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| r | His Place Monthly Fishing Report - December, 2002 Hello! December has already given us a little snow this month. It only lasted for a few days, but it was sure pretty while it was here. Winter is an often overlooked, great time to fish on the White! There is less tourist traffic, but the fish bite just the same. A lot of the trophy brown fishing is done in the winter.
You can expect temperatures in the 30's and 40's, sometimes even a little warmer. We just put a wood stove with a blower out under the covered pavilion, so you can sit outside, covered, and warm up every once in awhile. We've just put up a lot of bird feeders all over the resort, and it sure has attracted a bunch of them! While you're sitting under the pavilion, you may get to watch our "ultimate squirrel-proof bird feeder" in action. The base has a motor, and when something as heavy as a squirrel gets on it, the little darlings get "flung" off! (OK, OK, kinda mean - but really funny! It's only mounted a couple feet off the ground... they don't fall far.) :-)
Welcome to the Newsletter! We hope to see you soon.
Fishing in the Winter Time...
Well, we just thought we'd show you some of the pretty colors on the Browns this time of year. They're always pretty, but they've really brightened up - spawning season and all. Here we have Brad Cozart, and his friend Steve showing off a couple of Browns they caught. Steve's first fish on a fly rod was that pretty Brown!
The Hopeful Candidates...
Well, here they are... your 2002 Finalists! Jerry Wilhoyte, Ronnie Smith, & John Stevenson. No, they're not candidates for the Miss Universe Pageant... (surprised, are you?) Well, what possible rewards could they be competing for??? Money? Fast Cars? Women? Fame? Isn't it enough just to be here? Well, it really is, but nonetheless - we are observing one of the little traditions that make visits here just a little more memorable... Introducing the G. W. Hazel Award!!
The G.W. Hazel Award Yes, this is it! The G.W. Hazel Award - handcrafted from Genuine Arkansas White River Rock, this trophy is definitely fit to grace the finest mantel! Note the high(?) quality broken reel, which adds a touch of realism... Compare the superb 3M electrical tape to... well - to other electrical tape. And finally, the quality embossed lettering... oh, that's just black magic marker. Well, anyway, it's a cool award to get! G.W. Hazel was the first recipient of the award back in 1988. He was a good friend of John's (pictured above right) and John's dad, and they all used to love to fish the White before the Lord called him home in 1989. This reward is given out to one of his friends every year. It has to be made of a river bottom rock, broken reel, electrical tape, and "engraved" with a black magic marker. John was short a couple of components, so we were glad to help out.
December 2002 - What the fish are biting on…
Bait - Sculpin are still working, same size as last month - 1-1/2 to 3 inches or so. Worms are still working too - try some Red Worms. Also, those Powerbait Artificial worms, in Natural are working well, too. Artificials - Really hasn't changed much from last month. Smaller spoons - Colorados, both Gold/Copper and Gold/Silver and Bouyants in 1/6th oz., Gold/Red are working, along with the ever popular yellow or yellow/black rooster tails. You may also want to try a Countdown, in Gold/Black. Fly Fishing - Sowbugs, light tan in size 16, small sculpin patterns, #10 beadhead Wooly Buggers, and #18 Copper Johns, 56'ers, and Red-Ass Kelso's are working well, too.
Fish Story of the Month! - "The Fishies LIKE the Water, Thank you!" Minimum Flow - Maybe you've heard of it, maybe you haven't. Minimum Flow is a very simple concept. Basically, it lets a small amount of water out of the dams at all times. I know, I know - those of you who have been wading in near drought conditions for the last 4-5 years or so are thinking, "How is that a good thing? I want to wade!" Well, the first thing I can tell you is those abnormally low flows (and no, drought conditions are not considered normal) are not good for the river. Don't worry, waders! - minimum flow is an asset to you. At this location in the river, minimum flow will raise the water only about 6 inches, we're not talking a whole lot of water here. It's the difference between approx 250 CFS (no flow) and approx 800 CFS. (You can wade at this point in the river to about 5000 - 5500 CFS.) As a reference, one generator opened to the max can put out up to 3300 CFS, (although they are seldom opened anywhere close to the max, they open several instead). So all we're talking about is like 1/3 of a generator opened to sustain minimum flow. The kind of ultra low-flow conditions the river has undergone has had a very negative impact on the system. Even without a scientific study (which the Corps and AGFC have now) it doesn't take a degree in quantum physics to understand. In a nutshell, there is less of the river bottom covered. This equals fewer places for the fish to spawn, less moss and plantlife, etc., which in turn equals less insect life. Less flow also equals higher water temperatures and less oxygen - all very bad for the trout. Here is an excerpt from the USACE (Corps of Engineers) Website (You think I'm always late updating the newsletter, the info on this page pretty dated, but the jist of it is still the same.) "The White River Minimum Flow Study is examining both good and bad impacts that could result from reallocating storage in Beaver, Table Rock, Bull Shoals, Norfork and Greers Ferry lakes to maintain minimum flows to improve