Fishing Lake Chicot

AKA: Lake Chicot State Park

Popular Fish Species
Lake Chicot Fishing Video
Available Fish Species
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Lake Chicot, AR

Popular Fish Species Lake Chicot, AR

Crappie Fishing

When fishing for crappie, light line and small hooks are key when fishing live or prepared baits. Crappie jigs are also productive her in a wide variety of colors. With a history of good crappie fishing, Lake Chicot continues to impress crappie enthusiasts this year. The lake has healthy populations of both white crappie and black crappie. These two species typically tend to school separately. However, once located around cover, you may find that you catch both species, due to the fact they often share the same cover. Crappie fishing can be found in varying size schools, hanging around brush, vegetation, wood or other cover. Using a fish finder any time of year can help locate these crappie schools, which tend to stack vertically around cover. Live bait and small jigs are the most common method for crappie here. In spring and fall focus on the 8 to 12 foot range. As the crappie move deep in summer and winter, follow points out deep, as well as find ledges near channels, especially areas with brush or timber in deeper water. The best time to catch crappie tends to be at dawn and dusk.

Lake Chicot Popular Fish - Channel Catfish

Channel Catfish Fishing

Lake Chicot has held a dependable population of channel catfish for many years now. The typical fish are about 2 pounds, with larger ones caught frequently. For weekend anglers, most any rod and reel will work for catching channel catfish, as long as the line is strong enough. For serious catfish enthusiasts, using the right equipment enhances success, especially when you hook one of the big boys. A medium action, to medium-heavy action rod is ideal, in the 6' to 7' range. Use a slip sinker or Carolina rig with popular catfish baits on at least 10-pound line. Use sharp hooks with bait holders on the shank, or circle hooks for live bait. The state record channel catfish is over 35 pounds, and Lake Chicot holds some pretty big ones. Night fishing for catfish often delivers better results than daytime fishing. Fishing for channel catfish is often most productive around any kind of structure in the area. In Spring channel catfish migrate toward incoming water, so stay up river away from the main lake. In early summer look for rocky banks, the bigger the rocks the better. In summer and winter deeper structure is where to look. The river end of the lake is often the area where the bigger catfish are caught. Road beds, creek channels and rocky points are all good places to begin.

Bluegill Fishing

Fishing for bluegill is a time-honored tradition at Lake Chicot. Young and old, beginners and seasoned anglers alike, all enjoy catching a bunch of fat bluegill. This year, much like recent years, the bluegill population is healthy and always looking for something to eat. Bluegill fishing is as basic as fishing gets. Any pole, reasonably small line and small hooks baited with anything edible, creates the ideal setup. Add a bobber and you can set the depth you prefer the bait to position. Bluegill hang around brush, rocks, vegetation or any cover available.

Lake Chicot Fishing Video

Fish species to fish for...

Guide to fishing for largemouth bass, channel catfish, black crappie, white crappie, bluegill, redear sunfish and striped bass at Lake Chicot in Arkansas.

Lake Chicot State Park is a great place to headquarter when you visit Lake Chicot, a 5,000-acre lake in southeast Arkansas. The park has a nice boat launch ramp, cabins, campgrounds, a marina, a store and more than half a mile of shoreline for fishing from the bank.

This fish hook shaped lake has nearly 50 miles of shoreline and sports a nice variety of fish species, including bass, catfish, crappie, bream and stripers. In total there are four boat launch ramps are scattered around the oxbow, one at Lake Chicot State Park, two at Chicot County Park and one at Lake Village.

Primary fish species residing in Lake Chicot

Click images for fishing tips and details about each species.

Lake Chicot Amenities

Marina: NO
Boat Rental: YES
Boat Launch Ramp: YES
Campgrounds: YES
RV Hookups: YES
Lodging: YES
Convenience Store: YES
Bait & Tackle: YES
Restaurant: YES

Today's Weather & Forecast

Public Boat Launch Ramps & Landings

Chicot County RV Park Boat Launch Ramp
Located mid lake, on the south side of the lake, north side, off County Road 71, this is a two-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking.

Jack R. Rhodes Lakefront Park Boat Launch Ramp
Located mid lake, east side, off Main Street, this is a three-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking.

Lake Chicot State Park Boat Launch Ramp
Located in the northeast section of the lake, off State Route 57, this is a two-lane, concrete ramp with docks and paved parking.

Lake Shore RV Park Boat Launch Ramp
Located mid lake, on the north side of the lake, off State Route 144, this is a one-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and gravel parking.

Pecan Grove RV Park Boat Launch Ramp
Located in the southwest section of the lake, west side, off US Highway 82, this is a one-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and gravel parking.