Best fishing lakes in Arkansas: 12 lakes and what bites

The lakes at a glance

1. Bull Shoals Lake

At 45,200 acres of water, Bull Shoals Lake is a big lake. The fish here are largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, walleye and crappie. At about 210 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start.

Bull Shoals Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

2. Greers Ferry Lake

Greers Ferry Lake spreads over some 40,500 acres. It holds largemouth bass, walleye, striped bass and crappie. It goes down to about 198 ft. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look.

Greers Ferry Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

3. Lake Ouachita

Lake Ouachita spreads over some 40,000 acres. It holds striped bass, largemouth bass, crappie and walleye. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start.

Lake Ouachita today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

4. Beaver Lake

At 31,700 acres, Beaver Lake is a big lake. The fish here are striped bass, largemouth bass, crappie and walleye. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start.

Beaver Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

5. Norfork Lake

Norfork Lake spreads over some 22,000 acres. The lake is about 4.4 miles southwest of Mountain Home. Norfork Dam holds it on the North Fork. It holds largemouth bass, crappie, walleye and catfish. It goes down to about 178 ft. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start. Norfork Lake straddles the Arkansas-Missouri border, and its tailwater below Norfork Dam is a renowned trout fishery.

Norfork Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

6. Lake Greeson

Lake Greeson is a reservoir of 7,260 acres of water. It lies about 6.1 miles south of Murfreesboro. It is the Little Missouri behind Narrows Dam. The fish here are striped bass, largemouth bass, spotted bass and white bass. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start. Lake Greeson is an Ouachita Mountains reservoir on the Little Missouri River known for striped bass fishing.

Lake Greeson today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

7. Degray Lake

Degray Lake spreads over 13,800 acres. It lies within an easy drive of Little Rock (about 58 miles). DeGray Dam holds it on the Caddo. The fish here are striped bass, crappie, largemouth bass and catfish. At about 200 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work. DeGray Lake is a deep Ouachita Mountains reservoir on the Caddo River known for hybrid striped bass fishing.

Degray Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

8. Lake Conway

Lake Conway covers some 6,700 acres. The lake is near Mayflower. Largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie and catfish are the draw. The deepest water is around 16 ft. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start. Lake Conway is a shallow, fertile Arkansas Game and Fish Commission lake known for big crappie.

Lake Conway today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

9. Lake Chicot

At about 4,460 acres, Lake Chicot is a good-sized lake. You will find it right by Lake Village. Bluegill, catfish, largemouth bass and striped bass are the draw. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start. Lake Chicot is the largest natural lake in Arkansas and the largest oxbow lake in North America.

Lake Chicot today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

10. Millwood Lake

At 29,200 acres of water, Millwood Lake is a big lake. You will find it about 5.2 miles northeast of Mineral Springs. It is the Little River behind Millwood Dam. Expect largemouth bass, crappie and catfish. On the 3-D map the bed has three steep ledges and an upper arm: good places to start. Millwood Lake in southwest Arkansas is renowned for its largemouth bass fishery.

Millwood Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

11. Blue Mountain Lake

Blue Mountain Lake covers 2,890 acres. The lake is about 10 miles west of Booneville. Blue Mountain Dam holds it on the Petit Jean. Largemouth bass, white bass, crappie and bluegill are the draw. The deepest water is around 30 ft. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look. Blue Mountain Lake is a Petit Jean River reservoir in the Arkansas River valley managed by the Army Corps of Engineers.

Blue Mountain Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

12. Dierks Lake

Dierks Lake spreads over 1,360 acres. It lies near Dierks. It holds smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, spotted bass and crappie. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start. Dierks Lake in southwest Arkansas is known for good bass and crappie fishing.

Dierks Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

Pick by species

Lakes listed for a fish are the ones on this page where it is on record or typical for the lake.

• Bass: Bull Shoals Lake, Greers Ferry Lake, Lake Ouachita and Beaver Lake
• Walleye: Bull Shoals Lake, Greers Ferry Lake, Lake Ouachita and Beaver Lake
• Trout: Lake Greeson
• Crappie: Bull Shoals Lake, Greers Ferry Lake, Lake Ouachita and Beaver Lake
• Catfish: Norfork Lake, Lake Greeson, Degray Lake and Lake Conway

When to go

• Spring: walleye are usually at their best. Prime range. Low light is best, on reefs and weed edges.
• Summer: walleye are usually fair. Warm surface. They go deep in the day; try evenings.
• Fall: walleye are usually at their best. Prime range. Low light is best, on reefs and weed edges.
• Winter: walleye are usually at their best. Good cool-water bite, best at dusk and after dark.

Before you go

A Arkansas fishing licence covers every lake here; the state fish and wildlife agency publishes the limits and any special rules lake by lake. Each lake page on LakeScope shows today's water temperature, the wind, the best bite times and a 3-D view of the bed, so check it the morning you go.