A few years back, the guys and I (that would be my son,
Joseph; my grand son, Dilin and my son-in-law, Michael) drove up to northern Arkansas
to fish the White River. And fish we did.
I had contacted an outfitter up there and arranged for a
couple of boats and guides for a Memorial Day float on the Buffalo
River. Upon arrival, we learned
that the Buffalo was too low and
had to use the White River instead. You recall the White
don’t you? That would be the same Whitewater
that Hillary and Bill were so famous for being involved in prior to their
current gigs. So anyway, the White it was.
Arriving at the outfitters’ station early, we arranged for
our licenses and were quickly assigned to our boats: Joseph and Dilin in with
Michael and I in the other—each staffed with a guide and a motor. First
motorized float I had ever been a part of but the motors came in real handy
when fishin’ the holes and staying in place long enough to take real advantage
of the swiftly moving river.
Our primary prey this day was rainbow trout and we were
taught by the locals to use a rig of two kernels of corn and a red fireball on
a medium sized hook—I’m not kidding you, that’s all it took.
Our stop over the first hole in the river set the theme for
the entire day. Michael, Joseph and I each pulled in two or three apiece—all
keepers at least 24 to 30 inches long—while the kid managed to drag in six or
eight of the same size. Dilin had the advantage of a guide re-baiting and handing
him a ready pole just as he boated his current catch. While the rest of us were
re-baiting and getting back out to the hole Dilin was fishing constantly. This
upset Michael no end—Michael is very competitive when it comes to ANY sporting
event.
Practicing catch and release, most of the trout went right
back where they had come from. We did manage to put aside one or two here and
there just so we would have enough for our shore lunch later.
On to the next hole and more of the same. One right after another;
two or three rainbows apiece for the three adults while the kid drug in another
eight or ten—Dilin was working the guide in his boat to death.
At every new hole (the guides knew just where they were and
pulled us up to a stop with cut-throat precision each and every time) we
experienced the same excitement. Casting over the hole and casually letting our
line drift back to the exact right spot and taking our chances as our bait
passed over the underwater dungeon of a big lunker, sometimes taking the bait
and sometimes not. As our line neared our craft, we reeled in and recast for
another try—knowing full well that that big trout down there must have been
looking the opposite direction when our bait made it’s way past his territory.
Pop, what a hit! You knew instantly that you had a bigun’
and the fight was on. Never lasting more than a minute or two, constant
crankin’ and netting was right on queue. Re-bait and recast; time and time
again.
Before you knew the time had past, the boats were headed to
the bank for our shore dinner. What a feast. The guides must have used a full
bucket of Crisco in each Delaware
sized skillet. They had one frying onions, one frying potatoes and two each
working on trout; all over a campfire the size of East Texas.
Not one of realized how hungry we were. Man! Did we ever
chow down? Why is it that grub tastes so much better when you’re out like this
than it does at any other time? I’ve never found it otherwise in my fifty plus
years of this sort of activity.
We were stuffed but ready to get back on the river just as
soon as we had the gear repacked and the facilities checked out.
There wasn’t any litter left to clutter the area. Just as
soon as we departed the area and were back on the river, Nature’s Clean-up Crew
took over our spot and made fast work of what we had left them—always ones to
share the bounty.
Swapping up rider-ship, Michael fished with Dilin for the
afternoon, while Joseph and I manned our boat. The next hole was soon upon us
and the very same results were recognized: two, three or four for the adults
and six or eight for Dilin. Michael was constantly blabbering about the
advantage Dilin had due to the guide favoring the kid and the rest of us having
to accomplish our own work. The give-and-take resulted in constant giggles and
laughter to Joseph and myself. Ain’t it Great?
As we passed the contested property (Hillary and Bill’s) the
guides made sure we knew what we were casting our eyes on—they seemed to enjoy
the laugh and discussion as much as we did.
Finally pulling into the pick-up point we each bragged a bit
on our day’s totals. Each of us: Joseph, Michael and I had landed 35 to 37
Rainbows of keeper size. Dilin on the other hand had boated over seventy-five
keepers. That started Michael off again and he punished Dilin on the ride all
the way back to the outfitter’s station and again that evening when we found a
place to take our last store-bought Arkansas
meal.
Dilin, Joseph and Michael
Great way to get away from the crowds on Memorial Day, remember those for whom the day is set aside and have fun with family—can it get any better than a day spent in the pursuit of fish?
I ask you?
