Arkansas fishing seasons

50 species profiles in our database list Arkansas waters among their fisheries — including White Bass, Sauger, Bigmouth Buffalo, Smallmouth Buffalo. Below: what's in season month by month, where to fish, and the licence source you need. Seasons shift year to year; the official agency has the final word.

Best months to fish in Arkansas

Months when the largest share of Arkansas's profiled species are in season, from our database. Full calendar: What's Biting.

Arkansas fishing calendar, month by month

Each month links to the species in season then, from our season windows. A month is charted when at least 3 species are in season.

Freshwater species in Arkansas

Species	Season
American Paddlefish	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Bantam Sunfish	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Bigmouth Buffalo	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Black Bullhead	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Black Redhorse	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Blue Catfish	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Blue Sucker	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Brown Bullhead	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Brown Trout	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Butter Catfish	Varies by region and regulation
Dollar Sunfish	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Emerald Shiner	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Freshwater Drum	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Gizzard Shad	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Golden Dorado	Spring–autumn (regional)
Golden Redhorse	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Greater Redhorse	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Jau Catfish	Varies by region and regulation
Logperch	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Longear Sunfish	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Longnose Sucker	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Marble Catfish	Varies by region and regulation
Mooneye	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Mud Sunfish	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Northern Hogsucker	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Northern Snakehead	Varies by climate, water level, and local regulation
Orangespotted Sunfish	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Ozark Minnow	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Peacock Bass	Varies by region and regulation
Pirate Perch	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Quillback	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Rainbow Darter	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Red-bellied Piranha	Varies by climate, water level, and local regulation
River Carpsucker	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Sacramento Perch	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Sauger	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Shadow Bass	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Shorthead Redhorse	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Silver Redhorse	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Skipjack Herring	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Smallmouth Buffalo	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Snail Bullhead	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Spotted Sucker	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Stonecat	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Tadpole Madtom	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Vundu Catfish	Varies by region and regulation
White Bass	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
White Catfish	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
White Sucker	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Yellow Bullhead	Often most active in warm months; check local rules

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