trout fishing on the White, North Fork, and Little Red rivers. The amount of storage reallocation under study is 1.5 feet in Beaver Lake, 2 feet in Table Rock Lake, 3.5 feet in Norfork Lake, 5 feet in Bull Shoals Lake and 3 feet in Greers Ferry Lake. The stored water would be used to make releases during periods when hydropower is not being generated, and flood water releases are not being made. These minimum flows are intended to sustain the trout fishery. Section 374 of the Water Resources Development Act of 1999 (WRDA 99), and Section 304 of WRDA 00 directed the Corps to provide minimum flows if the study finds "that the work is technically sound, environmentally acceptable and economically justified." The Corps did not initiate the legislation, and agency officials say they have no preconceived notion of the study's outcome. They say they will carry out the directions set forth in the public law in a professional and unbiased manner." Well, what does that mean? It means if it makes sense, then they'll do it. Regretfully, we recently lost Senator Tim Hutchinson in the last election, who was really getting the ball rolling. Hopefully, his successor, Mark Pryor, will take the same leadership position on this critical issue. Studies have been completed, the Corps, SWPA (SouthWest Power Administration - part of the government's Department of Energy) and AGFC and many others are evaluating them now. So, it all sounds great - what's the downside? There really isn't one. However, water is money - and it's understandable that SWPA may not be so willing to give up some of her water. If the water comes out of the Flood Control Pool (Corps Water), then the baseline for the lake has just been raised 5 feet on Bull Shoals. Might give the Corps some work to do - for example, raising parking lots? So, maybe they'll split the difference, take some of the Power Pool (below the flood control pool, above the Conservation Pool) and some out of the Flood Control Pool. See how this could be worked out below: Here's some info I copied off the AGFC site - http://www.agfc.com/education/minimum_flow.html
On Tuesday, Dec 10th, there was a meeting scheduled for Minimum Flow. The Arkansas Democrat Gazette and the Baxter Bulletin both released similar articles as to the outcome. In summary, the articles in the papers made the following statements:
Water Level & River Conditions
Well, here is the turbine release for the last 10 days. I guess you could say it's kind of, sort of consistent - somewhat like a (dare I say it) an actual pattern. Water turned on at the dam at 6 or 7 AM. Depending on how heavy they turn it on, it hits here at the resort between 10:30 and 12:00, and depending on how quickly they turn it off, it can give you afternoon daylight wading time, but not always. Then every once in awhile, they'll leave it off for a few days. It's been a pretty good pattern, and you know the fish like that rising water, and it's made the fishermen pretty happy, too!
In Closing...
Christmas - A time to thank the Good Lord for what we have! As we all reflect on our many blessings, let us bring to mind one of our country's greatest blessings - our freedom. It comes at a cost. Just a soft reminder to pray for our President (I know I don't remember to pray for him enough!) as he makes unimaginably staggering decisions. Also, a friend of mine sent me a little Christmas poem that I really liked, and thought you may enjoy it too:
'Twas the night before Christmas, and he lived all alone, in a one bedroom house made of plaster and stone. I had come down the chimney with presents to give, and to see just who in this small stone home did live. I looked all about, a strange sight I did see, no tinsel, no presents, not even a tree. No stocking by mantle, just boots filled with sand, on the wall hung pictures of far distant lands. With medals and badges, awards of all kinds, a sobering thought made its way to my mind. For this house was different, it was dark and so dreary, I found the home of a soldier once I could see clearly. The soldier lay sleeping, silent, alone, curled up on the floor in this one bedroom home. The face was so gentle, the room in such disorder, not how I pictured a Was this the hero of whom I’d just read? Curled up on a poncho, the floor for a bed? I realized the families that I saw this night, owed their lives to these soldiers who were willing to fight. Soon round the world, all the children would play, and grownups would celebrate a bright Christmas day. They all enjoyed freedom each month of the year, because of the soldiers, like the one lying here. I couldn't help wonder how many lay alone, on a cold Christmas Eve in a land far from home. The very thought brought many a tear to my eye, so I dropped to my knees and I started to cry. The soldier awakened and I heard a rough voice, He said, "Santa don't cry, this life is my choice; I fight for our freedom, I don't ask for more, my life is my God, my Country, my Corps." The soldier rolled over and drifted to sleep, I couldn't control it, I continued to weep. I kept watch for hours, so silent and still, and as time passed, we shivered from the freezing night's chill. I didn't want to leave on that cold and dark night, this guardian of freedom so willing to fight. Then the soldier rolled over, with a voice soft & pure, saying "Carry on Santa, it's Christmas day, all is secure." One look at my watch, and I knew he was right. "Merry
Christmas my friend, and to all a good night."
May God Bless you and keep you all.
Until next month!!! Happy Holidays! Good Fishing! Julie |
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