Spring Fed · Limestone · Arkansas

Spring River (Mammoth Spring)

Chalk Springs Trout Fishery venue image
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The Spring River is Arkansas's spring-fed alternative to the big White-system tailwaters — a constant, cold river born whole at Mammoth Spring on the Missouri line, where one of the country's great springs pushes out enough water to make a river in a single bound.

Species

About as good as it gets

Low and clear — careful approach country. Take your time — read the water before you cast.

75% confidence in this read
Water temperature for brown trout
Ideal
15°C est.ideal 10–16°C
0°14°28°
Why this score · for brown trout
  • Temperature10028% weight
  • Flow8022% weight
  • Clarity9518% weight
  • Feeding Time5013% weight
  • Pressure807% weight
  • Insect activity6812% weight
Conditions
Level
Dry recently
No gauge reading
Water temp
15.4°C
Estimated
Clarity
Clear
Air temp
25°C
Wind
E 13 km/h
Gentle breeze
Pressure
1020 hPa
Rain · 24h
0.0 mm
No rain
Rain · ahead
4.0 mm
Light rain · next 48h

Live readings — water temperature is an estimate where the gauge does not record it.

How to fish it · for brown trout
When
Nymphing can work through most of the day.
Where
Cover mixed depths.
Method
Start with tight-line nymphs and adjust if fish rise or drift higher.
Kit
9 ft #4 rod, floating line, 12 ft tapered leader to 4–5 lb fluoro tippet.
Why this works
Excellent — water temperature is right today, though time of day could be better.
Through the year
0–3 scale · June highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
Brown SedgeHatch
2
3
2
Freshwater ShrimpHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Blue Winged OliveHatch
2
3
3
3
3
2
Mayfly (Green Drake)Hatch
2
2

Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.

Gallery · 1
  1. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • Arkansas trout permit/licence required; the managed trout reach runs from below Dam #1 at Mammoth Spring to Myatt Creek — verify current reach rules and any special regulations against AGFC
  • Busy with canoe traffic in summer.
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
About this water

The Spring River is Arkansas's spring-fed alternative to the big White-system tailwaters — a constant, cold river born whole at Mammoth Spring on the Missouri line, where one of the country's great springs pushes out enough water to make a river in a single bound. Below the old dam at Mammoth Spring State Park it runs about a dozen miles of ledges, rapids and gravel runs as a stocked rainbow fishery with browns and the odd cutthroat, popular with canoes and families and fly fishers alike. Because the cold comes from the spring rather than a reservoir release, it fishes stable and cold year-round and doesn't pulse with generation — a friendlier, more predictable river than the White. Fish scuds, midges and soft hackles, work the ledges and pocket water, and share it gracefully with the float traffic in summer. A reliable spring-river entry in the pack.

  • Limestone
Seasons & zones
  • Trout1 January → 31 December
Other water nearby · 1