The Little Red River near Heber Springs, Arkansas, is one of the finest trout fishing destinations in the world.
Don’t believe me?
An angler pulled a 40-plus-pound world-record brown trout from these waters in 1992, which still stands as the state record and sits among an elite class of the largest browns ever landed.
The brown trout have established a naturally reproducing population, and rainbow trout are regularly stocked. Thanks to a diverse stocking program through the years, You might also catch the occasional brook and cutthroat trout in some parts of the river.
There are 29 river miles of excellent trout fishing thanks to the cold water flowing out of Greers Ferry Lake Dam, which makes this a must-visit trout fishing destination when adventuring in the Natural State.
It’s true trout are the main interest on the Little Red River, but we will also discuss a few other species worth wetting a line for on your next visit to this beautiful river.
So, let’s get into it!
Little Red River Trout Fishing
Whether you’re looking to wet a fly or cast a chunk of PowerBait into a deep pool to catch trout, the Little Red River allows you to fish to your preferences.
While big brown trout are the main draw to trophy seekers at the Little Red River, rainbow, brook, and cutthroat trout all call these waters home.
Rainbow and brown trout are what you’re most likely to encounter, with a small population of naturally spawning brook trout in the Collins Creek area. You’ll have to head downstream for cutthroats because most inhabit the reach from Winkley Shoals to the Lobo Access Area.
Know the regulations, no matter where you’re fishing, as they change depending on the section of the river.
Whenever I’m trout fishing, I look for three primary things: current breaks, available food, and places fish can feel safe.
I’ve lost count of how many trout I’ve caught off a current break, whether a log, rock or bend in the river. Trout use these natural refuges to lie in wait for their next meal. If you see a spot where the water changes directions, making a cast or two there never hurts.
While fish spend a lot of time in current breaks, they can often be at risk of predation in these areas.
So, if you’re not having any luck fishing the current breaks, try the deep pools, shaded areas, submerged trees, and rock piles. These areas allow fish to hide better from predators, which helps them to relax and think about eating instead of avoiding being eaten.
Understanding the available food will help you choose the right baits, lures, and flies. The wild browns will most often prefer natural-looking lures, while the stocked rainbows eat pretty much everything from canned corn, cheese, PowerBait, flies, lures, and worms.
The most popular stretch of the Little Red River to fish is just below the dam to Ramsey Access because there are several places for wading anglers to reach the water where the water runs coolest.
If you plan to wade, pay attention to the water levels, which can vary significantly throughout the day because this is a power-generating dam with changing release schedules.
During times of minimal flow, wading anglers may catch more fish than boat anglers; however, boat anglers do best when the water levels are high.
Fly Fishing Tips
The preferred method of catching trout for most anglers fishing the Little Red River is to use flies. Here are a few tips I’ve picked up over the years while trout fishing.
When nymphing and dry-fly fishing, most anglers prefer to use an 8- or 9-foot, 4- or 5-weight rod. Switch to a 6-weight rod for streamer fishing from a boat.
A 9-foot, 3X fluorocarbon leader with a floating line is standard when the water is reasonably clear, and a 3- to 4-foot-long fluorocarbon line fits the bill when the water is murky.
Use larger flies like #2-6 streamers, Clouser Minnows, Woolly Buggers, and Woolhead Sculpins during high or murky water. These flies stand out more, allowing the trout to see the easy snack as it floats downstream.
High water primarily occurs in the spring and during excessive power usage. The water tends to be lower and more manageable for wading in the fall, but fly anglers catch trout throughout the year on the Little Red River.
Mayfly nymphs, sow bugs, and midges make up the majority of the macroinvertebrates in the river. Therefore, it’s best to match those food sources as closely as possible during times of low flow when the water is clear and the trout get a good look at your offerings.
Some patterns to have in your fly box under these conditions include red Brassies #18-22, Flashback and Tunghead Pheasant Tails #12-18, Hare’s Ears #12-18, Copper Johns #12-18, Red Ass #14-20, and Zebra Midges #16-22.
Spinning Rod Tactics
Probably because I’m impatient, I tend to have a spinning rod in my hand most of the time when I’m trout fishing.
I love using ultra-light spinning gear because you can enjoy the fight, but it does take some skill to reel in a hefty trout using a 4lb test line.
In specific stretches of the river, anglers are only allowed to use single hooks on their lures. As usual, always check the regulations of the area you’re fishing for bait and hook restrictions.
