May
20
2010
Swimming Fool
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May
20
2010
Video Rating: 0 / 5
Jan
21
2010
There is a multitude of prospects for Arkansas bird watching. There are over 400 documented species of birds in the areas that surround the Ozark Mountains. In addition to the birds, there is also a large variety of butterfly species that inhabit the state, creating additional opportunities for premium wildlife viewing.
The first, and probably the most practical reason is that it is affordable. Since Arkansas is centrally located within the United States, it is, with a few exceptions, just about a day’s drive from anywhere in the country. This kind of access, coupled with the low cost of living in the area, makes a trip affordable. If you are coming from out of state or from the East or West coast, you will be delighted at the hospitable nature of the people who call the state of Arkansas home.
Another reason to consider Arkansas as your next bird watching destination is the availability of local resources. A bird watching club is easily found and there are Audubon societies in the area, and most are ready and willing to provide information that will allow visitors to capitalize on all of the bird watching opportunities that an area has to offer. If you are serious about heading to Arkansas to do some bird watching, make sure you check out birding Arkansas site. Here you will find a number of resources and links that will help you plan your trip.
The Ivory Billed Woodpecker recently made headlines and put Arkansas bird watching at the forefront of the North American birding community. This bird, which was thought to be extinct, was seen in the swamps of Arkansas. This discovery has led to a relative tourism boom in the small towns that surround the native habitat of the woodpecker. The economic boost that these additional tourists has provided is being used to further protect the habitat.
Bull Shoals State Park, DeGray Lake Resort State Park, and Devil’s Den State Park each host bird watching festivals or events at different times of the year. These organized festivals and events allow bird watching enthusiasts from around the country to come together and share information and to enjoy the company of folks who share similar passions. Local bird watching club involvement is very active in supporting these events.
In addition to the festivals, some lodges and outfitters sponsor Arkansas bird watching tours. These tours can be a good way to go if you are unfamiliar with the area and want to be assured of the best opportunities to see rare species. The guides who lead the tours will have the latest and most up to date information about where the birds have been seen and will know the best ways to get there. Guided tours give you the chance to focus on bird watching and allow you to leave the driving to someone else.
Jan
21
2010
Branson is a city in Stone and Taney counties in the U.S. state of Missouri. It was named for Rueben Branson, postmaster and operator of a general store in the area in the 1880s.In 1983 Branson began its transformation into a major tourist attraction when the 7,500 seat Swiss Villa Amphitheatre opened in Lampe, Missouri. The theatre, which was later renamed the Black Oak Mountain Amphitheatre before ultimately closing in the early 2000s, proved there was a market for large music gatherings.Branson is a popular destination for vacationer which is truly a remarkable. Branson has 52 live performance theaters, three pristine lakes, thrilling family attractions, breathtaking Ozark Mountain scenery, unforgettable dining experiences, 12 championship golf courses, an international award-winning theme park, dozens of attractions and museums, shopping galore, and a host of hotels, motels, resorts and meeting and conference facilities.Branson provides afford remarkable vacation, if you compare the average daily hotel rate in Branson is $75.90, compared with a national tab of $103, according to industry research group Smith Travel. Show tickets in Branson average $29, compared to an average $130 to $150 per ticket for Las Vegas. In addition, the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce/CVB sponsors a popular “Gas Buster” program to further offset the cost of travel. The program provides visitors who present at least $40 in gas receipts at either of the Chamber’s two Welcome Centers with a card worth $50 in discounts.Visitors can choose from more than 100 different shows in 52 state of the art theaters ranging from intimate 50-seat show rooms to 4,000 seat indoor theatrical palaces. Branson is known for its variety of live music shows. There you will find Big Band, Broadway, country, swing, rock ‘n’ roll, pop, bluegrass, jazz, gospel, patriotic, classical, and more musical variety. You also will find another live show like magic, comedy, special effects, animals, acrobats, lumberjacks, trick-riders, water displays and pyrotechnics.For Outdoor activities you can visit The Branson/Lakes Area, it is so known because of its three pristine lakes: Table Rock, Taneycomo and Bull Shoals. Water sports enthusiasts can swim, water ski, wakeboard, tube, boat, sail, scuba dive, Jet Ski, parasail, kayak, and of course, fish. The lakes’ waters never freeze, welcoming visitors’ activities year round. All three lakes offer camping and RV parks, and easy access to the water at a number of public marinas and boat docks/launch areas.The Branson/Lakes Area offers thousands of camping and RV sites that can put you right in the heart of the action or in a quiet spot far from the cares of the world. You can also visit Lakeside Wilderness Hiking Trail, which begins just a short distance from The Strip. The trail offers some amazing views of Lake Taneycomo and the College of the Ozarks campus.Branson is a cannot miss if you are headed to Missouri, either for business or pleasure, make sure to visit Branson, the Country Music Capital of the Midwest.
Jan
20
2010
There are some great walleye fishing spots in Missouri. Lake of the Ozarks, Stockton Lake, Thomas Hill Reservoir, Table Rock Lake, Bull Shoals Lake and Mark Twain Lake are the top spots. These areas also have bass and panfish besides the walleye. The one thing that is a very well kept secret in Missouri is the ice fishing for walleye. Lake of the Ozarks is the best walleye fishing during the winter. Some anglers get out there and catch some prize trophies. The best thing to use during the winter months is heavier crankbaits while trolling. You might even try the grub on a jig, the weight should be about one eighth.
In October, Bull Shoals Lake is a great place to catch walleye. Many people do not even consider this lake for catching walleye and this is a shame because the action is hot in October. The lake has a great shad population that helps to feed the walleye and make them a good healthy weight. Here you would want to use crankbaits or some shad colored grubs. If you are fishing the rocky areas, a night crawler on a leadhead is great. In most cases, the planer boards work well with spinner rigs. During the spawning season in spring, you want to fish by the rocky areas from Barker Hole to Beaver Creek.
If you want to catch the walleye from shore during the spring spawning months, the Stockton Dam is a great area. However, the best time of day is a few hours before and after sunset. The popular area is by the Rip Rap by the dam. When you are fishing from shore near the riprap, you can use a shallow or floating running bait. Anglers recommend keeping the smaller males and leaving the larger females to spawn for future generations of walleye. On Stockton Lake, you can keep any fish that is fifteen inches or longer and they have a daily catch limit of four.
If you are using a fish locator on Stockton Lake, you will want to find the areas where the shad are in schools. Walleye will follow the shad and you can see the shad while the walleye are like black dots among the schools. The best time for walleye depends on the time of day and year, wind and water temperature. Fishing on Stockton Lake is better at dawn and dusk as well as overcast days. During the winter months, walleye hang out by the springs where the shad prefer to be. The water temperature is warmer than the forty-degree water temperatures away from the springs.
Table Rock Lake has many underwater habitats for walleye. When the lake was built, they never cleared the trees and other deadfall under the water, which has made a nice home for walleye. The shad in the lake allows the walleye to feed and grow to good-sized fish. Many anglers use the drop and sink method in this lake. They sit right above the deadfall and drop right into the middle of the school of shad coming up with a fish. This is a nice resort area and does not have a lot of boat activity, which makes it a nice fishing spot.
Mark Twain Lake is noted as a good place to fish for walleye, but keep in mind that you have to go at the right time and the right season. The best time to fish this lake is during spawning season. The shad population is what keeps the walleye in the lake, but you do need to fish for walleye during the particular time of year. The tributary streams in the spring are the best place to fish the walleye.