Best Fishing Rivers and Lakes in Arkansas

Behind the scenes, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission helps keep the bite strong. The AGFC operates one of the largest state-owned warm-water hatchery systems in the country. Three trout hatcheries also operate in the state.

Trout

More than 1.5 million trout are stocked in Arkansas waters each year, supporting a coldwater fishing scene that holds its own with anywhere in the country.

Tailwaters below Bull Shoals, Norfork, Greers Ferry and Beaver dams get annual stockings, and so do select sections of the Little Missouri and Ouachita rivers near Hot Springs—both of which offer trout fishing during the cooler months only. These waters flow through the Ozark and Ouachita Mountains, where four-season views complement the catch. The White River and its tributaries, the North Fork and Little Red, are home to streamside resorts, cabins and seasoned guides who know where the fish move and when. Whether you're wading into fog at sunrise or drifting a run at dusk, this is the kind of trout fishing you remember long after the line goes slack.

While these rivers grab the spotlight—and rightfully so—Arkansas is far from a one-fish state. From lakes to lowland creeks, the variety runs deep.

Lake Fishing

Big water, big fish, and no shortage of room to roam—Arkansas’ lakes deliver all three. Greers Ferry Lake near Heber Springs ranks high on the list, but it’s one of nearly a dozen large lakes created by Corps of Engineers dams on rivers like the White, Ouachita, Cossatot, Caddo and Little Missouri. Bass, crappie, bream and catfish fill these waters.

In the southwest corner of the state, Millwood Lake stretches across 29,500 acres and has a reputation that’s earned. Largemouths over 10 pounds aren’t rare here, and four- and five-pounders are common.

Lake Ouachita is the largest in the state with more than 48,000 acres of clean, clear water tucked into the Ouachita Mountains. It's one of the most popular fishing lakes in Arkansas, and for good reason: the variety and quality of fish here make it a year-round destination for bass, crappie, bream, catfish and more.

Beaver, DeGray and Greeson are other sizable reservoirs where the fishing action draws anglers by the score.

Tournament fishing is popular on Beaver Lake, Lake Dardanelle and the Arkansas River. The Arkansas River between Pine Bluff and Dumas has earned a reputation for producing winning stringers when professional bass tournaments are held on the lower Arkansas. 

The Mississippi is known for its catfish. It produced in 2001 the state-record blue catfish (once recognized as the world record for the species as well), weighing in at 116 lbs., 12 oz. 

The 156,000-acre White River National Wildlife Refuge in eastern Arkansas is home to a host of small, timber-filled lakes that offer perhaps the best crappie and bream fishing in the state. Located in the floodplain of the lower White River, the lakes are bountifully restocked with each winter’s floods.

Streams and Rivers

Big river fishing is available on both the Arkansas River, which traverses the state from west to east, creating 50-mile-long Lake Dardanelle in the process, and on the Mississippi River, which forms the state’s eastern border and has some of the best catfishing in the country. Both rivers offer excellent angling for a variety of bass and catfish species as well as crappie. 

Notable small streams offering opportunities for smallmouth bass action are Crooked Creek, the Caddo, the forks of the upper Little Red and Saline Rivers, the upper Cossatot, and America’s first national river, the Buffalo.

Hatcheries and the AGFC

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission plays a hands-on role in keeping the state’s waters productive. In addition to managing wild populations, AGFC operates nearly 400 acres of hatchery ponds that support warm-water species across the state—largemouth, smallmouth and striped bass; blue, channel and flathead catfish; black and white crappie; bluegill; redear sunfish; and walleye.

These hatcheries, along with the state’s trout facilities, help maintain healthy, balanced fisheries—whether you’re fishing a mountain stream or a Delta backwater.

Before you hit the water, check AGFC’s regulations covering statewide rules, site-specific limits, catch-and-release zones, boating laws, and state record catches. You’ll find regulations, maps, free guides and helpful planning tools at agfc.com.

And don’t overlook Arkansas’ state parks. Many offer public access to excellent fishing, with amenities like boat ramps, fishing piers and plenty of shoreline to cast from. More information on the parks, Arkansas accommodations, and attractions can be found here.

More than fishing

For a lot of anglers, the best part of fishing isn’t always the fish.

It’s watching an osprey plunge into the water and come up with breakfast. It’s floating a clear Ozark stream beneath a limestone bluff covered in moss and lichen. It’s a Delta sunset burning behind bald cypress. Autumn leaves mirrored in the still water of a quiet cove. A foggy morning that smells like riverbank and woodsmoke.

Sometimes the catch makes the day. Sometimes it’s everything around it.