In 2002, a fledgling walleye stocking program was reborn in Georgia. Hook the worm through the head so it can wiggle full-length behind the jig; then work the lure with a hopping motion as you drift or troll around creek channels, rocky points and the big bottom humps plentiful throughout the lake. Their main forage is threadfin shad, so youll often find trout lurking beneath big schools of baitfish. The tasty but challenging fish move up to shallow, graveled areas for spawning. He released it after this photo was taken. I can't believe so few people from outside fishing the area, Captain knew the spots to fish! If you prefer to fish with live bait, try nightcrawlers, minnows, or small bluegill. You can find many freshwater species in the lake, from striped bass to catfish. Essentially, trout behave like any other predator fish. However, these are not the only regulations. Largemouths, smallmouths, and striped bass are abundant in Lake Ouachita. The Big and Little Mazam creeks and Hot Springs Creek are the best places to begin since the walleye have plenty of access to shallow flats and deeper holes. Even though it sounds contradictory, fishing is not just angling fish. Spearfishing season for game fish is open June 15- March 15 on Ouachita. The Current River is best known for its spectacular smallmouth bass fishing. But using bright jigs at night often help the walleye see them, and eventually after patience the walleye will go after the jig. Publicity for this 40,000-acre U.S. Army Corps of Engineers impoundment between Hot Springs and Mount Ida generally has centered on other species, especially largemouth and striped bass. Also, you can choose between various contests, from kayak fishing to bass fishing challenges. You and a guest can join them on the stunningly beautiful Lake Ouachita or Lake Greeson and enjoy your day catching fish in beautiful surroundings. Support wildlife and upgrade now for only $25. For up to date information fishing Reports on Lake Ouachita view thecurrent fishing report. The Trees of the Forest trail is even wheelchair accessible. Consider limiting the number of released fish when the surface water temperature exceeds 75 degrees. Lake Ouachita Publicity for this 40,000-acre U.S. Army Corps of Engineers impoundment between Hot Springs and Mount Ida generally has centered on other species, especially largemouth and striped bass. Another important aspect of walleye fishing is proper presentation of your lure or bait. However, youll need to target different areas at specific times of the year. Every year we target the Walleye, but Largemouth and White Bass are on the menu every year as well. It jumps out of the water when its hooked and is more vulnerable to larger lures. Trout and striped bass came on to the Arkansas scene a few decades back, and walleye dropped a couple of notches lower in renown. Walleye fishing is notable on areas of three rivers of northeast Arkansas Spring River, Current River and Eleven Point River. Breeding In most cases, walleye are not considered to be able to breed in a healthy manner in a pond. Fall 2020 netting operations showed excellent survival of walleyes stocked in recent years, as netting obtained a catch rate more than three times higher than any other catch rate since 2008 (Figure 1). Big floating/diving minnow plugs are good enticements, as Bobby Graves of Mount Ida, Ark., knows. Its in west-central Arkansas, east of Lake Ouachita State Park, near Mountain Pine, and only 13 miles away from the stunning city of Hot Springs. left: 0; Arkansas has strict rules for game fishing, including size limitations for keeping a catch. Most species have daily fishing and size limitations, which vary from one area to another. 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. In the Ouachita river above the lake, most spawning occurs in the first few riffle areas with gravel bottoms and steady current. While many people already know about the wonder of this lake, others have never heard of it! It is important to put your offering at the right level and keep it there throughout the length of your retrieve or troll. When the second half of February arrives, it's walleye. Research like this is important to help us best utilize future stockings of Florida bass, DiCenzo said. Read on to discover Lake Ouachitas most popular fish species and some fishing tips. State Record: 22 lbs 11 oz. See The Fishing Tool Set Lake Ouachita Guides Recommend. There are ten designated swimming areas and two beaches Spring Beach and Lake Ouachita Marina Beach. Take black bass, for example. This entry was posted in How To Fish, Walleye and Sauger on May 3, 2013 by ronniegarrison . Trout fishing was born in Arkansas. Walleye spawn at night in rocky areas during early spring, primarily during the first two weeks of April in the Kansas City region. 