Originally posted by: ouachitabassangler on 6/28/2007 9:19:52 PM

I'm NAFC Lifer Jim Campbell in Hot Springs, AR, home lakes Hamilton, Cathryn & Ouachita. Ouachita is my favorite, the one I grew up fishing on and began bassin on. I've been at it since 1959 when I left off pond fishing with a cane pole. Married 40 years to the wife of my youth, US Navy 1966-1970, active Christian & church goer, two grown daughters, two grand daughters 6 mos & 2.5 years. Pappy does a lot of baby sitting so one daughter can return to college classes. Retired at age 62 this year after a long career with the government, finishing out as a Park Ranger for the Corps of Engineers on Lake Ouachita, before that a wildlife habitat management forester as long as I could get around in the slop. That job was half fisheries, half wetland management.

I fished the tournament scene off & on from 1964 until the bosses made me quit due to conflict of interest in 1998, so got out of the big expensive glass boat into a 17 ft Bass Tracker with 50 hp. Don't know about future tournament involvement with that boat when it looks like we'll be needing a party barge and maybe a ski boat.<!--graemlin::rolleyes:--> That little 2.5 YO girl saw folks tubing and shouted "PAPPY, WANT THAT. I do that."

Jim

Originally posted by: BigDog68 on 6/28/2007 6:38:57 PM

If you are a NAFC member that lives in Arkansas, Please sign in here and tell us a little bit about yourself, what part of the state you live in, etc... We're trying to find out exactly how many members we have from each state that are registered here on the bulletin board. Have Fun... <!--graemlin::D--> Now Who's First ??? <!--graemlin:;)-->

Originally posted by: lbt on 6/29/2007 10:56:14 AM

hey i'd love to be consider'd a member of AR, i love the state and plan to live there someday soon?
i'm in Cali 4now...i fish'd in Ar as a boy(`78ish-`80sumthin`) from cain~poles in creeks with worms, to jugs with craws& bream,and most resently with lures for bass, i only fish'd a small part of AR waters, i'v caught cats, bream, gar, and only one bass as of yet!

i have 2 great girls 5&6 and a wife who has not left me <!--graemlin::D-->(yet <!--graemlin:;)-->) most of my family has moved back to AR and live in Hot Springs and Little Rock and a few more up north of little rock....



i would say Hot Springs and Little Rock would be the best places for a meet there, do to all the things to do, for non fishing family members, i would love to make a meet out there too! so pm me if one is comin along, i can also help out from here if need be!

I don't know how long my Bro will be working at a merina but he helps rent out house boats and such,( i think on ouachita?) he just started so hope he stays and gits a dis~count soon(i think $1,200 will git a boat that sleeps 15 (not to comfy) but has a spa and slides plus tons more? that is for friday threw sunday rates i think?)will see about that...

i can't wait to fish Ouachita again, hell i can spell it now with out lookin- most of the times so i'm gitting use~to the lake more and more <!--graemlin::D-->



Justin are you around still?

Originally posted by: Justin Freeman on 6/29/2007 4:57:15 PM

Well as a matter of fact I am still around. Still check the board every few days but been spending a lot of time looking into kayaks lately. I think it would be a lot of fun to hook into a giant cat in a kayak! Anyway, I'm Justin Freeman, 23yr old college senior at Henderson State in Arkadelphia (lake Degray) and resident of Hot Springs (lake Catherine #1, lake Hamilton #2, and lake Quachita #3) and been engaged to a great girl who loves to fish for going on 2 yrs now!

Originally posted by: Buster on 6/29/2007 5:17:22 PM

I am a NAFC Life Member and live in Marion, AR. I have been married for 33 years to a wonderful person. Have two grown children and two grand children one Nine and one that just turned one year old. I fish the Mississippi River, St Francis River, and Horseshoe lake mostly.

Originally posted by: BigDog68 on 6/30/2007 12:07:37 PM

Here is the latest list of Nafc members that are registered on the bulletin board. If any more members decide to sign in, or i find them on the club's member list, they will be added to this list. Here's what we have so far... <!--graemlin:;)-->

1. ouachitabassangler / Hot Springs,AR
2. lbt/ honarary AR member
3. Justin Freeman / Hot Springs,AR
4. Buster / Marion,AR
5. riddick/ Story,AR
6. gregb/ Blythville,AR
7. Xtreme / Dover,AR
8. Macgyver / SW,AR
9. Paul Tribb / Little Rock,AR
10.829/ Fort Smith,AR
11.Wingfield/ Prescott,AR
12.ArFishwacker / Location ?
13.Jeff Pitts / Vilonia,AR
14.ArkansasMike ... Mena
15.rklayne ... Mansfield

Originally posted by: ArkansasMike on 6/30/2007 12:28:58 PM

I'm an Arkansas member. Wife signed me up to NAFC recently so I have been lurking around here a bit.
I live in Mena (west-central) ane I work in Hot Springs. Fish mostly locally, but sometimes make the trip to Ouachita, DeQueen, Gilham or Dierks. Love the fishing around here.

Oh, and um....hi all.

Originally posted by: Justin Freeman on 6/30/2007 12:32:54 PM

Sure seems like there should be more than 14 folks around here <!--graemlin::confused:-->

Anyway, nice to make your aquaintence ArkansasMike!

