TALE WATERS & TIDES · POCKET FISHING GUIDE
ARKANSAS SPORTFISH
Longear Sunfish
SCOUT57SCORE
KINGS RIVER
Scout & adaptThe prettiest fish in Arkansas. Stained-glass on a hook.
SIZE
4–7 in
MAX
9 in
WEIGHT
Under 1 lb
HABITAT
StreamsRiversClear lakes
Clear, gravel-bottom Ozark streams with steady current.
DIET
Insects, small crustaceans, snails.
BEST BAITS
Tiny dry flies · Wet flies · Bits of worm
SEASONAL PATTERN
SPRING
BESTSUMMER
FALL
WINTER
Summer: PEAK — colorful breeding males.
ANGLER INTEL · RIGHT NOWSCOUT & ADAPT
DEPTH
10–20 ft
transition breaks
TIMING
First & last light
TOP LURE · LURE
Tiny dry flies
moderate conditions — work the cover
TACKLE
Fly rod 3-wt or ultralight, 2–4 lb line
TECHNIQUE · Moving bait on main-lake points — match forage size
ANGLER STATS
SPAWN 68–76°F BITE
75
FIGHT
32
STEALTH
30
FUN FACT
Spawning male longears might be the most colorful freshwater fish in North America — turquoise, copper, orange, edged in cream. Hold one wet in sun and you'll forget about catching trout.
STATUS
Secure
Native · Centrarchidae
PFG SIGNAL · EST67°F · Piney Creek● SCOUT 57