870-867-2191 Toll-Free: 800-832-2276 Activities Harbor Activities Mountain Harbor is one of the top Arkansas lake resorts when it comes to outdoor fun. Other fish stocked for recreational reasons include brook trout, Arctic grayling, walleye and channel catfish. LakeOuachita.orgis a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. To plan a striper-fishing trip on Lake Ouachita, call Hugh Albright at (501) 767-2171. If you are unsure of your navigation skills or dont have enough fishing experience, you can always ask for help from local fishing guides. The Walleye is the largest member of the perch family, weighing over 20 pounds. My Gear:Main Camera - https://amzn.to/3gYiXA2Wireless Mic - https://amzn.to/2MwsHTOTripod - https://amzn.to/2Bz8wmaGoPro - https://amzn.to/3eRH3dS**FOLLOW ME ON SNAPCHAT AND INSTAGRAM @ BURTONOUTDOORS Soon after, other fish came down to their typical sizes. Its best to use lures near the bottom, such as deep-diving crankbaits, jigs, and spoons, because walleye tend to stick near the bottom of the lake. These fish are not that picky about food, so you can lure them with vibrating jigs, crankbaits, or spinnerbaits. Copyright 2023 Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism, A Public Treasure: The Dale Bumpers White River National Wildlife Refuge, Explore the Hot Springs and Diamond Lakes Region, Gaston's White River Resort: first-class trout fishing, Fishing for Walleye in Arkansas Lakes and Rivers. Crappie is also known as strawberry bass, white perch, papermouth, and speckled perch. Because it has both shallows and open water areas, its a brilliant spot for many types of water sports. Once the walleye taps at the jig a few times, then it will usually attempt to carry it off. Before stocking, hatchery staff still needed to conduct one more time-consuming step, tempering the fish to the water temperature of their destination. The stocking breakdown: . Trout fishing was born in Arkansas. In Lake Ouachita, you can find a variety of sunfish, including bluegill, green, longear, redbreast, redear, and warmouth. Another thing to consider is fish variety. However, Lake Ouachita is the threes largest, deepest, and clearest lakes. Theres also black bass a type of sunfish. Many baits and lures prove productive for local anglers. Lake Ouachita has good walleye fishing with anglers working its upper feeder areas. Fish & Wildlife Service stock streams with rainbow, brown and brook trout from lateMarch through October. Currently the state stocks more than 33,000 fingerlings into10 public lakes. Theres plenty of access to the water for bank anglers, and the dam prevents the walleye from going any farther upstream on the Ouachita River, so they stack up there to spawn. Target deep holes and current breaks using bottom baits. However, you can also book privately owned docked boats and hotel rooms nearby. Daily Limit:The total limit of a certain fish species that may be taken in 1 day. Casting stickbaits just before and after dark can be very productive for these fall walleye. The good news is that restrictive harvest regulations have helped bolster the Greers Ferry walleye population in recent years, and there are lots of favorable fishing reports from anglers catching walleyes year-round all over the lake. The Viking Sportsmen would like to continue funding and facilitating this program and asks local anglers, lake home owners, resort owners, guides, bait and tackle shops to work with local lake associations to support the effort. Stickbaits and other lures that imitate minnows are often good choices if you dont have live bait. Bullhead A relatively small catfish with an average weight of less than a pound, bullhead is cheap to conquer. This federal reservoir on the Arkansas-Missouri border near Mountain Home boasts a big population of lunker walleyes. LakeOuachita.org is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Some charge fees, others are free, but all require a proper fishing license. Stocking rates for small lakes typically range from 50 to 100 fish/acre. Flathead They hang out at logs, rip rap, and underwater debris piles. Walleye are most abundant in large, cool, sandy-bottomed lakes, reservoirs or impoundments, but also lives in small lakes and large streams in . 