pad stems and hydrilla and in pockets in backs of creeks.

Carolina Rigs have improved this week along Little River. Best soft plastics on carolina rigs in the last couple weeks are the Bass Assassin 3" or 5" Shads, or 6" chartruese-pumpkin lizard. Yearling bass remain excellent and size up to 2.5 lbs each, are still schooling up Little River between White Cliffs and AR Hwy 71 bridge. Baby Torpedos, Johnson spoons, Rat-L-Traps and Dying Flutters are catching the schoolers from surface to 5 feet deep the last few weeks. A great time to take kids fishing is when they can catch bass, and that time is now!!

White bass are still randomly schooling in Little River above and below Hwy 71 bridge along Little River where the creeks dump, and continue hitting 1/4 to 1/2 oz Rat-L-Traps in chrome, Rocket Shads, Little George's and Rooster Tails. These are catching the whites where you see baitfish flicking the surface of the river in huge schools. Work in these baitfish schools and all around the edges of the bait schools you see on the surface or depth finder.

Kentuckys (Spotted Bass) are good up to 2-1/2 pounds and occasionally schooling with the white bass or yearling black bass, along the river on the smaller spinnerbaits, live shiners, and rocket shads around creek dumps into Little River. Best areas in Little River are between White Cliffs and McGuire Lake.

Crappie are fair to good, and suspended approx 6-8 feet deep along Little River in front of Mud Lake, in Hurricane Creek, and McGuire Lake. Best on jigs, and shiners, in contact with planted brush piles and tops. The best bite is the mid-mornings. This will probably shift mid-week, for the depth and time for best bite, if the strong cold front forecasted pushes through the lake this week.

No report for Channel Catfish this week.

}><(((º> Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions Report <º)))><{

Water clarity which had improved last week, worsened this week due to extremely high winds, in Little River and is approx 3-5". Clarity on the main lake much worse as well, approx 1-5". North eastern sector of the lake around OK Landing, is heavy stain. Saline River water muddy, and no current. Discharge at the dam is 171CFS with one gate open 0.4 feet. Cossatot and Little River current is slow. Several river marker buoys are missing or out of place due to recent high wind. Use caution in low light navigations.

The upriver oxbows on Little River, still have much better water visibility, estimated at approx 3-5 feet in places. Water temperatures have decreased in the last week and range approx 63ºF early to 70ºF later in the day, depending on area of the lake and wind and sun. This will most likely dip-mid week if the strong northern cold front pushes through as forecasted.

Thank you to the USArmy Corps of Engineers and AG&FC personnel who are currently in process of evaluating the increase and spread of various vegetation species on Little River and Millwood Lake. A recommendation & report is pending, on potential control measures which would be the most physical effective manner of the vegetation growth explosion in all the creeks, oxbows, Little River and the main lake; as well as which methods could be the most cost effective to maintain.

Use EXTREME caution navigating Little River in low light conditions, and SLOW DOWN! Careful watch for floaters and debris in Little River's current, and wearing your PFD is a requirement!!

http://www.MillwoodGuideService.com/

and just click the gold link, on the left column of our website, "Millwood Lake Map".

November 14, 2005 - Greers Ferry Lake - Submitted by Fish Finders Fish Service - The water level at greers ferry is 451.78 at present and the temp is 64 to 68 degrees.

The largemouth and kentucky bass can be caught schooling all over the lake on a variety of baits , jigging spoons, rinky dinks, and topwater baits, they can also be caught on steep chunk rock banks on spinnerbaits and crankbaits. The smallmouth can be caught with jerkbaits .rattle traps and car-riggs on secondary and main lake points about 15 feet deep with lizards and centepieds.

The catfishing has slowed down somewhat as well as the reports but should be good before any storm arrives.

The walleye are really good but scattered and trying to get to their earily staging areas at present you can catch them with a jig and minnow, leeches and purefishings imitation leech , as well as jigging spoons and in-line spinners and night crawlers -at about 43- 51 feet deep.

The crappie and bream are biting prett well around homemade brush piles and also around pole timber on jigs and minnows as well as crickets in about 15 feet of water.

The hybrid and white bass fishing is going good and can be caught all over the lake in about the same depth as the walleye 43-51 feet and can be caught on the surface at times also , with hawg sticks and chug bugs with a front runner on the chug bug at catch 2 at times , there have been alot of 100 fish days as of late and the buckshot lure and the ole tried and true jigging spoons , the buckshot lure is catching 3 times as many as the other in -line spinner that everyone seems to be bragging on so much and the catching should stay real good for a while yet to come.

we find em you catch em!!!!!! Tommy Cauley

October 27, 2005 - Beaver - G'day y'all from the Beaver Dam Store crew! email - Phone 479-253-6154 - G'day y'all from the Beaver Dam Store crew! -

FISHING
Beaver Tailwater: For all those fly fishers who spout off that Beaver fish are small, drop into the store and check out the 17 pound, 34 inch brown taken last week. Sadly the fish was not caught and released, but it does go to show what sort of trout do exist here. That giant trout was taken on a Rapala 9 brown trout pattern. Fly fishers can get the same effect casting big brown over cream/yellow streamers. It is possible. Several one fly entrants also spoke about being broken off by fish in the 20"-plus class, and there were several other spotted in the river in the days leading up to the tournament. There were also plenty of fish in the 17-18" range taken in the lead-up. Just because you haven't caught them yet doesn't mean they aren't here.

