The Little Red River tailwater below Greers Ferry Dam in Heber Springs is one of the premier trout fisheries in the United States. Extending from JFK park 29 miles downstream to Ramsey Access anglers will fish a blue-ribbon trout stream that supports fish populations in excess of 2,000 per square mile.

Trout species present along the Little Red River below Greers Ferry include German Browns, Rainbows, Brookies and Cutthroats. You’ll run into some gorgeous Brook trout now and again, with a few cutthroats here and there, but anglers mostly fish the Little Red for its vibrant colored Rainbows and giant German browns. Rainbow trout are stocked annually, and Brown trout periodically.

While Little Red is best known as a trout fishery, there are also opportunities to fish a variety of other species including spotted and smallmouth bass, rock bass, chain pickerel, and a variety of panfish including bluegills, and green and longear sunfish.

There are several places to access the Little Red River for drifting, wade fishing or working the banks. The following map shows the major access points along the Little Red from Greers Ferry Dam to Monaghan Womack Access at HWY 124.

When water flows are lower the Little Red offers fly anglers good wade fishing opportunities. Flows are typically at their lowest througout the fall and on weekends. During the spring and early summer, when flows are at their peak, we recommend sticking to the banks or driftfishing.

Drifting is without a doubt one of the most popular and fruitfull methods of fishing the Little Red—especially during highwater. There are several put-in and take-out locations for canoes, kayaks and smaller watercraft. Float routes average 4 and 8 miles.

The tailwater just below the dam is the coldest and supports the largest variety of trout. Fishing within 100 feet of the dam is prohibited and the stretch of river from the dam downstream to the public access at JFK Park is catch and release only. This is one of the best spots for catching some really pretty brook trout.

Anglers drifting the Little Red will often put in at the JFK Park boat ramp and take out a either Cow Shoal or Barnett Access (Swinging Bridge). The public access at Cow Shoal is walk in only—no boat ramp—so plan on drifting with a lightweight, portable watercraft if you want to put in or take out at Cow Shoal.

The first few miles of river below Greers Ferry can be a bit rocky—especial when water flows are low. This can make navigating a bit challenging for boaters during certain times of the year. But just downstream passing Beach Island you’ll cross over one of the largest trout fishing holes on the river if you stay to the left as the river forks.

Barnett Access has a boat ramp and is more accomodating for slightly larger watercraft. The float route from JFK Park to Barnett Access offers one of the best driftfishing opportunities for anglers that want a full day of fishing along one of the most productive stretches of the Little Red.

Barnett Access to Lobo Access, Lobo Access to Dripping Springs, and Dripping Springs to Ramsey Access are other popular float routes. Plan on covering about 1 to 2 miles per hour drifting. Most float routes will provide a 3 to 4 hour fishing trip, but you can design your own route using the fishing map and table above.

Light tackle and small lures with 2- to 4-pound test is all you need to reel in some really niced size trout the Little Red. Trout will take artificial lures or bait, but are mostly taken on bait. Nightcrawlers, waxworms, salmon eggs, and whole kernel corn are favorite baits and consistently generate hookups.

Popular lures for trout fishing on the Little Red include small spinners, spoons, marabou jigs, and crankbaits that mimic craws or minnows. Fishing a combination of an artificial lure—such as a feather jig—with a waxworm attached to the barb about 4 feet under a simple bobber is proven winner.

For fly fisherman the numerous shoals along the Little Red offer the ideal location for targeting Rainbows, German browns and brook trout, especially during periods of low water when the shoals are exposed and river access is good. Sow bug, orange and peacock soft hackle, bead head pheasant tails, San Juan worms, elk hair caddis and woolly bugger streamers are your go-to patterns for fly fishing on the Little Red.

While Rainbows are the most prolific trout species on the Little Red, the giant Browns found in these waters are one of the major draws for anglers. Little Red River holds the record for the largest brown trout weighing which weighed in at 40 lb., 4oz.

One of the best spots to target brown trout is Cow Shoals. The annual brown trout spawn runs from mid-October through November and offers an excellent opportunity reel in some lunkers. However, fishing pressure at Cow Shoals is at its highest during the Brown trout spawn and angelers are often lined up shoulder to shoulder looking to hook the big one.

Cow Shoals offers good year round fishing for German browns and I recommend hitting the shoal in late October early November after fishing pressure has died down a bit but before all the big browns have moved out of the area.

Two other great spots to fish the Little Red are Swinging Bridge (aka Barnett Access) and just downstream at Winkley Shoals. There is a lot of great holding water between Swinging Bridge and Winkley Shoal where you’ll find some good pockets holding larger Rainbows and Browns. Winkley Shoal in particular has several nice runs where trout like to hold.

The Little Red River is a trout angler’s paradise which explains why the stream can receive a lot of fishing pressure at certain times of the year. My recommendation? If you want the best fishing experience possible, skip the crowds and go when pressure is at it lowest—during the week or when weather is inclement. This is when you’ll find the most trout with the fewest number of anglers.

Trout season in Arkansas never closes, but most of the larger fish are taken between October and February.