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  4. Catfish fishing in Arkansas

Catfish fishing in Arkansas

Arkansas provides excellent catfish fishing in rivers, lakes, and reservoirs statewide. Channel, blue, and flathead catfish grow large in arkansas, making it a favorite spot for bottom-fishing enthusiasts.

Best baits and lures for Catfish in Arkansas

According to catch data from over 20 million anglers on Fishbrain, these are the best baits used to catch Catfish.

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Biggest Catfish catches

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Latest Catfish fishing reports in Arkansas

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Blue catfish

Pool Nine

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Flathead catfish

Arkansas River (AR)

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Channel catfish

Conway Station Park

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Channel catfish

Conway Station Park

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Channel catfish

Conway Station Park

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Channel catfish

Hurricane Creek

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Channel catfish

Hurricane Creek

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Channel catfish

Lake Bentonville

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Blue catfish

Private Pond

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Channel catfish

Lake Conway Nursery Pond

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Regulations for Catfish 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 Channel catfish as of June 26th, 2026. To view regulations for a different fish species, please click on your preferred species in the drop-down.

Channel catfish

Seasons

Open

Bag limit

10

Aggregate

10
Additional information
No size limit. No closed season.
For area-specific regulations, see Arkansas special area-specific regulations.
Edibility
Synonyms

Ictalurus punctatus

Regulations for

34°45′6.7″N 92°07′54.3″W
Regulations in the map
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FAQ

🎣 What Catfish species can you catch in Arkansas?
Anglers in Arkansas commonly catch several Catfish species, including Channel catfish, Blue catfish, and Flathead catfish, according to reports from Fishbrain members.

These species can be found in many rivers and streams, lakes throughout the area. If you are targeting a specific species, you can use the to filter catches by species and see where anglers are catching them and which baits they are using.
📍 Where are the best places to catch Catfish in Arkansas?
Catfish are caught in rivers and streams, lakes throughout Arkansas. Popular fishing waters reported by Fishbrain members include Arkansas River (AR), Beaver Lake, and White River.

The allows anglers to see exact catch locations shared by other members, helping you discover productive fishing spots where Catfish have recently been caught.