Ouachita National Forest

[Palmwood]

These pictures are from the Spring. My son and I spent a few days roaming the Ouachita National Forest in Montgomery CO AR. The mountain views are from the Fancy Hill area looking north toward the Caddo River valley as it turns west out of Norman, and looking south toward Amity with a rain shower moving in. My son is pictured at about 1800 ft elevation standing on a large novaculite outcrop. The nature pictures are Giant Swallowtails getting some mineral water and a nest of Kildeer eggs.

[paleo_joe]

I'd really like to go find a novaculite outcrop! Nice pics.

[Flyjunkie]

Beautiful Country there... None of the Jagged High Peaks out West here, but I've always liked those Vibrant Green Hills.....

Very Enjoyable Photos, Thanks...

[Chad Gilbert]

That is really beautiful country. I grew up around that area. Used to float fish the Caddo River and I would love to do it again. The Amity River flows just south of the Caddo and is much more untouched than the Caddo area.

Chad

[Flyjunkie]

Originally Posted by Chad Gilbert

That is really beautiful country. I grew up around that area. Used to float fish the Caddo River and I would love to do it again. The Amity River flows just south of the Caddo and is much more untouched than the Caddo area.

Chad

So Chad... What species would i be pitchin' flies to on a Float down those Rivers????

[Chad Gilbert]

Mostly Smallmouth Bass. No trout that far south. The normal perch varieties are there of course. Try using a floating fly with a trailer fly. Talk about fun, two fish on at the same time is a blast. Get out above a streach of rapids and cast down stream. As you retrieve, fish will knock the socks off the lure. Walk down the rapids and continue the process.

Good luck,
Chad

BTW. It's not the Amity River, it's the Antoine River. Surprised John didn't correct me. The Caddo is more well known and gets alot more traffic, but the Antoine is wilder.

[Palmwood]

We float fished one day. I was more interested in artifacts, but my son caught one smallmouth. The fishing was slow I think due to the heavy canoe traffic that day.

The novaculite is almost unrecognizable on the top ridges due to heavy weathering, fracturing, lichens, and moss. There is plenty of it all through the region, but it is National Forest property. I did pick a nice 20# chunk out of the river that is translucent red and yellow.

Fun area, just be aware of flash flood potential which killed so many back in early summer.

[bigbeck1817]

that part of the country is so beautiful . thanks for showing us ur pics.

[silver lake]

Boy that's some pretty country.