Fishing in Arkansas (United States) ➡️️️️ Explore fishing spots and reports

Q: 📜 What are the fishing regulations in Arkansas, United States?

Fishing regulations in Arkansas, United States vary by region, species, and season. Rules may include size limits, bag limits, licensing requirements, and protected areas. Because regulations are managed locally and can change throughout the year, it's important to check the latest official guidance before fishing. To stay up to date and avoid guesswork, use the Fishbrain app to explore local rules, discover popular waters, and see what other anglers are catching across United States.

Fishing in Arkansas requires a valid state fishing license for anglers. Licenses include resident, non-resident, short-term, and combination options, available online and at authorized vendors.

In Arkansas, no fishing license is required for anglers under 16 or residents 65 and older. A few other exceptions worth knowing:

Free fishing days — most states designate 1–2 weekends a year where anyone can fish without a license
Tribal waters — tribal members fishing on tribal land operate under separate tribal regulations
Private ponds — landowners fishing their own water typically don't need a license

Non-residents usually pay more for a license than residents. Some species also require an extra stamp or endorsement on top of your base license.

Latest Arkansas fishing reports

Largemouth bass

War Eagle Creek

20 in · 6 lb

Lake Dieffenbacher

length · weight

Largemouth bass

Lake Dieffenbacher

length · weight

Bluegill

Wild Cat Crossing

11 in · 1 lb

Channel catfish

Ricewood Cove

length · weight

Spotted bass

South Fork Ouachita River

17 in · 3 lb

Green sunfish

Hot Springs Creek

8 in · 5 oz

Green sunfish

Hot Springs Creek

5 in · 2 oz

Spotted bass

South Fork Ouachita River

15 in · 2 lb 5 oz

Green sunfish

Hot Springs Creek

6 in · 3 oz

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Fishing regulations in Arkansas

Disclaimer: Always check local fishing regulations, water access rights and land ownership before fishing, regardless of any catches logged in that area by the Fishbrain community. Fishbrain has mapped millions of acres of government-owned land across the USA to help you identify potential fishing access, but you are responsible for ensuring compliance with all legal requirements.

Fishing regulations in Arkansas can change throughout the year. Make sure to check this page before fishing for the most up to date rules and regulations for the current season. Local regulations govern when you can fish, the max size of the fish you can keep, how many fish you can keep, and more.

Below you will see fishing regulations for catching Rainbow trout as of August 4th, 2026. To view regulations for a different fish species, please click on your preferred species in the drop-down.

Select species

Rainbow trout

Seasons

Open

Bag limit

Aggregate

Required licenses

A trout permit is required to fish for trout in certain waters (tailwaters below Beaver Lake, Bull Shoals Lake, Norfork Lake, Greers Ferry Lake, Lake Greeson or east of Highway 59 on Spavinaw Creek) or to keep trout from any Arkansas waters.

Additional information

As of October 16: The proclamation calls for catch-and-release of all trout in the 45 miles of tailwater below Bull Shoals Dam to the White River's confluence with the North Fork River (specifically to the boat ramp at Norfork Access), as well as catch-and-release only on the entirety of the Norfork Dam tailwater. The trout waters below the White River-North Fork River confluence, from the Norfork Access boat ramp to the Highway 58 bridge at Guion, will have a two-trout-only limit with normal length and daily limits (only one trout over 14 inches). Tackle restrictions for the regular Bull Shoals and Rim Shoals catch-and-release areas on the White and the usual Norfork catch-and-release area still apply (artificial tackle only, and barbless hooks).Under the order, anglers in those two tailwaters may keep two trout up to 14 inches in length and must release all other caught trout.More updates on this, please see here. For area-specific regulations, see Arkansas special area-specific regulations.

Edibility

Excellent

Synonyms

Oncorhynchus mykiss

Regulations for

34°44′9.6″N 92°19′52″W

Regulations in the map

FAQ about Arkansas fishing

📜 What are the fishing regulations in Arkansas, United States?

Fishing regulations in Arkansas, United States vary by location, species, and season. Rules may include size limits, bag limits, licensing requirements, and protected areas. Because regulations are managed locally and can change throughout the year, it's important to check the latest official guidance before fishing.

To stay up to date and avoid guesswork, use the to explore local rules, discover popular waters, and see what other anglers are catching across United States.

🐟 What are the best fish species to catch in Arkansas, United States?

Some of the most popular species anglers target in Arkansas, United States include Rainbow trout, Bluegill, and Channel catfish. The best species often depend on season, water type, and location within the country.

For more detailed, real-time insights, the shows which species are being caught near you and what baits are working best across United States.

🌊 Where are the top fishing spots in Arkansas, United States?

Some of the most popular fishing spots in Arkansas, United States include Arkansas River (AR), Beaver Lake, and White River. Anglers across the country fish a wide range of waters, with opportunities varying by region and season.

With the , you can explore local hotspots anywhere in United States, see recent catches, and find out what's working near you.

Fishing in Arkansas

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FAQ about Arkansas fishing