Help A Fellow Out

[Danoinark]

We got this email from Gilbert asking we post his questions about fishing in and around the Hot Springs area....Dano

I will be staying at Hot Springs Village,bringing my Fly gear.Any suggestions on ponds,lakes,rivers to fish at.I have been coming here for 10yrs.And have fished on many of the popular lakes and rivers.However are there smaller ponds or rivers to explore.I am not picky about the type of fish I pursue.I do consider myself a warmwater flyfisher.

Bragging rights 10years ago hooked into a 14.5LB,Hybridstriper on 6Lb.test line.Which is now mounted on my wall.Caught this fish below Blakley Dam.Since then I was hooked for life.I did have the fish weight on a certified scale,however the game warden told me that my fish was not the record at the time for that line class bummer....

ThankYou Gilbert Ayala Jr.

[jdmidwest]

I have fished the Quachita River below Blakely Dam for trout in the Spring and Lake Hamilton. Trout are stocked in the cooler months. Ark Fish and Game posts fishing reports and lists of fishing in each of the areas of Arkansas. You could drive a few hours and fish the Little Red.

[Leonard]

There is a small creek off hwy 5.. (just out side the city limit of Hot Springs Village)

it is loaded with panfish (bluegills and sunfish)..

Also has a great number of smallies.. not any monsters.. about 7-14iner Great for 3 or 4wt rods..

I used to fish here when me and the ex-wife lived there (about 14 years ago)...

There is also alot of small (back woods) creek in Malven... lots of goggle-eyes and more smallies..

If its still there ... use to be a tackle store in Malven .. the guy that run it like to fish alot of creeks, I cant think of the name of the store.. But I think he name was Richard or maybe Frank...

I never did find any small trout creeks there.. but the big lakes where always great fishing

Leonard

[Crippled Caddis]

The Hot Springs, Mena, De Queen, Arkadelphia quadrangle has enough good fishing opportunitie to provide a lifetime of varied experiences. Get a De Lorme mapbook of the state to take with you.

I couldn't visit the area without fishing the Little Missouri, both below L. Greeson for trout and above for warmwater. The @ 20 river miles between the lake and upstream to Albert Pike state park are some of the best 'grab-bag' fishing in the state for warmwater species. I recall catching 7 species in a short stop-over there some years ago. In the Spring there should still be a spawning run of Whites, Stripers and Hybrids upstream from the lake tho I haven't been there since I moved to N. Ark @ 20 years ago. The river at & above Albert Pike used to be stocked with trout in Winter also. Dunno if it's still done but it was interesting fishing in delightful waters. There's also a couple of small public lakes (Shady being one) in the forest near Albert Pike.

Then there's the Cossatot, upper Ouachita, Rolling Fork, Robinson Fork and uncounted 'bluelines' accessible from county roads and logging roads in the quadrangle. The real problem is making the decision of where to start! And even then you may never get to the original destination because of all the unexpected opporunities that materialize in between. It's a virtual paradise for a wading flyfisher with a De Lorme, a tank of gas and a spirit of adventure! HTH, Tom