Lake Maumelle: Wrong Way Round

[duckdave]

Sunday I did the Lake Maumelle loop the "wrong way round" That is, I went up AR 300 thru Natural Steps, Roland, and Little Italy, then on AR113 by Wye Mountain (the daffodils are up, but not really blooming much yet. Maybe next week), and finally back to Little Rock on AR10.


But first I went by my Airstream in storage and pickup up a little fishing rod that bungeed nicely to my side case.


I pulled into the little picnic area just after crossing the western end of the lake. Cloudy, but warm enough.


Crossing Hwy 10 (on foot) I picked up the Ouachita Trail there by the lake. Here's a little bit about the trail from the website Friends of the Ouachita Trail (FoOT).

The Ouachita National Recreation Trail stretches 223 miles through the beautiful Ouachita Mountains of Arkansas and Oklahoma. The "Ouachita Trail", as it is more commonly known, runs from Talimena State Park in Oklahoma, through Queen Wilhelmina State Park and ends at Pinnacle Mountain State Park, near Little Rock, Arkansas. This premier trail asset is used by hikers, backpackers, hunters, and mountain bikers. It is a non-motorized single track trail open only to foot traffic and partially open to mountain bicycles.

The sign says "202" which I'm pretty sure is a mile marker. It's about 20 more miles to Pinnacle Mountain.

Right about here I met a couple coming out of the woods with a bucket full of nice-sized White Bass. They reported that the fishing was better in the morning. Undaunted, I proceeded down the trail apiece.

I fished about an hour without any luck. I asked these fishermen what the secret jig color was. They replied, "If you'd been here in the morning, just about any bait would do." The fish had quit biting about an hour before.



As they say, an afternoon spent fishing is pretty much better than an afternoon spent doing anything else. Combine it with a scenic m/c ride and it's hard to beat.

I figure in about a week (maybe a bit longer since this cold front moved in) the White Bass will be runnin' up the creeks. This scouting trip may be just what I needed to put me in the right place at the right time for some real (reel?) fun.

later,
-dave

[OU812]

A bad day fishing/riding is always better then a good day of work. Nice Dave!

[mnnden]

Dave, Nice report, Being a person who enjoys hiking, I found it especially interesting. I am going to read more about the Ouachita trail. look like an area a person would want to visit, is it open to camping? Den

[duckdave]

Den,
Here's some places to get more information about the Ouachita Trail. A google search turns up bunches of resources.

The Friends of the Ouachita Trail (FoOT) website has general information about trail, links to more information, reports about trail conditions and maps.

Backpacker Magazine reviewed the trail in 2000 ranking it third among long trails for solitude. It says that Arkansas is not exactly an epicenter for backpacking....

The trail's remote surroundings have a history of harboring outlaws and horse traders on the lam. Says guidebook writer Tim Ernst, "Two years ago, when I hiked the entire trail, I saw a total of four people."

Wikipedia has an entry that has links to various highpoints along the trail.

The Arkansas.com website provides information about where to get more information:
http://www.arkansas.com/outdoors/hiking ... ta%20Trail
Here's an exerpt about camping along the trail:

Developed facilities are provided by two state parks—Pinnacle Mountain and Queen Wilhelmina—and three National Forest Recreation Areas—Big Brushy, Iron Springs and Lake Sylvia. Camping is allowed in developed campgrounds or anywhere outside of the recreation areas; although trail etiquette encourages camping at least 200 feet away from the trail and water sources, and preferably out of sight of the trail.

Hope you do get a chance to sample the trail. I've only done small sections (part day hikes), but I have a friend who has hiked the entire length... I'll remember his name eventually.

later,
-dd

[mnnden]

Dave, A Big Thank-You, A lot of good reading, (it will take awhile) Looks like a great place, I'm sure I will be checking it out. Den

[GypsyRR]

Nice pictures, Dave. Especially that last one. I like taking my bike to go fishing too. In fact, I'm just back from a motorcycle trip to the Hill Country (again). Not a white bass, but I caught some of these!

[duckdave]

gypsy,
Nice!

Of course, if I had caught any White Bass it would have been even more fun. We are having a spell of cold weather right now (possibly mixed with rain, sleet and/or snow soon---forcast calls for up to 6" snow by tomorrow afternoon). That will throw off the spawn which, as I understand it, totally is dependent on water temperature.

-d.

[taosports]

As they say, an afternoon spent fishing is pretty much better than an afternoon spent doing anything else. Combine it with a scenic m/c ride and it's hard to beat.

So very true Dave! Seeing your nice photos and the one that Gypsy posted has got me thinking it's time to dust off my flyrods and plan another trip soon.