Fishing in the Northern Arkansas & Ozarks Region
Explore fishing in the Northern Arkansas & Ozarks Region of Arkansas. Bull Shoals Lake Inlet, Norfork Lake, White River,
The inlet streams feeding Bull Shoals Lake offer good fishing for the region's target species.
1. Bull Shoals Lake Inlet (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass)
Bull Shoals Lake Inlet, ArkansasThe inlet streams feeding Bull Shoals Lake offer good fishing for the region's target species.
Boat Launch: Bull Shoals Lake Inlet →
2. Norfork Lake (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass)
Norfork Lake, ArkansasNorfork Lake offers excellent fishing in the Northern Arkansas & Ozarks with good public access and scenic surroundings.
- ⚠ This water: Black bass: 14 in minimum.
Boat Launch: Cranfield Marina →
3. White River (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass)
White River, ArkansasWhite River offers excellent fishing in the Northern Arkansas & Ozarks with good public access and scenic surroundings.
- ⚠ This water: Trout: 5/day statewide, 16 in minimum; special tailwater rules below Bull Shoals (see waterbody_rules).
4. Beaver Lake (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass)
Beaver Lake, ArkansasBeaver Lake offers excellent fishing in the Northern Arkansas & Ozarks with good public access and scenic surroundings.
- ⚠ This water: Black bass: 15 in minimum on upper reaches.
Boat Launch: Horseshoe Bend Marina →
5. Buffalo River (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass)
Buffalo River, ArkansasBuffalo River offers excellent fishing in the Northern Arkansas & Ozarks with good public access and scenic surroundings.
Boat Launch: Mt Hersey River Access Point →
6. Lake L11 (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass)
Lake L11, ArkansasLake L11 offers good fishing opportunities in the Northern Arkansas & Ozarks of Arkansas with scenic natural surroundings.
7. Bull Shoals Lake (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass)
Bull Shoals Lake, ArkansasPopular fishing lake in the Northern Arkansas & Ozarks Region region of Arkansas.
- ⚠ This water: Black bass: 15 in minimum on some arms (check guidebook).
8. Greers Ferry Lake (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass)
Greers Ferry Lake, ArkansasPopular fishing lake in the Northern Arkansas & Ozarks Region region of Arkansas.
- ⚠ This water: Black bass: 13-16 in protected slot (largemouth), walleye 20 in minimum.
9. Lake Dardanelle (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass)
Lake Dardanelle, ArkansasPopular fishing lake in the Northern Arkansas & Ozarks Region region of Arkansas.
- ⚠ This water: Black bass: 12 in minimum.
10. Lake Ouachita (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass)
Lake Ouachita, ArkansasPopular fishing lake in the Northern Arkansas & Ozarks Region region of Arkansas.
- ⚠ This water: Black bass: 13-16 in protected slot (largemouth/spotted), only 2 over 16 in; daily limit 6.
11. Ozark Lake (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass)
Ozark Lake, ArkansasPopular fishing lake in the Northern Arkansas & Ozarks Region region of Arkansas.
12. Bennetts River (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass)
Bennetts River, ArkansasPopular river fishing in the Northern Arkansas & Ozarks Region region of Arkansas.
13. Big Piney Creek (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass)
Big Piney Creek, ArkansasPopular river fishing in the Northern Arkansas & Ozarks Region region of Arkansas.
14. Buffalo National River (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass)
Buffalo National River, ArkansasPopular river fishing in the Northern Arkansas & Ozarks Region region of Arkansas.
Boat Launch: Ponca River Access Point →
15. Crooked Creek (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass)
Crooked Creek, ArkansasPopular river fishing in the Northern Arkansas & Ozarks Region region of Arkansas.
Boat Launch: Ozark River Access Point →
16. Current River (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass)
Current River, ArkansasPopular river fishing in the Northern Arkansas & Ozarks Region region of Arkansas.
Boat Launch: Bay Nothing Recreation Area →
17. Fourche La Fave River (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass)
Fourche La Fave River, ArkansasPopular river fishing in the Northern Arkansas & Ozarks Region region of Arkansas.
18. Glazypeau Creek (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass)
Glazypeau Creek, ArkansasPopular river fishing in the Northern Arkansas & Ozarks Region region of Arkansas.
