The Little Red River

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One of the most popular fishing and floating streams in Arkansas, the lower Little Red River flows from the base of Greers Ferry Dam near the town of Heber Springs to eventually merge with the White River at the Hurricane Lake Wildlife Management Area just east of Searcy. The chief reason for its popularity is its status as one of Arkansas's blue ribbon trout streams - thousands and thousands of trout are stocked in the stream on a regular basis. Good scenery and convenient access also work in the river's favor.

SECTION DESCRIBED: From Greers Ferry Dam to Ramsey Public Access, a distance of approximately 29 miles.

 

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The first few miles of river below Greers Ferry Lake are strewn with boulders, making a challenging float for canoers, but a difficult one for crafts larger than a johnboat. Beyond this stretch, there is a long pool of deep water. Farther downstream, an island hinders river travel. The usual approach is to veer left at the island, which will take floaters into one of the largest Little Red River trout fishing holes. Approximately one-and-one-half miles downstream, a series of shoals impedes travel of large boats when water levels are low. Beyond this shoal area, canoes are the best choice for shallow areas and a series of bends. Next is a three-mile-long deep hole, followed by a narrowing of the river into another long shoal. These shoals give way to deep pools above Pangburn, then the river's pace picks up with a series of rapids upstream of the low water bridge north of town. Beyond the rapids, the river widens as it flows through another series of shoals. The last access point, Ramsey Access, is a few miles downstream. Total distance from the dam to the last access is 29 miles. Trout waters end a few miles beyond the Ramsey area at Arkansas 305.

 

Access Points

A U.S. Army Corps of Engineers public ramp on the north bank, located next to the Federal Fish Hatchery, is the easiest access to the upper portion of the river. Other public access points on the middle and lower stretches of the river, maintained by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, include Barnett (Winkley Bridge), Lobo (adjacent to Lobo Landing Trout Dock), Dripping Springs, and Ramsey. Four commercial boat docks also offer launch ramps.

Most of the land bordering the river is privately-owned and is posted. Always check with landowners before attempting access to the river via private property.

 

Seasons

Water conditions on the Little Red don't vary so much by season as they do by day of the week. On weekdays, when power demand is usually at its greatest, water is frequently released around mid-morning. Demand for electricity drops over the weekends, and so do water levels. When the river reading is low, expect to wade and drag boats over the shoals.

 

Scenery

The scenery is outstanding, easily good enough to offset one of those rare occasions when the fish aren't biting. As it cuts through beautiful Ozark foothills, the Little Red provides excellent year-round viewing.

 

Fishing

The Little Red is among the real blue-ribbon trout streams of America and takes her place alongside the White as one of the best in the South. Hundreds of thousands of rainbow trout are stocked here annually, and periodic releases of brown trout have produced an excellent fishery for that species as well.

The secret to Little Red River trout fishing is light tackle and small lures. Ultralight spinning rigs and two- to four-pound line are popular. Most trout are taken on bait, rather than artificials, simply because more anglers use it. Whole kernel corn, redworms, nightcrawlers, waxworms, salmon eggs, and even Velveeta cheese all take their share.

Favorite artificials for Little Red trout fishing include marabou jigs, small spinners and spoons, and crayfish- and minnow-imitation crank-baits. But one of the most productive techniques involves a curious marriage between bait and artificials. This rig consists of a small, clear bobber rigged about four or five feet above a brown feather jig, on the barb of which is impaled a small white waxworm. The rig is cumbersome to cast, but that's acceptable since the proper fishing technique is to work the lure in as slowly as possible.

During highwater, driftfishing with the current is favored. Bait is cast upstream and allowed to bump the bottom as it drags behind the boat. On low water, stillfishing deep holes, weedbeds, and timber from an anchored boat is preferred. The Little Red is also one of Arkansas's most popular flyfishing streams, and the many shoals exposed during low water periods offer ideal locations to hook a hefty trout on a variety of fly patterns. Arkansas's trout season never closes, but many of the larger fish are taken from October through February.

Although Little Red River trout fishing gets most of the publicity on the Little Red, anglers shouldn't overlook opportunities for taking other species as well. The river has healthy populations of chain pickerel, spotted and smallmouth bass, green and longear sunfish, rock bass and bluegills.

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publishing credit:  Arkansas.com