Northwest Arkansas is a haven for outdoor adventure, with fishing standing out as a popular way to experience its natural beauty. Boasting abundant fishable waters and a mild winter season, the region provides anglers with rewarding opportunities year-round.
Here are some of the best locations for year-round fishing in and around the Rogers area.
Beaver Lake
Beaver Lake offers a versatile fishing experience, with anglers reeling in everything from smallmouth and largemouth bass to white and black crappie, walleye, and catfish. While fishing on Beaver Lake is a treat by boat, there is 487 miles of shoreline along this 28,000-acre lake.
“The lake is also known as a trophy striped bass destination, and anglers can catch fish over 30 pounds,” says Jon Stein, district fisheries supervisor with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.
For robust populations of largemouth bass and crappie, Stein recommends the south end of the lake from Blue Springs to Prairie Creek. This area has plenty of forage, which translates into a larger number of sportfish, he says.
War Eagle Creek
War Eagle Creek is a 20-minute drive from downtown Rogers, and is known for its smallmouth bass and largemouth bass populations.
It is a good option for those looking for a little solitude as one of the lesser-visited fishing holes, but still showcases Northwest Arkansas’ scenic bluffs. There are several areas to access the creek and Stein recommends fishing around Withrow Springs State Park.
Veterans Memorial Park
Veterans Park is a 23-acre park located at 500 Veterans Parkway in Rogers. As part of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Family and Community Fishing Program, it gets stocked with channel catfish in the spring (April-June) and rainbow trout in the winter (November-February).
A perfect fishing hole for families, Veterans Park offers all the essentials for a day outdoors—drinking fountains, restrooms, pavilions, picnic spots, benches, paved trails, a dog station, and ample parking.
Lake Atalanta
Lake Atalanta is another easily accessible location for year-round fishing.
“Lake Atalanta has a good largemouth bass, bluegill sunfish and channel catfish,” Stein says. “The Arkansas Game and Fish stocks the lake annually with catchable-size catfish and catchable-size rainbow trout in the winter.”
The rainbow trout fishing is best in November through February when water temperatures are colder and fish are stocked once per month, he says.
"Beaver Lake is known as a trophy striped bass destination."