While these two spots stand out, in truth, any of the tailwater areas below the dams are prime spots. Contact the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for maps and a list of the various facilities available at each site.

Mississippi River
The mighty Mississippi River has been big-fish water since the time of Mark Twain. It still is today and likely always will be. Anglers here will find an abundance of catfish of all sizes and major species (blue, channel and flathead). The West Memphis area, where Charles Ashley Jr. of Marion caught a world-record, 116-pound, 12-ounce blue cat, gets the most publicity, but the entire length of this river, which runs along Arkansas' eastern border, has been producing monster blues in recent years, along with outsized flatheads and channel cats.

Proof positive came in 2007 at the Bass Pro Shops Big Cat Quest, when two 100-pound-plus blue cats were caught. Phil King, Tim Haynie and Leland Harris took the first -- a 103-pounder that was the first fish that topped the century mark to be taken in a tournament. The next day, Harold Dodd and Cary Winchester took a 108-pound blue that remains the largest caught during a competitive event.

While good fishing exists about anywhere along the Mississippi's length, two spots that stand out are where the Arkansas and White rivers empty into it. At both spots, there are deep, cover-laden holes with lots of water turbulence -- prime cat attractors. This is river fishing at its best, with heavy current and plenty of underwater structure, so heavy gear is required. Cut shad, liver and herring are the best dinner bets for blues and flatheads. If you like fishing for channel cats, ease back into one of the many oxbow lakes that empty into the main channel.

In short, the Mississippi River, just like the Arkansas, is a true catfisherman's paradise.

Lower White River
The Lower White River below Clarendon is another hard-to-beat area, with the best fishing lying along the 10 miles below the barge canal built by the Corps of Engineers. Large blues, flatheads and channels all frequent this section, which is much like the last 20 miles of the Arkansas, at least for the time being. Numerous dropoffs, sandbars, logjams and other such structure are attractive to large channel cats. Another top area is the stretch bordering Henry Gray/Hurricane Lake Wildlife Management Area in White County.

You can launch a boat at the landing in Augusta and fish down to Georgetown landing on the southern tip of the WMA. The outside bends of the river are perhaps the most productive hotspots, especially where trees have toppled in and the river has gouged deeply into the bank, forming undercuts. Potholes or slight depressions in the river bottom also tend to concentrate catfish, as do the upstream sides of underwater humps, and shallow flats and drops near tributary mouths. Live fish are the best baits, with sunfish, goldfish, shiners and small carp topping the list.

Plenty of big flathead, blue and channel cats swim in the St. Francis River, but aside from locals, few anglers ever sample the river's bounty. Those same locals report that in recent years catfishing has improved here, and huge flatheads in particular seem to be more abundant than ever. The river itself forms the border between Arkansas and Missouri's bootheel, running south past such towns as Lake City, Trumann, Marked Tree, Parkin, Forrest City and Marianna before spilling into the Mississippi.