The weather has been great to us this Spring.  We have received enough rain to bring the lake back up to normal levels and we are getting some water generation here on the river.  Trout fishing has been excellent in all conditions and we are going to have an excellent summer fishing season!

You can listen to Larry Rea on Outdoors with Larry Rea every Saturday morning from 6:30-7:30 on Country Legends WMC AM 79 out of Memphis.  Larry is a long time friend of ours and his show covers everything outdoors-related.  Danny Gaston is on the show once a month with a White River fishing report.  You can also keep up to date with the White River fishing conditions on our website at http://www.gastons.com/gfr.html 

Recently, we had a group of about 80 motorcycle riders visit our restaurant while they were in the area.  The Bus'n Bikers are from all over the country, and they all own RV's and tow their motorcycles to various rallies across the country.  They meet twice a year and have daily rides to different locations.  Some of the nicest bikes we have ever seen were when this group came in.  There were riders here from Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Nevada, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Virginia.  There were over 2 million dollars worth of bikes here!

In 1854 a government survey party traveling up the White River by boat reached the rapids where the dam now stands, and as it took the "bull strength" of the entire party to get the boats over the shoals, in their field notes they named it "Bull Shoals."  In 1902 another survey party established camp at an elevation of 1129 feet near the shoals, and named this hill "Bull Mountain."  In 1946 government engineers selected this shoals on the White River as a dam site and designated it as "Bull Shoals Dam" and "Bull Shoals Lake."

Our team of research experts are still trying to figure out how Lakeview got it's name.  

The new Oakridge Mountain Bike Trail is open at the State Park!  The trail has two loops and the terrain varies according to which trail you follow.  The inner loop utilizes an old construction road that has been leveled, providing a shorter, wider, and less difficult route.  The outer loop is longer and contains more technical trail features, such as creek crossings, long downhills and taxing uphills.  The trail is open to both mountain bikers and hikers.  The head of the trail starts in the open field south of the Rent-A- Camp at the State Park.  For more information, contact the park.  870-431-5521

Ozark River Reunion  -  June 2nd - 4th at State Park

Hear the stories of Ozark river folk as we gather this weekend to talk about the days of wooden johnboats and float fishing along free flowing Ozark waterways. Activities include the construction of two wooden johnboats and sassafras paddles, a River Guide panel discussion, a wooden johnboat demonstration and many more programs that celebrate the beauty and history of Ozark Rivers. Contact the park for further details.  870-431-5521

Troutfest  -  June 16th and 17th at State Park

The White River is one of the nation's finest trout streams. Whether you are a beginner or and expert, there is something here for you. Activities include fly tying seminars, fly fishing seminars, basic trout fishing classes, fly casting clinics, and a trout cooking demonstration. Contact the park for a detailed schedule.

Fathers' Day Fishing Tournament  -  June 18th at State Park

A just-for-fun tournament for children and their fathers or grandfathers. There will be prizes and certificates for a variety for wacky categories.  Contact the park for further details.  870-431-5521

Fall Wine Tasting - October 7th at Gaston's Conference Lodge

The last several free wine tastings we have had at our Conference Lodge have been very popular!  Post Familie Wines will return once again this October for our annual wine tasting.  The wine tasting is free to the public and all of our resort guests.  Make plans to attend!  You will get to sample all of the famous Post Wines and meet the Post family too!

 The newest issue of the Arkansas Fishing Guide, produced by the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission and the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism, is now available. New additions this year to this popular brochure are GPS waypoint listings for the major bodies of water, expanded coverage on the Arkansas Game and Fish community fishing programs, the increased awareness of habitat improvement especially for black bass, and text on protecting and improving Arkansas's fishing resources. Also included is a section on "What, Where and How" to fish The Natural State. Discover the joys of "open all year" Arkansas fishing by a ordering copy on Arkansas.com, packing your gear, and hitting the waters. It can be ordered online here http://www.arkansas.com/helpful-info/free-vacation-kit/