You Forgot My Soul

Go Tell A Friend

My friend, I stand in the judgement now

and feel that you’re to blame somehow;

On earth I walked with you day by day

And never did you point the way.

 

You knew the Lord in Truth and Glory,

But never did you tell me the story.

My knowledge then was very dim,

You could have led me safe to Him.

 

Though we lived together on the earth,

You never told me of the second birth.

And now, I stand this day condemned,

Because you failed to mention Him.

 

You taught me many things, that’s true,

I called you “friend” and trusted you.

But I learned, now that it’s too late.

You could have kept me from this fate.

 

We walked by day and talked by night,

And yet you showed me not the light,

You let me live, and love, and die,

You knew I’d never live on High.

 

Yes, I called you “friend” in life,

And trusted you through joy and strife

And yet, on the coming to this end,

I cannot now call you “My Friend.”

 

Anonymous

Well we have been waiting for winter to arrive in Arkansas and it looks like it finally made its debut.  As is typical when it is hot weather outdoors we want it cold and when the cold gets here we want it warm.  Human nature; never happy with what the Lord gives us.  But, personally I’m always ready for the change of seasons when they get around to us in these Ozark (hills) Mountains. 

Yes, I am a full blooded Arky and use to having at least four seasons in a year.  We are just never sure when they are going to come.  Two weeks ago we were wearing shorts and T-shirts, today full-blown polortec - in layers.  When I started out “to town” this early morning (for stuff) it was a brisk 20 degrees with only an expected 35 for a high today.  To me this is great fishing weather, but most the boyz are deep in the woods hunting for what ever moves them. 

When somebody says it’s too cold to fish in this cold weather, I say hog-wash.  What do you think those trout fishes are doing right now?  They are loving it!  Don’t ask me how they know the air temp, since the water temperatures stay close to the same year-round.  This climate seems to be a time to celebrate life for those slippery little creatures.  The German Brownies are looking for love and in all the right places.  And our infamous football Rainbows are spending most of this time of year getting fat and sassy for their spring-time spawn.  At any rate, doesn’t anybody know that it doesn’t feel cold when you are chasing the allusive Mr. T.  It is like time not counting when you fish, these cold temperatures seem to slip the consciousness of man (or in my case - woman) when you are fishing. 

From my view, at this very moment, from Cane-Island there is for as far as the eye can see upstream and downstream a private river.  The Bull Shoals Control Center just reported (via cell fone) that there is zero generation at Bull and zero gens at The Fork. This is as of 9:00 a.m. today when 2 gens were turned off on Bull  This gives a visiting angler or local-yokel as many choices as any one man could stand; to wade fish this 130+ mile trout fishery - without another soul in sight. 

Today I was the only glutton for punishment.  As I see it with this great stretch of water at Cane-Island all to myself (that are known to produce some of the biggest trout in America) someone has to take on the hunt for the next record PhD. Trout.  On the fall of water early today a chartreuse sparkle olive woolly took 3 juvenile Browns and 1 bigger brother with a couple dozen ‘Bows that had certainly been eating their Wheaties.  I did change to fancy wet flies when the water fell out, without an indicator, and they couldn’t resist it on the swing at the end of the drift.  Had several occasions where two out of three flies caught fish on a single drift.  They couldn’t resist that dangling brown daddy on the bottom.  A hot new combination for Fly Fishing on the White River when there isn’t a lot of wind.  With days getting shorter this time of year my success was short lived when the sun settled quickly over the hill from our lodge and it was time to find the fireplace to reminisce the day.  Hope you-all had a great day where-ever you were and wish you were here.

Fish-On,

Rebecca

Howdy folks from the lovely tropical Cane-Island on the White River in the beautiful Ozark Mountains.  We are celebrating many things right now with the kick-off to another year in paradise.  The first thing we are being served is around 60 degree temperatures while most would be seeking wild game in the woods…  they are in the wrong place at the wrong time.  There is the most suitable fishing conditions with low water just about every where on the Fork and White River’s today and a 4.0/6.4 SSE wind to go with.  The day did start with heavy overcast but left without a trace of rain here on the “Island”.  It appears that the heavy cloud cover is just about out of Arkansas and entering Mississippi and on a fast eastward trek out of here. 

Just checked with the Bull Shoals Control Center for water generation and they haven’t run on Bull since 01.04.08 when they ran 2 gens from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.; and on the Fork 2 gens from 6:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m.  We have to call that just a push to stir the food and keep plenty of oxygen going after running plenty during the week on Bull.  I suspect the lower sections of the White are still in the fall from the 6 to 8 gens that ran through out the week.  Remember to calculate the fall at twice the time to fall out as to rise, making it perfect for drift fishing from our Jon boats. 

Cane Island is still fishing fantastic during heavy generation with more than our share of big fish hanging in the upper sections during this unexpected generation periods. Tons of food and great water from the Bull Shoals State Park to the lower reaches of Partee Shoals.  That is typical for this time of year with so much food  and structure readily available with or without generation.   My next favorite place right now is Monkey Island with so few that want to travel those shinny shoals below Red’s Landing.  Still great holes with plenty of places to drift or wade on the shoals-take your pick. 

Not changing their habits of taking just about anything that moves.  We have gone with the usual wet fly collection to our ole stand by nymphs for the lax-a-dazy fishing.  The always perfect drift is more important than what your offering… these trout (browns or bows) have never been known to be picky.  In the lowest conditions it still holds true to keep with the ever so tiny #18 to #20 size droppers for the cannot resist on our larger fish.  Smaller the fly… bigger the fish.  The larger flies on top seem to always attract the smaller fish, go figure?

 When you have caught all the fish you can stand in a day go check out the Eagle Awareness events at the new Information Center at Bull Shoals, State Park Trout Dock and Bull Shoals Theater this evening.  There are loads of activities that include cruises, river trail walks, programs on Mountaintop Birding, late night Owl Prowl and the Little Rock Zoo Raptor meet  for demonstrations that typically would only be observed in the wild.  Come join in on the fun for the big boys and little guys alike.  Each year we experience this majestic Bald Eagle event that runs in around 100 Bald Eagles sighted during the cruises and river walks.  It is a true celebration to enjoy our national symbol and many other birds that winter in our Ozarks at this time. 

See you on the river,
Rebecca