Fishing in Crooked Creek
Characteristics
As it meanders across northern Arkansas on the way to the White River, Crooked Creek passes through typical Ozark landscapes featuring rolling hills, cedar glades, bluffs, bottomland thickets, and lush pasturelands. The stream itself is characterized by deep pools, fast chutes, and clear water.
In addition to its nationally known smallmouth fishery, Crooked Creek also provides habitat for many other species including channel catfish and several varieties of sunfish. Living along the stream corridor are numerous mammals--beaver, mink, and deer, to name a few--and an abundant assortment of water-oriented birds including kingfishers, ospreys, and great blue herons.
While the stream's upper reaches through Harrison, Arkansas offer opportunities for wade-fishing and occasional float trips, most recreational use along Crooked Creek occurs in the lower 50 miles below Pyatt. A particular favorite of many smallmouth anglers is the Pyatt to Yellville section which can be broken down into at least three separate trips:
- Pyatt to Turkey - This half-day float features riffles, gravel bars, and overhanging limbs. To reach the take-out by car, go east of Snow for about two miles, then turn south off U.S. 62 onto a country road which provides access to the stream.
- Turkey to Kelly's Slab - The longest of the three floats in the section, this one-day trip also offers good scenery, fast chutes, and occasional hazards (willow thickets, flood debris, and fallen timber). The takeout point is one mile due west of Yellville at a low-water bridge known locally as "Kelly's Slab."
- Kelly's Slab to Yellville - This half-day float is similar to the upper trips, but shorter. The trip concludes on the east side of Arkansas 14 where the City of Yellville has built a public park.
Float trips are also possible past Yellville, but, as one account noted, this lower portion "is recommended only for the serious, dedicated fisherman." The very ruggedness of the float--rocky shoals, tight chutes, and willow thickets--discourages most visits. Also, in late spring, a very peculiar thing happens to Crooked Creek below Yellville. It disappears, literally sinking into the ground. (Tests with colored dye revealed that the stream flows underground several miles and emerges at Cotter Spring on the White River near Cotter. The spring has been designated as a trout sanctuary by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and is now closed to fishing).
Seasons
The best time for floating Crooked Creek is during spring, and that season's early months are recommended for fishing. Good fishing is also reported in mid-fall. Wade fishing in the upper areas around Harrison has good areas throughout the summer in the many pools.
Access Points
In addition to using the access points previously listed (Pyatt, Turkey, Kelly's Slab, and Yellville), Crooked Creek visitors can reach the stream at several other places between Harrison, Yellville and the White River. A Boone & Marion County General Highway Map can be a great aid in locating points of access.
A key access point in Harrison is right off Scenic Highway 7 on the south side of Harrison at a low water bridge below the First Baptist Church. There is parking available and it is best to wade upstream from this point. Other access points can be found along the highway down county roads.
Crooked Creek forms Lake Harrison where a weir damn was constructed to form a recreational area for the City of Harrison. Good fishing takes place in this small lake and great family fun on the playgrounds and trails.
Scenery
Clear water, colorful gravel bars, tree-lined banks, and a pastoral countryside make any Crooked Creek float a scenic experience.
Fishing
Crooked Creek has received national acclaim as one of the top smallmouth bass streams anywhere, and its reputation is well deserved. Ideal habitat and an abundance of crayfish, hellgrammites and other smallmouth foods combine to produce large numbers of quality fish. Two- to three-pounders are fairly common, and four- to six-pound smallmouths are not unusual.
Below Yellville, the going is rough, but this is the stretch that produces six- and seven-pound "brownies." May is perhaps the best month to fish Crooked Creek. During this season, live minnows and jigging frogs (one-eighth ounce brown jig and a brown pork frog) do exceptionally well. Fall fishing is also fantastic, especially when using crank-baits, spinner-baits and live hellgrammites or crayfish. Popping bugs and streamers on a fly rod offer great sport for smallmouths, as well as for rock bass and longear sunfish that are also common in Crooked Creek.
Services Available
Supplies may be obtained Harrison and other communities in the area. Canoes and johnboats are available for rent in the vicinity, and guide services are also available. While there are no public campsites on Crooked Creek itself, campgrounds can be found nearby at Bull Shoals Lake, Bull Shoals State Park, or Buffalo Point (on the Buffalo National River). Most fishermen enjoy staying in Harrison in a quality motel and enjoying the many restaurants the city has to offer after a long day on the water.
Other Information
Visitors to Crooked Creek should remain mindful that nearly every acre along the creek is in private ownership. Floaters should take special care to avoid potential trespassing problems. Make sure you access the Crooked Creek at a public access and depart the same way. Like most Ozark streams, Crooked Creek can rise rapidly following heavy rains. In flood stage, it's dangerous and should not be floated.
