Arkansas River (Ft Smith, Ozark)

[Middleton369]

Anyone know any info about the catfish I got striper fishing below the dams at ozark and ft smith? I've done pretty well below Dardanelle in the past, but live much closer to ozark.

[bfishn]

Here's some dope on Ozark;

No recent reports, but it can be really good, next couple months the flatheads should put on the feedbag.

[Guest]

I would love to get on those river blues!

[Middleton369]

Thanks for the link, I haven't fished a tailwater in a few years so the read was helpful. Looking forward to going down to ozark and giving it a try

[bfishn]

Looks like they had a flush from the Colorado flooding, but it's mostly through the system now. Level stable with strong but slowing flow. Good time to go.

[Guest]

It's seems like the current flow has to be under 40,000. Otherwise it's too strong for my liking.

Fishing below dams is complicated and dangerous at times. Other times its easy money.

I sure do miss fishing muddy swift water for cats.

When do they stop biting? 45* maybe?

[Guest]

Can you give a breakdown of the rod & reel setup needed to hurl such heavy sinkers?

I typically use a heavy action baitcaster that I pitch jigs with. I've got a feeling it's too light for this application.

[bfishn]

For the 100 yard throw at the dam, it takes a 10-14' medium heavy surf rod that will load up well on the back cast with a 4-16oz bait/sinker load. I used to use Penn 210GTI reels, but have swapped to extra large spinning reels to get the extra yardage.

Another way to get your bait to the dam without casting it is with a balloon. When the eddy is working backward up the lock wall, tightly tie a balloon to a loop of line above the swivel. Anchor next to the lockwall where the current is heading to the dam and let the balloon drift until it's where you want it. A quick jerk pulls the loop from the balloon knot and your bait sinks to the bottom. It can take 10 minutes to place a bait this way, but it works well.

For drifting or anything besides the above, heavy bass or striper gear works fine, and you're either fishing straight down or a short cast away. Much of the time, even that is overkill, but if you want to see that occasional monster, best to be prepared. :-)