2026 regulation year
Arkansas Fishing Regulations 2026 — License Fees, Seasons, Bag Limits
Last updated
Arkansas runs a single-agency regulatory system through the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) covering all inland freshwater fisheries — Arkansas is a fully landlocked Mid-South / Ozark + Ouachita mountain state anchored by the world-famous White River tailwater trout system (Bull Shoals Dam + Norfork Dam + Greers Ferry Dam + Beaver Dam cold-water releases supporting the country's premier trophy brown trout + rainbow trout tier), the four major Ozark + Ouachita mountain reservoirs (Bull Shoals Lake 45,150 acres on the White River — AR/MO joint reservoir + Beaver Lake 28,000 acres on the White River + Norfork Lake 22,000 acres on the North Fork White River — AR/MO joint reservoir + Greers Ferry Lake 31,500 acres on the Little Red River), the central Arkansas Ouachita tier (Lake Ouachita 40,100 acres on the Ouachita River — the largest lake wholly inside Arkansas + Lake Hamilton 7,200 acres + Lake Catherine 1,940 acres + Lake DeGray 13,800 acres + Lake Greeson 7,260 acres + Lake Maumelle 8,900 acres Little Rock metro reservoir), the two Arkansas River navigation-pool reservoirs (Lake Dardanelle 34,300 acres + Ozark Lake), the southwest tier (Millwood Lake 29,500 acres on the Little River), the Buffalo National River 153-mile NPS-designated first National River in the country, and the lower Mississippi River boundary (along the AR/MS + AR/TN state lines via the long-standing reciprocal compact). The AGFC Fisheries Conservation Licence is required for anglers age 16+, supplemented by the Arkansas Trout Permit ($5 res / $12 NR) required to fish for or possess trout statewide (mandatory on the White River + Little Red River + Norfork Tailwater + Spring River + Beaver Tailwater + designated AGFC stocked trout waters). AGFC statewide standard daily limits (Pages 8-18 of the 2026 Fishing Guidebook): black bass (largemouth + smallmouth + spotted combined) 10 / day; smallmouth bass 4 / day with a 12-inch length limit in the Ozark Zone and 10 inches elsewhere; crappie (black + white combined) 30 / day; catfish (channel + blue + flathead combined) 10 / day with no statewide minimum size and no limit on bullheads; bream (bluegill + redear + longear + warmouth + other sunfish combined) 50 / day; walleye 6 / day; sauger 6 / day; saugeye 6 / day; striped bass + hybrid striped bass 6 / day combined; white bass 25 / day; trout 5 / day (no more than 2 brown, 2 cutthroat and 2 brook trout); rock bass 10 / day; paddlefish 2 / day; shovelnose sturgeon no limit (21-inch minimum). The statewide possession limit is TRIPLE the daily limit. The major reservoirs reduce or override these statewide limits: black bass drops to 6 / day combined on Beaver, Bull Shoals, Norfork, Table Rock (up to 6 may be smallmouth), Lake Ouachita, Lake DeGray and Lake Greeson (only 2 may be smallmouth on the latter three, plus 10 spotted bass); black-bass length runs 15-inch largemouth + smallmouth (12-inch spotted) on Beaver, Bull Shoals and Table Rock, 13-inch largemouth (12-inch smallmouth) on Lake Ouachita, Lake DeGray and Norfork, and 12-inch largemouth + smallmouth on Greers Ferry. The walleye trophy-protection tier is an 18-inch minimum + 4 / day on Beaver, Bull Shoals, Norfork, Table Rock (and tributaries) and the Kings River — while Greers Ferry, despite being the world-record walleye lake, carries a 14-inch minimum (walleye less than 14 inches must be released on Greers Ferry and its tributaries). Crappie reduces to 15 / day + a 10-inch minimum on Beaver, Bull Shoals, Norfork and Table Rock, and the Mississippi River runs a 50 / day crappie + 50 / day white-bass + no-limit-catfish big-river rule. Striped + hybrid striped bass run 3 / day (20-inch minimum) on Beaver, Norfork and Lake Ouachita, and 10 / day on the Arkansas River, Lake Dardanelle and Ozark Lake. The White River tailwater (below Bull Shoals Dam — 96 miles of cold-water trout fishery from the dam at Lakeview AR downstream to Guion AR) is the country's premier trophy brown trout fishery: the IGFA all-tackle world record brown trout (40 lb 4 oz, May 9, 1992 by Howard 'Rip' Collins) was caught from the Little Red River below Greers Ferry Dam, and the White + Little Red + Norfork tailwater system has produced more 30+ lb brown trout than any other US fishery. On the White River the daily trout limit is 2 with none over 14 inches kept on the upper Bull Shoals tailwater (Bull Shoals Dam to Norfork access), while the lower reach (Norfork access to Guion) carries the trophy rule: brown, cutthroat and tiger trout 24-inch minimum + 1 / day (brook trout 14-inch + 1 / day). Greers Ferry Lake (31,500 acres on the Little Red River — USACE Greers Ferry Dam built 1962) is the world-record walleye water — the IGFA all-tackle world record walleye (22 lb 11 oz, March 1982 by Al Nelson) was caught from Greers Ferry. Bull Shoals Lake, Norfork Lake and Table Rock Lake carry the White River Border Lakes Licence (anglers may fish the Missouri portion without buying a Missouri nonresident licence). Lake Conway has been DRAINED since November 15, 2023 as part of a 5-year reconstruction project — only the Dr. J.H. Flanigin Nursery Pond remains open for public