Stripers are not native to Arkansas waterways, but they’ve been stocked in several locations to provide some of Arkansas’s best sport fishing.
We’ll show you where, when and how to catch stripers in Arkansas.
Beaver Lake, Hamilton Lake, Norfork Lake, and Ouachita Lake all have a healthy population of striped bass, thanks to the stocking efforts of the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission.
Each year a total of about 500,000 2-inch fingerling stripers are stocked in these four lakes to help keep the population of large gizzard shad in check.
The Arkansas River is the only Arkansas waterway where striped bass naturally reproduce in the wild.
Below are all the details you need to start fishing at one of Arkansas striper fisheries.
Arkansas River
Since stripers naturally reproduce in the Arkansas River, it doesn’t receive regular stockings like the lakes on this list.
However, it maintains its spot as one of the state’s best locations to go striper fishing.
While it’s unlikely that you’ll catch a trophy-sized striped bass in the Arkansas River, you are likely to have a full day of reeling in hard-fighting 5- to 20-pounders when fishing in the right spot.
Striped bass are found from the Oklahoma border to the Mississippi River, but the best spots to catch them are below the dams of the 12 reservoirs along the river.
Jeta-Taylor Lock & Dam near Ozark and Lock & Dam 13 farther upriver near Fort Smith are top-notch striper fishing spots.
In the spring and early summer, stripers stack up below the dams during their spawn. This time of year is when they’re the easiest to locate and catch.
You’ll need a stout bass rod, preferably 8-foot or longer, with a 20-pound test line to have a good shot of landing a striped bass in the currents.
The best baits for the river tend to be large swimbaits that imitate shad, crankbaits, stickbaits, poppers, and ¼- to 1-ounce bucktail jigs.
Live shad also works, but using it from a boat is best.
Remember to keep your lures higher in the water column, as this is where stripers tend to do most of their feeding, especially in the currents.
Many anglers prefer fishing the Arkansas River, particularly the tailwaters of lakes, because of the easy public access to bank fishing.
Bank anglers can fish closer to the dams, so if you fish from the shore, you can get an advantage over the boat anglers.
Whether fishing from the shore or a boat, look for current breaks as striped bass rest in the calmer water, waiting for their next meal to get swept by in the fast-moving current.
Beaver Lake
If the Arkansas River is known for catching a lot of stripers, Beaver Lake is known for catching giant stripers.
The AGFC manages the striped bass population for larger fish instead of a larger population. The average-sized striper is 10 to 20 pounds, with 30- and even 40-pound fish fairly often caught.
The current state record was caught below the dam, and the 57-pound former state record was caught in Beaver Lake, so these waters have a history of producing lunkers.
In spring, stripers will run up the lake’s two primary arms to go through the spawning ritual, even if it’s not successful. They’ll be relatively concentrated and full of eggs at this time, so your chances of catching a fish of a lifetime are high.
During the summer, they prefer the deep cool waters near the dam.
Anglers at Beaver Lake use different methods to catch stripers depending on what the baitfish and striped bass are doing that day. Topwater fishing, live bait fishing, and trolling all have their days to shine.
Big spooks, deep-diving crankbaits, and small to medium-sized gizzard shad are the best lures and baits to use.
If you’re new to striper fishing, it’s best to hire a guide familiar with Beaver Lake, as this vast reservoir is daunting, even for season anglers.
More: Complete Guide to Fishing at Beaver Lake
Norfork Lake
Norfork Lake is stocked annually with striped bass. You can expect to catch stripers averaging 15 pounds, with some bigger fish weighing over 40 pounds.
Water clarity is one of the most important things to remember when fishing at Norfork Lake. This water is crystal clear, so downsizing your line is critical if you don’t want the fish to see it.
When using a 10-pound test line, you must have your drag correctly set; otherwise, you risk losing a lot of hard-fighting stripers.
Striped bass move up the creek arms during the spring to attempt to spawn in the shallows. This is when most anglers target stripers because they assemble in smaller areas.
You must be patient and quiet when fishing shallow waters because stripers spook easily. The clear water also means they can see you from further away.
As the warm summer temps raise the water temperature, stripers head back to deeper waters. Summer is the time to switch back to your stronger gear, say 20-pound test line.
Trolling crankbaits with downriggers in 40-60′ water is often productive. Drifting or anchoring with live shad is another top tactic as the stripers become more lethargic due to the heat.
The key to success while striper fishing at Norfork Lake is being open-minded and flexible with your methods.
Norfork Lake also made our top Arkansas lakes listings for other species, including one of the spots with really good crappie fishing.
More: Complete Norfork Lake Fishing Guide
Lake Hamilton
Despite being heavily pressured, Lake Hamilton has produced some of the Natural State’s biggest stripers.
This lake is a popular power-boating destination in the summer, which means the early spring, fall, and winter are the best times to hit the water.
During the spring, striped bass will be in the creeks and running up the river toward the Lake Ouachita dam to try to spawn.
If you fish during the summer, live gizzard shad are often the best option for bait. Target the deeper holes with the coolest water and most baitfish.
While fishing during the fall and winter, follow the birds as they follow the shad because the stripers will be nearby, ready to eat.
Most of the time, trolling with crankbaits and jigging with spoons is an effective way to find the stripers and pick them off.
Lake Hamilton also is well stocked with walleye, making it one of the top walleye fishing lakes in Arkansas.
Lake Ouachita
Lake Ouachita has a very healthy population of big striped bass. It’s a favorite of many Arkansas striper anglers.
The average striper here weighs 10-15 pounds, with many weighing over 40 pounds.
The spring and early summer are the best times to catch stripers on main-lake points using big shad and rainbow trout-colored topwater lures and big jerkbaits.
As the water warms, live shad fished deeper along the river channel works best.
The hour before and a few hours after sunrise are the prime times for getting bites. You can also try fishing in the evening and shortly after sunset when the stripers begin to feed again.
Hiring a guide to help break down this giant reservoir is always a good idea, even for knowledgeable anglers.
In addition to stripers, Lake Ouachita has a wide variety of fish to catch, including some very good largemouth bass fishing.
More: Complete Lake Ouachita Fishing Guide
Catch More Stripers
Pick up the how-to tips and tricks you need for freshwater striper fishing before your next trip to the lake or river.