Egg patterns have been extremely popular, with good reason, bot just for the Parker Bend riffle. They will get eaten anywhere. Midges also have been scoring well. Red shades have been doing very well including Red Zebra Midges and Razorback Midges. You should alos be trying our latest midge fly Bryce's TDM (That Damn Midge). Its lethal across the entire White River systemand we will give you more details on this locally developed tailwater special next week.

Grey sowbugs have been also doing very well, Y2Ks, woolly buggers and scuds.

One Fly 2005 has come and gone and our thanks to everyone who turned out on what was quite a damp morning. But for those who got out of bed and hung around it was a great day. Kevin's and Buddy's efforts for lunch were a real highlight, putting even bigger smiles on a few chilled faces.

Andy Nichols did it again, becoming the first three time One Fly winner, and is now someone with a very nice collection of Sage Rods and Ross Reels. His move to Fort Smith might see him haunting the tailwater a bit more often, between One Fly events. If you spot his smiling face, be sure to pick his brain. As well as being a nice fellow to yarn with he is more than willing to share his knowledge.

Fort Smith fly fisher Andy Nichols became the first three time winner of the Beaver Dam Store One Fly on Sunday.

All three of Nichols' wins_ 2002, 2004, 2005 _ have come with his own egg patterns, but it was no easy task. Nichols had to wait until the last hour of the event to finally hook, land and release the 17.5 inch brown.

After earlier losing an even larger fish Nichols ended up drifting the egg on a 9' 6x flourocarbon leader without an indicator.

Nichols went home with the new Sage VT2 590-4 fly rod, valued at $400 and donated by Sage, a Ross Rhythym Reel valued at $200 donated by the Dam Store, and a $61 555 Dynatip line, donated by Cortland.

Second place went to 2000 One Fly winner Randy Woodward with a 15 inch fish takne on a Woolly Bugger.

Many One Fly entrants, hunting one big fish found the going slow, perhaps due to the number of fly fishers who prefished the event with great results _ we had reports of at least half a dozen fish which could have well and truly won the event in the previous three days. However there were plenty of fly fishers catching plenty of fish in the 11-13 inch range and wearing big smiles doing so.

Springdale's Patrick Lanford is a regular on the tailwater, his wife Robin less so and know we know why. Robin stitched up all the guys fishing the Canebreak hole (I'm guessing on one of Patrick's scuds) with a dozen or so fish up and over 13" in the first couple of hours of the morning. Apparently this is not an uncommon occurrence if Robin is along. Carol Dickie is another local fly fisher, who put in her time on the tailwater, with great results, and for most of the morning was leading the event.

For many other fly fishers the partner system for the One Fly is a great way to get an introduction to fly fishing, to the tailwater, new spots on the river or new techniques. Cheri McDonald, moved to the area recently with her husband Bill, and both joined the One Fly crew as part of their fly fishing education. Right on start time Cheri felt a migraine coming on and sadly withdrew her name from the draw. But being a trooper she volunteered to partner late arriving, but very experienced fly fisher John Greer from Little Rock. The migraine didn't stand a chance and when last spotted she was puffing one of John's cigars, wearing a big grin and loving her first One Fly.

We also have to pay tribute to our pair of wizards of the grill Buddy and Kevin. Buddy's barbecued pork was pretty DAM good and the waft of smoke across the car park put everyone in the right mood. Louisiana Kev's might have a third career as a chef ahead, if we can ever get fly rods out of his hands, and his "Grillades" was pretty dam special, with the right amount of spice to chase away wading chills, despite his disclaimer that "down home we call this Possum".

We also want to thank Becky Chase and Patty Horner, both of whom would have loved to have been fishing the event, but instead volunteered to help out getting things ready. The event wouldn't have run as smoothly without their help.

Finally a word of thanks for the doorprize sponsors. The One Fly isn't really about winning losing or the biggest fish, though its part of the fun, but more about being part of a celebration of fly fishing and why we are so passionate about it.

But its the generosity of those sponsors who allow us to send everyone home with something for being part of the event. So our thanks to Spider Creek Resort, Roadside Rustics, All About You Spa, Port Orleans Restaurant, Cedar Creek Jerky, Community Coffee, Films R Us; Wapsi Fly Tying, Cortland, Fisherman's Eyewear and anyone else Ive forgotten.

ONE FLY 2006 DATE
In the interest of sounding organised, we are announcing the date for One Fly 2006 _ Sunday, October 29. Now you don't have any excuse not to attend.

ONE FLY 2006 RULE CHANGES
If you are a Dam Store regular, you might have realised we like to keep things entertaining around here. Hey, you need a sense of humor just to walk through the door _ try working here. So we have been kicking around the idea of a few rule changes for One Fly 2006.

We will definately be adopting a rolling system of banning winning flies for two years from 2005. That means Egg patterns will be out for 2006; 2007; but will be allowed back in in 2008. The 2007 winning fly will be out for 2007 and 2008 and so on. We figure this is going to introduce more interest than the automatic selection of a woolly bugger or an egg fly. It might also encourage people to look at new flies and techniques.

Secondly we are seriously considering banning the 50y stretch of tailout above the Parker Bend riffle for the event. I should point out that this is not the Andy Nichols rule _ there were others fishing the same stretch of water and are every year. But this is probably the most accessible and reliable spawning bed for the browns on the river. There is certainly a school of thought that Fish and Game should close this section of river for the spawn, in order to protect these fish _ as happens at Bull Shoals. In a contest sense it seems that the probabilities of the winning fish coming from that section of river is too high , a "ducks in a barrel" kind of effect _ whether or not its Andy swinging the rod. And we can protect those fish on the redds from our influence as well. I'd appreciate any comments for and against this measure _ including whether or not we should get AGFC to protect the area for a longer period. Drop me an email with your thoughts_ Steve.

