Emerging cold and clear from the base of Greers Ferry Dam near Heber Springs, the Little Red River is a 32-mile tailwater nationally known for producing the former world-record brown trout (40 lb 4 oz in 1992). Bottom-draw releases keep water temperatures trout-friendly year-round, supporting healthy populations of rainbow, brown, cutthroat, and brook trout. Easy highway access, plentiful public walk-ins, and consistent insect life make the Little Red equally appealing to beginners learning indicator nymphing and veterans hunting trophy browns on low-light streamer runs.
Anglers divide the tailwater into three reaches. **Dam to JFK Park** features fast shoals and oxygen-rich runs perfect for wading during low-flow windows. **JFK Park to Swinging Bridge (Cow Shoals/Winkley)** winds through gentle riffles and gravel bars, famous for autumn brown-trout spawning redds. **Swinging Bridge to Highway 305** broadens into deeper pools and grass banks ideal for drift-boat nymphing or streamer stripping when one- or two-generator flows push water downstream. Farther down, the river warms and transitions to mixed species before joining the White River near Georgetown.
Stocked rainbows (11–15 inches) provide the bulk of daily action, while wild and hold-over browns average 16–22 inches with genuine 30-inch possibilities. Smaller but feisty brook and cutthroat trout occur thanks to Arkansas Game & Fish Commission (AGFC) diversification stocking. Downstream of Highway 305, warmer water supports smallmouth bass, drum, and bream, though most anglers stay upriver where year-round cold water sustains a classic tailwater trout mix.
Year-round midges and sowbugs form the river’s bread-and-butter diet; size 18–22 zebra midges and tan scuds rarely fail under indicators. Spring sees caddis and March Brown mayflies prompting confident surface eats. Sulphurs and cahills hatch on mild May evenings, while summer terrestrials—ants, beetles, and Japanese beetles—drift from cedar-lined banks. Fall brown-trout spawn triggers aggressive strikes on egg patterns and articulated sculpin streamers. Low, clear winter flows demand tiny midge pupae and micro-emerger patterns on 6X tippet.
A 9-foot 5-weight covers most scenarios; pair a floating line with 9–12 ft 5X leaders for micro-nymph rigs and dry-dropper setups. Indicator nymphing with tandem zebra midges, sowbugs, or egg patterns dominates during minimum flow. When one generator runs, switch to 4X leaders and drift from a boat, ticking the bottom with split-shot. Night or low-light hours tempt trophy browns with 6- or 7-weight rods, sink-tips, and 4-inch sculpin or mouse patterns swung tight to wood cover.
JFK Park tailwater, directly below the dam, offers classic shoal fishing and easy parking. Cow Shoals and Winkley Shoals, accessible from Swinging Bridge Road, are legendary for fall brown-trout redds—please avoid wading on visible beds. Libby Shoal and Lobo Landing farther downstream feature gravel bars perfect for beginners swinging soft-hackles. During generation, drift-boat anglers target grass banks between Mossy Shoal and Ramsey Landing, stripping streamers through submerged timber for marauding browns.
Public walk-ins include JFK Campground, Swinging Bridge/Cow Shoals, Winkley Shoals, Libby, Lobo Landing, and Ramsey. Greers Ferry Dam generation schedules—posted daily by the U.S. Army Corps—dictate safe wading windows; sirens sound before releases, and water can rise 3 ft in minutes. For boaters, paved ramps at Lobo, Libby, and Ramsey provide year-round launches, while private resorts sell shuttle services. Always call the generation hotline (501-362-5150) before committing to a float or long hike.
Essentials include 9-ft 5-wt rod, floating line, and spare spool with sink-tip for streamer work. Leaders: 9 ft 5X for nymphs/dries, 7 ft 3X for streamers. Flies: zebra midge (18–22), sowbug/scud (14–16), soft-hackle Hare’s Ear (16), sulphur sparkle dun (16), ant/beetle (12–14), egg patterns (micro glo-bug), and olive/black sculpin streamer (4). Felt or rubber soles with studs provide traction on slick limestone; carry a wading staff and inflatable PFD when fishing rising water.
Sedimentation, didymo algae blooms, and bank erosion threaten spawning habitat. **Friends of the Little Red River** partner with AGFC and Trout Unlimited Chapter 722 to stabilize banks with willow plantings and install spawning-gravel enhancement projects at Cow Shoals. Anglers can help by using proper felt-cleaning techniques, packing out trash, and avoiding wading through visible redds during October–December. Volunteering for annual river clean-ups or donating to reef-building funds directly supports the tailwater’s wild-trout future.
Greers Ferry Dam generation is the river’s primary hazard—sirens precede releases by only minutes, and rising water travels faster than you can outrun on slick shoals. Always keep an escape route to high ground, wear a belt on waders, and fish with a partner when possible. Summer thunderstorms can drop trees into the channel, creating drift-boat sweepers; inspect blind bends carefully. Winter lows below freezing make icy ramp conditions—carry sand or traction mats for boat launches.
**Lindsey’s Resort Fly Shop** (Heber Springs) stocks local patterns, rents boats, and posts daily river intel. **Ozark Angler** (Little Rock & Heber Springs) offers full fly-fishing inventory and guided trips. **Little Red Fly-Fishing Trips** runs a small shop and guide service focused exclusively on the river, providing real-time hatch intel and shuttle coordination. All three shops welcome beginners, sell Arkansas licenses, and offer casting lessons upon request.
The **Friends of the Little Red River (FLRR)** spearhead habitat projects, low-water clean-ups, and didymo-awareness campaigns. **Trout Unlimited Chapter 722** hosts monthly meetings in Heber Springs, youth fly-fishing clinics, and cooperative agreements with AGFC on spawning-gravel improvements. Regionally, the **Arkansas Trout Unlimited Council** advocates for science-based flow management across all Natural State tailwaters. Volunteering, attending fundraisers, or donating gear are practical ways to sustain the Little Red’s trophy-trout legacy.
The Little Red River is managed as a special trout water by the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission. Daily combined limit is five trout, only one of which may be a brown (minimum 24 inches) and one a cutthroat (minimum 16 inches); rainbows under 16 inches and brook trout under 14 inches must be released immediately. From Greers Ferry Dam to the Highway 305 bridge, anglers must use artificial lures and barbless hooks when water flows are below two units. Wading on active brown-trout redds is prohibited. Always review the current statewide booklet before fishing, and check for any emergency changes.