Dam operators post the next day's generation schedule each afternoon. Knowing when generators are running — and when they're off — is the difference between a great day on the water and a wasted drive to a blown-out river.
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The Little Red River below Greers Ferry Dam near Heber Springs, Arkansas is home to one of the most productive brown trout fisheries in the United States. The river produced the former world record brown trout — a 40-pound fish caught in 1992 — and continues to grow exceptional fish in its cold, nutrient-rich tailwater. It's a must-fish destination for serious trout anglers in the South.
Tailwater rivers below hydroelectric dams are controlled fisheries — the river's character changes completely depending on whether the dam is generating power. When generators run, water rises, currents accelerate, and wading conditions range from difficult to dangerous. When generation stops, the river drops to a low-flow state ideal for wade fishing.
Dam operators post the next day's generation schedule each afternoon — but finding that schedule means navigating agency websites and PDFs that aren't designed for anglers. TailwaterAlerts translates that data into a clear, hourly email you can read in 30 seconds.
The USACE posts generation schedules on their website, typically between 2 and 4 PM CT for the following day. You can check the USACE schedule directly, or sign up below and TailwaterAlerts will email you a formatted, easy-to-read version the moment it posts.
Greers Ferry Dam releases are managed by the Southwestern Power Administration, and generation schedules can change rapidly. When multiple units run simultaneously, the Little Red becomes too high and fast to wade safely. The best wading conditions occur during minimum release windows, which are posted the day before and change daily. Knowing the schedule before you go is critical both for safety and for finding the best fishing.
TailwaterAlerts checks the generation schedule every 5 minutes starting at 1 PM CT. The moment the schedule posts, you get an email with a color-coded hourly breakdown and the best wading window highlighted. One email per day. Free. No app required.
Your river is pre-selected below. Add others if you fish multiple tailwaters.
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