While Arkansas doesn't have an official state fish, here are some fish that are popular to catch in Arkansas. This article highlights the Largemouth Bass, Common Carp, Channel Catfish, Walleye and Trout. Quite a few world records were caught in Arkansas, also. A list of big sport fishing records are listed with weights or measurements.
Popular Fish to Catch in Arkansas
Many different kinds of fish can be found in the numerous lakes and rivers that are in Arkansas. Popular fish to catch are Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides), Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio carpio), Channel Catfish (Ictalurus punctatus), and the many trouts such as Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis), Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii clarkii), and Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). The Brown Trout (Salmo trutta) caught in the Little Red River in Arkansas is a world record.
Fishing Lakes and Rivers in Arkansas
According to the Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism, there are 600,000 acres of lakes and over 9,700 miles of streams in Arkansas state. The streams include the popular Mississippi River, Arkansas River, Buffalo National River, Sylamore Creek Little Missouri River, Litter Red River and the White and North Fork Rivers. The states reservoirs are also great to fish in. The lakes include Bull Shoals Lake, Greers Ferry Lake, Lake Conway, Lake Hamiliton and Lake Dardenelle.
Fishery Management
The state of Arkansas stocks trout, catfish and hybrid bass in various ponds, lakes and rivers. To ensure many years of fishing, Arkansas has a species managament plan for the following fish: Crappie, Larmemouth Bass, Striped Bass, Trout, Walleye and Saugeye. Management includes stocking, ensuring public access, maintaining and protecting water quality and physical habitats and gathering scientific data regarding the species fisheries.
Arkansas State Fishing Records
Here are some amazing Arkansas state fishing trophy records, and when they were caught.
- Hybrid Striped Bass (World Record) - 1997 at Greers Ferry Lake - 27 lbs. 5 oz.
- Ozark Bass (World Record) - 1997 at Bull Shoals Lake - 1 lb.
- Shadow Bass (World Record) - 1999 at Spring River - 1 lb. 13 oz.
- Striped Bass - 2000 at Beaver Lake Tailwaters - 64 lbs. 8 oz.
- Black Buffalo - 2001 at Lake Maumelle - 92 lbs. 8 oz.
- Smallmouth Buffalo - 1984 at Lake Hamilton - 68 lbs. 8 oz.
- Bighead Carb - 2007 at Arkansas River - 103 lbs. 8 oz.
- Common Carp - 1985 at Lake Hamilton - 53 lbs.
- Grass Carp - 2004 at Lake Wedington - 80 lbs.
- Flathead Catfish - 1989 at Arkansas River - 80 lbs.
- Alligator Gar - 1964 at Arkansas River - 215 lbs.
- Paddlefish - 2007 at Beaver Lake - 102 lbs. 8 oz.
- Brown Trout (World Record) - 1992 at Little Red River - 40 lbs. 4 oz.
- Walleye (World Record) - 1982 at Greers Ferry Lake - 22 lbs. 11 oz.
Source:
http://www.agfc.com/fishing/resources-fishing/fishing-records.aspx
For further reading of Arkansas fishing, here is a selection of books to try:
