[bigboyjames11]

Im looking to do some catfishing in the Arkansas River around the damn in Ft. Smith. Just wondering if any of you guys have and advice for that area. Ill be fishing from land. Also im pretty new to catfishing, actually im new to fresh water fishing in general so any help with tackle, baits and times will definitly be a great help. I fished saltwater my whole life so this fresh water fishing is all new to me. But thanks in advance for any advice.

James

 

[4Low]

First off James, welcome to the BOC! You sure came to the right place...there's a lot of seasoned vets here that can help you get started and it's a great place to make new friends...I sure did.

I don't fish the Ft. Smith area, but there are plenty others on here that do and they will chime in, so keep checking back. There is a lot of information regarding baits, tackle and such all over this site, so go to all the different topic forums for more information.

Basically, most of us use shad and/or skipjack for blues and channels, live bait for flatheads. There are a lot of different hook preferences, but most of us use some type of kahle or circle hook, from
2/0 to 9/0. Weight sizes vary from 2oz up to a pound in some circumstances, and will change with conditions. Rods and reels are also just a preference thing, depending on the type of fishing and location.

Good luck out there

 

[puppypal]

From Puppypal & Raysplay from Arkansas....There is a huge amount of information on this site. We tend to fish lock 2 and mury hydro lock and dam. But there are a few on here up your way....Good luck and get ready for the catfishing addiction

 

[poisonpits]

what kind of salt water gear you got it might be just the ticket for catfishing.

 

[bigboyjames11]

what kind of salt water gear you got it might be just the ticket for catfishing.

I have (conventionals) 2 Penn TRQ200's both on 8ft Connely Custom rods 20-40lb, Penn 4/0 on a 9ft star rod 30-60, 2 Penn 14/0's both on 9ft customs unlimited class. (spinning) Cabo 70 on 8'6" gator glass custom, old school Penn 705 on a 8ft Connely Custom. I also have a few stradic 2500's and other small reels in that size.

Thanks for the warm welcomes. I hope to learn a lot and catch some big catfish. I miss my kingfish and sharks but i think some big catfish would be a great fight. like i said any info will help. Ive been fishing my whole life but im out of my element when it comes to fresh water.

 

[jebrooks]

Welcome! There are basically 3 main areas to access the river from where you are @. Well park wise anyway. Fort Smith Park off of Clayton Expressway. Clear Creek campgrounds over between Alma and Van Buren. And Lock 13. I prefer the last two There are some other "back road" places to get down there. I am finding that most people who bank fish are using @ a minimum 10' rods. Weight size like he said earlier depends on flow at that time. They shut the dam off last night and were just running the electric side. So you had your choice of current. Bottoms are very rocky here. Whatever rig you decide on use a somewhat lighter leader line. And the most important thing is just keep doing what you are doing. Research.This site has so much info and great people who are willing to help. And just go spend some time there. A lot of your tackle would work fishing from the Wall at the lock. A to Z in alma is a pretty good place to go to for tackle. Place is huge.Anyway. Good Luck!

 

[Smellycat]

Welcome James, sounds like you dont need to buy anything at least, well maybe an ultralight to catch some skipjack for bait.

 

[poisonpits]

I have (conventionals) 2 Penn TRQ200's both on 8ft Connely Custom rods 20-40lb, Penn 4/0 on a 9ft star rod 30-60, 2 Penn 14/0's both on 9ft customs unlimited class. (spinning) Cabo 70 on 8'6" gator glass custom, old school Penn 705 on a 8ft Connely Custom. I also have a few stradic 2500's and other small reels in that size.

Thanks for the warm welcomes. I hope to learn a lot and catch some big catfish. I miss my kingfish and sharks but i think some big catfish would be a great fight. like i said any info will help. Ive been fishing my whole life but im out of my element when it comes to fresh water.

the penn trq200s and the 4/0 should work great for cats.im not familur with the others.
below the dam at barlin,just out of fort smith,you cross the hydro plant walk way and turn left.you will see a large circle that has a fence around it fish just to the right of it.the water comes togather just below there and its a good place to fish.theres a fellow on here called bait boat and if you can get with him he knows bout as much as any body on that part of the river.by the wat if you want to get rid of the 14/0s i got some swedish made abu 7000s i might trade.

 

[Sound]

Welcome to the USCA James. I live in the southern part of the state and can't help you. There are plenty of good people on here that will.