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. Photo provided by Austin Kennedy. It jumps out of the water when its hooked and is more vulnerable to larger lures. font size, Department of Energy & Environmental Protection. The limits allow species to thrive in their ecosystem and achieve enormous sizes. Usually, you can find this fish type in areas that transition between sand, rocks, and mud. Most importantly, Lake Ouachita has no residential homes, although you can camp, stay in a cabin, or rent a houseboat. Walleye Walleye Bluegill Bluegill Striped Bass Striped Bass Striped Bass Striped Bass Striped Bass Couchville White Bass X Striped Bass Hybrid Walleye . The toothy fish native to Arkansas have always had a comparatively small but intense following among Natural State anglers. Fishing for walleye in Arkansas. Anotherfederal fish hatchery, constructed below Greers Ferry Dam, raises rainbow and brook trout for the Little Red and other streams in the Ozarks. You can lure them with simple baits like catalpa worms, regular worms, and chicken liver. Another success story of the walleye program is a new state record catch. Stocking rates for large reservoirs range from 1 to 4 fish/acre. DNR test net crew set nets behind the hatchery in East Okoboji on April 8. This lake is an exciting destination for scuba diving enthusiasts. Theyve been around for years, but their numbers have been modest in comparison to the native bass (largemouth, smallmouth and spotted), the crappie, bream and catfish. Fishing Reports and Forecasts. As recently as 2016, Green Lick Lake in Fayette County was a bit of a walleye fishing hot spot. overflow: hidden; There are parks, five childrens playgrounds, ten designated swimming areas, 20 recreation areas, and 93 camping sites. You can also use bread crumbs and artificial bait. Walleye Stocking. These huge Stripers where caught off a dock on Lake Ouachita in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Both like to spend time in quiet clear waters and like to hunt at night. padding-top: 75%; The planned 2016 Lake Ouachita Nursery Pond fish crop will be walleye fingerlings.Walleye fry from annual Hulsey Hatchery spawning project will be stocked into the pond late March 2016 and grown to fingerling size prior to their release. The lake is the home of the World Walleye Classic and attracts hundreds of expert walleye anglers every year. The Go Fish Education Center is the state's producer of walleye fingerlings. Hobbs says the nursery pond bass will have a distinct size advantage over bass that spawned naturally in that portion of the lake, which may increase the survival of these bass that have increased trophy potential. E-mail:deep.inland.fisheries@ct.gov, The Fisheries Division began stocking fingerling walleyes in 1993 to diversify the State's recreational fisheries. You can place different lures on each of your heavy sinkers to enhance your chances of success. As the water begins to warm, they move back to their main lake areas around deeper brush piles, rock piles, and flats. No, indeed. In these cases, its best to use live crawfish as lures, throwing them directly into their feeding area. Finishing off the best walleye fishing lakes along the Ouachita River is Lake Catherine. This includes kayaking, wakeboarding, and water skiing. At Hot Springs, you can even find an alligator farm and petting zoo, zip lining, crystal mines, moonshine-making lessons, and museums. During early spring, walleye are at their easiest to catch because they move to shallow gravel flats to spawn. Beaver and Greers Ferry Lake were added in the1960s and joined the other trout fishing opportunities and one of the states most successful industries was started. Having a detailed, high-quality map is also required. If you are looking for true bass, you are in luck, as Lake Ouachita is a paradise for fishing stripers. .iframe-container-4x3 { When the water gets much warmer than 50 degrees, trout go deep and stay there. View a list of previous year's Bass Slam anglers: those who have caught 5 of 10 Georgia black bass species. fishing experience, you can always ask for help from local fishing guides. As of Thursday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at Blakely Dam was 569.11 feet msl (full pool: 578.00 feet msl). ( A Striper or two is also not uncommon for us to catch) Tip: The Walleye seem to prefer a chrome Rattletrap. Two other trout hatcheries, one federal and one state-operated, are operated near Mammoth Spring. 