Fishing Lake Ouachita, AR

AKA: Ouachita Reservoir

Boat and bank fishing

Last updated on February 5, 2026.

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

Popular Fish Species

Largemouth Bass Fishing

Lake Ouachita is considered one of the top bass fishing lakes in the united states, so good that national bass fishing organizations hold tournaments here regularly. Anglers are catching bass in good numbers with largemouth bass in the 3 to 5-pound range showing up with some regularity. A history of careful fisheries management by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission has helped to maintain a thriving bass fishery. Anglers can also catch smallmouth bass and spotted bass, which reside here in decent numbers. Recent results by bass fishing tournament participants, attest to the fact that fishing for largemouth bass has been quite rewarding, with an occasional bass over 6 pounds being weighed in. In Lake Ouachita, bass often move shallow and become fairly aggressive when they are in a feeding mood. If they seem disinterested in your presentations, try slowing down and use smaller, lighter baits. Use shallow crankbaits around rip rap. Around grass, use worms, jigs, topwater and spinnerbaits. In deeper water, drop shot rigs, big worms, jigs and spoons are good options. In winter, spend your time fishing deeper structure where the bass spend much of their time.

Striped Bass Fishing

locals and fishing guides at Lake Ouachita enjoy chasing big stripers. These large fish are plentiful, run in schools and can grow to bragging size. In Spring and Fall work the upper end of the lake where water is flowing into the lake. Look for deeper water in the river channel, as a holding place for stripers. In Summer and Winter, stripers hang out in deeper water during the day Morning often draws the stripers to much shallower water, look for them from the surface down to around the 20-foot range as they feed on shallow-running schools of bait. The lake is filled with plenty of baitfish and sunfish to to keep the fishery thriving. Being successful at fishing for stripers is a matter of locating schools of bait, and the wolf packs of stripers which are likely to be nearby. Fish finders, and forward facing sonar, are a big help in locating these roaming schools. Live bait is very effective here, and stripers can be caught year round.

Crappie Fishing

Along with great bass and striper fishing, crappie fishing at Lake Ouachita continues to get the attention of crappie fishing enthusiasts. Light line and small hooks are key when fishing live bait. Crappie jigs are also productive her in a wide variety of colors. 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 & Fishing Video

Fishing tips for boat or bank fishing

Fish species to fish for...

Guide to fishing for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass, channel catfish, flathead catfish, blue catfish, black crappie, white crappie, walleye, rainbow trout, bluegill, green sunfish, longear sunfish, redbreast sunfish, redear sunfish, warmouth, white bass, striped bass and chain pickerel at Lake Ouachita in Arkansas.

Surrounded by the scenic Ouachita National Forest, Lake Ouachita is the largest lake in AR. The 40,000-acre lake has 690 miles of shoreline and a multitude of ways to catch fish species that residing here.

Bass, crappie, walleye, trout, catfish, sunfish, white bass, pike and stripers roam these waters and thrill anglers both young and old, novice and experienced. And the water is clear enough to attract scuba divers and snorkel enthusiasts. Primary public access is along the southern perimeter of the lake. In and nearby these public access areas are sections of shoreline for fishing from the bank.

Primary fish species residing in Lake Ouachita

Click images for fishing tips and details about each species.

Lake Ouachita Amenities

Marina: YES
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

Fishing Boat Rentals

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Public Boat Launch Ramps & Landings

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Marinas

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Fishing License

Click here for a Arkansas Fishing License.

Campgrounds & RV Parks Nearby

Highway 27 Fishing Village Campground - 870 867-2211

Caddo/Womble Campground - 870 867-2101