Originally posted by: riddick on 7/1/2007 8:39:05 PM

first off i would like to thank BIG DAWG for all the help he has done gettin us togather.My name is tim douglas.i turn 30 tuesday.ive been married for 8 years monday the 2nd to a great woman.she loves to fish as much as i do.i have lived around and fished ouchita lake an river since i could hold a pole.i do a lot of crappie fishin,but i like it all.if it'll bend the pole i'll fish for it .hope to meet up with ya'll.if you need any adivice around the west end of ouchita.let me know.thanks for everybody that has introduced themselfes

Originally posted by: lbt on 7/2/2007 10:36:38 AM

man when i think of a AR meet, i think Hot Springs or Little Rock area, there is enuff good fishing and plenty to do for kids and other non fishing family members, in cali i can't deside or find one that meets all that yet, i like the sound of a tons of spots here but some are to remote why others to crowd'd? i guess i miss it there tho, and don't know what i got here, till it's gone....

Originally posted by: lbt on 7/2/2007 10:39:56 AM

as with cali , i put down to try and have a meet on a federal holiday/school holiday, only as a sugetion....but we all know how some holiday are there too, good luck finding a spot on some of those holidays...

Originally posted by: Justin Freeman on 7/3/2007 9:28:51 AM

as far as a meet would go...If it were to be on a holiday the only way to do it would be to reserve a pavilion or place at one of the state parks. But as far as places in general go, Hot Springs has several places on the Ouachita, Catherine's state park, Jack's Landing/Remmel Dam on the lower end of Catherine and even the new Ouachita whitewater park they are working on in Rockport. I know nothing of whats around LR but either Hot Springs or Little Rock seem to offer plenty for everybody but I wouldn't rule out any of the other parks or suggestions. In most cases you can get whatever you need within an hour's+- drive from anywhere.

Originally posted by: ouachitabassangler on 7/3/2007 2:32:41 PM

It's a good thing we didn't have folks on their way down here today! They'd be driving around till sometime next week. The only openings are on a few remaining islands, the choice spots taken, campgrounds "full". There are unused campsites but are reserved so nobody can get on them. You have to jump on the ReserveAmerica site 240 days in advance to stand a chance at reserving a site.

There's a neat campground at Ebone Point on Lake Ouachita that can be reserved. It has a couple of porta potties, trash cans, tables, and is situated in a remote area along the river section, west end. It's a lot of work to set up such a camp, but far better than trying to deal with folks scattered all around the lake in whatever campsite they could find. When I island camp I boat to the nearest campground shower house as needed, and someone always has a generator or two.

But, if the majority prefer to camp in campers with electricity & running water during any warm holiday, in Arkansas it's just about a necessity to reserve a whole block of sites in one campground. Two electric campers can share one site here. Two tents can share a site, the third has to be a child's pup tent, no bigger. Cost is first days' fee in advance. If you cancel a few days early you get most of that back. We also have a couple of areas with no electricity where a group of travel campers can park and camp.

There's also a few cabin areas next to marinas (9 marinas total), a few motels, five restaurants, lots of launch ramps, lots of shade trees. Downtown Hot Springs is less than an hour from any campground. Quite a tourist town.

Jim

Originally posted by: lbt on 7/3/2007 3:11:30 PM

I'v seen it there on the 4th it is mad crazy(cali talk for pack'd), if you like to be around people and party i guess it is ok but it is not for me, i'd still try to go to a meet during that time if that is what everyone wanted...

the only reason i say on a holiday is most kids have it off, also my wife is a teacher so it is the only time we take trips...



keep on fishin guys!

Originally posted by: ouachitabassangler on 7/8/2007 5:35:16 PM

That would be fine with me too, but everyone would have to reserve 240 days ahead to get all a camping site, or hope for a decent island site and rough it. Motels were full, as usual, and all ramps were clogged through Sunday. It'll take some serious planning even if everyone is driving home the day they arrive.

Jim

Originally posted by: lbt on 7/9/2007 9:13:44 AM

o don't git me wrong i would 'not like' it on a bissy holiday...but it is one time most members can git out...

i would say my favorite time to camp here is thanksgiving and easter it is cooler and no people but the weather is unpredictable at those times too...but i would let you guy deside and i'll see if i can make it....

Originally posted by: rklayne on 7/13/2007 7:03:50 AM

Just sin-up. Please add me to your list.
Thank You,
Rory

Originally posted by: BigDog68 on 7/15/2007 12:51:21 PM

quote:

Originally posted by BigDog68:
Here is the latest list of Nafc members that are registered on the bulletin board. If any more members decide to sign in, or i find them on the club's member list, they will be added to this list. Here's what we have so far... <!--graemlin:;)-->

1. ouachitabassangler / Hot Springs,AR
2. lbt/ honarary AR member
3. Justin Freeman / Hot Springs,AR
4. Buster / Marion,AR
5. riddick/ Story,AR
6. gregb/ Blythville,AR
7. Xtreme / Dover,AR
8. Macgyver / SW,AR
9. Paul Tribb / Little Rock,AR
10.829/ Fort Smith,AR
11.Wingfield/ Prescott,AR
12.ArFishwacker / Location ?
13.Jeff Pitts / Vilonia,AR
14.ArkansasMike ... Mena
15.rklayne ... Mansfield

Originally posted by: BigDog68 on 7/15/2007 12:53:30 PM

quote:

Originally posted by riddick:
first off i would like to thank BIG DAWG for all the help he has done gettin us togather.My name is tim douglas.i turn 30 tuesday.ive been married for 8 years monday the 2nd to a great woman.she loves to fish as much as i do.i have lived around and fished ouchita lake an river since i could hold a pole.i do a lot of crappie fishin,but i like it all.if it'll bend the pole i'll fish for it .hope to meet up with ya'll.if you need any adivice around the west end of ouchita.let me know.thanks for everybody that has introduced themselfes

Originally posted by: BigDog68 on 7/15/2007 12:57:30 PM

quote:

Originally posted by rklayne:
Just sin-up. Please add me to your list.
Thank You,
Rory