There are collections records for them nearby me in the Illinois river and Arkansas river. I have been out on several seining trips and also tried dip-netting. No luck. Just tons of longear sunfish, bluegill, green sunfish. Fishes of AR book said to target turbid, non-rocky bottom, shallower streams, but still no luck. Anyone with tips on particular sites near Northwest AR or techniques for finding them?

I have been looking for these guys too in western KY for a native fish tank to no avail. Finding the same species you are as well.

After researching this some, it seems like they live in pretty nasty areas not frequented much by other sunfish species eg swampy, turbid , muddy areas. So I'm starting to think if I'm catching lots of these other sunfish like you are, I probably am in a low yield area for orange spots. Probably getting out competed outside their niche.

Others on here probably have more experience with them and can provide further insight but that is my observation.