At home on the Little Red

LITTLE ROCK — The rod tip quivered ever so slightly.

"You've got one. Wait." It dipped strongly. "Now! Lift your rod tip, reel it in."

Fishing guide Richard Crawford was coaching Alice Chambers on her first trout-fishing trip. She was so excited I thought she'd fall out of her chair! As she reeled the splashing fish in, Richard netted it and gently removed the hook. The silver and pink colors of a rainbow flashed in the sun as he placed the trout into the live well.

Fishing on the tailwaters ofthe Little Red River below Greers Ferry Lake Dam, we were invited by Lindsey's Rainbow Resort for their 35th Annual Media Day, an appreciation event for outdoor writers and others who promote the area.

Lindsey's Resort is located near Heber Springs off Arkansas 25 North past Greers Ferry Dam on the Little Red River, home of the world-record 40-pound, 4-ounce brown trout. The resort includes modern log cabins, camping, outdoor swimming pool, marina, restaurant, conference lodge, guide services, boat rental and more. It was started more than 40 yearsago by Bill Lindsey (Pop) and Mavis (Nana) and now includes four generations of relatives and "adopted" friends who are treated like family. You can feel the love.

Trout fishing is fun all year. Winter is especially peaceful, with few people on the river. Spring and fall showcase flowers and foliage. Hot summer days are offset by the 48-degree yearround river temperatures.

Alice and I began our winter fishing expedition Thursday morning wearing layers: silk, polypropylene, fleece and wool, coats, scarves, gloves and caps. It's winter, right? We had on somany layers we waddled to the office to purchase the required trout and fishing licenses.

Steam rose from the river and our breath as we carefully picked our way through ice underfoot near the marina. We climbed into the johnboat, sat on cushioned swivel chairs and motored out of the stall.

Richard said he has been a guide since 1971. He takes out beginners as well as advanced anglers, showing them a good time, where the fish are and how to catch them. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Teensover age 13 can go without their parents, and they love it.

Two hydroelectric generators ran and the river was high with a strong current as we cruised to the dam. Houses with empty docks showed evidence of warmweather fun. Soon the generators stopped and the river level dropped, showing a beautiful layer of chartreuse moss and grass on islands and trees. At the dam, trickles of water flowed from the base of the floodgates, where seals soon will be replaced.

Then we got serious. Anchoring downstream, Richard baited our ultralight spinning rods with miniature marshmallows and yellow waxworms. The marshmallows keep the hook off the bottom where it might get tangled in the moss (Elodia). Waxworms have a scent that trout find irresistible. Richard cast our lines to the perfect spot and Alice caught her first rainbow. Whenever fishing got slow; we moved to a different location.

Richard suggested, "Prop your feet up on the side of the boat," so we did, reclining into our comfy chairs. "Lean your pole on the gunwale of the boat and watch the rod tip," he said.

Lazy fishing suits me just fine.

"When it moves, pick up the rod, wait until the fish really has the bait, then reel it in."

That part's tricky. It's hard to feel the trout bite, unlike bass. At first I lost several because I didn't wait long enough.

Temperatures rose to 65 degrees, a rare spring day in January. We opened our coats, shed layers and basked in the sun. We fished and talked about wildlife, local history, dairy farming, Indian lore, newspapers and philosophy. All our troubles flowed downriver.

"I can feel the tension leaving," Alice said.

I agreed.

"This is like a spa, a girls' day out," she said.

Alice caught several beautiful German brown trout, likely spawned in this river, and released all but one so that they could continue to renew their species. Cutthroat trout and brook trout are also found in this river, but rarely. There is a length limit slot in this river; any fish between 16 inches and 24inches must be released, to give "real" anglers and their guides bragging rights.

Bird watching was a highlight. We were thrilled to see a pair of bald eagles on a branch right over our heads. They showed no fear, although one flew away to chase a noisy great blue heron. A pileated woodpecker followed us, calling and drumming loudly. Kingfishers and common crows scolded us. Wild turkeys gobbled on the hillside, and turkey vultures circled lazily overhead. Four pairs of mallard ducks swam along the river's edge.

After a lunch break we motored downstream, anchoring below the first shoals. The bubbling sounds of water cascading over rocks provided nature's music. I caught so many fish there that Richard thought I should change seats with Alice, but when he adjusted the position of the boat slightly, she caught fish, too.

The afternoon passed too fast, the sun was setting, and the chill returned. I lost count of the fish we caught and released (was it 15? 20?), but we each kept enough for a good meal or two.

"Home is the hunter," Richard softly quoted Robert LewisStevenson as he guided the boat into the stall. Still pampering us, he cleaned our fish.

We enjoyed a festive evening with other anglers, Lindsey family members and friends. Arkansas celebrities included local weatherman Tom Brennan (thanks for the great warm weather!); Steve "Wildman" Wilson with Arkansas Game and Fish; Mike Masterson, Democrat-Gazette columnist; and Carl Garner, former resident engineer for whom the Greers Ferry Lake Visitor Center and national Federal Lands Cleanup Day is named. A magician from Little Rock amazed us and a guitarist sang. Delicious food and drinks abounded. Trophies and humorous awards were given.

Driving home Friday morning, Alice and I agreed that winter fishing on a warm January day is topnotch fun and that Lindsey's Resort is a great place to bring the family. And that giving someone a day's fishing trip with a guide would be an excellent gift.

Back home, we proudly carried our bags of fresh, healthful, locally caught trout, looking forward to a tasty evening meal and being part of the river that felt somuch like home.

To learn more about troutstocking schedules or license requirements, contact the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission at www.agfc.com or call (501) 223-6300; to find out more about generator schedules, call the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at (501) 362-5150 and the Southwestern Power Administration at 1-866-494-1993 for recorded information about water releases; for information about the resort and fishing opportunities, see www.lindseysresort.com or call 1-800-305-8790.

Three Rivers, Pages 130, 131 on 02/08/2009