[RStouff]

First post, but have been reading for a couple years. This is a great resource with very helpful people.
We spent a week in near Norfork two years ago and explored all over NW Arkansas. My fiancee and I are hoping to retire in seven or eight years. Yes, we expect to have the financial means to not be employed, and understand the limitations of job availability if we do not.
We are also considering the southern Blue Ridge range, but leaning toward the Ozarks, preferably from Harrison down to Jasper, but we'll expand no farther than Eureka Springs to Mountain Home and down to about Marshall, of course depending on if we are financially independent or not, and can find a job beforehand.
We are devout hikers and fishers and this is important to us. I'm well versed in the major waters of NW Arkansas and becoming familiar with north Georgia, southwest North Carolina.
I'm not into shoulder-to-shoulder fishing or crowds. I'm also not all hung up on trout, though trout fishing is great, I'm just has happy to fish smallies and panfish. I don't want to own a boat any more, really don't want to do lake fishing, I much prefer wading rivers and streams. I'm a fly fisher.
So my question, finally, is this: Other than the popular waters (White, Norfork, Buffalo, Crooked Creek, etc.) do I have any reasonable chance of "getting away from the crowds" on some National Forest or other area with decent wade fishing? I don't mind a day hike in and out at all, probably wouldn't do too many overnighters.
And finally, if anyone has experience with both, how do you think the same question compares NW Arkansas with the lower Blue Ridge?
Very much appreciated,
RS

[DC at the Ridge]

Originally Posted by RStouff

First post, but have been reading for a couple years. This is a great resource with very helpful people.
We spent a week in near Norfork two years ago and explored all over NW Arkansas. My fiancee and I are hoping to retire in seven or eight years. Yes, we expect to have the financial means to not be employed, and understand the limitations of job availability if we do not.
We are also considering the southern Blue Ridge range, but leaning toward the Ozarks, preferably from Harrison down to Jasper, but we'll expand no farther than Eureka Springs to Mountain Home and down to about Marshall, of course depending on if we are financially independent or not, and can find a job beforehand.
We are devout hikers and fishers and this is important to us. I'm well versed in the major waters of NW Arkansas and becoming familiar with north Georgia, southwest North Carolina.
I'm not into shoulder-to-shoulder fishing or crowds. I'm also not all hung up on trout, though trout fishing is great, I'm just has happy to fish smallies and panfish. I don't want to own a boat any more, really don't want to do lake fishing, I much prefer wading rivers and streams. I'm a fly fisher.
So my question, finally, is this: Other than the popular waters (White, Norfork, Buffalo, Crooked Creek, etc.) do I have any reasonable chance of "getting away from the crowds" on some National Forest or other area with decent wade fishing? I don't mind a day hike in and out at all, probably wouldn't do too many overnighters.
And finally, if anyone has experience with both, how do you think the same question compares NW Arkansas with the lower Blue Ridge?
Very much appreciated,
RS

War Eagle River rarely has crowds, is an excellent place for wade fishing, wouldn't require a day hike in and out.

[RStouff]

Thank you for the reply.

[ArkansasSlim]

Hey, I can't let this slip by without putting in a plug for my Ouachita Mountains in west central AR Everything you are looking for is there! Check it out.

[RStouff]

I know it is! We were torn between the two. Might try to find something in between!
Thanks.

[ArkansasSlim]

There ain't nothing in between, and it would be a shorter move

[SuperManGuy]

Yeah, relocation is not easy.

[RStouff]

I hear ya! But somewhere like outside the Ft. Smith area, might be best of both worlds!

[adysmom]

Originally Posted by RStouff

First post, but have been reading for a couple years. This is a great resource with very helpful people.
We spent a week in near Norfork two years ago and explored all over NW Arkansas. My fiancee and I are hoping to retire in seven or eight years. Yes, we expect to have the financial means to not be employed, and understand the limitations of job availability if we do not.
We are also considering the southern Blue Ridge range, but leaning toward the Ozarks, preferably from Harrison down to Jasper, but we'll expand no farther than Eureka Springs to Mountain Home and down to about Marshall, of course depending on if we are financially independent or not, and can find a job beforehand.
We are devout hikers and fishers and this is important to us. I'm well versed in the major waters of NW Arkansas and becoming familiar with north Georgia, southwest North Carolina.
I'm not into shoulder-to-shoulder fishing or crowds. I'm also not all hung up on trout, though trout fishing is great, I'm just has happy to fish smallies and panfish. I don't want to own a boat any more, really don't want to do lake fishing, I much prefer wading rivers and streams. I'm a fly fisher.
So my question, finally, is this: Other than the popular waters (White, Norfork, Buffalo, Crooked Creek, etc.) do I have any reasonable chance of "getting away from the crowds" on some National Forest or other area with decent wade fishing? I don't mind a day hike in and out at all, probably wouldn't do too many overnighters.
And finally, if anyone has experience with both, how do you think the same question compares NW Arkansas with the lower Blue Ridge?
Very much appreciated,
RS

I Always like to tell people If you can rent a place for a mouth or two. If you can spend some time in a place your thanking moving to you are going to know if you like it.

[RStouff]

I agree in principle! But we intend to visit and spend lots of time all around the area to get a fair handle on it before we decide to uproot ourselves.