Places to go fishing in Arkansas
Arkansas is home to some of the most scenic rivers, streams, creeks and majestic lakes in the US (and possibly the world).
Fishing in the Ozarks is nothing short of an angler’s dream in terms of the quality and quantity of streams that are available to fish. There is nearly an endless supply of trout, bass, and panfish in the lakes and smaller streams in the Ozarks.
Or, maybe you prefer to fish in the lower lands of the Arkansas River Valley, nestled between the Ouachita and Ozark mountain ranges. This area prides itself in having the most picturesque rivers, lakes, and streams in all of Arkansas. Here you can catch Smallmouth Bass and Panfish.
If you’re looking to do some quality fly fishing, you need look no further than spots in the Ouachita region of Arkansas. You can catch trophy-sized Trout, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Green Sunfish, Pumpkinseed, and Rock Bass.
For a list of licenses, fees and where to buy, see our Arkansas Fishing License page.
The locations below are listed alphabetically and just a sampling of the many places to go fishing and some of the species you can catch in Arkansas.
Places To Go Fishing In Arkansas
Bull Shoals Lake: It is the fifth largest concrete dam in the United States. Including the portion located in Missouri, Bull Shoals Lake is about 45,500 surface acres. Almost 1,000 miles of shoreline are open to visitors and 60,000 acres of public land provide a variety of opportunities. Over 20 parks are located on the lakeshore.
Popular Species To Catch: Largemouth Bass, Spotted Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Striped Bass, White Bass, Walleye, Blue Catfish, Channel Catfish, Flathead Catfish, Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Crappie, Bluegill
Cotter (on the White River): The town of Cotter considers itself the “Trout Capital of the USA.” Claims are the it has America’s best trout fishing in terms of the number and size of trout it produces is quite possibly the upper White River. Three to five pound brown trout are common. Rainbows of 11 to 16 inches are plentiful.
Popular Species To Catch: Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Brooke Trout, Cutthroat Trout
Norfolk Lake: Norfork Lake is approximately 22,000 acres in size and has more than 550 miles of shoreline. The lake is stocked annually. Stripers average 2.5 to 3 pounds of growth per year. Black bass fishing is at its best from September through May. Night fishing with lights for crappie and white bass has also become very popular as of late.
Popular Species To Catch: Striped Bass, Walleye, Crappie, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, White Bass, Bluegill, Catfish
Table Rock Lake: The lake cpvers about 53,000 acres, so there are quite a few full-service marinas, fishing guides, and resorts surrounding the lake. Some fish that can be caught year-round are trout, crappie, catfish and bass.
Popular Species To Catch: Black Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Spotted Bass,
To see the full list of Arkansas fishing licenses and prices, please visit our Arkansas Fishing License page.
Many more locations to come. If you have any favorite spots or bodies of water that you think should definitely be on this page, please send us a note.
Also, if you are a private club or guide service that would like to be featured on any “Places To Fish” page, or other page within the StartFishingToday™ website, let us know.
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