TAKING THE BAIT
Traditionally, 70 to 80 percent of the anglers on this stretch of the White River use bait, so the new hook rules affect the majority of fishermen there. Because the catch-and-release ethic that's so strong among bass fishermen has caught on with trout anglers, many who fish with bait now release most of the trout they catch. While perfectly legal, this type of fishing translates into a high mortality rate among trout, Bowman confirmed. "We're losing a lot of fish."

The single-point, barbless hook rule is designed to address this issue. Scientific articles show that the mortality rate for fish caught with bait on barbed hooks is 70 to 80 percent, while hook mortality with artificials is about 10 percent, Bowman said.

"We want to maintain bait-fishing and help to get people fishing in a way that causes less mortality."

By using the newly required barbless hooks -- especially circle hooks, which tend to snag the outer edges of a fish's mouth -- bait anglers can make a huge dent in hooking mortality rates. When you use barbless circle hooks and clip the line as close to the hook as possible when a fish has taken the bait deeply, mortality can drop as low as 10 percent, Bowman added. Other standard catch-and-release techniques, such as handling fish with wet hands to avoid removing their protective slime coating and leaving them in the water while you remove hooks will also help.

PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER
Over time, the slot limit, reduced stocking and the AGFC's efforts to encourage anglers to guiltlessly take home limits when they crave a fish dinner should all combine to create a quality fishery.

"What we want is to heavily harvest trout under 13 inches," Bowman explained. "We hope the overall reduction of density will increase growth in the slot in a few years." The result should be an increase in the number of trout in the 13- to 16-inch range.

"While decreasing the number of trout, we also want to maintain the current average catch rate of .8 to 1.0 fish per hour," Bowman said.

If the plan is successful, the difference will be that the fish caught every hour or so will be on the average 2 to 5 inches longer and meet the quality goal that anglers in the public workshops challenged the AGFC to meet.

"It'll take a minimum of one year to notice a difference in the quality of the fishery and the size of the fish, but it could take four or five years," Bowman said.

GETTING ON THE WATER
Water remains cold enough to support trout year 'round for about eight miles below Beaver Dam in Carroll County. Public access begins in Dam Site Park, just below the dam. You'll find a wide, concrete boat ramp there in a stretch of river that shows the results of recent fish habitat improvement projects. To reach the dam, take state Highway 187 off U.S. Highway 62 about 10 miles west of Eureka Springs and follow the signs. Locals who bait-fish from folding chairs often line the long, gravel shoal here.

County Road 506, which runs from near the dam to the AGFC's regional office, also takes you to the Bertrand Access, where you can launch a boat, and the Parker Bend Access, which is most popular with fly-anglers who use the walk-in access there. You can also wade in where U.S. 62 crosses the river farther north. The Houseman Access, on County Road 501, which runs east of U.S. 62 a few miles north of the dam, marks the end of the prime trout-fishing waters.

As on all tailwaters, water levels below Beaver Dam rise and fall according to the need to generate hydroelectric power or evacuate floodwater from adjacent Beaver Lake. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers provides recorded updates on water generation at (417) 336-5083.

GEARING UP FOR TROUT
By far, the most popular gear for trout fishing on the Beaver Tailwater is light or ultralight spinning or spincast outfits strung with 2- to 6-pound line. For the time being, the average fish is going to be 12 inches or so and weigh less than 2 pounds, so you'll enjoy your battles more with ultralight gear. While it's true that the river holds a few gigantic stripers (it's responsible for the current state record, 64 1/2 pounds, caught in 2000) and some outsized browns that require heavy line, you'll do better with 4-pound-test.

Most fly-anglers use 8- to 9-foot rods in the 4- to 6-weight range with matching floating fly lines, but it's possible to handle the tailwater's average fish on wispy 1 to 3 weights, too, which comprise fly-fishing's equivalent to an ultralight bass rod. Most use floating fly lines and 9- to 15-foot leaders and tippets tapered to 3X (for streamers) down to 7X (for tiny emergers).

A hat with a brim and polarized sunglasses are imperative whether you're wading or boating. They'll protect you from the elements and make it much easier to spot fish and obstacles underwater. Parts of the riverbed are extremely slippery from underwater vegetation; wading anglers will do best with felt-soled boots and a wading staff. When you're wading, walk slowly, avoid stepping onto large rocks and use a wading staff to always maintain two points of contact with the bottom to limit your chances of taking an inadvertent swim.