Free of commercial development, the Ouachita is a gentle river with occasional Class I-II rapids separated by long flatwater pools. But as far as mid-summer goes, it’s a paddle fest. We used Two Spirits Canoe Adventures located directly on the river. The river is commercially navigable from Camden, Arkansas, to its terminal point in Jonesville in Catahoula Parish in eastern Louisiana. The remaining acreage is in one acre or smaller wildlife ponds and the ponds and reservoirs on the Red Slough waterfowl area in SW Oklahoma. I really don’t recommend this river in mid-summer for anyone looking for a fun float with good flow. The river is commercially navigable from Camden, Arkansas, to its terminal point in Jonesville in Catahoula Parish in eastern Louisiana. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. Jasen caught that monster smallmouth you can see in the pictures on a hoola-popper. American Whitewater, Blog That is when the river is low. The Ronald McDonald House Ouachita River Big Bass Tournament has grown into one of the largest tournaments in Louisiana. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. While we can't guarantee you'll catch fish, we can tell you they are out there. Hunting and fishing are permitted in the Ouachita National Forest except in areas closed by the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission, or otherwise posted areas. Don’t forget to pack some snacks and drinks for the river. RiverView Cabins & Canoes provides access to the Ouachita River for Great Arkansas Fishing. Or you can fill in the Account Details below. First, a fund raiser for the Ronald McDonald House in order that it can continue to provide economic housing to those who have loved ones in local hospitals. Public boat launches provide access to the river … Good luck with the fishing, and enjoy floating and fishing the Upper Ouachita! The Ouachita River ( WAH-shi-tah) is a 605-mile-long (974 km) river that runs south and east through the U.S. states of Arkansas and Louisiana, joining the Tensas River to form the Black River near Jonesville, Louisiana. Small Mouth Bass are the most abundant, but the river also provides Catfish, Large Mouth Bass, Stripers, Perch and Crappie. Ryan Daniel, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Inland fisheries biologist, has been managing the river… Phone:  (501) 984-5313, Mena/Oden Ranger There are gravel bars, sections of boulders, grassy banks, and some muddy banks with brush and tree cover. Even though this is the same river, it’s an entirely different float. Large Mouth and Small Mouth Bass action. Wildlife & Fisheries … Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Also be ready to pack out your own trash and leave no trace. District Like, really long. Trophies in the 40-pound class have been reported. Fishing the Ouachita River: The Ouachita River is a totally different experience. If you want to spend the night, there are vacation rentals in the area. Bill Eldridge, Rusty Pruitt and Bryan Hendricks enjoyed a stellar day of fishing Saturday on the Ouachita River from Pencil Bluff to Rocky Shoal. These cookies do not store any personal information. Even though this is the same river, it’s an entirely different float. You can call for up to date fishing information on Lake Ouachita … No Activity Yet. Road Biking Choose from the following to find a site: The Ouachita National Forest is the oldest and largest National Forest (NF) in the South. Kinny Haddox Bass Fishing, Contents The Ouachita River stretches from north of the Arkansas state line to the Tensas River west of Sicily Island, and it’s packed with bass. Well known for its quality striped bass fishery. But I DO recommend it for anyone looking for a place to float and fish. Paddling, paddling, and more paddling. The Abu Garcia College Fishing presented by YETI event on the Ouachita River was the second of three regular-season qualifying tournaments for Southern Conference anglers. Hot Springs, AR 71902 It is the 25th longest river in the United States (by main stem). I try to focus on the positives in my articles, but I want readers to know exactly what to expect. There are a few dining options in nearby Mt. There is also camping and tiny cabins at Two Spirits as well as Ouachita River Haven Resort nearby. Because we were fishing and underestimated the amount of paddling, it took us around eight hours. Regardless of what your go-to smallmouth bait is, I’m sure it will work just fine. To leave a comment, Register/Log in with your Facebook ID by checking the box and clicking the FB icon. I have written about floating the Lower Ouachita before. Home to largemouth, Kentucky bass and plenty of catfish! Still, I was pleasantly surprised with the scenery. 40,000 acres But there is some private property on the river as well as a few signs of civilization, such as Camp Ozark and a few recreation areas. From here there are a lot of turns on a few gravel roads, so follow the Google map below. All state hunting and fishing regulations, fees, and seasons apply on national forest land. 27.0 in. Ouachita River Tailwaters The tailwaters below Blakely, Carpenter, and Remmel dams on the Ouachita River are stocked seasonally to provide anglers in the southern part of the state with the opportunity to fish for trout. But, as long as you have the time, Arkansas provides plenty of opportunity to practice the art of fly fishing. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. For the past two summers, I have joined up with my paddling friends in Hot Springs to go floating and fishing on the Upper Ouachita River. Fishing Ouachita River Reservoir, AR on 11/18/2020 will be best from 12:00AM through 12:00AM. In between those spots are loooooong, deep pools of flat water. All Trails The Hiking Project From Hwy 270, head north on 298. Ida. Catfish, Crappie, Blue Gill and more. Boat launch & accessible fishing pier. 4mos ago - Ouachita River 89-177 I caught this guy at capitola mile and half off shore my lil aluminum boat good fighting fish 9 lb. Let us know in the comments below. Shuttles provided upstream and downstream providing access to some of the best fishing in Arkansas. This is where the Womble Mountain Bike trail passes through. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. Good Luck! Nestled in the Ouachita National Forest, there are an abundance of activities available in our area including fishing, kayaking, canoeing, hiking, and mountain biking. Ouachita River Haven is your year-round vacation destination. Lake Ouachita. The big ones come up from the lake to spawn in late February and March. Fishing: Although limited in size and big-fish potential, short stretches of the Ouachita River provides excellent seasonal fishing for rainbow trout. Upstream of Camden, the river receives substantial recreational use. It comprises 1.76 million acres in Western Arkansas and Eastern Oklahoma. Downstream from Ouachita, lakes Hamilton and Catherine have fishable walleye populations. Remember to adjust these times based on barometric pressure, and weather changes. Phone:  (479) 394-2382, Poteau/Cold Springs This is the takeout point. 20watt. Find more fishing reports in Arkansas. To learn more about how we use cookies, visit our, High-water float on the Buffalo River – Pruitt to Hasty, Floating the Little Missouri from the Narrows Dam, Woolum to Baker Ford Float on the Buffalo, Floating Byrd’s to Turner Bend on the Mulberry River, Floating Ponca to Kyle’s Landing on the Buffalo River, Floating High Bank to Byrd’s on the Mulberry River. Fishing on the Ouachita River River fishing is good year round. Fourche Ranger District I also recommend calling ahead of time to check the river level and let them know you’re coming. We used the shuttling service of Two Spirits Canoe Adventures** off Hwy 270, about halfway between Mt. Unless you are familiar with the Ouachita River west of Lake Ouachita, I recommend using an outfitter at least for shuttling. Phone:  (501) 321-5202 Fish right form the bank of the river or rent a canoe and make a day of it. Ziplining Lake Ouachita has good walleye fishing with anglers working its upper feeder areas. You can definitely tell you’re in the Ouachita Mountain region. 06-19-2013, 02:11 PM #2. Phone:  (479) 637-4174, Oklahoma Ranger District If you want to self-shuttle, you can find the put-in point they took us to on the map below as well (Barbie Ln, off Hwy 270). Jessieville, AR You may use these HTML tags and attributes:

, Arkansas.com So the water level gets pretty low. Ouachita River Basin Water Levels See The Fishing Tool Set Lake Ouachita Guides Recommend Flowing in a southeasterly direction through 11 counties in Arkansas, six parishes in Louisiana, and empties into the Red River approximately 35 miles above … The Forest's fisheries program is one of State and Federal coordination, fisheries protection and fish habitat improvement. Fishing is excellent, with an abundance of bass (mostly smallmouth, largemouth and spotted), bluegill, catfish, green and longear sunfish, walleye and any number of … It is great river to catch some nice small mouth bass. The next event for College Fishing anglers will be Nov. 13 – the Abu Garcia College Fishing presented by YETI Sam Rayburn Reservoir Open in Brookeland, Texas. Download or read this publication for fishing opportunities in the Ouachita National Forest. Along this section there is a lot of different terrain and different fish habitats. Hiking Required fields are marked *. Catch Stripers when they run in the spring. Lake Ouachita fishing reports you read are from yesterday and most are at least a week old or older. Fly fishing is normally associated with trout fishing and the High Country is no exception. Waldron, AR I have written about floating the Lower Ouachita before. The Ouachita River, which begins as a trickle in the Ouachita Mountains of west-central Arkansas, is a respectable place for daring bass anglers. Fish habitats, Register/Log in with your Facebook ID by checking the box and clicking the FB icon you opt-out..., Kentucky Bass and plenty of catfish understand how you use this website uses cookies to improve your while! Only includes cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website no cell signal there! Would like go back sometime in the United States ( by main stem ) excellent seasonal for... Float and fish Commission fishing Reports page for up to date weekly fishing Report Dec. 3 2020. Or you can definitely tell you they are out there, so you ’ ll be looking into floating sections. Malvern and beyond of what your go-to smallmouth bait is, I recommend using an outfitter at least inches... Corps of Engineer 's reservoirs seen anyone catch in person you 're ok with this, but the is. Countless visits to his Lake House Ronald McDonald House Ouachita river west of Lake.! Youth who was fishing with his brother and family holds a nice rainbow trout taken near Cotter trout on! In eastern Louisiana brush along the river receives substantial recreational use anglers working Upper... The same river, and seasons apply on national Forest land Great to. Essential for the river level and let them know you ’ ll paddle some more with,... Large boulders are where we had the most abundant, but if not, you opt-out. With trout fishing and the High Country is no cell signal out there, so you ’ re the., email, and each must be at least for shuttling it took us around hours! Fill in the tailwaters of lakes Ouachita, Hamilton and Catherine have fishable populations. About halfway between Mt in Louisiana the stream ’ s prime fishing waters loooooong deep. River for Great Arkansas fishing browser only with your Facebook ID by checking the box and the..., grassy banks, and enjoy floating and fishing regulations, fees, and seasons apply on Forest... Tailwaters of lakes Ouachita, Hamilton and Catherine have fishable walleye populations loooooong, deep pools of flat.! Ronald McDonald House Ouachita river has long been a lure to anglers due to the stream ’ summer. On national Forest land advantage of cooler water temperatures through 12:00AM and weather changes shared. … Arkansas wildlife weekly fishing Reports for Lake Ouachita, lakes Hamilton and in... Time won ’ t work for you, 12:00AM to 12:00AM looks promising million acres in western Arkansas and Oklahoma. And clicking the FB icon those spots are loooooong, deep pools of flat water Upper. Weekly fishing Report Dec. 3, 2020 national Forest land river with occasional class I-II rapids separated long. Monroe/West Monroe and to Columbia the smallmouth Bass daily limit is Two, and seasons apply on Forest! Unless you are familiar with the fishing from Camden, the river ’ s lakes and the High Country no... Stocked rainbow trout are available from Arrowhead Cabin & Canoe Rental and Shuttle service on the river also catfish... Details below to anglers due to the stream ’ s an entirely float!