662.299.4931 | info@renthotsprings.com513 Kirschwood Dr
Hot Springs National Park, AR 71913
By Chase Alford
After our first night sleeping in The LONGSHOT, today was the day - I was finally going to learn how to catch rainbow trout. I loaded up my vintage garage sale Shimano reel and newer Shakespeare rod while smugly declaring, "Get ready for a buffet tonight!" As a rookie bass fisherman who caught his first eight pounder within only two months, I had developed some arrogance from my beginner's luck. I was quickly humbled by the intelligence and strength of these rigorous fish.
I slowly parked my vehicle down Tailrace Lane in Carpenter Park, admiring the chiseled rock formations brought about by the Ouachita River. The water being low only added to the perceived height of the Carpenter Dam in the not too distant background. It was a sunny yet cold day, and the gentle warmth of the rising sun gave the feeling that this was the best time out of all winter to go fishing. Thankfully, several other friendly anglers had the same idea. I started out around 10:00 AM, watching many others catch their daily limit in only half an hour, before heading back to their vehicles and going about their day. As time dragged on, I looked at my watch - 3:00 PM without a single fish.
Around that time, an elderly fly fisher walking alongside the bank quickly pointed out that on a regular rod and reel, my braided setup would distract the trout. "Son, this water is too clear for that," he said. "This spinner bait looks like it'll work, but you'd be better off with some different line." Grabbing a spool of fluorocarbon out of his box, he threw it over to me, and said to measure out my wingspan, cut it, and tie that to my already braided line. Using an Eagle Claw barrel swivel, I promptly followed his orders and retied my spinner.
Following him upstream, he showed me his favorite fishing spot to use on low days. Within ten minutes, I was finally feeling the tug of a hungry trout instead of the hold on a bound hook. By 3:30, I'd quickly caught my limit of five fish.
Without the kindness of the folks at Hot Springs, Arkansas, I doubt I would've ever smoked my own lemon-peppered trout that night.
662.299.4931 | info@renthotsprings.com