Hey folks,

Here’s your latest fishing update from the Little Red River!

Water Conditions:

SWPA (South West Power Administration) has been pretty consistent this week—running one unit 24/7 around the clock. On April 23, the Army Corps of Engineers opened up one floodgate around noon, adding about 800 cfs of water over the top of the dam. So now, we’ve got one unit running plus the floodgate open. We’ll have to see how things shake out—there’s a chance they may open up more floodgates or bump up to two units to help lower Greers Ferry Lake.

Also, keep an eye on the weather. There’s another round of rain in the forecast this weekend, and it could bring a few inches, which might change the generation schedule again.

Fishing Report:

Despite the higher water, the fishing’s been solid!

I’ve been having success with a deep-water nymph rig, fishing right in the center of the river. Running about 8 to 12 feet deep with split shot to get the flies down where the fish are holding. I’m using high-vis attractor patterns like eggs or San Juan Worms, and then dropping a caddis, another egg, or a larger midge pattern below that.

I’ve also been fishing another nymph rig closer to the bank, set at about 6 feet deep. That one’s been working well with caddis patterns and—you guessed it—more San Juan Worms.

If streamers are your thing, now’s a great time to get after it. The streamer bite has been excellent with the current flow. Grab your sink line, tie on a big bug, and start pounding the banks.

That’s it for now. Stay safe out there, and as always, if you’re looking to get on the water, give me a shout!

Hey folks! Just checking in with your latest Little Red River fishing update—and things are looking pretty solid out there.

The Southwest Power Administration (SWPA) has been right on target with their projected releases from Greers Ferry Dam this week. The Army Corps of Engineers has been running one unit around the clock for quite a while now, so we’ve actually had a pretty steady and predictable generation schedule. That said, with all the lakes in Arkansas sitting above power pool, it’s only a matter of time before more water has to be moved. That could mean an increase to two units or even opening up the floodgates. We’ll have to wait and see how it all plays out.

A quick safety heads-up: With these high flows, make sure you’re staying cautious on the water. I was at the dam recently and watched Heber Springs Fire and Rescue pull a group of kayakers off the river who weren’t prepared for the stronger current. If you’re not experienced in higher water conditions, it’s best to stay off the river until it settles or fish with someone who knows the ropes.

Looking ahead, this weekend is bringing in more rain—forecast is calling for around 2 inches. Depending on how much hits us, it could change up the generation schedule in the coming weeks.

Now, let’s talk fishing—because it’s been good. The consistent one-unit generation has really helped the bite. Fishing out of the boat has been productive, and I’ve been running a double nymph rig anywhere from 5 to 9 feet deep. The go-to flies lately have been caddis patterns, San Juan Worms, and midges. The caddis hatch is still rocking strong, and the trout are definitely keyed in on it—especially as the weather warms up and they start popping off more frequently.

Streamer fishing? Oh yeah, it’s been excellent. The one-unit flow has just enough push to move the fish up onto the banks, which is prime time for breaking out that streamer rod. On a recent trip, the yellow dungeon was the hot ticket. I was throwing it on an 8-weight rod, 330 grain sink tip line, and a short 4-foot leader. Cast toward the banks, strip it back, and hold on tight—this is when those big browns like to show up and play.

That’s the scoop for now. Be safe, enjoy the spring bite, and if you’re looking to get on the water, give me a shout. Tight lines!

Looks like we’ve got another round of rain coming into Arkansas this weekend. With all the rain we’ve had the past few weeks, Greers Ferry Lake is now sitting about 4 feet over the winter power pool. To manage the rising water levels, the Army Corps of Engineers has been running two generators 24/7 and opening the floodgates to bring the lake back down to the winter power pool of 462.0.

We had another storm roll through Tuesday night into Wednesday, causing some localized flooding. Because of this, the Corps temporarily cut back the release to just one generator and shut the floodgates. My guess is that once the water from this latest rain recedes, they’ll go back to full release with two generators plus floodgates open.

Fishing Conditions & Techniques

When they dropped the release to one generator, the fishing was excellent. The floodgates create highly oxygenated water, which gets the bite going strong.

With the current high-water generation, I’ve been running a deep-water nymph rig:

🎣 9ft #5 weight fly rod with a long leader (12+ ft)
🎣 Fishing 6ft to 12ft deep, adding split shot as needed
🎣 Flies: Egg patterns and San Juan Worms under an indicator

For those chasing big brown trout, now’s a prime time with the high water:

🎣 9ft #8 weight fly rod with a 330-grain sink line
🎣 Short leader (3ft to 6ft)
🎣 Throwing big articulated streamers towards the banks

This method has been producing well, and it’s a great time to target those aggressive browns.

Safety Reminder

Fishing in high water can be productive but also dangerous, especially if you’re new to boating in heavy current. If you’re unsure, consider hiring a professional guide to help you navigate these conditions and get you on fish.

Stay safe, stay fishy, and I’ll see you next week for another Little Red River fishing report!

Fishing on the Little Red River has been steady, with some great opportunities to hook up with some nice trout. The generation schedule has been fairly consistent for the past month, with SWPA running two generators Monday through Friday, typically starting around 2 PM and going until 7 to 9 PM. However, with cooler weather rolling in, the power demand might drop, so keep an eye out for potential changes to this schedule in the coming weeks. Weekend water releases have been lighter than during the week, giving anglers a bit more time with low water.

The bite has been best in the early mornings when you’re fishing the falling water from the previous night’s generation. Focus on those oxygenated shoals and deeper plunge pools just below them, where trout are taking refuge. The moss beds in these deeper sections are holding plenty of fish, as they offer cooler water and shelter from the sun.

