His Place Newsletter - February, 2003

Hello! 

Yikes!!!  It's already February... (In case you didn't notice, I didn't have time to do a separate January newsletter, but I did add 5 new nature and photo gallery pages.  If you haven't had a chance to check them out, take a look!)

Welcome to the Newsletter!  We hope to see you soon.

This isn't a bad way to start out the new year!!

Well, here we have Brian Lewis and Greg with Brian's 5 lb. 13 oz. lady brown.  Being a great sportsman, we weighed her, girthed her, and took some pictures so Brian can have an artificial mount made...  She was released unharmed right after this picture was taken.  Not a bad way to start your year! 

What is that thing???

We finally got our new tour boat!!! It took awhile to build, but it was definitely worth the wait.  It's a super-wide 47" AFF boat, that will comfortably seat 5 adults plus the operator, and has a very quiet 4-stroke, 30 HP Yamaha jet motor on the back.  You can actually talk going full throttle down the river!  (So wide, in fact, that to get two boats into the slip of our dock, we now have to widen the slip...)  It's smooth and incredibly stable - doesn't blow around much while drifting, either.)

It's fitted with a removable "duck blind" system with a top section that can either be partly folded down, (like on the left of the picture) or closed up higher, (like the right side of the picture)  to obscure the passengers.

What are we going to use it for?  Primarily, it's for the new Nature and Wildlife Observation / Photo Shoot trips we've recently started.  (If you haven't checked that out, there's more information on the "Nature" page of the website.)  With the blind system, it's possible to get much closer to the wildlife without spooking it.  

Steve has already been testing this, and he says you can get much closer to animals and birds than you can in an open boat. The blinds obscure your motion - they won't see you rummaging for your camera, or otherwise moving around in the boat.

Also, Steve will be using it for a guided fishing trip boat, with the blind system removed.  It's super comfortable, with an aerated livewell system in the back.  Also, with the jet - and the fact that this boat is super-wide (doesn't sit as deep) - it makes getting around in the lower water much easier.  

Fish Story of the Month! 

Promises, Rationalizations, and 'Product Research'

We've all either made promises - or made up "rationalizations" - to go fishing - haven't we???  It's kind of like the 4 fishers who were comparing notes about what they had to promise to their spouses in order to go fishing...  

One lady said, "I had to promise my husband I'd clean the whole house when I got home."  The next lady said, "That's nothing - I had to promise my husband that I'd mow the lawn when I got back - and we have 5 acres and a push mower!"  The third lady said, "You two have it easy...  I had to promise to clean out the entire 6 car garage - and you can't even walk in there right now."  

The last lady just kind of grinned - and didn't say a word.  Her friends asked her - "So, what did YOU have to promise to get to go fishing today?"  She said, "My husband worked really hard all week, and I knew he was exhausted, so it was easy.  When I woke up this morning, I rolled over to him and said, "OK, honey - What's it going to be today - fishing or love?"  My husband said, "Don't forget your fishing license..." ;-)

So much for the "promises" we make!  Now on to the "rationalizations".  As you can guess, there's ALWAYS something to do here at the resort.  For example, my husband is remodeling the kitchen and bathroom in #5 right now.  It's getting close, but is NOT complete.  So this morning, he's up extra early and says, "OK, honey - I'm leaving now!"  I said, "Excuse ME?  Where are you going?"  To which he replied, "We're going fishing."  I said, "Oh, NO, NO, NO - I don't think so!  There's work to be done around here - and it's got YOUR name on it!" 

Then he grinned at me, with that look...  (If you've ever had "the look" used against you - well, you know what I mean - you immediately become powerless.  And if you know how to give the "look", then you truly have the upper hand over your spouse in most situations.  It's the look that you give your spouse when you know you're about to get away with something...  Kind of a babyish, smile / grin that melts the heart and incapacitates the mind of the victim...)  

Then he said, "Don't we offer fishing at this resort?"  I said, "Of course."  He said, "And don't you think I owe it to the customers to be absolutely 100% on top of my game at all times?"  I just kind of stared at him - I hadn't had my morning coffee yet, knew it was a losing battle, and really just wanted to giggle...  Then he said, "Just look at it this way - It's really just 'product research', dear."  So, I said, "See you later, honey - have a great day!"

And what a great day they had!  You see, the yearly shad kill is beginning.  For those of you who don't know what that is, there are these little bait fish that live in the lake called shad.  They look kind of like white sardines.  As water temperatures push them lower in the lake, they start getting sucked through the generators and pumped into the river.  Some are dead, some merely stunned.  But, the trout, especially the browns, hear the dinner bell ringing!!!  The shad kill usually lasts until about April.  During this time, the fish feed at a substantially increased rate, making it an even better time of year than normal to fish.

So, back to Steve & Greg - they were fly fishing today.  On their first drift, they had three doubles.  The intensity stayed that way for over 4 hours.  They were getting consistently nice 2 to 3# rainbows, one 4 pounder, and broke off a 5 - 6 pounder at the boat.  Since it was mid-week, they weren't terribly crowded today, either.

Minimum Flow Update

For those of you who have been following the newsletter, we have been trying to keep you informed about the Minimum Flow Project.  (If you haven't heard about this, you can link to the December 2002 newsletter archive and read about it in detail.)  Minimum Flow is very crucial to the future prosperity and health of the river system.  However, we have had a minor setback...  Allen Carter of AGFC writes below:

Monday, February 03, 2003

According to Corps of Engineers (COE) officials the minimum flow study should be released for public comment during the first part of September, 2003. During the last few weeks some errors have been identified in the report and extensive analysis will be required. COE employees are working hard to make sure the report is the best possible. Certainly we do not want the results to be flawed in any way when the report goes to Congress for final consideration for reallocation. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission is looking forward to the study's completion and continues to work with the study team.

AC

So, what does this latest statement mean for Minimum Flow?  The supposed math that came up with the original 16 to 1 benefit to cost ratio is probably not as favorable as this initial estimate.  Therefore, the number crunchers will have to crunch again...  But, from what we hear, it will undoubtedly come up very favorable - just not 16 to 1 favorable.  And as long as the ration is 1 to 1 or better, Minimum Flow has a good chance.  We'll keep you informed of this critical proposal as it progresses.

In Closing...

Next month, I'll let you know a little bit about the AGFC / Corps of Engineers Habitat Restoration Program - what they've already done, and where they're going in the future - interesting stuff.  (By the way, if you want something specific written about in the newsletter, let me know!)

As always, our heartfelt thanks to all of you who visit us, and read the newsletter - you make it all worthwhile!!!  We certainly do live in "interesting times", but we're blessed that we can offer you a place where you can get away from it all for awhile.  A gentle reminder to pray for our leaders and our soldiers overseas - and remember, God's still in control!

May God Bless and keep you and yours...

Until next month - Good Fishing!

Julie