Where it’s legal, for stocked trout like rainbows, I use baits like corn and PowerBait in slow-moving portions of the river.
When fishing with corn, you’ll need a bobber to help keep it off the bottom. I like to keep the baits 1 to 2 feet off the bottom, which puts them right in the trout’s face.
My favorite trout lures to throw are spoons and small spinners, especially where the currents are swifter. Crankbaits, especially those imitating crawdads, are excellent brown trout lures.
Regarding color selection, I keep it natural when the water is clear and a little brighter when it’s murky. However, PowerBait is a different story. I like to keep a few different colors, so I have options, but the yellow corn color is my go-to.
Walleye Fishing
Greers Ferry Lake was once home to giant walleye; some inevitably made it through the dam into the Little Red River. In recent years, the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission has also attempted to stock them in the river to offer anglers another fishing opportunity.
Walleye spawn in late winter or early spring along rocky stretches, which pretty well describes just about anywhere on the Little Red River!
During the day, they’ll stick to the deeper holes, as their large eyes are very sensitive to the sunlight. This fact about walleye is why I strongly recommend fishing in low-light conditions, such as before sunrise and after sunset.
Some of my favorite walleye lures are paddletail swimbaits, spinners, crankbaits, and spoons. When fishing a deep hole, it’s hard to beat watching a bobber slowly disappear when using minnows or worms.
Like trout, walleye will use current breaks to rest and wait for their next meal, so don’t overlook these areas when targeting this species.
Though walleye can handle the chilly waters, you’ll find the most significant population downstream of the trout areas.
Smallmouth Bass Fishing
Smallies have also been stocked in the Little Red River to help boost the population and give anglers another fish to chase.
While you can catch smallmouth bass in the trout areas, sometimes while fishing for trout. However, more than likely, you’ll catch more bass farther downstream.
I love catching smallmouth in the river using crankbaits, Whopper Ploppers, and paddletail swimbaits, but sometimes it takes a subtler approach with a Ned Rig or Wacky Rig.
Crawfish and hellgramite patterns work very well here as these are the smallies’ primary food sources in the river.
Because they are predator fish, smallies also hide behind and in front of current breaks, so be sure to pitch your lures to both sides of any obstructions to the flow that you find.
Smallmouth, more so than other bass, often swim in schools, so if you catch one, there are likely a few more nearby.
Crappie Fishing
Crappie are another fish anglers like to target farther downriver. You’ll need a boat to reach the best crappie holes, but you can find a few by shore fishing at some public access areas.
These tasty fish are primarily caught in deep holes throughout the river; however, in the spring, they move to the shallows to spawn.
After nearly two decades of crappie fishing on many bodies of water, I’ve learned nothing beats live minnows, but I still prefer to use crappie jigs most of the time. Bright colors like chartreuse and pink work great in murky water, while natural colors work best in clear water.
I love using ultra-light gear for crappie because it helps me feel the super light bites and is fun to use.
Crappie are schooling fish, so once you get one bite, you should get another reasonably quickly when they’re biting good.
Sunfish Fishing
You’ll likely stumble across bluegill and longear sunfish while fishing the Little Red River.
These are the perfect species for introducing kids or new anglers to fishing because they’re aggressive and easy to catch.
The best bait is worms, but I’ve caught them using crappie jigs, spinners, spoons, and many other small lures.
They’re on the food chain’s lower end, meaning nearly everything in the river eats them. So, fishing for panfish often involves finding areas with fewer predators.
Catch More Sunfish
Planning Your Trip
Now that you’re caught up on the species that call the Little Red River home and how to catch them, it’s time to begin planning your trip to Heber Springs and the Little Red River.
The best trout fishing is near Heber Springs, below Greers Ferry Lake and under an hour and a half north of Little Rock.
Let’s start by mentioning some of the most popular public access areas and places to stay.
Public Access Areas
There are several public access spots on the river. Some of the most popular are:
- JFK Park Campground
- Cow Shoals Access
- Barnett Access
- Libby Shoals Access
- Lobo Access
- Dripping Springs Access
- Ramsey Access
Places to Stay Nearby
Because this area is such a massive draw for trout anglers, there are many places to stay near the river, whether you’re looking for a resort, hotel, or campground.
The John F. Kennedy Park Campground is a favorite of many campers and is right on the river.
You can find private resorts on both sides of the river if you’re not a fan of camping. There are also a few hotels and motels in Heber Springs, just a few miles from the upper portions of the Little Red River.