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Fly Fishing in Arkansas

50 featured rivers, lakes and streams in Arkansas, each with target species, a hatch chart and a map of nearby access.

Baron Fork Creek (Smallmouth Bass, Spotted Bass)
Clear Ozark stream near the Oklahoma border. Excellent smallmouth bass.
Beaver Lake (Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Striped Bass)
Northwest Arkansas reservoir with excellent bass fishing. Striped bass and walleye too.
Beaver Lake Tailwater (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout)
Excellent trout fishing below Beaver Dam. Rainbow and brown trout in clear water.
Big Creek (Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass)
Ozark stream with smallmouth bass. Wild and scenic fishing near Mammoth Spring.
Big Piney Creek (Smallmouth Bass, Spotted Bass)
Wild and scenic Ozark stream with smallmouth bass. Remote wilderness paddling and fishing.
Buffalo River (Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout)
America's first national river. Smallmouth bass and some trout in scenic Ozark setting.
Bull Shoals Lake (Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie)
Large Ozark reservoir with diverse fishing. Bass, crappie, and catfish.
Bull Shoals Tailwater (Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Cutthroat Trout)
Upper section of White River below the dam. Excellent year-round trout fishing with trophy potential.
Caddo River (Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass)
Ouachita Mountains stream with good smallmouth bass. Scenic float fishing.
Cossatot River (Smallmouth Bass, Spotted Bass)
Remote Ouachita Mountains stream. Challenging whitewater and bass fishing.
Cotter Trout Dock Area (Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Classic White River trout water near Cotter. Year-round guided and wade fishing.
Crooked Creek (Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Smaller tailwater with good brown and rainbow trout. Less crowded than major rivers.
Current River (Rainbow Trout, Smallmouth Bass)
Spring-fed river straddling Arkansas-Missouri border. Trout and smallmouth bass.
Dardanelle Lake (Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Blue Catfish)
Arkansas River impoundment with diverse fishing. Bass, crappie, and catfish.
DeGray Lake (Largemouth Bass, Hybrid Striped Bass, Crappie)
Ouachita Mountain reservoir with excellent bass fishing. Hybrid striped bass popular.
Dry Run Creek (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout)
Unique accessible fishing area for mobility-impaired anglers. Stocked with large trout.
Eleven Point River (Rainbow Trout, Smallmouth Bass)
National Wild and Scenic River with trout and smallmouth bass. Spring-fed clear water.
Felsenthal National Wildlife Refuge (Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Catfish)
South Arkansas bottomland with excellent bass and crappie. Flooded timber fishing.
Fourche LaFave River (Smallmouth Bass, Spotted Bass)
Central Arkansas stream with smallmouth and spotted bass. Scenic mountain fishing.
Greers Ferry Lake (Largemouth Bass, Striped Bass, Walleye)
Beautiful Ozark lake with trophy bass potential. Clear water and diverse fishing.
Illinois River (Smallmouth Bass, Spotted Bass)
Northwest Arkansas stream with smallmouth bass. Clear Ozark water near Tenkiller Lake.
Kings River (Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout)
Scenic Ozark stream with smallmouth bass and some trout. Float fishing opportunities.
Lake Catherine (Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Catfish)
Hot Springs area reservoir with good bass fishing. Scenic Ouachita Mountain setting.
Lake Chicot (Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bream)
Largest natural lake in Arkansas. Excellent bass, crappie, and bream fishing.
Lake Conway (Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bream)
Central Arkansas lake with excellent bass fishing. State's largest Game and Fish lake.
Lake Hamilton (Largemouth Bass, Striped Bass, Catfish)
Hot Springs area lake with year-round bass fishing. Warm water discharge fishery.
Lake Maumelle (Largemouth Bass, Spotted Bass, Crappie)
Central Arkansas reservoir with good bass fishing. Clear water near Little Rock.
Lake Norfork (Largemouth Bass, Striped Bass, Walleye)
Ozark reservoir with excellent bass fishing. Striped bass and walleye also present.
Lake Ouachita (Largemouth Bass, Striped Bass, Bream)
Arkansas's largest lake with outstanding bass fishing. Crystal clear Ouachita Mountain water.
Little Missouri River (Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout)
Ouachita Mountains stream with bass and stocked trout. Scenic wilderness fishing.
Little Red River (Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Famous for producing world-record brown trout. Excellent tailwater below Greers Ferry Dam.
Millwood Lake (Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Catfish)
Southwest Arkansas reservoir famous for trophy bass. Timber-filled waters.
Mountain Fork Creek (Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout)
Remote Ouachita stream with bass and seasonal trout. Pristine mountain water.
Mulberry River (Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout)
Scenic Ozark National Forest stream. Smallmouth bass and seasonal trout stocking.
Nimrod Lake (Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Catfish)
Central Arkansas reservoir with good bass fishing. Scenic Fourche LaFave setting.
Norfolk Lake (White River Arm) (Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie)
Upper arm of Norfork Lake with excellent bass fishing. Clear Ozark water.
Norfork River (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout)
Short but productive tailwater below Norfork Dam. Excellent rainbow trout fishing.
Ouachita River (Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Catfish)
Scenic mountain river with smallmouth bass. Flows through Ouachita National Forest.
Ozark Lake (Largemouth Bass, Spotted Bass, Crappie)
Arkansas River pool with good bass fishing. Near historic Ozark.
Poteau River (Largemouth Bass, Spotted Bass, Catfish)
West-central Arkansas stream with bass fishing. Flows into Wister Lake.
Roaring River (AR) (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout)
Small Ozark stream with wild trout. Technical fishing in remote setting.
Saline River (Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Catfish)
South-central Arkansas stream with bass and catfish. Scenic float fishing.
South Fork of the Spring River (Rainbow Trout)
Crystal-clear spring creek with wild rainbow trout. Technical fishing in pristine water.
Spring River (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout)
Spring-fed river with natural trout reproduction. Clear water and excellent wading opportunities.
Strawberry River (Smallmouth Bass, Spotted Bass)
Clear Ozark stream with smallmouth bass. Less pressured than famous rivers.
Sugar Creek (Smallmouth Bass, Spotted Bass)
Northwest Arkansas stream with smallmouth bass. Scenic Ozark fishing.
Sylamore Creek (Rainbow Trout)
Ozark stream stocked with rainbow trout. Scenic fishing in national forest setting.
Village Creek (Largemouth Bass, Catfish)
Crowley's Ridge stream with bass and catfish. Unique geographic region fishing.
War Eagle Creek (Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass)
Scenic Ozark stream with smallmouth bass. Popular float fishing destination.
White River (Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout)
World-class tailwater below Bull Shoals Dam. Trophy brown and rainbow trout with year-round fishing.

Fly Fishing in Arkansas

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