Thoseevilsnows
06-09-2012, 06:45 PM
I am a Cali Native that found my way to Arkansas. An old friend who reads this forum turned me on to it when I was talking to him about Diamond Valley which was just under construction when I left. Sure didn’t turn out to be the lake that we were lead to believe it was going to be from my readings of it.
But he wanted me to fill some of you in on fishing Arkansas and Missouri as he said he had seen several people talking about wanting to move out here. So as a favor to a friend here goes. First be ready for a culture shock of your life. You will need to learn to slow down in everything, I loved my So-cal but can’t say I miss the 91 one bit or the fast pace. I swear I added 20 years to my life.
Next thing you will learn is the price for hunting and fishing and the seasons are cheaper and longer. Missouri Lifetime Hunt/Fish lifetime is only 600.00 and Arkansas is 1000.00 and yearlies are i think 12 to 25 or so.
Now for the Fishing, my first surprise was the cost to fish even if you do not get a lifetime talk about shock! Then came the cost to get in the lakes, most are Army Corps lakes so 4.00 for a day that includes boat or 30.00 for the yearly pass and that pass is good at all Army Corps lakes and well worth it. And then you have that little thing about the lakes being open 24/7 Boat or Shore! I about had a heart attack when I learned I could get off work at 3pm and fish till when I wanted to.
I will try and touch on a few of the lakes. Quachita as everyone hears about and it’s striper and is a good lake and gets the press probably because of how close it is to Little Rock. But Beaver IMO is a much better Lake. Beavers Stripers run from 1 to 50 pounds with the schoolies being 10 to 12pnds. Walleye are taking off in beaver and its well known for its Wipers and Whites. Bass it has Kentucky, Smallmouth and Blacks but expect your average bass to be 2 to 3 pounds at most and a 6 pounder a trophy class.
Tablerock is well known for its Bass and its been producing a good number of 6 and 7 pound bass, it has a good number of crappie and white bass to keep you busy. But its secret is the Stripers and Walleye! Very few people talk about it and for good reason the walleye are LARGE! The largest I have witnessed is 16.5 pnds and the average is 3 to 5 with many over 6 caught. The Stripers are not stocked but come over from Beaver Lake in flood years. They can be targeted but like Musky takes a lot of time to get one. The Arkansas State Record came from Beaver Tail Waters which are part of Tablerock.
Next on the list of the White River Chain is Taneycomo! If you love trout and big trout this is a lake you have to try. Brown trout over 20 pounds are very possible and in the teens are a yearly thing in October. I always dreamed of catching a 10pnd brown when I lived in Cali and spent a lot of time at Silverwood trying. My first year here I landed 6 from 10 to 18. Its Rainbow trout fishery is just as impressive with 20’’ plus fish a daily thing if you put in some time.
After Taney you have Bull Shoals, I don’t know of to many people who haven’t heard of Bull and its Bass and its monster stripers. But Bull is becoming more of a walleye lake than anything else IMO now. If you were one of those guys looking to move out here the Border areas of Arkansas and Missouri are some of the best fishing waters I have ever been to freshwater wise!
I miss Perris and Skinner and certainly miss the Salton Sea and her Corvina. But I sure do not miss the traffic stress or cost. So if you are looking to move out here I suggest being ready for the culture shock and when people wave to you its simply because they are that friendly.
But he wanted me to fill some of you in on fishing Arkansas and Missouri as he said he had seen several people talking about wanting to move out here. So as a favor to a friend here goes. First be ready for a culture shock of your life. You will need to learn to slow down in everything, I loved my So-cal but can’t say I miss the 91 one bit or the fast pace. I swear I added 20 years to my life.
Next thing you will learn is the price for hunting and fishing and the seasons are cheaper and longer. Missouri Lifetime Hunt/Fish lifetime is only 600.00 and Arkansas is 1000.00 and yearlies are i think 12 to 25 or so.
Now for the Fishing, my first surprise was the cost to fish even if you do not get a lifetime talk about shock! Then came the cost to get in the lakes, most are Army Corps lakes so 4.00 for a day that includes boat or 30.00 for the yearly pass and that pass is good at all Army Corps lakes and well worth it. And then you have that little thing about the lakes being open 24/7 Boat or Shore! I about had a heart attack when I learned I could get off work at 3pm and fish till when I wanted to.
I will try and touch on a few of the lakes. Quachita as everyone hears about and it’s striper and is a good lake and gets the press probably because of how close it is to Little Rock. But Beaver IMO is a much better Lake. Beavers Stripers run from 1 to 50 pounds with the schoolies being 10 to 12pnds. Walleye are taking off in beaver and its well known for its Wipers and Whites. Bass it has Kentucky, Smallmouth and Blacks but expect your average bass to be 2 to 3 pounds at most and a 6 pounder a trophy class.
Tablerock is well known for its Bass and its been producing a good number of 6 and 7 pound bass, it has a good number of crappie and white bass to keep you busy. But its secret is the Stripers and Walleye! Very few people talk about it and for good reason the walleye are LARGE! The largest I have witnessed is 16.5 pnds and the average is 3 to 5 with many over 6 caught. The Stripers are not stocked but come over from Beaver Lake in flood years. They can be targeted but like Musky takes a lot of time to get one. The Arkansas State Record came from Beaver Tail Waters which are part of Tablerock.
Next on the list of the White River Chain is Taneycomo! If you love trout and big trout this is a lake you have to try. Brown trout over 20 pounds are very possible and in the teens are a yearly thing in October. I always dreamed of catching a 10pnd brown when I lived in Cali and spent a lot of time at Silverwood trying. My first year here I landed 6 from 10 to 18. Its Rainbow trout fishery is just as impressive with 20’’ plus fish a daily thing if you put in some time.
After Taney you have Bull Shoals, I don’t know of to many people who haven’t heard of Bull and its Bass and its monster stripers. But Bull is becoming more of a walleye lake than anything else IMO now. If you were one of those guys looking to move out here the Border areas of Arkansas and Missouri are some of the best fishing waters I have ever been to freshwater wise!
I miss Perris and Skinner and certainly miss the Salton Sea and her Corvina. But I sure do not miss the traffic stress or cost. So if you are looking to move out here I suggest being ready for the culture shock and when people wave to you its simply because they are that friendly.