When Is The Best Time To Go?

[ColeM.]

I am looking into getting into some large smallies with my fly rod. I have a kayak and looking for more info on where to launch, take out etc..

[Dumb to fishing]

When are you looking to go?

[hoglaw]

Lowest water in the hottest part of the summer.

[Al Agnew]

Crooked Creek has a noticeable lack of good public access points. The only ones are, from highest upstream:

Harmon Public Access--call this mile 0.0. County road north of Hwy. 62.

Spur Hwy. 62 off 62 in Pyatt--mile 9.0.

Pyatt Access--mile 9.5.

County road east of Snow--mile 21.0.

County road just west of Yellville--mile 31.5.

Yellville Access at Hwy. 14--mile 34.0.

Lower Crooked Creek public access a half mile below the Hwy. 101 bridge--mile 52.5.

Next public access below there is on White River about 7 miles below Hwy. 101.

Keep in mind that during dry weather like in mid-summer, the lower river below Yellville goes completely dry in a lot of places. Crooked Creek is a classic "losing stream"--its flow sinks underground below Yellville. I've crossed it at Hwy. 101 many times when it was bone dry.

For flyfishing, I agree with hoglaw, best time to go in when the water is dead low in the summer.

[Guest]

The gauge shows it at 13.5', which is flowing over Kelly's Slab by 1ft.

Is this too swift for wade fishing or should I bring a canoe?

[Crooked Creek Angler]

The gauge shows it at 13.5', which is flowing over Kelly's Slab by 1ft.

Is this too swift for wade fishing or should I bring a canoe?

I'd bring a canoe for anything over 13'.

[Guest]

I'd bring a canoe for anything over 13'.

You are exactly right.

It was 11.9 over the holiday and that was actually kinda swift for wading.