Fishing Arkabutla Lake
AKA: Arkabutla Reservoir
Popular Fish Species Arkabutla Lake, MS
Crappie Fishing
With excellent numbers of crappie being caught and a history of good crappie fishing, Arkabutla Lake continues to impress crappie enthusiasts this year. Many of these crappies are appearing in giant size. 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.
Blue Catfish Fishing
This year blue catfish are running in the big to monster size in Arkabutla Lake. Most of the local guides offer catfish trips, and big blues are the favorite target. The state record is over 100 pounds. Fishing for blue catfish is most often productive during spring through summer around any kind of structure. Blue catfish are primarily found in large rivers, along the main channels, in and around tributaries flowing into impoundments of major river systems. They tend to move upstream in the summer in search of cooler temperatures, and downstream in the winter in order to find warmer water.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. Use a slip sinker or Carolina rig with cut bait or other popular catfish baits. Channel, white and blue catfish are also available here for anglers to pursue.
Largemouth Bass Fishing
Arkabutla Lake is considered one of the better bass fishing lakes in the region. Anglers are catching bass in good numbers with largemouth bass in the 3 to 5-pound range showing up occasionally. A history of careful fisheries management by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks 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 Arkabutla Lake, 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.
Arkabutla Lake Fishing Video
Fish species to fish for...
Guide to fishing for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass, channel catfish, blue catfish, black crappie, white crappie, bluegill, green sunfish, longear sunfish, redear sunfish, warmouth and white bass at Arkabutla Lake in Mississippi.
Known locally as a crappie fishing paradise, Arkabutla Lake is a 33,000-acre lake in the northwest corner of the state. Anglers will find 130 miles of shoreline to explore in search of bass, catfish, crappie, bream sunfish and white bass.
Among the popular fish species found in Arkabutla Lake are three species of bass - largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and spotted bass. In addition to bass, this lake is home to other sought-after species such as black crappie, white crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, white bass, and sunfish.
Pleasant Hill Public Use Area includes a boat launch ramp, parking and access to the shoreline for fishing from the bank. Numerous other spots around the lake have access for bank fishing and portage of car-top boats, canoes and kayaks. The upper, backwater regions of the lake are strewn with brush providing ideal cover for bass, crappie, sunfish and baitfish. When water temperatures are comfortable for the fish, these are a great place to find both quantity and quality. Area parks and campgrounds are also options for fishing from the bank.
Primary fish species residing in Arkabutla Lake
Click images for fishing tips and details about each species.
Arkabutla Lake Amenities
Marina: NO
Boat Rental: NO
Boat Launch Ramp: YES
Campgrounds: YES
RV Hookups: YES
Lodging: NEARBY
Convenience Store: YES
Bait & Tackle: NEARBY
Restaurant: NEARBY
Today's Weather & Forecast
Public Boat Launch Ramps & Landings
Bayou Point Public Boat Launch Ramp
Located mid lake, west side, off Bayou Point Road, this is a two-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking.
Hernando Point Boat Launch Ramp
Located mid lake, east side, off Hernando Point Road, this is a two-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking.
North Abutment Public Boat Launch Ramp
Located mid lake, west side, off Arkabutla Dam Road, this is a three-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking.
Fishing Guides On Arkabutla Lake
Barton Outfitters - crappie
If you offer fishing guide services on this lake, please contact us for a free listing, to be posted here.
Fishing License
Click here for a Mississippi Fishing License.
Campgrounds & RV Parks Nearby
Dub Patton Recreation Area Campground - 662 562-6261
South Abutment Recreation Area Campground - 662 562-6261
Hernando Point Campground - 662 562-6261
Memphis South RV Park - 662 622-0056
Map - Fishing & Camping Areas
Contact Information
Arkabutla Lake
Hernando Point Campground
End of Wheeler Road
Hernando MS 38632
662 562-6261
Fishing lakes in each state.
022025
Arkabutla Lake in Mississippi.
Information about fishing lakes in Mississippi
Bass, catfish, crappie, bream and white bass fishing in northwest Mississippi.
