This Weekend in the Arkansas Delta
May 23, 2012 11:15 AM
Happy Wednesday to you all! For most of us, this weekend signifies not only the official start of summer, but a three-day holiday weekend! If you’re still making plans for the Memorial Day weekend, check out some of these events taking place throughout the Arkansas Delta!
Augusta hosts the
15th annual Augusta Days on May 24-27. The festival features a carnival, arts and crafts, a 5K run, a car show, a mini-tractor pull, fireworks, a variety of food vendors, and live entertainment. To learn more, phone 870-347-6457.
Enjoy the Memorial Day holiday weekend at
Crowley’s Ridge State Park in
Paragould! The park hosts
Fishing on the Ridge Kids’ Derb
y on May 26. Kids 15 years and under are invited to compete for a variety of prizes. That afternoon, it’s
Memorial Day Madness! Bring the family and enjoy recreational activities, interpretive programs, swimming, and cruising in pedal boats while listening to music on the beach. Visit
www.ArkansasStateParks.com or phone 870-573-6751 for detail
s.
Celebrate the rich and diverse heritage of
Gillett during
Heritage Days 2012 on May 26. The all-day event, held in the city park, features activities for the entire family, including a 5K, games and tournaments, live entertainment, vendor booths, a barbecue contest and a street dance. Civil War reenactors and staff from Arkansas Post Museum State Park will offer a variety of pioneer activities for the kids. To learn more, phone 870-548-2634.
Enjoy an evening of gospel music as
Cane Creek State Park in
Star City hosts
Music in the Park on May 26. Bring your lawn chairs
or blankets and watch the sunset while enjoying great live music. Pack up the entire family and head to the park for Dutch Oven Dessert and Game Night on May 27. Play a variety of games while waiting for the Dutch oven dessert to cook! Log on to
www.ArkansasStateParks.com or phone the park at 870-628-4714.
Have a GREAT Memorial Day...and be safe!
Kimberly J. Williams
Freshwater Mussels and Their Importance to the Balance of the Buffalo
May 21, 2012 11:47 AM
Shawn Hodges, fisheries biologist for the
Buffalo National River, will speak on “Freshwater Mussels and Their Importance to the Balance of the Buffalo” at 5:30 p.m. at the Boone County Library on Tuesday, May 22. The library is located at 221 W. Stephenson in
Harrison.
“Its ancient current gives life to more than 300 species of fish, insects, freshwater mussels, and aquatic plants,” according to the
National Parks Service website.
The Buffalo is a great float fishing stream. It’s considered a model smallmouth bass stream with its fast, clear, oxygen rich water. Smallmouth love the river’s gravel bottom and boulder beds. Most folks float in a johnboat or canoe. The Buffalo’s cool, clean waters also provide a great habitat for channel catfish, green and longear sunfish, and spotted bass. Try fishing it with natural baits such as crayfish, minnows and worms.
Kids Can Learn the Basics of Fishing
May 16, 2012 10:00 AM
Do you have a child who has always wanted to learn how to fish? It’s a great way for kids to have fun outdoors but they may not have a clue as to where to begin. The John Gould Fletcher Library has just what that child needs. Together with the
Arkansas Game & Fish Commission, the library is hosting a two-part
Beginner’s Fishing Clinic this Thursday and Saturday (
May 17 and
19). Thursday’s class begins at 6 p.m. at the library, with the 9 a.m. Saturday event taking place at the MacArthur Park pond. It is for ages 15 and younger.
The first gathering features an AG&FC biologist who will teach participants about gear, bait, rigging, fish handling, and commission-owned pond locations. The first 40 children who attend the clinic's initial session receive a coupon good for a free fishing rod and reel, which is redeemable on May 19. At the clinic's second session, participants will be able to fish in the MacArthur Park pond while receiving advice from an AG&FC biologist on fish handling.
