L’ANGUILLE RIVER
The L’Anguille River, a tributary of the St. Francis, is a relatively unknown hotspot for flathead catfish, but this small farm-country stream gives up some real monsters. Seventy- to 80-pounders are caught here almost every year. Unfortunately, thick, hard-to-fish cover makes it near impossible to land the river’s giants on rod and reel.

Fishing is best downstream from the U.S. Route 70 bridge near Forrest City, but the entire river from the Cross-Poinsett county line to Marianna is alive with 5- to 20-pound flatheads. It’s difficult to travel more than a few hundred yards at any point on the river owing to the extensive logjams, but these barriers are favorite hideouts for big flats. Trotlines baited with goldfish or bream account for most of the catch.

Almost all the land bordering the L’Anguille is in private ownership, so beware of trespassing problems.

DeGRAY LAKE
All of Arkansas’ Corps impoundments harbor healthy populations of flathead catfish, but DeGray Lake, near Arkadelphia, ranks among the best for heavyweight fish. Two hotspots on this 13,400-acre reservoir are the Point Cedar and Brushy Creek areas, but the whole lake provides a good catfishery.

While all the typical catfishing methods work well, it’s interesting to note that DeGray flatheads may also be taken by spearfishing. The lake’s deep, clear waters make it a popular spot with scuba enthusiasts. From July 15 until March 15, sunrise to sunset, divers may spearfish for enormous flatheads that may exceed 30 pounds. Only half a regular five-fish limit is allowed when spearfishing for cats. Also, fish taken by spearfishing must not be cleaned before leaving the body of water where the fish were taken.

LAKE GRAMPUS
The name “Grampus” comes from French explorers and is derived from a French word meaning “fat fish.” It might well refer to the jumbo flatheads native to this 350-acre lake. Five- to 15-pounders are common, and lucky anglers occasionally land specimens topping 40 pounds. Despite being a first-rate flathead lake, Grampus is largely overlooked by the generations of anglers raised in the tradition of man-made reservoirs.

Located 15 miles east of Hamburg in south Arkansas, Grampus is an oxbow of the Bayou Bartholomew. Flatheads cruise waters throughout the lake but usually are caught around cypress trees, buckbrush, brushpiles and underwater stump fields. Shad and small sunfish are the most fruitful enticements, but smaller flatheads frequently hit earthworms and crawfish as well. Summer fishing is excellent, especially at night.

For additional information on all the waters mentioned here, purchase a copy of the Arkansas Fishing Atlas, available by phoning 1-800-364-GAME or visiting www.agfc.com. The atlas has detailed access information on 75 county maps. For information on fishing licenses and regulations, check the 2007-2008 Arkansas Fishing Guidebook on the Web site or in the hardcopy version available from license dealers.

(Editor’s Note: Keith Sutton is the author of several books on catfishing. His latest is Pro Tactics: Catfish, published by Lyons Press. To order autographed copies, visit his Web site at catfishsutton.com ).