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Montrose, Arkansas · Bayou Bartholomew

Guided fishing & kayak tours on the bayou

A family-run outfit offering guided fishing and kayak trips on Bayou Bartholomew — real local water, small groups, and a guide who knows it well.

Book a Trip See Trips & Pricing

Who we are

Reel Bayou Adventures is run by our family, right here on Bayou Bartholomew. We're an adoptive foster family, and faith is at the center of how we do things — on the water and off it. Our guide, Clint, lives on this bayou and fishes it year-round, so every trip is built around what's actually biting and running that day. He guides in English or Spanish, whichever your group prefers, and we keep trips small so there's room for real instruction — whether it's your first cast or your five-hundredth. We're glad to have you out here with us.

Trips & Pricing

Choose your trip

Day or Night · Half-Day (4 hrs)

Guided Fishing

Our guide takes you to where the fish are, with all the local know-how that comes with it. Launch location varies by season.

First person (day)$200
First person (night)$230
Each additional person$100
Kids (under 12)$50
Daytime · Timing Varies by Group

Paddle Trip

A relaxed guided paddle down the bayou — scenery, wildlife, and a slower pace. We don't rush it, so trip length depends on your group, and launch location varies by season.

Adult$50
Under 12$25
Night · 2–4 hrs (until we find gar)

Gar Trip

A guided night trip after gar — one of the bayou's most memorable catches after dark.

Adult$200
Kids$100
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We provide

Don't have a kayak or fishing gear? No problem. We provide the necessary equipment for your guided adventure, including kayaks, paddles, life jackets, and fishing equipment when needed.

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What to bring

Bring your own lunch or snacks for every trip — food isn't provided. Bug spray and sunscreen are a must, and a sun hat is recommended.

Veteran & Adoptive Foster Family Discounts

  • Veterans: $10 off Paddle Trips, $25 off any Fishing trip (Guided Fishing or Gar Trip) — discount applies to the veteran only, not the full party.
  • Adoptive foster families: $10 off for each adopted child in your party.
  • Youth currently in foster care: free on any trip.

Just mention it when you book — thank you for your service, and for opening your home.

Age policy

No children 3 and under

This is bayou and river water, not a shallow wading creek — for safety, we don't take children age 3 or younger on any trip.

Trained guide

CPR certified staff

Your guide on the water with you is CPR certified.

On every trip

First aid on board

A first aid kit is accessible on every trip, no exceptions.

Reserve your spot

Book a trip

Tell us a bit about your group and preferred date. This sends a booking request directly to our private trip manager. We'll review it and contact you to confirm availability, payment, and trip details.

  • Party size is capped at 5 per trip.
  • A paper liability waiver is required before departure and must be turned in to us in person.
  • Payment instructions are sent after we confirm your requested date.
  • Deposits are non-refundable if you cancel inside 48 hours of your trip.

Please tell us about any medical conditions — diabetes, seizures, heart conditions, asthma — plus allergies, medications, mobility limitations, or swimming ability, for anyone in your group. This stays between us, and it helps your guide keep everyone safe on the water.

This is a request, not a confirmed reservation. We will contact you after we review availability.

Reel Bayou Adventures provides expert access to the water — we don't guarantee a catch, since fish don't read schedules. If you need to cancel inside 48 hours of your trip, your deposit isn't refundable, but we'll always try to help you reschedule when we can.

Paper waiver required

Our insurance requires every participant waiver to be physically signed on paper and given to Reel Bayou Adventures in person. Electronic signatures, emailed copies, online submissions, and digital copies cannot be accepted.

  • You may view and print the waiver from this website before your trip.
  • If you print and complete it ahead of time, bring the original signed paper waiver with you.
  • If you do not print one ahead of time, we will have paper waivers available at check-in.

Please do not email, upload, or electronically submit your completed waiver. It must be handed to us in paper form.

View / Print Waiver

Before your trip: AGFC Conservation Permit

Our Paddle Trips launch from AGFC wildlife management areas (Little Bayou, Cutoff Creek, or Seven Devils). Arkansas Game & Fish requires anyone 16 or older using these areas to carry a WMA/Lake Conservation Permit ($10.50/year) — unless you already hold a current Arkansas hunting or fishing license. Here's exactly who this affects:

  • Paddle Trip guests who already have an Arkansas hunting or fishing license: you're covered — no separate permit needed.
  • Paddle Trip guests who don't have one: please purchase the $10.50 permit before your trip date.
  • Guided Fishing & Gar Trip guests: fishing trips require a fishing license, which already covers this permit — nothing extra to buy.
Get Your AGFC Permit

Before you book

Common questions

Tap any question to see the answer. If yours isn't here, just ask us when you send your booking request.

Do I need a fishing license?

Yes — anyone fishing on a Guided Fishing or Gar Trip needs a current Arkansas fishing license. You buy it yourself through Arkansas Game & Fish before your trip date. Paddle Trip guests who aren't fishing don't need one, but see the conservation permit note below.

I've never fished or paddled before. Is that a problem?

Not at all. We keep trips small on purpose so there's room for real instruction. Plenty of our guests are on the water for the first time — just tell us when you book so we can plan the day around it.

Will we catch fish?

We can't promise that, and we won't pretend otherwise — fish don't read schedules. What we do guarantee is expert access to water our guide knows year-round, and he'll put you where the fish should be that day.

What happens if the weather turns bad?

Safety comes first. If conditions aren't safe to be on the water, we'll reach out to reschedule you — no penalty, and your deposit carries over. Light rain usually isn't a problem; lightning and high water are.

What should I bring?

Your own lunch or snacks, bug spray, and sunscreen — those are the essentials. A sun hat is a good idea. We provide the kayaks, paddles, life jackets, and fishing gear.

Can we keep what we catch?

Yes, within Arkansas Game & Fish limits and seasons for whatever you're after. Your guide will walk you through what's legal to keep that day.

How does payment work?

Once your requested date is approved, we'll send your payment instructions and trip details. Your reservation is not confirmed until the required payment is received.

What's your cancellation policy?

If you cancel more than 48 hours out, your deposit is refundable. Inside 48 hours it isn't, but we'll always try to help you find another date when we can.

How many people can come?

Five per trip. That's a firm cap — it's what keeps the trip safe and keeps the instruction personal.

Can we bring our kids?

Yes, and we love having them. The one exception is children age 3 and under — this is bayou and river water, not a shallow creek, so we don't take them on any trip. Kids on Guided Fishing trips are $50.

Where do we meet?

Launch location changes with the season and water levels, so we'll confirm the exact meeting spot with you once your date is set. Paddle Trips launch from AGFC wildlife management areas — Little Bayou, Cutoff Creek, or Seven Devils.

Do you offer trips in Spanish?

Yes. Clint guides in English or Spanish, whichever your group prefers — just let us know when you book.