Tight Lines from the Beaver Dam Store staff,
Lisa Steve and Kevin.

October 27, 2005 - Beaver - G'day y'all from the Beaver Dam Store crew! email - Phone 479-253-6154 - G'day y'all from the Beaver Dam Store crew!

One Fly Fever is upon us and there have been some very good reports this week. Steve has been on the water with clients a fair bit this week and while they didn't score any One Fly winners _ though there was a great one that got away story on a hot 17-inch rainbow _ several good fish were spotted.

Be sure to layer-up warmly, the morning have been very cool, but Sunday is expected to be bright and sunny _ testing conditions for trophy trout hunting.

FISHING
Beaver Tailwater: Fishing has been very good all week. A number of fly fishers have been reporting sightings of large fish in the tailwater, both browns and rainbows.
Red Zebra Midges and Razorback Midges have been very productive this week. We have also had plenty of demand for orange/chartreuese Y2K Bugs. Two local flyfishers reported 15 trout in an hour late last week on this pattern.

The popularity of orange based flies in recent weeks delivered up our new FT Woolly Bugger _ a light Olive BDS Bugger with orange olive tail. Worth trying for the One Fly. We have been having a good run on egg patterns try Umpqua's superb low water Flashtail mini eggs, and the bead head Veiled Eggs for faster runs. Soft hackles are working well for fish feeding on emergers.
McLellan's Hunchback scuds and Woven V-Rib Sowbugs are also reliable bets.

Roaring River: We have been hearing lots of good reports of dry fly action on terrestrials from the Trout Park. Get away from the crowds, fish midweek and be prepared for furious action on Humpies, beetles, hoppers and Cracklebacks.

Hope to see you nice and early on Sunday

ONE FLY ON SUNDAY

The 9th annual Beaver Dam Store One Fly is almost here. There are some seriously big fishing moving upstream, the fall colors are here and we are spotting some familiar faces doing plenty of pre-event fishing.

If you are yet to register for the One Fly, we have been taking registrations via telephone _ have your credit card details handy, in a bid to cut back on the usual last minute queues. If you plan on registering on Sunday please come early (6am) _ the coffee will be hot and fresh.

Unfortunately a last minute family emergency will keep One Fly supporter and Sage rep Cary Marcus from attending this year's event. This will mean the Sage Casting Analyzer will not be available, something we know plenty of you were looking forward to playing with. But as we all understand family comes first. I know you will all be wishing Cary and his family your best.

The annual Sage Casting Clinic will go ahead from 1-3pm, under Steve's guidance. He will have a bunch of Sage rods for you to cast on the River and is promising to shake a few myths about rod selection and a few casting tips along the way.

Lunch is sounding fantastic, with some home-smoked barbecue and Louisiana Kev's Cajun specialities, there are some amazing door prizes, including a two-night stay at Spider Creek Resort <http://spidercreek.com/> , and a whole bunch of fun to be had.

The One Fly Rules:
Only One fly may be used during the contest. Lose the fly to a tree or a trout and your contest fishing is done.
Flies only - Longest trout wins Catch and Release all fish.
Micro-jigs are not flies.
Participants will fish in pairs in order to verify fish length measurements
Partners will be drawn 30 minutes before start time.
You must be present at drawing to enter. (Be here 6-6.30 am)
Arkansas Fishing license and trout permit required.
Earliest entry decides tie _ coin toss for second tie.
You and partner must return to store by 12-noon or forfeit first prize
Come along and help us continue the One Fly tradition!

Tight Lines from the Beaver Dam Store staff,
Lisa Steve and Kevin.

crew!

The nights are turning cool, and the trees starting to adopt their fall colors, yet the days have been superb. It probably wouldn't hurt to have a few more overcast days, but winter will come soon enough. This is a great time to come and fish Beaver and the fishing can be spectacular. Best times currently are revolving around generation, which is injecting much-needed oxygen into into the system.

Keep an eye on the generation charts, the warm weather has been seeing generation start mid-afternoon into the evening, and try to fish after the highest flow (warmest) days.

FISHING
Beaver Tailwater: Low water opens up plenty of wading, and with late generation now is the time to roam stretches away from the Catch and Release section or immediately below the Dam. Discover how pretty and how much of the tailwater there is away from the crowds. The best fishing comes after generation releases, to reoxygenate the water. Riffles and runs are holding fish for the same reasons. The flatter pools have been up and down.

Olive Woolly Buggers, zebra midges (black, brown or red); Razorback Midges; Charlotte's Redneck Midge and other patterns have been working extremely well. Egg patterns are starting to perform well and check out our new Chewy Eggs, Umpqua's superb low water Flashtail mini eggs, and the bead head Veiled Eggs for faster runs. Soft hackles are working well for fish feeding on emergers.
Mclellan's Hunchback scuds and Woven V-Rib Sowbugs are also reliable bets.

Roaring River: We have been hearing lots of good reports of dry fly action on terrestrials from the Trout Park. Get away from the crowds, fish midweek and be prepared for furious action on Humpies, beetles, hoppers and Cracklebacks.

Tight Lines from the Beaver Dam Store staff,
Lisa Steve and Kevin.

October 14, 2005 - Beaver - G'day y'all from the Beaver Dam Store crew! email - Phone 479-253-6154 - G'day y'all from the Beaver Dam Store crew! Well, the BDS report is back from limbo, after some big changes around the place. As you are all probably away Charlotte finally handed on the reins at the store, and headed into retirement with a big grin on her face. Yes, Charlotte will be staying in the area but your probably more likely to see her on the tailwater, or lake, sitting on her Hobie Mirage kayak than behind the counter.