19. Hickory Creek (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass)
Hickory Creek, ArkansasPopular river fishing in the Northern Arkansas & Ozarks Region region of Arkansas.
20. Kings River (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass)
Kings River, ArkansasPopular river fishing in the Northern Arkansas & Ozarks Region region of Arkansas.
Boat Launch: Ponca River Access Point →
21. Little Buffalo River (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass)
Little Buffalo River, ArkansasPopular river fishing in the Northern Arkansas & Ozarks Region region of Arkansas.
Boat Launch: Erbie River Access Point →
22. Little Red River (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass)
Little Red River, ArkansasPopular river fishing in the Northern Arkansas & Ozarks Region region of Arkansas.
- ⚠ This water: Trout: 5/day, 16 in minimum; special regs below Greers Ferry Dam (catch and release section).
23. Mulberry River (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass)
Mulberry River, ArkansasPopular river fishing in the Northern Arkansas & Ozarks Region region of Arkansas.
24. North Fork River (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass)
North Fork River, ArkansasPopular river fishing in the Northern Arkansas & Ozarks Region region of Arkansas.
25. Petit Jean River (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass)
Petit Jean River, ArkansasPopular river fishing in the Northern Arkansas & Ozarks Region region of Arkansas.
26. Point Remove Creek (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass)
Point Remove Creek, ArkansasPopular river fishing in the Northern Arkansas & Ozarks Region region of Arkansas.
27. Spring River (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass)
Spring River, ArkansasPopular river fishing in the Northern Arkansas & Ozarks Region region of Arkansas.
- ⚠ This water: Trout: 5/day, 16 in minimum (except certain sections).
28. Strawberry River (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass)
Strawberry River, ArkansasPopular river fishing in the Northern Arkansas & Ozarks Region region of Arkansas.
29. Rose Lake (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass)
Rose Lake, ArkansasNamed lake in the Northern Arkansas & Ozarks Region region of Arkansas.
30. Alix Pond (historical) (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass)
Alix Pond (historical), ArkansasNamed lake in the Northern Arkansas & Ozarks Region region of Arkansas.
31. Archer Lake (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass)
Archer Lake, ArkansasNamed lake in the Northern Arkansas & Ozarks Region region of Arkansas.
Boat Launch: Lake Ferguson Boatramp →
32. Arm Lake (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass)
Arm Lake, ArkansasNamed lake in the Northern Arkansas & Ozarks Region region of Arkansas.
33. Atkins Lake (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass)
Atkins Lake, ArkansasNamed lake in the Northern Arkansas & Ozarks Region region of Arkansas.
Boat Launch: Sheppard Island Boat Ramp →
34. Austin Brake (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass)
Austin Brake, ArkansasNamed lake in the Northern Arkansas & Ozarks Region region of Arkansas.
35. Bacon Lake (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass)
Bacon Lake, ArkansasNamed lake in the Northern Arkansas & Ozarks Region region of Arkansas.
36. Bailey Lake (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass)
Bailey Lake, ArkansasNamed lake in the Northern Arkansas & Ozarks Region region of Arkansas.
37. Bain Lake (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass)
Bain Lake, ArkansasNamed lake in the Northern Arkansas & Ozarks Region region of Arkansas.
38. Ball Lake (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass)
Ball Lake, ArkansasNamed lake in the Northern Arkansas & Ozarks Region region of Arkansas.
39. Bar Lake (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass)
Bar Lake, ArkansasNamed lake in the Northern Arkansas & Ozarks Region region of Arkansas.
40. Barbers Lake (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass)
Barbers Lake, ArkansasNamed lake in the Northern Arkansas & Ozarks Region region of Arkansas.
Fishing Tips for the Northern Arkansas & Ozarks Region
- Get a licence — All anglers need a valid state fishing licence — check your state's wildlife agency site.
- Check the weather & water conditions — always check forecasts and wind before heading out, especially on big water.
- Know the regulations — size and catch limits vary by water body in Arkansas; check the local regulations first.
- Best times — early morning and late evening are prime. Many Northern Arkansas & Ozarks Region waters fish best in spring and fall.
- Use the right gear — match your rod, line, and tackle to the species you're chasing and the water you're fishing.
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