Little Red RiverFishing report · river in Arkansas
The Little Red River below Greers Ferry Dam is a premiere Arkansas trout fishery with high catch rates and a strong guide presence; famous for heavy trout concentrations just downstream of the dam and for dry-fly and nymphing techniques.
Midge and BWO nymphs will be highly active subsurface
- 01Midge and BWO nymphs will be highly active subsurface.
- 02Look for opportunistic rises to BWO adults on overcast afternoons.
- 03Streamers are excellent for enticing larger, predatory brown trout and smallmouth.
- 04Egg patterns are crucial for trout keying into spawning activity.
- 05Flow data is currently unavailable, so adjust tactics based on real-time river levels.
Past reports week by week
11 weeksWhat to tie on
Picked from reports, hatches and the season. Tap a fly for the recipe and where else it works.
Prince Nymph
A versatile weighted attractor nymph (size 14-16) that is effective for a variety of subsurface insects, excellent for prospecting deeper runs in the Little Red River.
Buy at AmazonWoolly Bugger
An essential streamer for aggressive brown trout and smallmouth bass, especially effective in fall as water temperatures drop. Strip a size 6-8 slowly through deeper pools.
Buy at AmazonZebra Midge
Midges are a primary and consistent food source in tailwaters year-round, making them essential for trout in the Little Red River as water temperatures cool. Fish a size 20-22.
Buy at AmazonBlood Dot Egg
Fall is prime egg season on the Little Red River. Drift an egg pattern (size 12-14) behind any spawning trout for opportunistic feeders.
Buy at AmazonFlashback Baetis Nymph
Blue-Winged Olives are a key fall hatch on the Little Red River. This nymph pattern (size 18-20) effectively imitates the active subsurface nymphs.
Flashback Scud Wet Hare's Ear
Scuds are a consistent food source in the Little Red River. This versatile nymph (size 14-16) imitates various aquatic insects and scuds active in the currents.
Olive Sculpin
Sculpins are a significant food source for larger predatory trout and bass. This streamer (size 6-8) is highly effective when swung or stripped along the bottom, particularly as flows fluctuate.
Blue-Winged Olive Comparadun
For selective trout rising to adult Blue-Winged Olives during fall hatches on overcast days. A size 20-22 is ideal for the low-profile presentation.
Buy at AmazonWhere to fish and who to ask
Greers Ferry Dam Tailwater
Primary concentration area directly below the dam where trout are most predictable and heavily fished.
Higden / Heber Springs Accesses
Multiple public ramps and bank-fishing areas near Heber Springs and Higden used for half- and full-day trips.
Tyla Hole / Lower Tailwater Runs
Several deeper holes and tailrace runs downstream favored by anglers targeting big trout on streamers and nymph rigs.
Fly shops within 40 miles
The Ozark Angler Outfitter and Guide Service
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Every Thursday: conditions, hatches and what's working across Arkansas, with Little Red River at the top.
Arkansas season by season
What changes on the water through the year, with the flies for each season.
Quick answers
Common questions about Little Red River.
What flies work best on Little Red River?
Our top scored fly patterns for Little Red River right now are Scud (80% confidence), Prince Nymph (80% confidence), Woolly Bugger (80% confidence). These picks are scored from recent fishing reports, hatch data, and seasonal patterns.
What fish species are in Little Red River?
Little Red River holds Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout. See the species links on this page for fly recommendations and seasonal behavior for each.
Is Little Red River fishing well right now?
We publish a fresh bite report for Little Red River each week based on recent on-the-water intel. The current report — with conditions, hatches, and what's producing — is on this page.