Participants much attend both the Thursday and Saturday workshops to receive the rod and reel. The Fletcher Library is located at 823 North Buchanan Street. The MacArthur Park Pond is located behind the
MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History at 503 East 9th in downtown
Little Rock.
For more information on the fishing event, call Fletcher Library at 663-5457 or visit
www.cals.org.
One Tank Travels: Heber Springs
May 16, 2012 12:00 AM
We invite you to have "More Fun Per Gallon" in Arkansas this year. Each day we will be blogging on different Arkansas destinations which can be reached on one tank of gas or less. This is basically every corner of The Natural State. We hope these suggestions help you in planning a trip to remember. Today's Trip: Heber Springs
I’m a keeper. Not a hoarder - a keeper. I do purge stuff – albeit some stuff easier than other stuff. Old notebooks, full of old notes, seem to be something I have a hard time parting with. If I’ve already written the article, I no longer need the notes, so I don’t know why I don’t just toss them. Sometimes I find papers stuck in the notebooks, like recently when I found an agenda from a writer’s workshop I attended in December of 2006 (yes, 2006).
Scratched on a side border was a quote from freelance writer Georgie McIrvin of Heber Springs. It read, “Everybody ought to have to go to Heber Springs before they go to Heaven so it won’t be such a shock.”
Well, if that doesn’t make
Heber Springs worth at least one tank of gas, I don’t know what does.
Heber Springs was founded as a health resort in the mid-19th century. Today it serves as a gateway to
Greers Ferry Lake and the
Little Red River. I have to agree with Georgie that the scenery in this area is pretty heavenly. Greers Ferry is among the state's five largest lakes and is tops in providing great fishing, water sports, boating and camping. Corps of Engineers campgrounds and commercial parks are available. You can also try your hand fishing for trout on the Little Red River below the Corp of Engineers Dam. It’s internationally known for producing world-record trout. Resorts and outfitters are abundant. The lake and river have served as national models for environmental cleanliness.
In addition to the great outdoors, Heber Springs’
historic downtown district has an Americana square with a stately county courthouse, museum, antique shops, art galleries, and gift shops. Spring Park, which attracted settlers to Heber Springs in the 1830s, is located in the heart of town along east Main Street. The park has picnic tables, shade trees, a basketball court, skateboard ramp, playgrounds, two outdoor amphitheaters, public restrooms and is wheelchair accessible. It’s also the backdrop for many festivals throughout the year including Spring Fest and Old Settler’s Days.
So fill up your gas tank and make plans to see Heber Springs’ little slice of heaven. I’m going to go throw out a notebook from 2006. I suddenly don’t feel like I need it anymore.
Jill M. Rohrbach
Bull Shoals Lake is Incredible Fishery for Bassmaster Elite Anglers, Amateurs or Families
April 28, 2012 11:22 AM
Bull Shoals Lake is an incredible fishery – just ask a pro, especially those at the recent Bassmaster Elite Series TroKar Quest held April 19-22 on this 60,000-acre impoundment.
“Most definitely this is one of the best lakes I’ve fished in a long time,” said Bassmaster Pro Gerald Swindle. “If you’ve got children and you want to spend some time fishing, I would definitely look at Bull Shoals. You can put a line in and catch fish anywhere. It’s like Christmas.” He added that his wife now wants to visit Bull Shoals to fish.
Swindle placed 41st in the tournament and was a commentator for the event, which will air on April 29 from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. ET on ESPN2 and from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. ET on ESPN Classic.
With a four-day total of 78 pounds, 6 ounces, Brandon Palaniuk, 24, won the TroKar Quest and $100,000. Comprised of 100 of the most talented anglers in bass fishing, the field of competitors has won more than 200 Bassmaster tournaments, 17 Bassmaster Classic championships and 21 Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year titles. The Elite field - especially anglers such as four-time Classic champ Rick Clunn of Missouri, perennial qualifier Kevin VanDam of Michigan, and several popular Arkansas favorites like Mark Davis of Mount Ida, and Scott Rook of Little Rock - drew the public to attend the daily weigh-in events.
