"Hey, what are we stopping for?” I asked our fishing guide.  “Shore lunch,” he replied.  I thought to myself, this had better be the best Bull Shoals Dam shore lunch on the planet.  I mean, we were going to stop fishing on the White River below the Bull Shoals Dam well-known for its reputation as one of the best trout streams anywhere.  I had already had a delicious breakfast buffet at the award winning Gaston’s Restaurant this morning.  Not to mention that the trout were biting like crazy.  I had even caught one on my first cast of the day.  Why stop now? 

By the time we stopped a number of other boats in my party also started showing up.  The fishing guides were all pulling up on shore and started cleaning the main course for our shore lunch.  Our party had all chartered fishing guides out of Gaston’s Resort and had made arrangements with Gaston’s Resort to have the shore lunch.  Walking up to the large outdoor shelter I spotted three round fire pits with glowing red hot embers.  Hot grease was bubbling inside a cast iron skillet and would crackle when the fresh fillet trout were placed in it.  Beside it in another fire pit was two Dutch ovens.  The cook informed me that they had peach cobbler in them for our dessert.  The aroma drifted my way, I was in heaven.  My mouth was watering.  It was like Christmas morning waiting to open presents.  How much longer I kept thinking.  Finally, first call for food.  The race was on to get in line and get your plate filled.

I am sure that other resorts or guides offer shore lunches to their clients.  I mean, who would not want to eat a hot trout or walleye fillet.  The majority of these shore lunches are right on the bank wherever they can pull the boat up.  Gaston’s (www.Gastons.com) takes shore lunches to the next level.  Their large shelter allows anglers to get out of the hot sun or rain to eat.  The serving table is made from an old green Gaston’s Resort guide boat.  Under the shelter was plenty of seating for large groups.  Since our party had made arrangements with the resort, we had a cook and two helpers serving us.  The shore lunch included hot biscuits, hush puppies, fried potatoes, baked beans, pork tenderloins, fried trout, and cold drinks.  A meal fit for a king or in this case a hungry angler.  Everything tasted so good, but the trout was incredible.  I all most forgot dessert.  The peach cobbler had been sitting with hot embers on top and below it cooking slowly while we ate.  Finally, the cook took the embers off the Dutch ovens and began serving it.  I can only tell you it smelled as good as it tasted.  The angler beside me ended up eating two of them because it was so scrumptious.

Under the Shelter, anglers shared stories of catching fish.  Some of them were fish tales as they stretched the truth making every trout they caught world record sizes.  A number of the anglers had photos to backup their claims.  Others only had broken fishing line and sad stories.  There is one thing I can tell you for sure.  It is worth stopping and eating a delicious shore lunch made for you by Gaston’s talented staff of cooks and helpers.  Okay lunch is over, where is my fishing pole?