Hi All
Susie and I went over to Mountain Home Arkansas last weekend to attend the Sowbug 2010 Festival. If you have never been it is a wonderful event with over 80+ tiers and just good folks from the fly fishing community.
Our plan including fishing the Norfolk River and seeing a couple of the fly shops in and around the area. Having not been to that area for many years, we were banking on recommendations from several members of the Green Country Fly Fishing group to guide to the right spot. Bobby Donnell (teacher extraordinary) gave us some good advice and he was right on!
Choosing the right spot to stay was our 1st goal; we wanted a place where we could access the river quickly without much fuss, wadable water, good deep hole location with structure, a reasonable price, and not too far from the Sowbug festival location. We found all of the above at Gene’s Trout Resort in Salesvilles. Gene’s place is located right on the river about 1/2 mile from the dam. 
We were able to secure a cabin looking up and down the river. Gene has put well over $ 1M dollars in this location with a wide variety of room sizes and price ranges. He also extended to us a 20% discount for the SB festival. Gene indicated that the location normally starts booking up in March through the fall and then drops off the week after Thanksgiving and starts again in late Feb. One key item this year was that there was no generation the 4 days we attended, so we had good wadable water at all times even into the late afternoon hours.
We fished primarily in the waters below the dam, just pass the rift water coming out of Dog Creek. We were able to locate a nice area where the rock structure formed across the way and dropped off into a good deep pool extending to the gravel bar just to the South. From this vantage point we were able to catch about 15 good rainbows fishing Friday AM and Saturday AM. Friday afternoon we fished just off the boat dock in front of Gene’s with similar structure but reverse in order; structure underneath us dropping off to a sizeable pool. From this location we did have to share space with a couple of boats in and out, but there was plenty to share. On Saturday evening I was able to strike 4 good brownies and rainbows of a larger size.
Did I tell you how cold the water was? Well Friday morning (9:30 ish) I was just about in position when my foot went one way and I went the other. Both that was an “eye-opener”! Not being a quitter for just a little cold water, I continued on until my legs no longer functioned and began to feel the effects in my private areas. Do you recall what happens when you have spent too much time in the bathtub or pool to your hands and feet – a shriveling effect? We let me warn you that effect occurs in other body parts as well. I have a similar effect when riding the Harley in the winter and having to stop to relieve the last coffee stop – sometimes it is difficult to coax your member to come out and do the deed – sometimes you have to poke yourself on the backend to get him to come out! With the help of my partners’ hair dryer I was able to recover to fight another day – which occurred later that evening when once again I took a stumble only face first this time about 6″ from shore. Damn those untied shoes!
Our main source of attack were Zebra Midges and dirty nymphs in a couple of colors (mostly dark with red heads and or silver or gold beads). Attacks would come in spurts and then die off for a while and then hit another pocket.
There was of course the nice variety of birds, and hunter gatherers (Herons) in and out of the area, so it made a great time to fish and see how the river area worked.
Outside the SB festival the other key stop for us was the Blue Ribbon Fly Shop located just North of the Hwy 62 By-Pass and Hwy 5. Bob Cooper was there and showed us wonderful time. It is a first class shop with all the “goodies” needed to enhance your fishing experience. Bob convinced Susie to pick a nice new “Fishing Girl” hat to bring her luck on the streams and it worked! On Saturday as we were in the festival, Bob came up and asked for the results. Quite nice for someone who sees a lot folks in the shop. While there be sure to stop in the Anglers Cafe run by his daughter – good food and great exhibits to share with all.
The weather played an important role in our adventure and it was wonderful; high 60′s in the day to low 30′s at night. Water clarity was clear, temp around low 40′s. Rain came and went late Saturday and then back again Saturday night as the storm front from Tulsa moved in. Sunday in Salesville was wet.
The ride home provided a drastic change as wet turned to snow just North/West of Yellville. We got caught in a major slow down as the road became almost impassible. 
Having a lower center of gravity some of the folks just could not make it through the passes. We were on our way, however, when the snow plows arrived. We got out of the rain just this side of Springdale.
The distance to Mountain Home from Skiatook is about 260 miles give or take. At a normal pace we made the trip in about 4.5 hours. There are many other smaller streams along the way that say to us “come fish” and we made a few notes to go by. We will be visiting the area again. To fish Arkansas for a weekend you will have to have a non-resident 3 day pass along with a trout stamp, total cost is about $23 dollars.
We had a great time and will be back for the 2011 festival for sure – and maybe a winter trip on the Norfolk as well!
Until the next adventure – see you on the “Quiet Stream”