Nearly all of the anglers remarked on the fantastic fishery that Bull Shoals Lake offers as well as the great support and turnout for the event from the community. Many also expressed a desire to return to Bull Shoals Lake. The tournament was based at Bull Shoals Lake Boat Dock and Bull Shoal-White River State Park.
Palaniuk was able to land some big fish to make the difference in his win. Every angler was catching a lot of fish and weeded through the keepers to gain ounces. Most were cranking bluff walls and transitions. “This is a phenomenal fishery. I probably had 150 keepers over the last three days,” said Jason Quinn. Compared to other waters, Quinn said it ranks up there because “you can just go out there and catch ‘em.”
Palaniuk fished tight angles on small brush and rock piles in open water. On day three he hooked himself in his left pinky finger when he was reaching down for a catch and it shook. “It was a KVD treble and went all the way to the bone,” Palaniuk explained. “I took 20 minutes to try to push it out but it wasn’t doing.”He had to head to the Mountain Home emergency room. He was in and out in one and a half hours, then back on the water fishing.
Derek Remitz, who landed in 9th place with 60 pounds, 13 ounces said, “This is like a diamond in the rough.” He caught most of his fish on crankbait. They were biting about everything he threw in, type and color. “Throw it in, wind it in, and run a pattern,” he said.
Finishing in 6th place with 63 pounds, 1 ounce, Cliff Pace said, “This place is unbelievable how many fish you catch. My hands hurt so bad yesterday I could barely get fish out of my live well.”He nodded off the ubiquitous holding up of his fish at final weigh-in because he said he’d be lucky if he could even open a pickle jar later.
Edwin Evers weighed in with a solid 66 pounds for 4th place, and said he fished 45 degree banks. “I’ve been here seven days and I saw 21 more spots today that I’d like to fish.” He told Bassmasters, “I’d come back anytime you guys want to come back.” Brent Chapman, 6th place with 64 pounds, 7 ounces, agreed and remarked on the amazing Sunday crowd for the final tournament weigh-in. He said he used an old-school wiggle wart and “something that hasn’t caught on here yet, a top shelf swimbait. That’s what I caught all my big fish on.”
Keith Poche, who ended in 12th place with 58 pounds, 3 ounces, said he “didn’t think this fishery would do these kinds of numbers but it did.” Mark Menendez, 11th place with 59.5, added, “It is a beautiful place, a fantastic place to fish.” He said Bull Shoals Lake will be “off the hook in another year or two.”
Arkansan Scott Rook, 8th place with 61.8, worked a square-billed crankbait. “I caught 20 pounds a day in practice,” he said. “I’ve caught more fish this week than in a long time. Bull Shoals is alive and well.”
For more details on this Elite Series event, visit
www.Bassmaster.com.
In addition to fishing, Bull Shoals Lake offers recreation activities in boating, skiing, swimming, camping, picnicking and scuba diving. Facilities are located in 19 parks operated by the Corps of Engineers, Arkansas State Parks, local governments and a marina. These parks include 18 boat ramps, 11 campgrounds, 13 picnic shelters, 11 marinas, 7 designated swim areas, and hundreds of miles of undeveloped shoreline. For more information, visit
www.Arkansas.com.
No Leak in This Boat
April 26, 2012 4:29 PM
I’m really good at saying “yes.” My first inclination when presented with a challenge, new experience, or something that pushes me outside my comfort zone is excitement. It’s usually too late when I begin to think about what I have said “yes” to.
That’s how I came to be a marshal at the Bassmaster Elite Series on Bull Shoals Lake last week. I was already headed over there to cover the event. My office was trying to help secure marshals for it, and my boss asked me if I’d like to be one since I was going. “Awesome,” was my only thought. I love fishing and a day on the lake.
