The Caddo River also offers some of the best smallmouth bass fishing in Arkansas. Bream, crappie, catfish, striped bass, and largemouth bass can be caught in open waters or quiet coves. The combined in-state hatcheries produce over two million trout for Arkansas waters each year, making the program a national leader. So, when you finish fishing, you can enjoy the shoreline, stargaze, birdwatch, ride horses, visit natural attractions, or explore the many hiking trails available. Males arrive at spawning sites before the females. They grow at the same rate as native northern largemouth bass for their first three years, but then continue growing at a fast rate later in life as northern largemouths tend to lag behind. Nightcrawlers, minnows, and small baitfish are the best live baits to target walleye. Few Arkansas waters produce better walleye fishing than Greers Ferry, Bull Shoals and Ouachita. Stocking rates for large reservoirs range from 1 to 4 fish/acre. One very popular tactic is fishing a lead-head jig tipped with a lively night crawler. While many people already know about the wonder of this lake, others have never heard of it! But data didn't confirm any improvement. However, they wont fall for heavy lines. Coming on strong in recent years are walleye in Beaver Lake after they became scarce when the lake was completed in 1965 as a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers impoundment for flood control and electricity generating. Because of its popularity as a game and food fish, the walleye was introduced to many . Overall production of 1,065,982 walleye fingerlings were stocked in 15 waters. WALLEYE: Walleye stocking: 2005 - 260,144; 2004 - 173,354; 2003 - 171,594, 2002 - 313,214, 2001 - 336,878, 2000 - 347,465, 1999 - 334,878. . Watch us as we travel to Royal, Arkansas to Lake Ouachita (Brady Mountain) on our annual Walleye fishing trip. Fishing for walleye in Arkansas. If all goes well, nearly 600,000 fingerlings will be produced. View a list of previous year's Bass Slam anglers: those who have caught 5 of 10 Georgia black bass species. Ive never really understood this. For instance, spotted bass stays in deeper springs than largemouth bass even in waters 40 feet deep. During early spring, walleye are at their easiest to catch because they move to shallow gravel flats to spawn. However, there are no lifeguards at their disposal. A relatively small catfish with an average weight of less than a pound, bullhead is cheap to conquer. Today, eleven lakes receive annual stockings of walleye. The deepest spot is 200 feet, and its near Blakely Dam. This allows the jigs to stay in one position and wiggle rather than move with any undercurrent. Walleye Fishing Walleye ( Sander vitreus) is a member of the perch family. position: relative; Lake Ouachita. Fish & Wildlife Service stock streams with rainbow, brown and brook trout from lateMarch through October. This lake is an exciting destination for scuba diving enthusiasts. Lake Ouachita is located in Garland and Montgomery Counties,Arkansas,13 miles west ofHot Springs, Arkansas. But using bright jigs at night often help the walleye see them, and eventually after patience the walleye will go after the jig. We recommend stocking 300-500 per surface acre in ponds with walleye as the primary game fish. Good spots to target include areas around East and West Sugarloaf creeks, Big Creek and Brushy, Charley, Trimble, Big Music and Little Music creeks. . Every walleye stocked in Michigan comes from the native populations of Lake Michigan and Muskegon Lake. Anotherfederal fish hatchery, constructed below Greers Ferry Dam, raises rainbow and brook trout for the Little Red and other streams in the Ozarks. The middle Ouachita River from Remmel Dam that forms Lake Catherine downstream past Malvern to Arkadelphia is another walleye area. Use live lure, chugger plugs, small spinners, jigs, or plastic worms to lure them. Around the lake, you can find a variety of wildlife, tree, and plant species as the lake is immersed in 1.8 acres of the picturesque Ouachita National Forest. The walleyes low ranking as a Natural State sport fish has nothing to do with taste, either. Its good to note that they hibernate during winter. As the cold air takes over Ouachita, chain pickerels become more active. However, few anglers in the Natural State target walleye because these fish spend most of their time in deep water or feeding at night. All are in the Pocahontas vicinity although the walleye areas extend well upstream from the Randolph County seat. You can find largemouth, smallmouth, and Kentucky spotted bass. It would help to consider the fishs seasonal movement patterns when fishing striped bass. Discover all the details in this years Arkansas Fishing Guidebook, issued by the AGFC (Arkansas Game & Fish Commission) to ensure you dont break any laws. Learn more. The stocking breakdown: . LAKE CASCADE A research team concluded the walleye caught in Lake Cascade in May 2022 was not born in the reservoir and was illegally put there roughly two years before it was caught. Most trophy fish awards have come from Lake Saltonstall and Squantz Pond. A number of lakes and rivers in the state have walleye, and the best known fishery is in Greers Ferry Lake in north-central Arkansas. This year, $6,000 was raised for 2,200 five-to-seven inch walleye. Lures that stay on or near the bottom are best to use when targeting walleye, which wont necessarily bite your offering unless its down at their level. The Southern Eye Slip-bobber fishing method. Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. Fish the deep holes using big shiners or soft plastic lures near the bottom. Lake Ouachita Fish Species: Largemouth Bass Spotted Bass Smallmouth Bass Striped Bass White Bass Channel Catfish Blue Catfish Flathead Catfish Redear Sunfishl Bluegill Crappie Walleye See The Fishing Tool Set Lake Ouachita Guides Recommend Daily Limit: The total limit of a certain fish species that may be taken in 1 day. See The Fishing Tool Set Lake Ouachita Guides Recommend. Lakes stocked with Walleye fry - Spring 2016 These lakes are stocked with Walleye fry according to their respective management plan in order to maintain or improve Walleye numbers. Fishing wood can be tricky, heavy effectively imitate native baitfish with their flash and wobble. To catch these marble-eyed beauties, you need to target the specific lakes and streams where walleyes are known to be abundant. This is traditionally an area where aquatic vegetation grew well, offering additional cover for the fingerlings and baitfish. Lake Hamilton was formed in 1932 by the creation . The best time for flathead fishing is from March to May. Copyright 2023, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. Walleye eggs are very adhesive and stick well to the gravel bottom. If you're looking to fish lakes, however, there are also plenty of great options. He released it after this photo was taken. Hybrids also exist but are currently out of stock. Channel Parents guard eggs after spawning, which happens from May to July. Naturalized walleye populations supported a limited seasonal fishery for many years. Black Basses (including not more than four Smallmouth) 10, Trout (including not more than: 2 brown trout, 2 cutthroat trout, 2 brook trout) 5. Arkansas also has lots of rivers that have excellent walleye fishing. In late February to early March, below the dam is a great place to start walleye fishing. As a testimony to the success of this program, walleye has become a bucket list species for a growing number of folks. Most anglers dont target this species, which makes them perfect for beginners and families with children. The second is that the walleye are in their wintering spots, deeper holes in the river, to prepare to spawn. Located near Mountain Home, Bull Shoals Lake has a longer history as a great bass lake but recently become a walleye hotspot; if you want to catch bigguns, visit this lake. Its good to note that they hibernate during winter. Some rivers have good public access, while others require a boat to reach the best spots. Schools of gizzard shad come close to shore from late-September through November, and walleye follow them in. Take black bass, for example. In the lake shallow rocky shorelines provide ideal spawning habitat. They can be stocked everywhere from high-mountain lakes and streams to valley reservoirs and even into the fisheries in our towns and cities. It is important to put your offering at the right level and keep it there throughout the length of your retrieve or troll. Other fish stocked for recreational reasons include brook trout, Arctic grayling, walleye and channel catfish. Also, largemouth bass should be a minimum of 13 inches long for you to keep it, while smallmouths should be a minimum of 10 inches long. For more information, visit www.mountainharborresort.com. All rights reserved. Trolling with deep-diving crankbaits tops the list for many summer anglers. Munching other fish Using minnows and small bluegill are two of the best ways to target big walleye with live bait. These fish are not that picky about food, so you can lure them with vibrating jigs, crankbaits, or spinnerbaits. It jumps out of the water when its hooked and is more vulnerable to larger lures. Remember, Lake Ouachita is a complex lake with a diverse world underwater. Since there are only 9 cabins, you must book early as they get packed even before the season starts. That, and staying vertical is critical in the presence of so much lumber. Youll need a kayak, canoe, or jet boat to access the best spots. Although resilient, they are worth the fight. Please visit one of our walleye lakes and get in on the fast action and excellent table fare that these fish provide! When the second half of February arrives, its walleye time in Arkansas. We have seen an increase in the Florida genetics in Rabbittail, so we are hoping the addition of the nursery pond stocking will help spread Florida bass through more of the lake.. height: 100%; Dont forget that the scenic Ouachita National Forest surrounds the lake. WALL = Walleye NRPK = Northern Pike PLPL = Pit Lakes . The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission's mission is to conserve and enhance Arkansas's fish and Its also advisable to make a game plan beforehand so you know what type of fishing gear to use on your trip. They grow to a large size, can be caught throughout the year using a variety of techniques, and are known for their exquisite flavor. Another Ozark Mountains hot spot is Bull Shoals Lake. There are various license types, from daily and annual ones to residential and non-residential ones. You can hunt for striper in open water areas, bass in creeks, and walleye in humps and ledges. No, indeed. The Lower Kings River is walleye country too, meaning the last several miles of the river in Arkansas in Carroll County and stretching into Missouri to meet Table Rock Lake. When using jigs, throw them at night and wait for the walleye to react. Walleye. The AGFC began stocking Florida bass in Lake Ouachita and DeGray Lake in 2007 and 2006 respectively, in response to requests from area anglers. 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