Information On Little Red

[johnnymiller]

May be heading down for my first trip to the Little Red. Couple of questions. What is a good place to start wade fishing on your first trip? Should I bring a boat my first time or just try to wade fish???

Thanks

johnny

[Robert R.]

Johnny -

I only fish there a few times a year so there are others that are defenitley more qualified to reply.

I usually fish below swinging bridge and have always had decent luck there. Also JFK park below the dam is another good place to wade fish that is pretty straight forward.

Maddog and UVbug are a couple guys who always seem to do the best on the Little Red. When I know I am going, I always go back and review their posts to see how they have been doing - good information to have.

I would defenitely go by and see the guys at the Little Red Fly Shop. They always have good information and a hot cup of coffee.

Hope this helps - good luck onyour trip.

Rob

[Danoinark]

Check here on the Lil Red Forum

FF Arkansas

[hoglaw]

A canoe is key to the little red. There are a couple of floats you can do that have nearly impassible shoals for the boaters, and you can get to some stretches that are far less pressured than the rest of the river. My favorite part is taking out at cow shoals in November-December and bottoming out my aluminum canoe right in front of the elbow to elbow fly-fishermen at the top of the shoals. Last time I heard one grumble "they should close this stretch off to canoes during November" after I passed.

[RiverRunner]

I like to put my canoe in at Cow Shoals and float down to swinging bridge. There are some good shoals (Jons Pocket and Ritchey Shoals) in this stretch that don't get as much pressure. Also, the Lobo to Dripping Springs or Dripping to Ramseys floats are also pretty good. I wouldn't go near Cow Shoals in spawning season, too many crazy people. I'm actually glad that the spawn is over, the crowds are much thinner this time of year.

[hoglaw]

Hey River Runner, have you ever floated below Ramsey? It looks like the next takeout is 30 miles or so to a lake and dam in Searcy (I think it's Searcy anyway). I'm sure it's got plenty of bass in it, and I'm thinking about giving it a shot this summer. I'm guessing a canoe and motor will be the only way to go. Have you ever done it, or explored around that way? Are there any landowners in between Ramsey and Searcy that might let me take out?

[RiverRunner]

I've never been below Ramsey, but there are some jet boat guys around here that venture down there. The problem with going below Ramsey is lack of any take out (or at least any that I know about). I believe that there is a private ramp at Paradise Estates, about 8-10 miles below Ramsey, but that is a gated community and you need to know someone to get access there. Besides that, the next take out point would be Riverside Park in Searcy, which I figure is a good 30 miles below Ramsey, also there is a low water dam above Riverside that you would have to portage around. As far as fishing in that stretch, most people around here consider it kind of dead zone, too warm for trout at times and too cold for bass most of the time. The AGFC has been stocking smallmouth and walleye in the stretch between Searcy and Ramseys from what I here, so maybe something will come of it in a few years.

I'm off to JFK in the morning, hopefully a report to follow.