Oklahoma businessman and lawyer Peter Godfrey, better known in these parts as the owner of Spider Creek Resort, purchased the store, bringing together the best accomodation and best fly and tackle business on the tailwater.

A familiar face returns to the Dam store as manager. Lisa Mullins, is well-known to many regulars as a former store employee, fishing guide and long-time resident is now running operations. Tasmanian Steve Dally continues running the fly shop and the guiding and instruction. Drop in and say hi!

FISHING
Beaver Tailwater: Low lake levels in Table Rock mean skinny water _ less of the wet stuff between the fish. And there have been some very big browns and rainbows caught, released and sighted in the past weeks. Steve and an extremely experienced fly fishing client, who has fly fished all over the globe, pursued a huge brown, of at least 30 inches for 3 hours without luick last week. "That's the biggest trout I have seen anywhere,'' was the client's awestruck comment. A 24-inch brown and another of 20-inches have come to flies in the past 10 days _ neither fisher had a camera or we'd be showing you.

Olive Woolly Buggers, zebra midges (black or red); Razorback Midges; Charlotte's Redneck Midge and other patterns have been working extremely well. Egg patterns are starting to perform well and check out our new Chewy Eggs, Umpqua's superb low water Flashtail mini eggs, and the bead head Veiled Eggs for faster runs

Roaring River: We have been hearing lots of good reports of dry fly action on terrestrials from the Trout Park. Get away from the crowds, fish midweek and be prepared for furious action on Humpies, beetles, hoppers and Cracklebacks.

Taneycomo: Steve had added Taneycomo to the roster of guide waters and has been having plenty of fun fishing low water during the morning. Small scuds and midges are the best bet, along with small indicators, light tippets and a light hand on the rod. There has also been some interesting happenings at first light with big fish hitting large dry flies _ this can be spectacular! If you have access to a boat, there has been some great terrestrial fishing along the edges in high water. Let us know if your interested in trips here and waters further afield. Expect us to be adding more waters and experiences to our trip roster over coming months.

Tight Lines from the Beaver Dam Store staff,
Lisa Steve and Kevin.

July 29, 2005 - Beaver - G'day y'all from the Beaver Dam Store crew! email - Phone 479-253-6154 - Nice to get a break from the heat this week and the fishing has been good. We had a bunch of happy fishers in the store this week. Afternoon generation patterns are continuing nicely meaning you can get a decent few hours on the water, particularly for early risers.

Old school fly patterns, like hares ears and pheasant tails continue to do well here, proving a good fly never going out of date with trout, just with fishers. The midge hatches have been strong particularly early with fish taking both emergers and adults reliably despite the tiny size of the naturals. Try small olive Elk Hair Caddis patterns, Biot Midges, and our Midge dry patterns in olive, cream and black.

Swinging soft hackles is another great way to take these midge feeders, and a whole lot of fun as well. If your gunning for trophies try a sink tip or intermediate sinking line and a sculpin pattern in olive. There are a bunch of sculpins in the river at the moment and big fish find a healthy morsel like these hard to refuse.

Scuds, both the McLellan's Hunchback and the Kaufman's have been performing particularly well in olive shades. Beadhead Olive Woolly Buggers and Crystal Buggers continue to catch fish, either drifted or stripped.

If you want to try dry flies go to 7x tippet and try Olive Midges (22-24), Olive Elk Hair Caddis (18-20) Blue Dun or Cream Midges (24-18), and the Midge Biot. Present the fly dead drift and fly first on long fine leaders particularly on early mornings. Trim the bottom hackle collar level with the shank if your not getting true risers.

Tight Lines from the Beaver Dam Store staff,
Charlotte, Steve, Shirley, Bob and Jake.

July 21, 2005 - Beaver - G'day y'all from the Beaver Dam Store crew! email - Phone 479-253-6154 - Well Charlotte's been back from summer vacation just a few days and already we have heard all the smallmouth stories woe could possibly handle. Roll on the trout.

Jokes aside, if anyone is interesting in catching mucho smallmouth and big bronzebacks in utter seclusion you need to talk to "The Boss". The cabin in the Canadian woods was serenaded by loons every night, No cell phone, no radio, no staff, customers or suppliers. Just a lake, a boat and a whole mess of fish to be dealing with.

Charlotte's Arkansas bred jigs were slurped down like candy "I finally caught enough smallmouth," was the famous quote on her return. Which accounts for the blissed out grin she has been wearing for the past few days.

Thankfully the fishing has been pretty dam decent here, or the rest of us might be flying to Canada this week. This week check out our great range of light fly rods and some sweet reels to match, and the best bet for summer wading. And of course the fishing report

Light Rods
Hot, bright mornings are a great time to bring out the light trout rods out of the cupboard. If you haven't experienced fishing 4wts and under, particularly the short sticks, are really missing out on a whole lot of fun. Tossing terrestrials, adult midges or swinging soft hackles on these rods are a joy. Casting is smoother, quieter and more delicate. This can bring back some fun to your fly fishing after months of watching indicators deep nymphing.

Rod actions are slower, and require a little more feel than longer, more powerful sticks. Relax and fish at a smoother pace, you don't always need to cast over the horizon. Short rods are best at 45' and under. If you can't reach a fish with a cast stalk into range. Smaller rods love light reels and consider adding a DT line for more delicate presentation. This is a great way to fish terrestrials on either Beaver or Roaring River. They can be a whole lot of fun for panfish and even smallmouth

PS: A 9' or 8'6" 4weight is a great Beaver nymphing rod as well. Come in and test drive any of our rods.