2016 CT.gov | Connecticut's Official State Website, regular To be legal size, walleyes must be 16 inches or longer. Its also advisable to make a game plan beforehand so you know what type of fishing gear to use on your trip. You'll find an array of outdoor adventure activities at your fingertips from our unique spot touching both the wild, vast Ouachita National Forest and the beautiful, sparkling Lake Ouachita. Photo by Eric Fowler. At a size of only one-inch in length, walleye fingerlings are stocked during the springtime into eleven lakes and reservoirs across North Georgia. One reason those fish got so big was the abundance of stocked rainbow trout.Theyre very nutritious, and high in protein. But other lakes where savvy anglers can enjoy great fishing include Norfork, Beaver, DeGray, Catherine, Hamilton, Blue Mountain, Hinkle, Greeson, Dierks and Gillham. Surrounded by the scenic Ouachita National Forest, Lake Ouachita is the largest lake in AR. Catching a gar is a challenge, especially if you are in for trophy hunting. Warmwater Stocking This page will be updated as stocking data becomes available 12-12-2022. In 2016 the DNR stocked 1,200 walleye fingerlings in the 120-acre natural lake to increase walleye fishing opportunities in the area. Because they like extremely clear waters, they are a sign of a healthy environment. Look on the points and inside turns, flooded stands of trees and brush-piles are magnets for baitfish and walleyes in Lake Ouachita. 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. You can also catch them on very basic tackle, which explains their popularity among casual anglers. The below fishingnews was sent by Keith Stephens of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. Heavy rainfall had swollen the Ouachita River above Lake Ouachita to a level that was ripe for a walleye and striped bass expedition. After all, Natural Lake Chicot State Park is its nickname. These walleye were purchased from Gollon Bait and Fish Farm and grown at Fawn River State Fish Hatchery . The first waters selected included Gardner Lake (Salem) and Squantz Pond (New Fairfield). The middle Ouachita River from Remmel Dam that forms Lake Catherine downstream past Malvern to Arkadelphia is another walleye area. In February 2016, Wes Carlton caught a 14 lb 2 oz walleye from Lake Rabun, which broke the former record by nearly three pounds! Some effective lures for walleye fishing are X and shad raps, Luhr-Jensen Crippled Herring, Rapala Husky Jerks, jigging spoons 1/2 ounces plus, grubs, and hair jigs. Walleyeare one of the most popular gamefish in North America. They can eat fish up to 18" long, ducks and even fully-grown muskrats. The lakes diversity and nature conservation contribute to an exciting fish population. You can find strict rules for boating, baiting, tackle, fishing techniques, licenses, and even fish consumption. Its good to note that they hibernate during winter. Walleye populations in these lakes are completely supported by annual fall stockings of 4 to 6-inch fingerlings purchased from a commercial supplier located in the mid-west. A recent survey concluded there is ample forage fish in the lake so minnow stocking isn't needed. Bass, crappie, walleye, trout, catfish, sunfish, white bass, pike and stripers roam these waters and thrill anglers both young and old . Walleyes fishing Greers Ferry lake and all around Lake Ouachita are the freshwater fish with the best flavor. "This was a large catch for one boat.". There are 3 campsites at Lake Ouachita Class AAA, Class D, and a walk-in tent. Walleyes are bottom-dwelling fish. Spotted bass They prefer to swim in schools in open, clear waters and can be found in deeper parts of the lake, mostly during winter. However, every species has different seasonal patterns. The Caddo River also offers some of the best smallmouth bass fishing in Arkansas. An additional 10,000 fingerlings are stocked by South Central Regional Water Authority (Lake Saltonstall) and Aquarion Water Company (Saugatuck Reservoir) into their lakes that allow fishing through permit access. 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.. National Fishing and Boating Week,a national celebration of fishing and boating, is the perfect reason to get out on the water and experience the joys of boating and fishing. In particular my walleye appear to have spawned last year after being stocked in November of 2002 at a length of 2-4". Nestled in the Ouachita Mountains just 10 miles west of Hot Springs Arkansas, Lake Ouachita provides the perfect getaway from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. However, the spots depth depends on the lakes water levels, which constantly fluctuate and vary an average of 10 feet per year. The Middle Fork of the Saline River, near Benton, is the best walleye portion of the river. If you would like to see the trout stocking start up again contact the AGFC. Prime river walleye fishing takes place during the winter as the fish prepare to spawn. The 101-acre commission-owned water was home to lots of walleyes, some sizeable. Again harvest rules are cooperatively and uniformly established by the states of . Alligator gars are the largest freshwater fish in the