Fishing Greers Ferry Lake & the Little Red River

The Three World Records

The world-class fishing on and below Greers Ferry Lake is not marketing language -- it is IGFA-documented fact. The lake and the Little Red River tailwater below the dam together hold three verified IGFA world records:

• Walleye (overall): 22 lb 11 oz -- caught in Greers Ferry Lake in 1982. This remains the standing IGFA all-tackle world record for walleye.
• Hybrid Striped Bass: 27 lb 5 oz -- caught on May 24, 1997 by angler Jerald Shaum in Greers Ferry Lake. The hybrid striped bass (Morone saxatilis x M. chrysops) world record.
• German Brown Trout: 40 lb 4 oz -- caught from the Little Red River tailwater below Greers Ferry Dam. A replica of this fish is on display at the William Carl Garner Visitor Center near the dam. The trout world record from an Arkansas river is widely referenced in the fly fishing world.

A replica of the world-record brown trout is displayed at the William Carl Garner Visitor Center, which sits near the dam on the Heber Springs side. The Greers Ferry Walleye Club (greersferrywalleyeclub.org) maintains active tournament schedules and hosts the Walleye Run events each year when walleye move up the lake's tributaries.

Species on Greers Ferry Lake

The AGFC has stocked nearly every native game fish species in Greers Ferry Lake over its history. The active fishery includes:

• Walleye: The lake's signature species. River arms and rocky points are the primary structure. The Walleye Run in spring draws anglers from across the region. Guide Randy Plyler (Plyler Outdoors, 870-210-0522) reports walleye typically holding in 15--25 feet near brushpiles in late spring.
• Hybrid Striped Bass: Known as "hybrids" or "whiterocks" locally. World-record territory. Shad is the primary bait for trophy hybrids; stripers move across large water following shad schools. Early mornings and late evenings are peak activity.
• Largemouth Bass: Stocked with Florida and Texas strain fish for trophy development. Rocky banks, boulder fields, standing timber, and points in 3--15 feet produce bass year-round. Shaky head with finesse worm and Neko rig are reported effective techniques on the lake's clear water.
• Smallmouth Bass: Present in the rockier areas of the lake, particularly near the Narrows and other rocky cove areas. Minimum length is 12 inches; daily limit is 6.
• Crappie: Good crappie fishing in standing timber and cove structure. No size limit; daily limit 15.
• Catfish: Blue and channel catfish present throughout the lake. Muddy water inflows from the south end tributaries concentrate catfish activity per local guide reports.
• White Bass: Large schools of white bass, particularly near the War Eagle Marina area in spring. No limit on white bass in Greers Ferry Lake and its tributaries.
• Sunfish/Bream: Abundant in dock areas and shallow coves.

Walleye Regulations: Current Rule (14-Inch Minimum)

The walleye regulation on Greers Ferry Lake changed in 2021. The AGFC replaced the old 20--28 inch protected slot limit with a simpler minimum length limit. The current rule:

• Walleye under 14 inches must be immediately released
• Walleye 14 inches and longer may be kept
• Daily limit is six walleye total
• This applies to the lake and all tributaries -- South Fork, Archey Fork, Middle Fork, and Devil's Fork of the Little Red River

Note for anglers who fished this lake before 2021: the old 20--28 inch protected slot (keep under 20, release 20--28, only one over 28) is gone. The Greers Ferry Walleye Club flagged a contradiction in the printed 2021 and 2023 AGFC guidebooks where the flowing-waters section still showed the old slot limit while the Arkansas Lakes section showed the new 14-inch minimum. The current rule is the 14-inch minimum. When in doubt, call the AGFC district office in Mayflower at 877-470-3309 or check agfc.com for the current printed guidebook before your trip.

A trout permit (beyond a standard Arkansas fishing license) is required to keep trout from the Little Red River tailwater. The lake itself does not have significant trout numbers; the permit requirement is primarily relevant to tailwater anglers below the dam.

The Little Red River Tailwater

The Little Red River below Greers Ferry Dam is one of the most productive trout fisheries in the central United States. The Corps releases cold, oxygenated water through the Greers Ferry powerhouse year-round, maintaining river temperatures in the 40--55°F range ideal for brown and rainbow trout. The quality tailwater extends approximately 29 miles below the dam.

Current trout regulations for the Little Red (Greers Ferry tailwater) as of April 2026: anglers may keep two rainbow trout daily from the Greers Ferry tailwater, only one of which may be longer than 14 inches; all other trout caught must be released immediately. Check current AGFC regulations before fishing as these limits can change on short notice, as they did in April 2026.

For the dam-to-Highway 305 Bridge section specifically, the Little Red has a protected slot limit: 16--24 inch trout must be released; daily limit is five trout from this stretch, with only one longer than 24 inches permitted.

Guide services on the Little Red River include some of the most experienced trout guides in Arkansas: The Ozark Angler (501-362-3597, 659 Wilburn Road, Heber Springs) offers booking for lodging, guides, and boat rentals; Mike Winkler of Little Red River Fly Fishing Trips (501-507-3688) provides guided wade and drift trips; Cutthroat Fly Fishers / Dennis Barton's Guide Service (501-362-2192, 201 E. Main, Heber Springs) specializes in fly fishing. The Little Red is productive year-round; winter weekday slots are typically available without the summer competition.

Check the Corps' water release schedule before fishing the tailwater. Outflow is managed for power generation, and generation releases significantly raise water levels and current in the river. The AGFC Arkansas Wildlife Weekly Fishing Report (agfc.com) publishes current tailwater conditions and guide reports. The Corps' Little Rock office also takes calls at 501-362-5150 for real-time outflow information.

Guide Services on the Lake

Several guide services operate on Greers Ferry Lake itself for bass, walleye, and hybrid striper fishing. Burkes Guide Service (Heber Springs, 501-362-5502) is one of the established bass and walleye guide operations. Charley's Bait & Sports (501-362-5413, 3315 Highway 25B, Heber Springs) and Woody's Bait & Tackle (501-745-2753, Highway 65 S, Choctaw) serve the bait and tackle needs for self-guided anglers.

For fly fishing specifically on the Little Red River, the Ozark Angler has historically been the most comprehensive booking and guide resource in the area, with a location in Heber Springs and connections to multiple local guides.

Fishing Access Points

The AGFC Greers Ferry Lake Wildlife Management Area provides public hunting and fishing access to Corps land around the lake. The lake has 18 Corps-managed parks with public access, boat ramps, and fishing areas. Several parks have courtesy fishing docks for shoreline anglers who don't have boats.

The William Carl Garner Visitor Center near the dam is worth a visit for any angler new to the area. Beyond the world-record trout replica, it provides maps, current fishing condition information, and context for the lake's history and management.