Fishing, swimming and the quiet side of Mulberry

story by Connie Las-Schneider

If your idea of fun is spending four days partying with a huge crowd high on music and mayhem, Wakarusa Music Festival is for you.

For the rest of us, June along the Mulberry River area offers a wealth of activities that complement the natural serenity and wild beauty of the region.

The Mulberry River area has many no-cost, low-cost activities in June. All that is required is a swimming suit, fishing pole and a good pair of steel toed shoes. And, don’t forget to bring along a garbage bag to help clean up the river while you’re out.

“If you can’t find something to do in Arkansas that lights your fire, your wood is wet,” said Steve “Wildman” Wilson, the host of weekly TV show, “Talkin Outdoors at the Corner Café,” which airs each Saturday morning on KNWA at 9 a.m.

Wilson rated water recreation as a top attraction in the Natural State.

June activities anglers and water enthusiasts won’t want to miss include a license-free weekend of fishing, a Fishing Derby for children, playing in the water at an old fashioned swimming hole and a National River Clean Up event on the Mulberry River.

FISHING
Arkansas is renowned as a good state for fishing and the Mulberry River is popular for catching large and small mouth bass, and to a lesser extent, crappies and blue gills, said professional fisherman, guide, boat dealer and Crawford County resident Brad Smith.

Smith, a weekly provider of “Tip of the Week” for the old Arklahoma Outdoors TV program, semi-retired from the professional fishing tournament circuit two years. Although he admitted to once spending 12 to 16 hours a day fishing, he now occupies the bulk of his time running his store, Brad’s Boat Sales in Alma.

“Fishing is a great activity. It’s not an expensive habit and you can do it anytime you like and for as long as you live,” Smith said.

He says the best place to fish along the Mulberry River is Vine Prairie Park near the boat launch in the city of Mulberry. The area has close access to the Big and the Little Mulberry Creeks and connects to the main channel to the Arkansas River. It’s also a good spot for float trips by canoe or “tube” which allows access to places you cannot go with a big boat, he added.

“Take a light action 5-foot spinning rod and carry a small plastic box for your lures in a backpack, as live bait is hard to carry. Don’t carry your pole sticking up in the air, like you see on the old Andy Griffith show. Carry the pole by the handle facing backward,” he explained.

For lures, Smith suggested a green “Booyah Jig” that mimics a crawdad and also said to bring along some “visual” surface lures.

“In the morning, fish like to top-water bite on a surface lure. Later, switch to the Booyah Jig,” he explained.

What to wear?

“Old worn out steel-toed boots are perfect when you fish,” said Smith explaining the protective value wading down slippery creek beds and rivers. He also suggested carrying a sturdy walking stick to maintain balance and provide protection — mainly against snakes.

“If you see a snake in the water, slap the water or the snake with your fishing pole and the snake will likely swim away. Also, look where you are walking. If you see a snake, take a wide path around it,” Smith said.

Smith also gave a strong word of warning about fishing during the rainy season, although he expects the Mulberry to be safe in June, dependent on the weather.

“It’s not a good idea to fish in swift moving water,” he said.

FREE FISHING

An Arkansas fishing license costs $10.50 and is required for those 16 and older.

But, what about people who haven’t tried their hand at fishing or don’t want to invest in a permit that won’t be used again? For one weekend in June, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) is sponsoring a free fishing weekend.

Between noon on June 10 and midnight June 12, residents and non-residents may fish without the usual $10.50 annual fishing license or $5 trout permit. Regulations for Arkansas waters apply: daily limits, slot limits and length limits must be observed. For the Mulberry River, Smallmouth Bass daily limit is two and each must be at least 12 inches long to keep.
 
Also, the AFGC Commission has also scheduled several special activities for children and their families throughout June.

On June 4, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. is the 20th Annual Kids Free Fishing Derby the Arkansas River Valley Nature Center in Fort Smith (Chaffee Crossing).

On Saturday, June 11, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., a Kids’ Fishing Day will be held at the Commission’s five fish hatcheries.

On June 25 from 7:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., Shores Lake is hosting a Ouachita and Ozark-St. Francis National Forests Fishing Derby for children 12 and under. The fishing derby is sponsored by the U.S. Forest Service, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, Crawford County Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation, merchants from Ozark, Mulberry and Alma.

More information on any of these events, including the license-free weekend and weekly fishing reports are available at the AGFC website.

SWIMMING HOLES
June is prime swimming season in Arkansas. In addition to the beach at Shore Lakes, there are several good old-fashioned swimming holes along the Mulberry.

One of the most popular spots is Bluff Hole Park on the Mulberry River near in Mulberry. This Army Corps of Engineers park is just off Interstate 40 and features a high bluff over the swimming hole.

Link here for more information on swimming holes in Arkansas.

RIVER CLEAN UP
It’s hard to have fun in the water if it’s polluted and dirty, so why not pitch in to clean up the Mulberry River.

June 16-19, Byrd’s Adventure Center in Ozark is hosting a series of clean-up opportunities and awarding prizes to dedicated volunteers. Contact the center at (479) 667-4066, or visit their website.