FISHING
Beaver Tailwater: Summer conditions continue to prevail. Clear low water _ very low on the stretch between Parker Bend and Bertrand Ramp _ clear blue skies and spooky trout mean summer is here. Where else can you have a head in 90 degree temperatures and feet at 50F. Early morning remains a good time to fish, with ebbs and lulls in feeding during the day. Getting away from the crowded areas around the boatramps is also worthwhile

Olive Wooly Buggers, McLellan's Hunchback Olive scuds, and Woven V-Rib sowbugs continue to work extremely well.

Soft hackles, like a Red Ass, have been a little patchy but definitely worth trying if fish are up feeding on midge emergers.

Beetles, ants, crickets and hoppers should all start to become great middle of the day, dry fly patterns in coming weeks, breaking the monotony of staring at indicators. Dave's Hopper in Olive has been scoring some trout, the Yellow version is Steve's favorite, while Charlotte opts for a Joe's Hopper and the Club Sandwich is a great hopper pattern for floating a dropper nymph.
We have just received a stock of great Parachute Ants, a good allrounder dry here on the tailwater which Steve has option tossed at midge feeders of an evening on falling water with great success.

Downstream "fly first" drifts are the order of the day, and long fine leaders. Longer leaders can also help your nymphing or even streamer fishing at fly line shy trout.

Rubber legged Copper Johns, silver and zebra Copper Johns have all been productive. And the usual fare of Y2Ks, Zebra Midges and woolly buggers (try the copper brown for variety) have also been scoring fish

Tight Lines from the Beaver Dam Store staff,
Charlotte, Steve, Shirley, Bob and Jake.

July 9, 2005 - Beaver - G'day y'all from the Beaver Dam Store crew! email - Phone 479-253-6154 -

Remember us. Well its been a busy couple of weeks around the July 4 holiday and it co-incided with us letting the monkey who usually puts together the report a few days break. The weather has been spectacular, the water releases relatively moderate and the fishing pretty decent.

Beaver newcomer Andy Brown and his crew picked up 70-80 fish between them on red-ass soft hackles and olive woolly buggers last Friday. One Fly winnder Bryce Cadion picked up a 23-inch brown in the Trophy section a couple of weeks back as others were complaining the fishing was slow. Steve also reported a great afternoon's dry fly fishing on July 4 amidst all the traffic.

The daily edd and flow of feeding behaviour, bright blue sky days, extra people on the water (both making trout skittish) can make for tough going at times. Even more infuriating is others slamming fish while you aren't. Often this is technique more than flies. Land your casts gently, use longer finer leaders in the bright conditions and wade quietly.

FISHING
Beaver Tailwater: Beaver is turning on the good and bad of summer fly fishing. Bright sunny days, skittish fish and plenty of river traffic (you would think that waverunner riders could read the no wake signs up and down the river but apparently not). But here come the summer terrestrials to keep things entertaining.

Beetles, ants, crickets and hoppers should all start to become great middle of the day, dry fly patterns in coming weeks, breaking the monotony of staring at indicators. Downstream "fly first" drifts are the order of the day, and long fine leaders. Longer leaders can also help your nymphing or even streamer fishing at fly line shy trout.

Rubber legged Copper Johns, silver and zebra Copper Johns have all been productive. Soft hackles have been working well.
And the usual fare of Y2Ks, Zebra Midges and woolly buggers (try the copper brown for variety) have also been scoring fish

Tight Lines from the Beaver Dam Store staff,
Charlotte, Steve, Shirley, Bob and Jake.

June 17, 2005 - Beaver - G'day y'all from the Beaver Dam Store crew! email - Phone 479-253-6154 - Fly fishing has been a little tough over the last week. But think of it as paying your dues for the good days ahead. Lake conditions don't appear to be helping the fly fishers much but the good news is it shouldn't be too long before Beaver is back to normal. Its not to say there aren't feeding fish around and some nice fish are being taken as well.

FISHING REPORT
Beaver Tailwater: Trout fishing has been tough all week, whether your drowning worms, or flinging flies. We had reports from striper guides that the lake appears to be in the process of turning over, shutting down the striper fishery and slowing the trout fishing.

The good news is it isn't permanent and should be ion the improve soon but in the meantime we will all be working for our fish. Early morning fishing is still producing some fish. Olive woolly buggers, black/silver Zebra Midges, Zebra Copper Johns, have all been drawing takes.

Micro-jigs are also a reliable standby when the fishing gets really tough. Try olive, brown or ginger.

Tips
As it happens we have a couple of items this week on fly rod alternatives, largemouth bass and carp. There are plenty of opportunities for both species in the North-West Arkansas area and we can help you get set up for both.

OLE BUCKETMOUTH ON FLY
Warm summer evenings, glorious dawns, and hungry fish smashing surface flies or minnow patterns. Largemouth bass on fly is a great way to inject a bit of relaxed fun into your fly fishing after serious sessions on 7x tippet with small midges, under bright blue skies on the clear waters of Beaver.

Slap that bass bug down on the surface, give it a big ole bloop and wait for the crashing strike. Tippets are heavy, the flies big and its the right sort of fishing to get you giggling over your fly fishing again. North-West Arkansas has a bunch of great bass waters full of hungry bass, Beaver Lake, Ellendale and Weddington to name just three, and summer evenings and mornings are a great time to find fish up against the banks.