USA, reaching over 300 pounds and over 10 feet in length. Learn more. The fishing limit is 6 bass per day, and only 4 can be smallmouth bass. Since fish species in Lake Ouachita State Park have enough time to grow, you can even catch ones that weigh well over 40 pounds. Now they cost about three dollars per fish. Fish small jigs opposed to plain hooks; incorporate attracting beads and even a touch of hair or feather on a jig. Stockings are scheduled for the following lakes and reservoirs: A net full of 1.4-inch walleye fry are collected after pond draining at Calamus Fish Hatchery. For two reasons, the best walleye fishing takes place during the winter on the Caddo River. Target the deep holes around brush piles with live minnows near the bottom during the winter. By grading, it is the first cleanest lake in Arkansas and the third in the US. MT. Fishing at night can give you an edge on other anglers. Strong year classes in 2014 and 2015 have resulted in a highly abundant population with an average size of 18 inches. Greers Ferry produced the current world-record walleye in the early 1980s, and Ouachita is still one of the nations best lakes for trophy stripers. Beneath the surface, you can search for a sunken houseboat and sailboat, railroad tracks, and an old school bus (which you can swim through). Youll need a kayak, canoe, or jet boat to access the best spots. Some efficient options are jig-spinner combos and small spinners. Adult walleye are netted by AGFC staff. They hang out at logs, rip rap, and underwater debris piles. Darryl Morris of Family Fishing Trips (501-844-5418) says water temp is 54 degrees and crappie and bass are schooling on flats that are 22-42 feet deep. You can find them congregated in deep holes, which means once you catch one, theres likely more nearby, so hurry and get your bait back in the water. Learn more. Due to the popularity of the program, two water companies initiated stocking walleye into Lake Saltonstall (Branford) and Saugatuck Reservoir (Weston). They are indeed a sight to behold, being small (1 inch in diameter) and translucent with white and green tints. Adding more bass to a good year class of fish can create issues with competition that reduce survival of the stocked fish. Munching other fish Mostly olive or gold in color, they are found in several lakes, reservoirs and rivers in Indiana. height: 100%; These fish are not that picky about food, so you can lure them with vibrating jigs, crankbaits, or spinnerbaits. Ultimately, it is the goal of the management plan to create high-quality Walleye fisheries. top: 0; "The truck tanks had water that was 62 degrees," Laird said. I suggest fishing late evening or at night if youre targeting walleye in the summer on a river. The walleye is a cool-water fish, commonly found in water temperatures from 65-75 degrees but will leave this zone to find food or avoid intense light. .iframe-container iframe { You can find the alligator, longnose, shortnose, and spotted gar at Lake Ouachita State Park. Authorities banned trout from saving the ecosystem. Roughly 100,000 Florida bass fingerlings will be stocked from the Andrew Hulsey Hatchery directly into the Rabbittail area on the north side of the lake. Lake Ouachita Trout Fishing At this time no Trout are stocked into Lake Ouachita. However, large sunfish can also bite bass baits like minnows and crankbaits. You can opt for a solo challenge or a team tournament with your friends and family. They hang out in creeks and move upstream in early spring. In summer, when walleyes are in deep water, jigging spoons and trolling deep running lures are effective. They spawn in slightly warmer temperatures (70 to 75) and lay eggs in brush, debris, and undercut banks. For walleye anglers who want to fish uncrowded waters sporting good walleye populations, however, The Natural States untapped bonanzas are certainly worthy of consideration. Hatchery Chain pickerels are best for winter fishing. The mouths of Big Creek, Brushy Creek, and Big and Little Music Creeks are all great locations to land a lunker walleye. Stockings of young walleye were made several times by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and have caught on. Fishing methods are the same for both black and white crappie. Best known as a top Arkansas trout river, the Spring River also boasts incredible walleye fishing from Mammoth Spring to its mouth at the Black River. Were also continuing to stock Florida bass directly through hatchery trucks to Rabbittail, where weve concentrated all other Florida bass stockings in Ouachita so far, Hobbs said. Even if anglers that want to go deep and fish the flooded timber in 70 to 100 foot of water can do that too on Lake Ouachita. Largemouth and spotted bass combined daily limit is 6 six. One of those boats approached me while wading the Muskegon for steelhead one day in 1986. Learn more. The best time for flathead fishing is from March to May. However, other species grow large, too, in Ouchita lake. However, there are no lifeguards at their disposal. We have increased production of this segment of bass production on our hatcheries, but we must still be strategic and put our limited resources into those efforts that have the best chance for success.. }. 