Crooked Creek
Crooked Creek is also connected to the White River just below Rim Shoals
“Before the completion of Bull Shoals Dam and Norfork Dam, Crooked Creek in northern Arkansas was a major area sport fishing destination, and for good reason. Two to four pound smallmouth bass were abundant, and the few anglers who fly fished this spring-fed creek would hook up on virtually every cast. Unfortunately, things have changed for fly fishing on Crooked Creek, but a four-pound bass is still possible, and there are plenty of numbers of fish to make it worth the trip. Wade fly fishing is easy on Crooked Creek, and it is just minutes away from the White River and Norfork Tailwater. Crooked Creek is a year round bass fishery, and there are a few trout in its far lower reaches”.
Crooked Creek is a White River tributary that flows through Boone and Marion Counties in north/central Arkansas. Well known for great smallmouth bass populations, Crooked Creek gives a glimpse at what the big rivers were like before the dams. Good walk-in access is available off of highway 62 near Payette and at Kelly’s Slab near Yellville. The further you walk, the better the fishing. Floats are possible in the spring when flows are near 150cfs. A small, plastic type canoe is recommended. The main take out is in downtown Yellville. Large flies like poppers and baitfish-imitating streamers will pull fish most of the year. Prime months are April through October, but big bass are caught all year.