Bass tackle can also double duty as saltwater outfits, with superb saltwater fishing available relatively close to Northwest Arkansas on the Texas Coast, Louisiana and a little further to the great waters around Florida. (If you are taking the family to Disneyworld for a holiday and think you won't fish think again. Mosquito Lagoon holds some huge redfish).

The most common bass outfit is an 8wt rod (which is also a great saltwater weight) capable of handling the big flies necessary for bass. Reels aren't critical for pure largemouth fishing as the fight of often hand to hand and bass don't often pull 200 yard of line. But if you are looking for your outfit to do double duty in the salt as well then look to a saltwater grade reel with plenty of backing and a strong, smooth drag. A weight forward floating line is most commonly used (make sure it is a Bass Taper or similar line designed to carry big flies). Leaders are short and heavy. Popular fly patterns include hard-body or deer hair floating bugs, Crease flies, Gummy Minnows, Clouser Minnows and Dave Whitlock's Sheep Minnow's, Enticers and Scorpions.

KANSAS BONEFISH ON DRY FLIES
Heart of America Fly Fisher's club president John Bell, who is a great friend of Arkansas fly fishing and Beaver Tailwater, sent us an email this week of a trip with another great friend of the Dam Store, Capt Paul Sodamann. John and Capt Sodie, who guides in Florida and Kansas, were chasing Kansas Bones or Carp on dry flies on Milford Reservoir near Junction City Kansas.

"We also spent time casting dries flies to carp that were surface feeding on cottonwood seeds that had blown into the water. Very much like gulper fishing for trout out west. The fish were surface feeding along a scum line and you had to connect the rises and cast in front of the fish or you missed him," John wrote. A seven pounder left John's Sage SP+ 6wt in more pieces than the makers intended. It took an 8wt to handle an 11 pound fish.

If this sort of fishing interests you, give us a call and we can put you in touch with Capt. Sodie and his Kansas bones.

Tight Lines from the Beaver Dam Store staff,
Charlotte, Steve, Shirley, Bob and Jake.

June 10, 2005 - Beaver - G'day y'all from the Beaver Dam Store crew! email - Phone 479-253-6154 -

Free Fishing Weekend
Arkansas Game and Fish Free Fishing weekend is a great opportunity to introduce friends, kids or significant others to fishing without the expense of a license . Between noon, Friday, June 10, through midnight, Sunday, June 12, 2005 residents and nonresidents may fish without fishing licenses or trout permits. Regulations for Arkansas waters apply: daily limits, slot limits and length limits must be observed as must catch and release and bait regulations.

FISHING REPORT
Beaver Tailwater: Trout fishing continues to be excellent with good reports off the river this week. Black Zebra Midges were the strong tip, but keep a couple of Charlotte's Redneck Midges, Red Zebra Midges, Jujubee Midges and Johnny Flash Midges for emergencies.

Soft hackles, like the Red Ass continue to score trout, particularly when in spots with a slightly faster flow or anywhere there are pods of fish taking midge emergers. Yes and Olive Black and Brown crystal Buggers are essentials to carry.

If you like fishing dry flies terrestrial time is coming upon us. We have been seeing swarms of size 20 flying ants around the store, and down on the river. Steve managed a few fish on an 18 parachute ant last week, but when flying ants hit the water, was left wishing he'd picked a few patterns up from the store. On a couple of occasions, often just before a thunderstorm, these can be so thick you'd swear you were in the midst of a hatch. It also pays to grab a couple out of the air. These small ants look pretty much like a caddis if just observed on the wing.

Our thread body ants are also great generalist searching patterns. On hot windy days throw these patterns, or Renegades or Foam Beetles, tight to the banks (often in surprisingly shallow water) and you might be surprised at what monsters eat your fly. Windy days send a stream of beetles, ants, spiders and leaf hoppers onto the water's surface. Trout love them.

Roaring River: Its mayfly time at this Missouri trout park, about 30 minutes from the store. Steve has been assuaging his dry fly jones with regular sessions. Thursday morning he guided Keith from Oklahoma to a bunch of fish, though he says the post storm spate slowed the action. Even so Keith was all wide eyed and adrenaline fuelled after sightfishing to a 30-inch brown and a similar sized bow in skinny water. The pair were also giggling like schoolboys over the action from "Steve's Jacuzzi" a new bath-tub sized fast-water pool from which they caught half a dozen fish each larger than the rest until finally being taken through a deadfall by an 18" plus supercharged 'bow. And for all those who say its too crowded, the pair said they didn't see another fly fisher all morning _ fish Monday to Thursday and beat the crowds.

Steve was also excited by the season's first sighting of Trico spinners hanging in clouds over the river. While the high water didn't produce a Trico hatch of any significance, it's a sign these tiny mayflies are about to deluge the river. This hatch will bring all the trout onto the surface for a feed, the challenge lies in getting your imitation eaten among all the naturals.

Tight Lines from the Beaver Dam Store staff,
Charlotte, Steve, Shirley, Bob and Jake.

June 3, 2005 - Beaver - G'day y'all from the Beaver Dam Store crew! email - Phone 479-253-6154 - Memorial Day weekend served up some great fishing on Beaver Tailwater, despite the hordes descending on the water. We had quite a few newcomers, both to fly fishing and Beaver Tailwater, into the store and while some found the going a little tough, most managed to leave with the big grins of success.

    The low slow flows here take some getting used to, as does the need for quiet wading and a soft landing. Early morning and the fish can be a little more forgiving as well.

    The weekend opened with some nice fish taken in the 2-3 pound class, with one unspecified 22" trout taken below Parker Bend.