It wasn’t until the day before I headed to Bull Shoals when I was contemplating everything I needed to pack that I realized that would include a tin can or some similar container. Oh jeez. What had I gotten myself into? Oh, only the possibility of relieving myself in the bass boat of a professional angler who was a perfect stranger! Yep, a little outside of my comfort zone.
Now, some of you just stopped reading and are thinking, “TMI!” Most of you are laughing. I know this because no matter who I talked with about the marshal experience (and many of you were strangers I met during the event), and no matter what questions they asked, almost everyone wanted to know what a female marshal does if she has to go to the bathroom.
So let’s just cut to the chase, shall we? The rules state, “Pros and Marshals must remain together at all times, in sight of the pro’s catch… In the event of a needed restroom break or refueling situation at a marina gas pump partners are allowed to leave the boat upon which all fishing must cease until partners are back together in the boat.”
Basically, that means to me that you could ask to be put out on the bank to go, but your pro would have to stop fishing, or you can take a canister of some sort and just go in it in the boat. (Here’s a tip – take a poncho for “privacy.”)
Now I’m an outdoorsy girl and I’ve spent time fishing and on boats. While I had never been a marshal before, I knew good and well that I wouldn’t be asking a professional angler fishing for tournament money to drive me to a marina bathroom. I figured a quick trip to a tree or shrub on the bank might be an option, but didn’t like the idea of halting the fishing action. I didn’t want to be a disadvantage in a quest for a top prize of $100,000. So, I went with canister in hand. However, my ultimate game plan was simply not to go at all.
I’m happy to say that worked out for me both days. I didn’t drink a thing (okay a few sips of coffee the first day) before I met up with my pro each way-too-early morning. I’m a coffeeholic so that was hard for me, especially at the hour of the morning. Both days I stashed a bottle of water in the pros ice compartment, but didn’t drink it either day until we had actually reached the check-in at Bull Shoals Lake Dock. I’m just gonna say that for me, a little dehydration was worth avoiding the canister, which would have been pretty hysterical to try and use the second day with all the layers and rain gear I had on in the cold, wet weather.
Now the other thing you might be wondering is what the pros do with a female in the boat, although I think most of you guessed that all I had to do was look the other way.
When it comes down to it, the pros are pros and the restroom situation is no big deal.
Want to Be a Better Angler? Be a Bassmaster Marshal
April 25, 2012 3:53 PM
If you want to be a better angler,
register to be a marshal at a Bassmaster Elite Series fishing tournament. Just watching different anglers fish and hearing them talk to each other is an education in itself. Plus it’s extremely interesting to see their different styles and personalities. The procedures themselves are fun from a front-row seat too, whether it be the parade-like take-off each morning of the tournament or the pros culling fish after fish to gain ounces for weigh-in.
I had my first experience as a marshal on Thursday (April 19) for the
Bassmaster Elite Series TroKar Quest on
Bull Shoals Lake in the beautiful Arkansas Ozarks. Comprised of 100 of the most talented anglers in bass fishing, the field of competitors has won more than 200 Bassmaster tournaments, 17 Bassmaster Classic championships and 21 Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year titles.
I was lucky enough to draw
Clark Reehm, who was more than willing to share information as he fished. He worked a pattern fishing points and bluff walls using crankbaits and jerkbaits. As soon as he got to a spot and shut the motor down he was halfway out of his seat throwing off his life vest putting down his trolling motor and casting his line. He fished with purpose and intensity.
When he got a big fish on his enthusiasm was contagious. He hauled in a 5.5 pounder the morning I was with him and didn’t contain his excitement. “That’s a $10,000 fish,” he exclaimed.
He remarked once that he was thirsty but he didn’t want to stop fishing long enough to take that drink. He didn’t eat, and didn’t grab a Gatorade until we were checked in back at the dock.
On the second day I drew
Ish Monroe as a partner. Like Reehm, he’s a super nice guy, but had a totally different style on the water. Despite being in a wide open lake, I could feel tension in the air. He told me he’d chill out and talk to me after he got five fish in the boat, which he did. Surprisingly, he listened to techno dance music while he cranked along the bank. “It calms me down,” he told me.
