Arkansas Trout / River Fishing

Many years ago my wife and I went to Mountainview, AR to fish for Rainbow Trout on the White River. We really enjoyed the trip. However, it was more for the different scenery, the getaway, and not those tiny Trout. As a matter of fact, when the locals up there learned we were from the Lake Fork area they were like, “What, you are here fishing for this piddly Trout when you live at Fork.”

Anyway, do any of you know of a similar Arkansas river fishing experience similar to that, but with a much shorter drive. Mountainview from Sulphur is over 300 miles. We would really like to do something similar to that, but much closer.

Also, a rental boat won’t be needed. We’re good there.

You should try Broken Bow in SE Oklahoma. the river below the dam is all rainbow and trout fishing waters.

And it's only about 3 hours from northern DFW.

The river is way up around there. We called about the kayak rentals and were told that they flooded so badly that it may be late summer, if at all, before the river is low enough for that. Also, I think that river is a little different than the White in N. Arkansas and is more like occasional shallow water over rocks, rapids, etc. I could tear up a prop pretty easily.

broken bow is not a boat fishing type river, it's more of a wading type fishery. The river is open though and some good fish are being caught if you want to go there. Check out what people are saying in the fly fishing section.

I just got back from the White River, 813 miles one way. That is beautiful country and we caught a ton of trout. My first trout fishing trip. If you can stay three nights, 300 miles is not that far.
Good luck.

Mike

813 miles?-Makes my back hurt.

Just curious, where did you stay? We used to go to Jack's Fishing Resort.

The Little Red River at Heber Springs is a bit closer, but not much. A boat is nice to have on it, same as the White.

I 2nd the little red river. Stay at little red river trout dock. My parents live in Heber Springs.

Another wading trout stream is the Ouachita river at Murfresboro,Ark. You can walk the bank also. If fishing is bad you can visit the diamond mine and look for diamo
nds.

Don't know what I was thinking, actually the stream is on the Little Missouri , just outside of Murfresboro, Ark., The lake that feeds it is Lake Greeson. It is about 50-60 miles from Texarkana. I have caught some nice trout there.

Grew up going to Jack's, My papaw and Jack were good friends. 300 miles not to far for that beautiful place. Just moving to Tx so not really familiar with much closer options. White river held the world record for many years. My personal best was 6lbs. We have a family cabin at Hardy on Spring, but it will be full of floaters this time of year.

Table Rock is dumping water and so is Taneycomo. Taneycomo looks like a river.

I would suspect Bull Shoals is dumping as much water as often as they can.

Thanks for all the feedback. I was hoping for a place to go and use a jon boat I am teetering on selling, and using it before selling it. I haven't fly fished in many years. Though some of those trips look fun, I'm just not equipped for that now. This is a trip for my both my wife and me.

I just cannot imagine her with a fly rod, at least yet. That day may come.

We made the drive to Mountain Home years ago. Getting to that part of Arkansas from Texas is not a particularly easy drive. For you, the drive to Heber Springs would be about 30 miles shorter than the one to Mountain View, but it takes about 45 minutes less time and is a good bit easier drive.

The Little Red River at Heber Springs has areas that can be wade fished using a fly rod or other gear, but most of it in the Heber Springs area is best suited for flat bottom-style boats. We have been going there for 25+ years and have always used spinning gear with either wax worms, Berkley power bait, micro-jigs, in-line spinners (Mepps), or other small artificial baits.

At one time the world record brown trout of 40 lbs 4 oz came from the Little Red. A local fisherman caught it on a 1/32 oz jig using 4 lb test line.

I would recommend you give the Little Red a try if for no other reason than to see and fish something new.

We have stayed at Lindsey's Rainbow Resort for as long as we have been going to Heber.

Stayed at Rainbow Drive Resort which by Cotter/Flippin.

If you can't use a fly rod get a clear bobber and some tippet and flies.

Use a spinning rod with 6-8 pound test and you are golden.

A jon boat is perfect for the Little Red.

Ouachita River below Lakes Ouachita, Hamilton and Catherine. Just west of Hot Springs. Trout, stripers, walleyes in that river chain below each dam. Much shorter hop than the trip to the upper/middle White. The White and Norfork rivers are so beautiful, though.