TIP OF THE WEEK
    If the hackles on your flies are looking matted, mishappen or ugly, don't throw them away _ the cure is quick and easy. Grab the grubby fly in a pair of hemos, and hold it in the column of steam from a kettle or pot of water. Watch the hackles spring back into shape. Sit treated flies to aside to dry them then pop them back into your box.
*

FISHING REPORT

    Beaver Tailwater:  Early morning dry fly action on midges has been pretty good if you're game to try something other than the always productive indicator drifting.

   Small Griffith's Gnats (20), Parachute Adams, Fowlers Gray Biot Midge, Morgan's Midge have all been drawing takes. Traditional collar hackled Midges in cream (20-24) are also being eaten, but try trimming the hackle trim with the body underneath the fly if you're getting refusals. Look for fish working a beat or holding and feeding for better results.

    Subsurface there are huge numbers of scuds in the river, so that's a good bet in the brown-olive color.
Midge nymphs are working extremely well, in black, red, olive or brown. Try Zebra Midges, Zebra Copper Johns, Tungsten WD40s, Johnny Flash or the Jujubee Midge.

  Woolly Buggers in olive or black have also been consistent. Early morning or evening is a great time to try for larger than usual fish. Try a Becks Super Bugger or Whitlock's Near Nuff Sculpin in olive or tan to entice these fish.

    Zonkers, Clousers or Gummy Minnows may also be a good bet for the stripers haunting the tailwater. There is a pod of fish in the mid-20" class moving around, often in the lower part of the catch and release area. There are also some much larger singles slipping up and down.

Tight Lines from the Beaver Dam Store staff,
Charlotte, Steve, Shirley, Bob and Jake.

May 27, 2005 - Beaver - G'day y'all from the Beaver Dam Store crew! email - Phone 479-253-6154 - Memorial Day is upon us and things are heating up. Warm days and plenty of folks around on weekends. Holiday weekends are great for relaxation but if you're looking for solitude, can be a little trying.

Midweek fishing here on Beaver is always quieter than weekends, particularly in summer. But you can still find some space even on weekends. The boat ramp below the dam is always the most crowded section as is the top of the catch and release area. But there is often uncrowded water between Parker Bend and the Canebreak hole.

Parker Bend itself often holds plenty of people but below this area there is plenty of water with few people until Bertrand boat ramp, and all it takes is a little leg power.
Below the confluence of the White and Spider Creek there is several miles of water, accessible to watercraft. All it takes is a little muscle, an adventurous spirit and a canoe or kayak.

FISHING REPORT

    Beaver Tailwater:
   Olive, olive, olive seems to be the word from the river. Olive scuds, olive woolly buggers and olive midges have all been claiming fish. Once again it's smart to be on the water early. You can be fishing hard by 5:30 am. The action has been slowing once the sun hits the water.

    Red zebra midge, red jujubees have been faring well amist the usual strong form of black and silver versions. Mercer's Gold Dust continues to perform well, within 24 hours of restocking this pattern we had one customer catching 10 fish on it, after lunch in the peak of the doldrums no less.

    Roaring River:  Ducking the crowds by fishing midweek is a good idea. But if you fancy some traditional mayfly action, and a break from watching an indicator, the hatches are pretty good. Try small pheasant tails or hares ears during the morning, looking for the Tricos or Olives mid morning. Late afternoon you may see Pale Evening Duns. Light tippets, accurate casting are the go. A great warmup for any planned trips out west. If you're not schooled in hatch matching, book our resident dry fly addict Steve for a trip.

Tight Lines from the Beaver Dam Store staff,
Charlotte, Steve, Shirley and Bob

May 20, 2005 - Beaver - G'day y'all from the Beaver Dam Store crew! email - Phone 479-253-6154 - Memorial Day must be looming, we've had more old friends turn up in the last 10 days than a 100-year old chain-smoking lottery winner. Seems like there are plenty of people returning to Beaver to fish after a few years on other waters. They must have heard how good the fishing has been.

FISHING REPORT
Beaver Tailwater: We have been saying it for a couple of weeks now but the best time to fish is early. And by early we don't mean 10:30 am on the water. As soon as its light enough to see your indicator you can catch trout. White bass, on either the river or lake. Stripers are tearing up big schools of threadfin shad just under the surface at first light. 8-10wt. rods with large streamers attached to the business end will tangle you up with the big boys at the playground at the dam. After the sun hits the water, fer-git-about-it.

Spider Creek is the hot spot on the river this week with about a gazillion Whites in the run and big numbers of decent sized 'bows in the hole. Tie on one of our Chartreuse Woolly Buggers for the Whites and a B.H. Rubber Legged Black Woolly for the 'bows.

Micro jigs, not really a fly, but castable with a fly rod, has earned their solid reputation with Beaver Dam Store fly fishers the old fashioned way; catching fish after fish after fish. Black/red or ginger has been the color of the week for trout anglers; white or chartreuse is the choice for White Bass fly rodders.

Panfish action across the street at the Dino pond is hot as the approaching summer weather is warming the waters. Take home a diversity dinner; trout and Redear!

Tight Lines from the Beaver Dam Store staff,
Charlotte, Steve, Shirley and Bob.

May 12, 2005 - Beaver - G'day y'all from the Beaver Dam Store crew! email - Phone 479-253-6154

Holy Slamming White Bass, Batman. If you haven't ever had the chance to catch white bass on topwater flies, you have to get here in the next week. Steve's had some serious white bass fever since Saturday morning, when on his second cast with a very speculative fly choice, the pattern was smashed by a 4-pound female _ a Silver Crease fly size 4.

