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!