Spring River Surprise

This past weekend we took a family trip to the Spring River in Northeastern Arkansas.  On the way to the river on Friday evening the C-ster was supposed to fall asleep in the car, but he didn't, and he certainly wasn't going to fall asleep in the hotel when we got there. Let's just say Friday night was long!  But Saturday morning dawned crisp and clear, and the whole family took to the water.

I hooked into a couple rainbows right off the bat, fishing with the C-ster on my back.  Cheryl was up next, catching three trout pretty quickly.  We tried to get pictures of her fish, but she was just as inept at holding them for a photo as she was adept at catching them!

"I had one, I promise!"  Cheryl after dropping yet another fish for the camera!

Eventually the C-ster started getting tired, and we left.  Cheryl dropped me off with the kayak and I set out for a three mile float, while Cheryl and the C-ster went to the park and then he took a much needed nap!


A planter rainbow.  These guys were caught consistently throughout the day.

My float started off great.  I was immediately into the trout at the first hole I stopped at.  The Spring River has no natural recruitment, so all trout are planted, and most look and act like it.  My fifth fish, however, was bigger.  It took a streamer in a deep pocket and immediately jumped a few times letting me know he was serious.  When I landed him, I was impressed with his girth.  He was probably only 16" long, but he was tubby.  He was bigger than "having shoulders" - he was obese!  Definitely my biggest trout from the Spring River!

My big rainbow.  I hate taking pictures by myself - the fish never look as big.  He was girthy!

I caught a few more rainbows before moving on.  Then the excitement really began.  I got back in the kayak and fished the bottom of the hole.  The tail out was long, deep, and slow.  I was dead-drifting with an indicator, floating in my kayak next to my flies, which allowed for great drifts.  As my flies passed by a large boulder, my indicator hesitated, and I set the hook, immediately feeling weight.  After thirty seconds or so a light went off in my head, "this fish is fighting different - it's not a rainbow."  Sure enough, once the fish came up high enough for me to see it, I got really excited - it was a smallie!  Then I got nervous - don't want to lose this one.  Luckily, for once my net was actually in an accessible spot, and after a couple more dives I landed the fish!  It was now time to pull over to shore and document my catch.



My biggest Arkansas smallie.  It was a big surprise, and I was really excited!  I wish I had a better picture of it.  The photo on the bottom would have been great except for the stinking sunshine on its head!

The rest of the float went great.  The catching slowed down, but I was still able to catch plenty of fish, and the river was beautiful with all of the leaves changing and perfect weather.  I even caught a largemouth to keep things interesting.

A Spring River largemouth.  Another surprise - and another horrible photo!

When I got to the take out I switched Cheryl.  She took the kayak and cruised upstream to catch some trout.  I hung out with my handsome son playing with sticks, leaves, rocks, and having a good time.  As the sun started to set, however, I got the itch to catch a few more fish.  Cheryl had my rod, so I took hers and the only fly she left on it.  I put the C-ster in the baby backpack, and we took to the river.

We had a blast.  When I hooked a fish on I would tell him, and he would get excited.  Once I caught it I would hold it up near him so he could see it.  I would then tell him to say "good bye" and he would wave!  As soon as the fish would hit the water he would start making his sign for "more".  Now that's what I'm talking about - only 14 months old and he already wants more and more fish!  Luckily I caught quite a few.  We had a great weekend as a family.