Ozark Trout Tales : A Fishing Guide for the White River System (Paperback)

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Editorial Reviews

Product Description

OZARK TROUT TALES A Fishing Guide for the White River System by Steve A. Wright, $24.95 softcover, 200 pages Publication date: December 1994 A COMPLETE GUIDEBOOK FOR RECORD-BREAKING OZARK TROUT RIVERS

Less than 50 years ago, the White, North Fork and Little Red rivers didnt contain a trout. But when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers built five dams in the White River Basin, 168 miles of trout water were created. The extensive list of record-breaking catches from these Ozark tailwaters now includes two world record brown trout.

Ozark Trout Tales provides a comprehensive look at the White River System tailwaters through the eyes of those who fish it most. It is a how-to trout fishing guidebook for the present, with an eye on the past and a look toward the future.

Author Steve Wright spent a year traveling the Ozarks, fishing with the most experienced trout anglers, compiling their stories and detailing their methods. The result is a 200-page book that includes over 150 photographs, illustrations and maps. It covers every aspect of trout fishing - from live bait to dry flies.

My goal was to make this book something all anglers can learn from, no matter what their level of experience or method of choice, Wright said. I think Ive done that. These Ozark streams are unique, and theyve spawned some special fishing techniques.

No other book has examined the entire White River System in Arkansas and Missouri. It includes eight miles of trout water on the White River below Beaver Dam, 22 miles of the White River below Table Rock Dam, 101 miles of the White River below Bull Shoals Dam, five miles of the North Fork River below Norfork Dam and 32 miles of the Little Red River below Greers Ferry Dam. The book devotes a chapter to each tailwater.

But Ozark Trout Tales isnt just a how-to book. Its a book about the people of the Ozarks, too. As its title suggests, the book contains their stories.

Included are many big fish stories, such as how Michael Huey Manley caught a 38-pound, 9-ounce world record brown trout from the North Fork River, how Carl Jones caught a 20-pound, 12-ounce brown trout on 2-pound-test line from the White River, and how Howard Rip Collins landed a 40-pound, 4-ounce world record brown trout from the Little Red River.

There are plenty of other tales, too.

- Did you know that Jerry McKinnis, Forrest Wood and Lloyd Presley worked as White River trout fishing guides before making their marks on ESPN, the bass boat industry and Bransons country music scene, respectively?

- Did you know that the worlds largest wholesaler of fly tying materials is in Mountain Home, Arkansas?

- Did you know that commercial float fishing started in the Ozarks and the johnboat was invented here?

All this, plus addresses and phone numbers for planning a visit, are included in Ozark Trout Tales.

About the Author

Author Steve Wright was born in a White River town (Batesville, Arkansas) and lives in a White River town (Fayetteville, Arkansas). As the outdoors writer for the Northwest Arkansas Times, he received the 1993 Arkansas Press Associations larger daily newspaper first place awards for in-depth reporting and special section emphasis in writing about the White River.

Product Details

• Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: White River Chronicle (December 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0963883291
• ISBN-13: 978-0963883292
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,149,630 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Comprehensive book on the entire white river system, September 11, 1999

By A Customer

This is the only book or map that I have ever found that maps out every aspect of the white river system. It shows all the public accesses and ramps. It also shows where all the trout docks are located, and it gives you the names of all the shoals and river names given to different parts of the river. For anyone who wants to fish this river or who want to know how to fish it -- this is one of the best books you will ever find. It also gives great tips from some of the guides who have worked this river for many years -- it will save you a lot of time and money if you just follow their advice. This book is worth twice the price!! I know because I fish this river and the book helped me to learn quickly all the names of the eddies and shoals that can be a hazard if you're not aware of them.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A well rounded look at Ozark trout fishing, August 1, 2001

By	"ness22004" (Shawnee, KS United States) - See all my reviews

The book is a compilation of the author's articles on all aspects of fishing the Arkansas and Missouri tailwaters of the White River system. All manner of tackle and technique are discussed and there are in-depth interviews with area fishermen. It's an interesting look at the unique fishing culture of the area.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Ultimate Arkansas Trout Guidebook, December 1, 1999

By	Johnny S McJunkins "jmcjunki2" (Mineral Springs, AR USA) - See all my reviews

In Ozark Trout Tales, the author has captured the essence of Arkansas and Southernwestern Missouri tailwater trout fishing. The book describes the series of tailwaters in the White River system. A section is dedicated to the Little Red River, a tailwater stream that merits more attention than it receives due to its constant production of record-sized brown trout. The book includes maps and information on public access areas. Excellent tips on fishing methods and materials for each tailwater section are found throughout the text. Articles about men such as Dave Whitlock, Chuck Davidson, and others who were instrumental in the development of one of the world's great trout fisheries make for interesting reading. This book is the encyclopedia of Arkansas trout fishing!