Eleven Point In Arkansas

[Jump n Fish]

Plan on spending a few days in Arkansas and doing some fishing. I've always wondered if the Eleven Point is worth a visit on this side of the border. Water still looks pretty good, but doesn't appear to have any rapids.

My main curiousity is because my trip is in July, how far downstream on the Eleven Point does the water still have a slight chill so the July heat won't get to the fish. Given air temps pushing a 100 everyday I'm not sure If I'm going to be better just fishing the Spring River in the area where I know the heat won't be getting to the smallies.

I'm not looking for "trout cold" water, I know I'd be way too far downstream for that, but wondering if I can expect water temps to at least stay below the 80 degree mark that far downstream on the Eleven Point or not. I find smallie fishing can be brutal on those hot summer days when water temps get above 80.

Any advice would help me since I live 7 hrs away and I just don't want to waste one of my precious days off trying to c&r a few smallies in bathwater.

[jdmidwest]

You would probably need a boat on that stretch. If I was in the area, I would explore Fourche Creek or the Spring River area.

[Jump n Fish]

Ill have my canoe with me so a boat isn't an issue. I was looking at the fourche as well but was curious about water temps here as well. The fourche is the lower stretch of the current right? Or is it a separate flow altogether. Ill have probably three days of solid fishing so I might spend a day at each place. I guess they wont be too far out of the way to just stick my toes in the water to find out if they're too warm or not. But I don't get many trips like this so I'd like to have a gameplan ahead of time.

[LittleRedFisherman]

I would highly recommend you try the eleven point, there is some really good smallie fishing on the arkansas side, and yes, it will still have a chill to it for sure. There are several put in spots, there's one at Dalton, AR that is probably on of the northern most put in's in Arkansas. There higher numbers of smallies in the north stretch, but if you go from Pochahontas AR and south, there are suppose to be larger fish. I have a friend that floats the Dalton stretch, and claims that he and his group of friends last year caught them by the "hundreds".. I have never floated a stretch of it, but have put a jet in at Dalton and fished around there, and it's good fishing!! Good luck on your choice and let us know what you do!!

[Jump n Fish]

Thanks a bunch for the info guys. Thats exactly what I needed. I hit the Buffalo once this time of year and water temps during the day were pushing 90, yuck. Fishing was super slow, so I think finding cooler flows is definitely the ticket to enjoying the dog days of summer fishing.

[Jump n Fish]

Well, just got back from my trip. Spent one day fishing the Eleven Point. Was going to be a second day, but I hurt my back and had to go home early. Water looked really good at hwy 90, but fishing was terrible. One tiny Kentucky was it.

Packed up and put in at Dalton, and managed a few little smallies, but nothing brag-worthy. Must be better up in Missouri.

[2sheds]

Fishing was great July 16-22 from Greer to The Narrows (142). Trout down to Riverton, smallmouth from Whitten to The Narrows. Smallmouth best between Riverton (160) and The Narrows (142).