So things came together where it makes sense for the family to get out of Washington state. We're planning on moving to Pocahontas, Ar or somewhere between there and Jonesboro. I got some bass fishing gear but I've mainly gone ditch pickling in between salmon and steelhead runs. I know very little about the fisheries down there, aside from the occasional couple hours dinking around while visiting the in laws. I'll probly end up chasing all sorts of species just because I like catching what's biting ? Any "must have" gear I need as far as rods and reels? I'm gonna end up selling a ton of my salmon/steelhead rods to get refitted once we get down there, so any advice or tips would be greatly appreciated.

Welcome to the land of brown water and oxbow lakes sir.  You need to read all you can about flipping.  Its black/blue jigs and june bug Zoom Ol Monster worms for you—oh, and BarBQue!  Welcome to the South!

 

Thanks BoatSquirrel. I got a few books on flipping I've acquired from various swap meets that I haven't read yet. Cracking those open will give me something to do on drive down between shifts on the wheel ?

Arkansas is a rather divergent topography with the NW of the state having deep,clear, highland reservoirs and the East and south much flatter, shallow water fishing.  World class trout fishing in the White and Little Red Rivers.  Good luck man!

Get ya some heavy duty rigs and flippin sticks.  Honestly, I fish all types of gear, but lean toward the heavier side.  My in-laws are from Newport, which is near there, lots of good fishing on the white and black rivers.  Plenty of good big and small lakes around.  Try your hand at catfishing too.  

 

As for bass gear, lots of things work such as the aforementioned jigs and ole monster (I use both frequently).  Lots of decent topwater fishing in the warmer months too.  Zara Spooks, whopper ploppers, Pop-Rs, etc.  Also use spinner baits a lot and shallow diving cranks.  

 

Be prepared to be really hot and really eaten up by mosquitoes, good luck!