The techno dance music seemed a strange combination with the outdoor fishing at first, but I grew to appreciate it. In fact, I’ve been playing it on Pandora while I write and find it energizes me and puts me in the zone. So, I guess I got more than a fishing lesson from being with Ish.
The hard part of being a marshal that day, other than the cold, wet weather, became the inability to get up and dance or fish, and only to be an observer.
While Ish was more reserved than Reehm, he too showed his excitement of having a large fish on the line, although when he got it to the boat it wasn't a bass. Five minutes later he said his heart was still racing from that and I realized just what it meant to him, that possibility of the big one. Even though you're just watching you begin to get excited for them at each cast. The number of fish they were catching on Bull Shoals Lake meant I had no worries of being bored watching someone else fish.
No matter who you draw as a partner, whether they talk and share information or mainly keep quiet in concentration, you’ll learn just by watching. You’ll also learn as you hear these pro anglers talking to each other about the day. Plus, there’s always the added bonus of the 70 mph thrill ride in a bass boat!
You can also find out what the pros are using at the weigh-in events, which are big shows with lots of vendors. Nearly all of the anglers remarked on the fantastic fishery that Bull Shoals Lake offers as well as the great support and turnout for the event from the community. Many also expressed a desire to return to Bull Shoals Lake. The tournament was based at
Bull Shoals Lake Boat Dock and
Bull Shoal-White River State Park.
The Bassmaster Elite Series on Bull Shoals will air on Sunday, April 29 from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. ET on ESPN2 and from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. ET on ESPN Classic.
Tasty Thursday: Along Highway 70: Phillips Fish Market in Forrest City
April 5, 2012 10:33 AM
Located right off U.S. 70 in
Forrest City at 122 Turner Rd., you’ll find Phillips Fish Market, a local favorite for fried catfish. The restaurant celebrates 30 years of operation in 2012.
In 1982, Richard and Inez Phillips decided that retirement from their family-run grocery store wasn’t what they thought, and they decided to open a small restaurant in Forrest City. According to her grandson, Aron Phillips, Mrs. Inez missed two things she loved: cooking and visiting with customers. She thought the restaurant would give her the chance to cook and sell a few plates each day…but within a few years, the business had grown so large that she and her husband could no longer handle the workload alone. It was then that her son, David, and his wife Betty took over the management of the restaurant and fish market.
Today, Phillips Fish Market serves over 100 plates each day and is run by Mrs. Inez’s grandson, Aron. Known most for the fresh, crispy fried fish (catfish or buffalo), the menu also features hamburgers, seafood dinners, barbecue sandwiches, fried oysters and frog legs (on Fridays only). The fish at Phillips is special for two reasons: local fishermen catch it daily and it features a special meal coating hand-prepared by the
Phillips family. The meal is also packaged and sold in the restaurant.
I’m not a big fan of fried fish…but I’m a huge fan of THIS fish. The large pieces, coated in the special Phillips family meal, are fried to perfection and the fish is flaky and flavorful. You can purchase the fish by the piece or as a dinner, complete with fries, hush puppies, dill pickle slices, fresh onion and coleslaw.
Phillips Fish Market is open Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. until 6 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. In addition to prepared food, customers can purchase a variety of fresh-caught fish in the attached fish market. You can reach them at 870-633-1799.
This Weekend in the Arkansas Delta
April 3, 2012 2:34 PM
It’s going to be a beautiful weekend in the Arkansas Delta! Check out these great events going on throughout the region!
Head to
Pine Bluff and the
Arts and Science Center for Southeast Arkansas for a evening of live music, including jazz, blues and rock, by the
Joe Pitts Band on April 6. The performance is part of
Live@5, a monthly music series sponsored by the center. Admission is $5 for members and $10 for non-members. Log on to
www.artssciencecenter.org or call 870-536-3375 for more information.