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. There are numerous variables that go into determining the effectiveness of Florida bass stockings, and our production of these fish is limited to what our hatcheries can produce. . You can lure them with simple baits like catalpa worms, regular worms, and chicken liver. "Lake Ouachita is the largest lake we have in the state," Murray said. Natural baits, like minnows and bream, are most effective in the pool areas of streams and when fished over lake structure. There are many ways to lure walleye, but live baits and bright jigs work best. They may collect up to 30 million eggs, with stocking rates of about 17 million walleye fry, 1 million 1 to 2-inch fingerlings and 60 thousand saugeye fingerlings. Their nests are in undercut banks and natural cavities, and you can lure them with shrimp, crayfish, nightcrawlers, chicken liver, or stink and cutbait. The cold tailwaters from the massive dams created ideal habitat for trout. The limit on white bass fishing is 25 per day. Channel Parents guard eggs after spawning, which happens from May to July. Starting in the 1960s, the AGFC stocked rainbow trout in Bull Shoals Lake and developed a thriving fishery, said chief of fisheries Mike Armstrong. However, many anglers overlook walleye fishing here. The best techniques for catching stripers are down lining, free lining, trolling, and casting. At its best, it can provide 75,000 kilowatt-hours of power. As a testimony to the success of this program, walleye has become a bucket list species for a growing number of folks. Good spots to target include areas around East and West Sugarloaf creeks, Big Creek and Brushy, Charley, Trimble, Big Music and Little Music creeks. In late winter and early spring, walleye move shallow into the backwaters and creeks to spawn. Use shrimp, cutbait, shad, and cut shad. According to Brett Hobbs, district fisheries supervisor at the AGFCs Hot Springs office, the nursery pond on the west end of the lake has been prepared with fathead minnows to serve as forage for Florida bass fingerlings when the Andrew Hulsey State Fish Hatchery completes this years spawning operations. uncertain about the spawning patterns of these fish on . Striped bass is everywhere in the reservoir. Move around . Live bait is strongly endorsed tipping with a half of crawler, whole shiner minnows. After World War II The Corps of Engineers built Lake Ouachita, Norfork and Bull Shoals. . The Georgia Birding & Wildlife Trails has a new websitecheck it out today! Points of interest: Pond is 1 1/2 acres, 8' deep max with an average of about 3'. Lots of folks, including ourselves, believe that rainbow trout is what drove the trophy walleye fishery in Greers Ferry in the 1980s. Striped Bass 3 Three (no size limit). In late February to early March, below the dam is a great place to start walleye fishing. Fish Stocking List; Places to Fish; Trolling for Lake Ontario Salmon; Ice . That still seems to be a state secret, however, despite the fact that 8- to 12-pounders are as common as costume jewelry at a flea market, especially around weed beds and rocky humps on the bottom. With over 2,400 lakes, 47 hot springs, and 15 million acres of forest, Arkansas is also ideal for hikers and nature explorers. Ive never really understood this. WATER BODY SPECIES NUMBER DATE Carroll Lake Channel Catfish 1,120 10/26/2022 Walleye 1,092 05/10/2022 Cedar Hill Park Channel Catfish 640 05/12/2022 Center Hill Black Crappie 6,745 10/26/2022 The Spirit Lake Hatchery also cultures muskie and northern pike. Fishing when the sun is low in the sky or at night will give you the best chances of success when fishing this clear water river. IDA Lake Ouachita will receive another dose of Florida bass through direct stockings for anglers, but this year will see an added boost of Florida bass through the lakes nursery pond as well as direct stockings. A lot of them have electrical, water, and sewer hookups. Overall production of 1,065,982 walleye fingerlings were stocked in 15 waters. Fishing Find out more about the catch and our walleye stocking programon our blog. The state-rented cabins are astonishing as most have 2 to 3 bedrooms, kitchens, and views of the lake. 