Lately, I’ve been fishing a pheasant tail soft hackle or a Guide’s Choice Hare’s Ear fly, rigged at about 4 to 5 feet deep in the shallows and up to 6 feet in the deeper runs. Adding a midge dropper below can be a game changer.

For those looking to chase Brown trout, the streamer bite has been solid during the high water as it falls out from the night’s generation. In the mornings, throwing streamers like Double Deceivers and Peanut Envey flies has been productive, then switching over to a nymph rig as the water drops later in the day.

Get out there and enjoy these cooler fall days—it’s a great time to fish the Little Red!

The generation schedule has been pretty steady throughout September, with the Southwest Power Administration (SWPA) typically running two units of water through the turbines starting around 2 or 3 in the afternoon. They’ve been keeping it going for about 4 to 8 hours each day. As we head into cooler days, expect SWPA to dial back those releases a bit.

If you’re looking to get out on the water, the best action has been early in the morning, right as the water is falling out from the previous day’s release. For flies, the Pheasant Tail Soft Hackles, Guides Choice Hares Ear, and various Midges have been hot picks lately. Now’s a good time to get out there!

Try fishing the deep plunge pools around moss beds. Or any sections of moving water. The fish will be in the oxygenated shoals and the deeper plunge pools below the riffles. 

The generation schedule on the Little Red River has been pretty predictable lately. They’re usually kicking things off around 2:00 PM and running two units of water through the turbines until about 8:00 PM. This pattern has held steady for the last couple of weeks. On weekends, they’ve been scaling it back a bit, with around two hours of generation starting at the same 2:00 PM mark.

Despite the daytime temperatures climbing into the upper 90s, the bite has remained solid. The fish seem to be thriving under this current generation schedule, and we’re seeing good flows even with the heat.

If you’re heading out, the best action has been early in the morning before the heat sets in. As the water starts to recede, target the deeper sections of the channel, especially around moss beds. These areas offer shade and are loaded with food, making them prime spots. Don’t forget to check out the oxygenated shoals with plunge pools below – they’re a great place to find fish.

As for flies, the current hot picks include Guides Choice Hares Ear, Pheasant Tail Soft Hackles, and Rootbeer Midges. Happy fishing!

The generation schedule on the Little Red has been fairly predictable over the last few weeks, with water releases typically starting in the afternoon around 1 PM and continuing until about 6 to 8 PM, Monday through Friday. This past weekend saw no water releases, which has kept the bite steady.

For the best fishing, hit the river in the morning when the water from the previous day’s release is still falling. Fish are holding strong in the deeper waters along the moss beds, especially as the water drops and daytime temperatures rise. These moss beds provide a great cover from the sun, making them a prime spot for trout.

As for what’s working, the hot flies right now are pheasant tail soft hackle nymphs, Guide’s Choice Hares Ear, and Rootbeer Midges. The fish are also active in the shoals or any areas with moving water, so those spots are worth a cast or two.

If you’re planning a trip, feel free to reach out to me, Mike Winkler, at 501-507-3688, or visit [littleredflyfishingtrips.com](http://littleredflyfishingtrips.com/) for more details. Tight lines!

Greetings, fellow anglers! Mike Winkler here with your latest fishing report for the Little Red River.

The SWPA has been keeping a consistent generation schedule, with water releases usually kicking off around 1 PM and running until about 8 PM. They’ve been running two units through the turbines like clockwork, and despite the daily temperatures soaring into the 90s, the fish are happy, and the bite has been solid.

The morning bite has been particularly productive. As the water recedes from the previous night’s generation, it creates ideal conditions for drift fishing from the boat. I’ve been rigging up with Pheasant Tail Soft Hackles and Guides Choice Hare’s Ears—both have been performing exceptionally well. 

As the water levels drop, I’ve been switching over to a Rootbeer Midge dropper setup beneath the same flies. This setup has been especially effective in the deeper sections of water, particularly along the moss beds. Don’t forget to give the oxygenated shoals a try too; they’ve been holding some nice fish lately.

Tight lines, and see you on the river!

Hey there anglers! Mike Winkler here with your latest update from the Little Red River. 

The generation schedule has been pretty consistent lately, with the SWPA projecting water releases starting around 1 pm. They’ve been running 2 units for about 7 to 10 hours each day. 

Fishing has been good, especially if you get out there early in the morning before the temperatures start to rise. During these early hours, the water has a nice flow and is dropping from the previous day’s release. 

Fish have been holding in the deeper sections with moss beds and around shoals with nearby deep water. 

For flies, you can’t go wrong with pheasant tail nymphs, hare’s ears, and midges. These have been the hot flies lately.

Tight lines, and happy fishing!

Hey fellow anglers!

Mike Winkler here, checking in with the latest from the Little Red River. If you’re planning a trip, here’s what you need to know about the current generation schedule and fishing conditions.

#### Generation Schedule:
– **Turbines Running:** 2
– **Duration:** 6 to 7 hours/day
– **Timing:** Starts around 1 PM and runs until 7 PM

The consistent generation this week has kept the river flowing nicely in the mornings, making it the perfect time to cast your lines. The best bite has been early morning before it heats up and the water levels drop.

#### Fishing Tips:

  – **Prime Spots:** Deeper sections around moss beds and areas with a bit of current and a deep plunge pool are producing well.
  – **Hot Flies:**
  – Pheasant Tail Soft Hackles
  – Guides Choice Hares Ear
  – Midges
  – San Juan Worms

Make sure to get out there early to maximize your chances of landing some great catches before the turbines kick in for the day. Happy fishing, and see you on the river!

Tight lines!