UTERBlue catfish fishing in Arkansas freshwater
In Arkansas freshwater, blue catfish peak October–July and are around year-round, spawning in June–July, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. January: White River generation schedules rule; live shad for stripers.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Blue catfish in Arkansas freshwater, month by month
- JanuaryPeakTailwater trout and Ouachita stripers. White River generation schedules rule; live shad for stripers.
- FebruaryPeak
- MarchPeak
- AprilPeak
- MayPeak
- JuneSpawning
- JulySpawning
- AugustAround
- SeptemberAround
- OctoberPeak
- NovemberPeak
- DecemberPeak
Where to fish blue catfish near White River, Bull Shoals Lake, Lake Ouachita
Ozark highland reservoirs and their world-famous cold tailwaters — the White, the Norfork, the Little Red — the free-flowing Buffalo, the Ouachita lakes, and the Arkansas River backwaters.
What to use for blue catfish
- NightcrawlersWhole on a #6 to #2 hook under a bobber or on a bottom rig; threaded on a spinner harness drifted for walleye. The bait that catches everything in fresh water.
- Minnows (fatheads, shiners)Hooked lightly through the lips or behind the dorsal on a #6 to #2 hook under a slip bobber for crappie, perch and walleye; a big golden shiner on a 2/0 to 4/0 for largemouth, pike and stripers.
- Leader10–20 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook#2–3/0
- Jig head1/8–1/2 oz
- Braid10–30 lb
Feeds in 40–90°F water, best at 55–80°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch blue catfish in Arkansas freshwater?
Peak season is October–July, with fish spawning in June–July (often a closed or catch-and-release window — check the rule). Blue catfish are here year-round.
Where do blue catfish hold in Arkansas freshwater?
Look on river, reservoir, lake, bridge — around White River, Bull Shoals Lake, Lake Ouachita, Greers Ferry, Beaver Lake, Buffalo River.
What is the best bait for blue catfish in Arkansas freshwater?
Live bait: nightcrawlers, minnows (fatheads, shiners). Nightcrawlers: Whole on a #6 to #2 hook under a bobber or on a bottom rig; threaded on a spinner harness drifted for walleye. The bait that catches everything in fresh water. Tackle: leader 10–20 lb fluorocarbon, hook #2–3/0, jig head 1/8–1/2 oz, braid 10–30 lb.
What are the rules for blue catfish in Arkansas freshwater?
Size and bag limits and closed seasons are set by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) and change — read the current rule at https://www.agfc.com/regulations/general-fishing-regulations/ before you keep a fish. A licence is sold at https://www.agfc.com/resources/licensing/.
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All about blue catfish · Arkansas fresh water, the whole year