Jim and I had a great 3 day fly fishing trip down to the Spring River in Arkansas, which is by the town of Mammoth Spring, just south of the Missouri border on highway 63. We stayed at the Riverview Motel in town, and fished the river at a couple of the campgrounds. It was beautiful weather for the most part, although it sprinkled several times on Friday, enough we put on our rain jackets. We caught tons of fish, easily beating the century mark together on Friday (our full day of fishing). On the last day, Friday, we drove back hoping to catch Taneycomo not running heavy water but that was not meant to be. So instead we stopped up an Bennett Spring and fished several hours there. We caught a number of fish and decided to bring a couple home as well. September is a great time to be down on the Spring River, as the canoe hatch is non-existent (especially during the week) and more privacy. For most of the time there, it was only Jim and I within eye-sight of anyone. And the terrain was spectacular.
Here are a few pictures below, as well as the complete album at this link:
Spring River Arkansas
Pretty waterfall
Lassiter Access from our Motel
Cutthroat
Jim's 18 Inch Brown
Liberty gang at Bennett on our way back
Your's truly on the Spring River
Technical report: We started off fishing at the usual place Wednesday afternoon. The fishing was only so-so. The fish we caught were pretty small rainbows. I had decent luck with fishing a black Woolly Bugger below the riffles and Jim with his Glo Balls. As the water was down a little more than normal, it was easy to walk up above and fish those upper spots. One time we saw 2 fisherman way down stream but no other people. It was a fish here and there but nothing special. That night it got very foggy. The next morning it was off to Riverside to check that area out. We decided to go ahead and walk up to Bayou first. Boy, was that a good decision. It fished the best we have ever seen by far (and again, no one else around). I had very good luck across from the main access point and Jim down by the start and middle of that main run going around the corner. Mine was on a bed spread and zebra midge. Jim mostly on a bed spread. Both of us caught a couple of browns, one of Jim's being about an 18 incher that I got a photo of. After a while we waded down to the campground. Then Jim started slaying them on the slow run above the upper campground rapids, one after the other (in one relatively small spot). He also did great at the same equivalent run above the second set of rapids. I went below the rapids and did pretty well too. After my indicated got swallowed a couple of times, I threw on a Chernobyl Ant, and actually got quite a few strikes. I didn't land too many as the fish were jumping out of the water but not really grabbing the fly for the most part (one of the oddest things I've seen). I tried a number of flies such as a copper john and prince nymph, with only minor success. Nothing at all on a scud or a Jacomo fly. We just kept moving around (as no one else was there) and catching fish in most spots, even right below the rapid fast water. It was so much fun that we simply stayed there all day long (about 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.), even eating lunch on the stream. Finally about 4:00 p.m. a couple other fishermen showed up but can't complain about that.
The next morning, we debated what to do and decided to go give Taneycomo a try (and it was another very foggy morning). On the way there (since the recording wasn't working), we called the fly shop and they said the water was up a couple feet and would go up more later, so we changed plans. We shot up to Bennett for a few hours of fishing before heading back about 2:00. We ran into Don Grundy and the Liberty guys who were down for the week and enjoyed chatting. Jim Hill was catching a few on a caddis so I put one on and caught several that way, after sight fishing on the island that I like so much. Jim and I both save a couple to bring home. Jim had good luck below the Holland Dam.
The guy at the Riverview Motel (Bill), told us that he thought winter fishing was pretty good on the Spring as the big fish come up out of their holes. And the Riverside campground and public places are available to fish year round, and they also stock year round. Sorry for the long report. Anyone still reading must have that same disease I have (regarding fly fishing that is).