It’s bargains galore in Halley on April 6 and 7 during the
15th annual Halley Fire Department Rummage and Bake Sale. Held at the Halley Fire Station, the yearly event serves as a fundraiser for the community fire department. Local communities and individuals donate items for the sale, which is also a great opportunity to snag some yummy baked goods! Phone 870-538-9352 for more information.
It’s wonderful weather to get out and do some kayaking!
Cane Creek State Park in
Star City offers kayaking opportunities throughout the month of April. April 7 is the date for the
Full Moon Kayak Tour, which allows visitors to experience Cane Creek bathed in
moonlight. Tour participants must not have kayaking experience but should be comfortable around and in the water. A brief paddling lesson is given before the beginning of the tour. Reservations are required and the $15 adult admission ($10 for ages 12 and under) includes kayak rental, lifejacket, paddle and guide service. Check out
www.ArkansasStateParks.com to learn more or phone 870-628-4714.
Young anglers take to the water during
Lake Chicot State Park’s annual
Youth Fishing Derby on April 7 in
Lake Village.. Prizes will be awarded throughout the event. Those fishing must be 15 years old or younger and bring their own pole and bait. Parents are encouraged to come watch and bring their chairs, blankets and umbrellas. The fishing derby starts at 9 a.m. For details, contact the park at 870-265-5480.
Have a great weekend!
Jo Jo's Catfish Wharf Serves Up Southern Goodness With an Excellent View
April 2, 2012 12:00 AM
“Are we supposed to be able to eat all of those hushpuppies?” my husband Mike asked. The waitress at
Jo Jo’s Catfish Wharf in
Mountain View had just placed a huge basket full of these hot, fried cornmeal delights on our table as a precursor to our meals. You know you love it when food you weren't expecting shows up at the table. We, along with our two boys, started into them to give emptying the basket our best shot. I mean, waste not want not, right?
Then our meals arrived. Two kids meals – popcorn shrimp and chicken strips, both with fries. My husband had the seven-piece catfish dinner. I had the three piece. Both dinners came with fries or baked potatoes, cole slaw, brown beans, and tomato relish. I also had a side of fried okra, which is something I cannot resist ordering when I see it on the
menu – that and chocolate lava cake, but that’s another story.
To say we were stuffed is putting it mildly. It was a classic Southern fried meal, which you must have every now and then. The specialty of the house may be the catfish filets, but you’ll find a variety of items on the menu, including shrimp, steaks, chicken, burgers, sandwiches, and homemade desserts. There’s also a large salad bar set out in an old johnboat.
Other pluses - the wait staff gave great service. And, the entire back side of the restaurant is windows, providing a panoramic view of the scenic
White River.
A Whole Bunch of Fish
March 26, 2012 11:00 AM
The next time you catch a fish in Arkansas, it may be one that "grew up" in
Lonoke at the
Joe Hogan State Fish Hatchery. It is the largest and one of the oldest state-owned warm-water pond hatcheries in the U.S. Earlier this month I visited this facility during my trek along U.S. 70. It’s worth a stop if you’ve never been. And it makes a great field trip for schools.
The hatchery is basically a huge patchwork of large square ponds separated by strips of vibrant green grass. From the air, it must be quite a site because it’s pretty impressive from the ground. There seems to be water as far as the eye can see. You can take a self-guided tour offered by the Lee Brady Visitor Center on the grounds. Groups should contact the hatchery prior to their visit. In addition to seeing a lot of fish, there are ample opportunities for wildlife watching. Aquariums and mounted species native to the area are found in the visitor center.
The annual Kids Free Fishing Derby is scheduled for June 9 at the Hogan Hatchery. Hours are 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. It’s for ages 12 and younger and has a limit of three fish per child, one rod or pole per child. The pond is stocked with catchable-size fish before the derby begins and each participant must bring their own tackle and bait. The Arkansas Game & Fish Commission, which sponsors the event, suggests everyone brings something to sit on, cameras, refreshments, sunscreen and hats.