Bank Fishing Hot Spots in Arkansas

Almost half of Arkansas’ anglers fish from the bank, according to an Arkansas Game and Fish Commission survey conducted from a random sample of all fishing license holders. Arkansas boasts more than 600,000 acres of lakes and 90,000 miles of rivers and streams, providing ample opportunities for anglers to cast their lines from the bank.
Tips for bank fishing
Similar strategies apply whether you are fishing lakes or rivers. The primary strategy is to look for cover such as weed beds, downed trees and submerged logs. Make sure it is within casting distance.
All you need is a fishing rod (an inexpensive one works fine), sinker, bobber, bait (crickets and worms) or lures.
Where to Fish
— Below U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' dams.
— Gravel beds, where fish spawn.
— Lakes with fishing piers. Don’t just throw out into the open water. Fish love the shade the piers provide and use the pilings as cover.
— Shoreline buffer zones on AGFC lakes. Access those lakes and buffer strips from a public road or boat ramp, and you can walk around the lake fishing any spot you like.
— Where streams flow into other waterways, whether a lake or river, especially during spawning season.
Additionally, all Arkansas Game and Fish Commission accesses and fish attractors can be found using the AGFC’s interactive maps at www.agfc.com/en/resources/maps. In high-population areas of the state, take advantage of stocked local ponds and lakes that are part of the AGFC Family and Community Fishing Program.


Hot Spots
- Northwest: War Eagle Creek below War Eagle Mill and at Withrow Springs State Park are easy access points. Cast right before and after the fast water for catfish, bream, perch, bass and some stream-running walleye.
- North Central: Crooked Creek is a Blue Ribbon Smallmouth Bass Stream. Smallmouth bass fishing is usually best when the water temperature gets above 55 degrees. Fishing usually stays good from March through late October. Try Kelley’s access, which lies at a bend on Crooked Creek in Yellville. Just above the access is the Fred Berry Crooked Creek Nature Center.
- Upper Delta: Popular spots along Eleven Point River that are known for holding an abundance of fish are Greer Access, Whitten Access and Turner Mill Access. The confluence points where the Eleven Point meets its Spring River and Strawberry River tributaries are also worth your time.
- Lower Delta: Walk along the 4.8-mile riprapped levee at Cane Creek Lake and look for flooded timber and other cover that’s within casting distance. There is parking and easy access to fishing on the north side of the lake where Bayou Bartholomew meets Cane Creek. Fishing piers on the south shore at Cane Creek State Park hold plenty of fish.
- Central: Hit the shoreline of Lake Conway where U.S. Highway 89 crosses the south end of the lake. There’s plenty of room to fish within 50 feet of the pavement and space for up to 30 cars to park. Parking is also available at the end of Dam Road in Mayflower. Another good place to cast is by the dirt fishing jetty just downstream from the Lake Conway Dam.
- Southwest: Fish attractors and gravel spawning sites within easy casting distance around the White Oak Lakes make it a great place to target bream. One of the best crappie hot spots is the “Old Folks Hole,” which is just below the dam separating the upper and lower White Oak lakes. Both offer fish an abundance of structure and cover, including dead timber, cypress trees, riprap, lily pads, points, islands and submerged creek channels.
Find more Arkansas fishing information here: https://www.arkansas.com/articles/best-fishing-rivers-and-lakes-arkansas.
Get your license from the AGFC.