UTERBlack crappie fishing in Arkansas freshwater
In Arkansas freshwater, black crappie peak February–April and September–November and are around year-round, spawning in April, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. March: Lake Conway, Ouachita and the Arkansas River backwaters.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Black crappie in Arkansas freshwater, month by month
- JanuaryAround
- FebruaryPeak
- MarchPeakLake Conway, Ouachita and the Arkansas River backwaters.
- AprilSpawning
- MayLeaving
- JuneAround
- JulyAround
- AugustAround
- SeptemberPeak
- OctoberPeak
- NovemberPeak
- DecemberAround
Where to fish black crappie 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 black crappie
- 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.
- Grass shrimpTwo or three on a #6 hook under a small cork — the bream, crappie, sheepshead and mangrove snapper bait nobody sells.
- Leader10–20 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook#2–3/0
- Jig head1/8–1/2 oz
- Braid10–30 lb
Feeds in 38–86°F water, best at 56–72°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch black crappie in Arkansas freshwater?
Peak season is February–April and September–November, with fish spawning in April (often a closed or catch-and-release window — check the rule). Black crappie are here year-round. March: Lake Conway, Ouachita and the Arkansas River backwaters.
Where do black crappie hold in Arkansas freshwater?
Look on lake, reservoir, dock / pilings, bridge, river, pond / pit — around White River, Bull Shoals Lake, Lake Ouachita, Greers Ferry, Beaver Lake, Buffalo River.
What is the best bait for black crappie in Arkansas freshwater?
Live bait: minnows (fatheads, shiners), grass shrimp. 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. 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 black crappie 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 black crappie · Arkansas fresh water, the whole year