"Hometown" Pride at Lake Ouachita

As fellow guests raved about the wonderful cottages at Mountain Harbor Resort, the striking, undeveloped landscapes around Lake Ouachita and the friendliness of the people, I felt a strange sense of hometown-like pride. I say "strange" because I don't live in Arkansas. In fact, I've never lived in Arkansas, and I've actually only stayed at Mountain Harbor a half a dozen or so times over the years.

Still, I felt a sense of ownership, and I think that goes back to the friendliness of the people. Folks like Chris Elder, a local angler I've gotten to fish with several times, and resort owner Bill Barnes have a way of making you feel so much at home that when you return for visits you're eager to share the area's virtues with anyone who hasn't been there before. When Barnes asks if you need anything at all, you can tell that he really means that question and that he is genuinely pleased that you've chosen to visit the resort that his family has owned and operated for more than 50 years.

I'm back in my real home in northeast Georgia, but I know I'll be back to Lake Ouachita and to Mountain Harbor Resort, and I have no doubt that I'll again feel right at home and will swell up at least a little with pride when someone talks about a great day of striper fishing or the beauty of the mountains that surround the lake.

Destination Arkansas!

Beautiful Mountain Harbor at Lake Ouachita in Arkansas

My bag is nearly packed, and I'm ready to fly to The Natural State tomorrow. The plane lands in Little Rock, but my final destination is Lake Ouatchita, a splendid playplace in the Ouachita Mountains. The fall color should be past peak, but I suspect the high hills will still show plenty of gold and bronze. The weather looks like it will be mild.

I get to Arkansas as often as possible, but usually I find myself in the Ozarks -- whether enjoying folk music in Mountain View, trout fishing out of Gaston's Resort or floating Buffalo National Scenic River. The Ouachitas rival the Ozarks in beauty and get less attention overall, and I've enjoyed some really fun days of fishing on Lake Ouachita. Probably my favorite was a day I spent with Gary Roach (Mr. Walleye) about 10 years ago. We were officially walleye fishing, but the fish that kept grabbing our minnow-tipped jigs were 10- to 20-pound striped bass. We were fishing with fairly light spinning gear and 8-pound-test line, so every striper was seriously exciting!

One cool element of this trip is that it is co-sponsored by the folks who make Rebel Lures and set at Mountain Harbor Resort, and Mountain Harbor played an important part in Rebel's history. The first Rebel Minnows were "tank tested" in the pool at Mountain Harbor 50 years ago!

Another extra fun part for me will be fishing from a Hobie Kayak. I've played a little with these boats and their unique Mirage Drive foot-control system, but I've never before spent a full day fishing from one.

Better finish packing!