 

[bigboyjames11]

the penn trq200s and the 4/0 should work great for cats.im not familur with the others.
below the dam at barlin,just out of fort smith,you cross the hydro plant walk way and turn left.you will see a large circle that has a fence around it fish just to the right of it.the water comes togather just below there and its a good place to fish.theres a fellow on here called bait boat and if you can get with him he knows bout as much as any body on that part of the river.by the wat if you want to get rid of the 14/0s i got some swedish made abu 7000s i might trade.

The 14/0s for now aren't going anywhere but one day u never no. Not to much up here I can use them for but hopefully ill get back to fl one of these days and get them in action again. Did a lot of shorebound shark fishing when I lived in south fl. I figured my Penn Internationals would be a little over kill for catfish, guess I was wrong? I enjoy the fight more than the fish. Id love to fight a big 60-70lbs cat, take a few pics and let it go. I've seen some of u guys use ming yang or something like that reels and I figured id pick a few up. Any rod suggestions? Meathunters? These rods will be for nothing but bank catfishing from the arkansas river. What line weight, weights, etc?

 

[ccat]

An earlier post told you about A-Z in Alma. They have a lot of Meat Hunters. Those rods are great. I have 6 of them, all 8 footers, but know a lot of guys with 9 footers and biggers. I don't bank fish, but know A-Z has those 12 and 14 footers, but to me, that is basically for snagging.
I have never used those reels you are talking about. I use ABU Garcia 6000c and 6500c. They are great.
If you want to pull in a big blue, try some Team Catfish Tug of War braid. I use 80# and love it.
I fish below Ft Smith between Ozark and Russellville, but have fished that stretch with Big Sam several times drifting. In fact, I am heading to dam 13 tomorrow afternoon late to see if the skips have shown back up.
good luck and welcome to the USCA

 

[puppypal]

A couple weeks back when the arkansas was flooded and rolln' Hubby and I went to WDM. on the hydro side. You can see the different posts on WDM or Merrisah under this forum. We couldn't get a 10 oz to lock up on one side so we moved to the other side. Got a good tight line on a 6 oz. But of course ya had to hit a certian spot that we know of.Hubby uses a 15 foot ugly modified a bit. I can throw a 12 foot ugly (MODIFIED) We tend to use mono heavy weight line and a lighter line weight on out bank sinkers. The bottom is terrible about rocks and hang ups so we would much rather lose a weight anytime than a cat! LOL I prefer mono because of all the sharp rocks where we fish. They tend to slice braid to pieces. But with the rock edge of the arkansas it is best to change your main line often. With every throw in the arkansas your line will weaken. So check that often. Skips are the catfish favorite. Along with gizzard shad of course. Since you are lookn for the big blues...they really really like those baits. I have a spinning reel penn. But that is because I can tank it much further across. I have baitcasters I am learning to chunk. One day I am hoping not to bring the baitcaster reel home with birdsnests! LOL

 

[bigboyjames11]

thanks for all the info guys. i ordered 2 Ming Yang CL60 reels. Ill probly pick up two 12ft meathunter rods when i head down to the damn. cant wait to catch a big cat. is there a better time of year? do i want to go at night or day? and what about when they are generating, is it better to go on a heavy or light day?

 

[jebrooks]

Well I will tell you what I have learned. I have seen fish caught anytime of the day. But evening around midnight/one and early am seem best. Make sure you have extra everything. Hooks and if you are going to use the bank sinkers use the ones with the wire sticking out of the bottom. Depending on the flow I have used everything from five oz up to 8 oz. Just me personally, I use 50 lb braid as my mainline. Sometimes an egg sinker/bead/swivel combo. Like a super sized carolina rig for bass. But I have still gotten tangled. So I have pretty much switched to tying a large safety clasp/ swivel where the egg sinker would go. Tying a 25 lb leader off that for my weight. Then coming off the main swivel with a leader of 50 lb mono for my hook. I figure the mono will break before the braid. And the weight which is what mainly gets hung will break out of the safety clasp or the 25 lb line first. In case there is a fish on. And if you are going to fish on the wall side of the generator, you need to make a decision prior to going. To eat or not to eat! That is the question. If you are going to keep your catch you need to make a small gaff hook. I have seen many people try to man handle up their main line up the steep wall Fish flop,burn hand with line or fray and break line or just simply break your pole. On the dam side and @ the generator side Only one pole is allowed. Past the buoy line is where you can throw a net and have multiple poles. Hope some of this helps. I am in no way trying to tell you your business or how to fish. Heck I am learning new stuff on here on almost a daily basis. Just trying to impart some knowledge on the mistakes I have made over the past two months or so. Good Luck. There are big fish there. Some guy was pulling out 30 lb flats over by the burn pile last weekend...