Standing knee-deep in the beautiful Spring River where the water current is swift, but not too strong, I watch the sun-sparkled water shine like glitter as I enjoy the warm afternoon sun on my face. The water is cool as it swirls around my legs, but I don't care as I cast to where the river's current is slowed by the rocks and wait patiently for the fish to bite. "Patience, Girl," my grandpa would say. "Just be patient." I wish he were here now... I'd question him about which bait I should use. I'm out of worms and the fish don't want my plastic crawdads. "What about this green thing that looks like a French fry?" I would ask him if I could and Grandpa would know. He always knew and his knowledge of this river and the fish that reside in it was phenomenal. Grandpa loved to fish and the Spring River had been his refuge, his own personal paradise.
Although the Spring River 
starts somewhere up in the state of Missouri as an underground river system, it doesn't evolve into a major river until it reaches the Missouri/Arkansas state line. The water from this underground river emerges from more than 80 feet below the surface as the Mammoth Spring, the largest spring in Arkansas. It flows at an average of 9.78 million gallons per hour with a constant water temperature of 58 degrees. The current then makes its way toward and through the dam where it pours down into the Warm Fork River, combining and thus forming the scenic Spring River. Instantly, the river is transformed into the perfect body of fresh water just right for fishing.
Now, there is no avoiding the fact that the Spring River is chilly. As teenagers and in the hot part of summer, we were often tempted to jump in to cool off, but would quickly emerge and return to the dry land. I also remember many evenings spent sitting on the old dock with friends at the Spring dangling my feet into the water only to find that even that was often more than I could handle. For swimming, the water may be too cool, but for fishing... now, that's another story.
The Spring River is unique among Arkansas trout streams, in that its cold 
water comes naturally from an underground spring. There's nothing man-made about it. The 58-degree water dumped into the river stays cold enough to support a good population of trout for 10 miles downstream. Nine million gallons of 58-degree water every hour is hard to comprehend, but it is this volume of cool water that allows the river to be stocked regularly with rainbow trout.
Rainbow trout are by far the most abundant and popular species, but recent stockings of brown trout, brook trout and cutthroat trout have also proven successful. The best fishing spots for trout are immediately below the falls where the cascading water hits the rocks below, creating a beautiful foaming, white display. Back under the ledges and rocks, rainbow trout lie in wait for food coming over the falls.
The Spring River is also home
for many walleye, largemouth, smallmouth and Kentucky bass, assorted pan-fish including the world record Shadow Bass and channel catfish. In 1989, tiger muskies (a hybrid of muskellunge and northern pike) were experimentally stocked into the small Spring River Lake, a mainstream impoundment below the Spring and some were pushed into the river below by a flood. They thrived easily in the cool rich water and often unsuspecting fishermen will hook into one of these monsters, the current state record being over 23 pounds caught in the Spring River.
Having been raised in the small rural town of Mammoth Spring, Arkansas, I have spent countless hours on the banks of this beautiful river. As a little girl, I would accompany my grandfather to the river to fish for what
ever might take his bait. He wasn't picky, though the rainbow trout was probably his favorite fish to catch. He just liked to fish. It was his passion.
Recently, my brother recalled a story about fishing with Grandpa McClaran on that very river. Seems they were fishing from a bridge over the Spring River when Grandpa hooked a huge rainbow trout. My brother related the story..." his line was not strong enough to pull it up to the top of the bridge. I remember him reeling the fish in as far as he could, letting the line loose and the fish would swim away, at which time he would reel it in again. He did this again and again for what seemed like hours until the fish was plum wore out and would not fight anymore. He then pulled the fish as close to the bank as he could get it, gave me the pole and said, 'Don't let it get back out in deep water.' He then walked around the end of the bridge, down into the muddy bank and retrieved the fish. Grandpa was always easy going and laid back. This was the only time I can ever remember seeing him get excited."
"Grandpa always
knew where to fish, when to fish, and with what bait to come home with a good mess of fish; everything from crawdad tails to grasshoppers," my other brother commented. Was Grandpa a professional angler? He was greatly skilled at what he did...full of learned knowledge and a deep passion for his favorite pastime, fishing. In our eyes, he was the Best! Grandpa shared his love of fishing with his nine grandchildren and we have in return shared this love with our own children and grandchildren.
I still spend nearly every weekend fishing on the banks of the Spring River during the summer months. More often than not, like today, I will wade out into the current with my favorite spinning reel in hand to enjoy the awesomeness and mystery of the river... yes, the water is cold, but the sun on my face will keep me warm and wishfully thinking...even yearning... I imagine Grandpa standing beside me, coaching me. "Set the hook, Girl!"
"It's a big one, Grandpa! The French Fry worked! I got a BIG ONE!"
The legacy lives on.
WRITTEN IN LOVING MEMORY OF MY GRANDFATHER,
NELSON RICHARD MCCLARAN, 1895-1969