Fly Fishing the Little Red River
Fly Fishing the Little Red
Trophy brown trout. Cold tailwater. World-record water. All within a short walk of your front door.
Why the Little Red
Ten miles below Greers Ferry Dam sits one of the most storied trout tailwaters in the country. The Little Red produced the world-record brown trout on May 9, 1992: a 40-pound, 4-ounce fish landed by Rip Collins on a 1/32-ounce olive marabou jig and 4-pound test line at Barnett Access.
That fish held the IGFA all-tackle world record for nearly two decades. The river still produces 20-plus pound browns. It fishes year-round, holds wild-reproducing rainbows in some reaches, and sits within an easy drive of both Little Rock and Memphis.
The Little Red Riviera Is On The River
Barnett Access, where Rip Collins landed the record, is at the end of our street. Our house at 220 Swinging Bridge Drive sits on the river with a private dock, a garage across the road for skiff and gear storage, and 407 Mbps fiber wifi that pulls SWPA generation schedules faster than the coffee brews.
Sleeps 10, three bedrooms, two baths, gated patio, quiet dead-end street. Every named access on the trout section is within a 20-minute drive.
What to Know Before You Fish
Read the flow. Generation at Greers Ferry Dam controls the river. Call SWPA at 501-362-5150 the morning of your trip. Base flow is 100 to 300 cfs and wades safely. One turbine is 2,500 to 4,000 cfs and is drift-only. Two turbines is 7,000 cfs plus and requires local knowledge or a guide.
Six named accesses. JFK Park, Cow Shoals, Winkley Shoals, Swinging Bridge and Barnett Access, Lobo Landing, and Ramsey Access. Every one wades productively at base flow.
Fly box basics. Sowbugs, scuds, and midges in size 14 to 22 are the bread and butter. Streamers move browns in low light. Caddis in April, sulphurs in June.
Read the Full Guide
A 2,500-word cornerstone piece on when to fish, where to launch, what to tie on, and how to plan your trip.
Book Your Stay
The Little Red Riviera is our home on the river. If you’re planning a trip, we’ll help you time the water, pick the right guide, and stay out of your way when the sun’s up and the fish are eating.