Drop a Line at These Fort Smith Fishing Spots

Fishing is a great way to get out in nature, relax, and maybe even catch your dinner. The next time you’re ready to go fishing, check out these awesome spots to drop a line in the Fort Smith, Arkansas, area. 

Wells Lake

Take the family over to the pretty, 12-acre, manmade Wells Lake for a day of fishing. You can get loaner tackle boxes and poles from the staff, all you need to do is bring some bait. Because the lake is family-friendly and fishing from the shore is safe, kids of all ages are welcome to cast their line. Catch largemouth bass, channel catfish, redear sunfish, bluegill, and rainbow trout. Please remember, those who are 16 years and older do need to have a fishing license.

Torraine Lake

The Family and Community Fishing Program regularly stocks a variety of fish at Torraine Lake. Fish for largemouth bass, rainbow trout, bluegill, catfish, and bream. Please note that there are daily catch limits on select fish. You can catch three catfish, five trout, and 25 bream. Largemouth bass must be released back into the water, and those who are 16 years and up need a fishing license as well as a trout permit if you plan on keeping the trout.

The Arkansas River

The 328-mile-long Arkansas River is an anglers paradise. The river has several dams and locks that create backwaters that are ideal to fish in. You can find several of these backwaters right outside of Fort Smith, and the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission stocks the river with largemouth bass, crappie, catfish, bream, and a variety of sunfish. Bass fishing is a major draw to the Arkansas River, and you can participate and watch big fishing tournaments like the Arkansas Big Bass Classic.

Blue Mountain Lake

Blue Mountain Lake lies beneath Arkansas’s tallest mountain, Mount Magazine. The lake is popular with anglers, paddlers, and campers and offers numerous outdoor recreational activities. Fish for crappie, bream, catfish, and largemouth bass. After a day of fishing, take a dip in the swimming area of Blue Mountain Lake, or take the kayak out for a relaxing paddle. Located on the west end of the lake is the Blue Mountain Wildlife Demonstration Area with a world-class bird dog field trial area.

Lake Ouachita

South of Fort Smith lies the 40,100-acre Lake Ouachita. The lake is well-known for its abundance of bass and is considered one of the top 10 spots in the nation for fishing for largemouth bass. Get in your boat and head out to the main body of the lake to fish for walleye. Bass fishing is best done closer to shore where the fish like to hide among the grasses. Largemouth and spotted bass have a daily catch limit of six, and largemouth bass must be 13 inches or longer to keep.

Have fun fishing at these beautiful locations in Arkansas. Be sure to check with Arkansas Game and Fish as well as with the state parks and Army Corps of Engineers for specific fishing regulations and licenses required to fish in each location.

Posted in Things to do in Fort Smith | No Comments »