After agonizing over the location of our next trip, we decided to head back to the White River to enjoy the remaining month of my Arkansas fishing license. We managed to reserve one of the four remaining primitive sites at the park.Then, I stumbled across photos from spear fishing in Arkansas. I was shocked. Since I had not seen a state that allowed freshwater spear fishing I never thought to check in Arkansas. To my amazement, it is allowed with some restrictions. Go figure the restrictions included no spear fishing bass on Bull Shoals Lake. I immediately convinced Katie that we could sacrifice the $12 non-refundable fee for Bull Shoals/White River and just go back to Greers Ferry.
After I finally got off work Friday, I was glad that our destination was an hour and a half closer than originally planned. We arrived, picked out a site in the dark and set up camp. The next morning, I made the hike down to the water. I was surprised to not find a sheer cliff to the water, but a steep drop that I could get the kids down. At the bottom was about 50 feet of nice, secluded, rock beach with cliffs on either side. The water was about 75F. It was perfect!Of course we went down later that day and I tried out spear fishing. I understand spear fishing with scuba, but I have always felt it is a little more sporting to take your game free diving. I found that it can be quite exhausting and the hardest part is finding the fish. There were only small blue gill at our private beach which was somewhat disappointing. We did enjoy swimming. Actually, I guess Steven, Cosmo, Wanda and myself enjoyed swimming. Adelyn and Katie enjoyed watching and throwing rocks in the water. I did finally manage to get Katie in the water and I think she found that it wasn't as bad as she thought it would be.
I was going to try another area of the park, but we got kicked out before I had a chance. Apparently, dogs are not only banned from the swim beach, but they are not allowed at the picnic area or playground. I suspect the reason that the park ranger drove up, walked up to us, asked us to leave, then left was due to the complaint of a lady watching her tween daughter/granddaughter play on the playground. I guess Cosmo barked when the tween squealed, "Look at the puppies!". I was gone at this time grabbing my spear gun and fins, but she scowled and left immediately after I showed up. I guess it could have been my manly chest hair that she didn't like, but who knows. At least the park ranger was very nice. I think he felt bad for kicking us out when Cosmo made no noise when he approached. He probably expected a different reaction from us since we were the only people at the park.
Anyways, the next attempt was at the beach by the primitive campsites. This was my favorite place to take the dogs until I found the secluded beach. Again, there were only small bream be found, not a sign of an edible sized fish. We did enjoy swimming again and getting some sun. It was surprisingly beautiful weather for October.
We decided to make it down to the prime location where I had seen larger fish before (public, no-pet beach). We let the dogs enjoy a nap in the truck which worked quite well. The weather was perfect for letting them hang out in the truck and the parking lot was empty. I jumped in the water and started the hunt. It was nearing sunset, which didn't help the visibility any. At 20 feet, the first bass I had seen yet appeared out of the green hue. I took the safety off and fired. I excitedly hauled in the line to find nothing! How did I miss? Who knows? I found that I was not very accurate at first, but my aim improved. The second bass I saw I shot and was a little disappointed in my spear placement. Though I only destroyed a little meat, it was not the best shot. It was the same for the second bass I speared that evening. Sorry, we forgot the Nikon and only had the camera phone...so no pictures from the first successful hunt. You'll just have to take my word that the fish tacos were great!I had another successful trip to the same location. The fish were coming up to the 20-25 foot depth band to feed in the late afternoon. The thrill was the same and I can't wait to go again. I'm looking forward to hunting for Yellowfin off the east/gulf coast sometime in the future!
For spear fishing, I cannot describe how great it was. But, if you have ever snorkeled and hunted and fished, imagine doing all at the same time. The thrill of the hunt was always there even after getting a couple fish. The excitement of seeing the game, aiming, firing, and waiting for that silvery flash as the fish flexes when speared is indescribable. Though I hope I would never need to rely on spear fishing for survival, it was comforting to know I could do it. It was actually more physically intense and more exciting than any hunting and fishing I've done in the past. I also tried to use a Hawaiian sling, but unfortunately, the bands were too old and broke before I fired a shot. I have a much better sling in storage that I can't wait to use!
-Steve