Wednesday morning White Bass cove was alive with fish hammering bait, there's a good chance of some bigger stripers or at least hefty hybrids. Shad patterns Gummy Minnows, Clousers will all take fish, but topwaters are so much fun. Just be early

FISHING REPORT

Beaver Tailwater: The best fishing remains early, particularly now with the increasing temperatures (and air conditioning use) climbing. The generators have been coming on around 2.30pm this week. Hotter days will mean earlier generation, cooler days later generation. All in all your best chance for good uninterrupted fishing means start early.

Olive Woolly Buggers and Black Zebra midges remain hot, with Charlotte's Redneck Midge also a gun pattern. And it doesn't just work here at Beaver. One of our customers reported taking 30 fish on the Redneck last weekend at Taneycomo. Red Ass soft hackles and Cracklebacks are doing well. Griffith's Gnat's Morgan's CDC Midge and Parachute Adams can draw dry fly takes.

Scuds and sowbugs, particularly in darker colors continue to do well. These bright days mean fine tippet and a delicate approach, both wading and casting.

Beaver Lake: Crease flies in silver and blue have been drawing spectacular takes at dawn and dusk along the lake edges from the Dam to White Bass Cove. Other topwater patterns, like foam or hard body sliders have been working well. Size 4 would be the best size, but larger patterns have also been hit and might be a better bet for those chasing hybrids.

For subsurface action Whitlock's Sheep Shad, Clouser Minnows, Gummy Minnows, Cowen's Coyote and Burks' Hot Flash Minnow should be in every flybox.

SCUDS

When it comes to trout food anywhere on Arkansas's amazing tailwaters scuds and sowbugs are high on the menu. Both scuds and sowbugs are little crustaceans that live down among the stones. Scuds look like, and are, a freshwater shrimp, which is probably why our trout are so fond of them. And Beaver is hosting a huge population currently, probably due to the increased habitat made available by all the high water over winter. Sowbugs look like a shrimp that's been steamrollered, with a broad flat back. Most commonly they are in shades of olive, tan, gray though the scuds do have an orange phase.

To our mind the best scud patterns, and the most popular one's in our flybox, come from Umpqua tiers Randall Kaufmann (Oregon) and Arkansas' own Mike McLellan. They both work simple as that. But if you are a fly tier, you are probably always looking to tweak patterns or dream up a new one. We can recommend a great Internet resource for trout food pictures, The Troutnut.com which is where we found this great scud picture at left, among thousands of pictures of nymphs, duns caddis and so on. But of course there is nothing like getting down and peering under the stones on your home river, when it comes to matching the hatch.

When it comes to tying we have all the tying necessities for making your own scud or sowbug patterns:

Tiemco Hooks: Go for the 2487 fine wire scud hook or the heavier 2457. The standard by which others are judged
Wapsi Sow-Scud Dubbing: Great colors and easy to work with. Or blend your own flavor.
Lead Tape: The essential ingredient on the McLellan's Hunchback Scud
Lead and Lead-Free Wire:
Scud-Back: Great for imitating the shell of scuds
Swiss Straw: Another favorite for scud and sowbug shells.

TIP OF THE WEEK

As you're all probably well aware fly fishing is probably one of the more active fishing methods. It seems we are always trying, thinking, doing something different to fool our quarry. But sometimes its actually more effective to do nothing at all! The "Do Nothing" retrieve on lakes, in the salt or broader pools, can be pretty hard to get used to. Even a dead-drift on a river requires some mending. But the "Do Nothing" retrieve takes a little more patience, whether you are fishing topwater patterns for bass or slowly sinking a wet fly.

Both techniques can be critical at times. Largemouth, and the whites currently, will often follow a splashy bug almost all the way to your feet. Just letting the fly sit for 20-30 seconds can draw the strike. The whites in particular are nosing up to topwaters like a trout taking a mayfly. A "Do Nothing" retrieve, or long pauses between strips, on minnow patterns, letting them slowly sink with a sinking line can also be particular effective for fish lying deep. This is a great way to fish the Gummy Minnow which flutters slowly down, sending out big fish attracting flashes off its sides. Mullet are often regarded as one of the toughest saltwater fish to fool, but a fuzzy "algae" fly dead drifted slowly can be very effective and these fish are great fun on light rods.

Tight Lines from the Beaver Dam Store staff,

Charlotte, Steve, Shirley and Bob.

January 13, 2005 - Bull Shoals - Submitted by Bass Boat Magazine - the fishing on bull shoals has been real good iv fished it at least three days a week for the last three to four weeks the water has been rising about two to three feet a day ive been fishing mainly from the mid section around lead hill to powersite dam water temp has ranged from 42 to 51 degrees from k dock south we have been catching or fish mainly on jigs and tubes green gourd,olive/black brown/purple 5/16 3/16 oz pjs football jigs traild with a zoom critter craw or akins craw in cinnamon purple flake on the brown jigs and green pumpkin on the green colored jigs most of our fish have been real shallow weve been flipping the buck brush on sunny banks with chunk rock in the creek arms ive been fishing the main lake from k dock north with suspending rouges in the yellow clown,purple painter,purple pearl and blue with orange belly hang on to your rods with these baits weve been catching an ocasional walley in the 3 to 5 pound range i forgot to mention depths on the lower port!
ion of the lake the majority of fish have been about 6 to 12 feet deep on the jig and on the tube weve been fishing around the 20 ft mark colors for tubes have been mainly green pumpkin. you can also catch some nice crappie in about 10 to 14 feet of water around brush piles on swimming minnows or small jigs blue and grey or plain gray jigs and chartrues or pearl purple swimming minnows well good luck and happy fishing.

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