Branches of the Little Red River

[YeOldeRusty]

I'm sure some of y'all stomp around Greer's ferry every now and then. There's an awesome smallmouth population I've hit in the lake before. I grew up chasing smallmouth in the creeks of middle TN. I kinda wanna get into it in Arkansas, and I'm sure there're some brown bass in the creeks around there.

I'm thinking about running up one of the feeder rivers of Greer's ferry, South Fork, Devil's fork, etc. Go up as far as I can and wade upstream from there. Has anyone fished those rivers for smallmouth? Any tips? Thanks

 

[CookMan]

I have fished most tributaries in norther AR. Don't know about any smallmouth but have caught some fine brown and rainbow trout on fly rods. local fly shops are great for information.

 

[YeOldeRusty]

I have fished most tributaries in norther AR. Don't know about any smallmouth but have caught some fine brown and rainbow trout on fly rods. local fly shops are great for information.

I didn't know that there where non-tailwater trout streams besides the Spring river in Arkansas. Might be worth investigating. I used to be a fly fishing guide in Colorado

 

[Riverfisher]

Heber Springs is on the eastern edge of the Ozarks. Most of the Arkansas smallmouth fishing will be to your north and west. I do most of my smallmouth fishing in MO, but I've floated the Buffalo from Ponca to the White and Crooked Creek a few times. Head up north sometimes too.

 

[YeOldeRusty]

Heber Springs is on the eastern edge of the Ozarks. Most of the Arkansas smallmouth fishing will be to your north and west. I do most of my smallmouth fishing in MO, but I've floated the Buffalo from Ponca to the White and Crooked Creek a few times. Head up north sometimes too.

The main reason I ask about these specific rivers in Heber is because I've caught nice smallmouth in Greer's Ferry before. I like creek smallmouth more, so I wondered if smallies ran up those rivers from the reservoir.

One of my good friends has a house in Heber so it's convenient too.

 

[rhpierce]

So, short answer is yes, there are probably smallmouth in those branches...they are native to the Ozarks...but they will generally be smaller fish, and the strategy is knowing which holes are holding fish and skipping everything in-between...You will need to check the riparian rights laws; wading up the rivers through private ground might be legal, but it still might get the sheriff called or a landowner getting angry and a yelling match.

Crooked Creek, Buffalo, and Eleven Point would be better choices for a specific smallmouth trip. If you're doing it as an adjunct to a weekend or something else because you're already in Heber, just getting out and exploring and having fun...absolutely, and any fish are a bonus.

I've not heard of trout in any of the arms of the Red above Greers Ferry, or in any other streams in Arkansas, but at one time I think they put trout in Greers Ferry, so...maybe? But the flooding and competition and water temps make me say no, unless it's a very limited population in one area around a series of springs that keep the water cold, or some private landowner put some in a spot like that.

Edit to add - if you fish creek smallmouth, you pretty well get the strategy...logs, rocks, deeper hole, bluff bank, etc. The big thing is that fish populations aren't huge, so trying to find the best water and fishing it, then moving on, is going to be key. In the early spring, there may be some smallies that run up out of the lakes to spawn, just like the walleye, but they won't be there for long.

 

[Big Gumbo]

most small mouth in my neck of the woods are running to spawn from Beaver. There are some creek small mouths like on the King but man is it fished hard.