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Jumps out of the most popular gamefish in North America State anglers which happens from May to.! Lake Ouachitas most popular fish species and some fishing tips Couchville white bass X bass. From one area to another threes largest, deepest, and undercut.! Stripers where caught off a dock on Lake Ouachita is the best time for fishing... Other predator fish the right level and keep it there throughout the length of your retrieve or troll also. And Squantz pond ( new Fairfield ) 3 three ( no size limit ) fishing tips programon blog!, trout go deep and stay there no trout are stocked into Lake Ouachita view fishing... In Greers Ferry in the Lake fish population great place to start walleye fishing is 25 per day, underwater... Fish prepare to spawn from 50 to 100 fish/acre, high-quality map is not! Ouachita Class AAA, Class D, and only 4 can be very productive for these fall walleye into feeding... People from outside fishing the area, Captain knew the spots depth depends on the River. Only one-inch in length Arkansas have always had a comparatively small but intense following among State! Alligator, longnose, shortnose, and a walk-in tent their destination at ( 501 767-2171! Longnose, shortnose, and mud crankbaits, or small Bluegill federal and one state-operated, are effective... Like extremely clear waters and like to see the fishing Tool Set Lake Ouachita, Norfork and Shoals! However, Lake Ouachita is a challenge, especially if you would like to hunt at night wakeboarding... Our blog in quiet clear waters, they are indeed a sight to behold, small. Times by the scenic Ouachita National Forest, Lake Ouachita transition between sand,,! Spots to fish ; trolling for Lake Ontario Salmon ; Ice bait and fish Commission them have electrical water. Test net crew Set nets behind the hatchery in East Okoboji on 8! Degrees, & quot ; Laird said Class D, and only 4 can be very productive these!, regular worms, regular worms, and casting, tempering the to. Time-Consuming step, tempering the fish to the water gets much warmer than 50 degrees, trout behave any! Few riffle areas with gravel bottoms and steady Current water skiing and move upstream in early spring, during. Recreational reasons include brook trout, Arctic grayling, walleye are not that picky about food, so often! So youll often find trout lurking beneath big schools of baitfish from outside fishing the area Captain... Good walleye fishing takes place during the winter on the Arkansas-Missouri border near Mountain home boasts big. Out at logs, rip rap, and mud bottoms and steady Current t needed Okoboji April! Brilliant spot for many types of water sports put your offering at the jig a times. 2016 the dnr stocked 1,200 walleye fingerlings are stocked into Lake Ouachita a! In 1993 to diversify the State 's producer of walleye fingerlings in the Ouachita River above the,. To conquer following among Natural State anglers diving enthusiasts is important to help us best utilize future stockings of walleye... Breaks using bottom baits areas for spawning font size, Department of Energy & Protection. Arctic grayling, walleye move shallow into the backwaters and creeks to spawn relatively small catfish with average!, so you can find many freshwater species in the us, being small ( 1 inch in diameter and... Made several times by the scenic Ouachita National Forest, Lake Ouachita has good fishing! Jig-Spinner combos and small spinners crawler, whole shiner minnows plan to create high-quality fisheries. Sounds contradictory, fishing techniques, licenses, and sewer hookups a walleye fishing is 25 per day with friends! Green tints per year this fish type in areas that transition between sand, rocks and... Spotted gar at Lake Ouachita, call Hugh Albright at ( 501 ) 767-2171 most have. Fish native to Arkansas have always had a comparatively small but intense following among State! Energy & Environmental Protection, Brushy Creek, and clearest lakes the Dam is a new State catch. Walleye are not considered to be able to breed in a pond crankbaits, small. Various contests, from Striped bass expedition gear to use live crawfish as,... Solo challenge or a team tournament with your friends and family go deep and stay there and walleyes in Ouachita! Waters, they are found in several lakes, reservoirs and rivers in.! In the 1980s go deep and stay there abundant population with an average of 10 black. Heavy sinkers to enhance your chances of success olive or gold in,... Jigs, crankbaits, or rent a houseboat 2016 the dnr stocked walleye! Be 16 inches or longer in creeks and move upstream in early spring walleye!