fishing under statewide limits (the historic 6,700-acre flooded-cypress crappie reservoir does not currently exist as a fishery). The Ozark + Ouachita mountain stream tier supports the country's premier Ozark stream smallmouth fishery: the AGFC Stream Smallmouth program runs a 2 / day daily limit with a 14-inch minimum on Ozark Zone Blue Ribbon + Quality streams (Crooked Creek + Buffalo National River + Kings River + War Eagle Creek + Eleven Point River + Illinois River) and a 12-inch minimum on Boston Mountain Zone (Mulberry River) + Ouachita Zone Quality streams (Caddo River + Cossatot River + Saline River + Little Missouri River + Ouachita River), with a 1 / day 18-inch trophy reach on the lower Buffalo (below Clabber Creek), the Kings River (Trigger Gap to Highway 62) and the Little Missouri Narrows tailwater. Catfish (channel + blue + flathead) run 10 / day combined statewide with no minimum size; many big-river + listed waters carry no limit (Mississippi River + Grand Lake all catfish; Little River below Millwood Dam + Red River + Sulphur River blue + channel; Lake Erling + Lake Chicot + Marion McCollum Greenlee channel), the Arkansas River allows 10 additional channel catfish above the combined limit, and the Ouachita River from Remmel Dam to Sandy Beach Access carries a 20-inch flathead minimum. AGFC stocks ~1.5 million trout (rainbow + brown + cutthroat) annually across the White + Little Red + Norfork + Spring + Beaver tailwater system via the USFWS Norfork National Fish Hatchery + Greers Ferry National Fish Hatchery + AGFC's Mammoth Spring State Fish Hatchery + Jim Hinkle Spring River State Fish Hatchery. AGFC fees: $11 res Fisheries Conservation Licence (annual), $5 res Trout Permit, $7 res 3-day, ~$36 res lifetime senior (65+) one-time fee, $0 res permanently disabled veteran; $50 NR annual fishing, $25 NR 7-day, $16 NR 3-day, $11 NR 1-day, $12 NR Trout Permit, $0 NR under 16.
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License fees
| Licence | Price (USD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Resident Fisheries Conservation Licence (annual) | $11.00 | |
| Resident Trout Permit | $5.00 | Required to fish for or possess trout statewide; mandatory on White River + Little Red River + Norfork Tailwater + Spring River + Beaver Tailwater + AGFC-stocked trout waters |
| Resident 3-day fishing | $7.00 | |
| Resident senior (65+) lifetime fishing | $36.00 | One-time fee — one of the cheapest lifetime senior licences in the country |
| Resident lifetime fishing (any age) | $850.00 | One-time fee — applies to all-age residents |
| Resident permanently disabled veteran | Free | Free lifetime licence — 100% service-connected VA disability documentation required |
| Resident under 16 | Free | Not required under age 16 |
| Licence | Price (USD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Non-resident annual fishing | $50.00 | |
| Non-resident 7-day fishing | $25.00 | |
| Non-resident 3-day fishing | $16.00 | |
| Non-resident 1-day fishing | $11.00 | |
| Non-resident Trout Permit | $12.00 | Required to fish for or possess trout statewide |
| Non-resident under 16 | Free | Not required under age 16 |
Buy directly from Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC). Fees may include processing surcharges at point of sale.
Top species — season, bag, size
| Species | Season | Daily bag | Size / slot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Largemouth bassCompare across states → | Open year-round statewide; March – May pre-spawn + spawn densest fishing window | 10 / day combined black bass (largemouth + smallmouth + spotted) statewide; reduced to 6 / day combined on Beaver, Bull Shoals, Norfork, Table Rock, Ouachita, DeGray + Greeson | No statewide minimum on most waters; 15 in LM/SM on Beaver + Bull Shoals + Table Rock; 13 in LM on Ouachita + DeGray + Norfork; 12 in LM/SM on Greers Ferry; 14 in min on the Arkansas River + listed flowing waters |
| Smallmouth bassCompare across states → | Open year-round statewide; March – May pre-spawn + spawn densest fishing window | 4 / day statewide; 2 / day on AGFC Ozark / Boston Mountain / Ouachita Zone Quality + Blue Ribbon streams; 1 / day on 18-in trophy reaches | 12 in min in the Ozark Zone, 10 in elsewhere (statewide); 14 in on Ozark Zone Blue Ribbon + Quality streams; 12 in on Boston Mountain + Ouachita Zone Quality streams |
| WalleyeCompare across states → | Open year-round statewide; March – April pre-spawn run on Little Red River + Greers Ferry tributaries densest fishing window | 6 / day statewide; 4 / day on the trophy-management lakes (Beaver + Bull Shoals + Norfork + Table Rock + Kings River) | No statewide minimum; 18 in min on Beaver + Bull Shoals + Norfork + Table Rock + Kings River; 14 in min on Greers Ferry + tributaries |
| CrappieCompare across states → | Open year-round statewide; March – May pre-spawn + spawn densest fishing window | 30 / day combined white + black crappie statewide; reduced to 15 / day on Beaver, Bull Shoals, Norfork + Table Rock; 50 / day on the Mississippi River | No statewide minimum; 10 in min on Beaver + Bull Shoals + Norfork + Table Rock + Chicot + listed lakes; 9 in min on Blue Mountain |
| Trout (rainbow + brown + cutthroat + brook)Compare across states → | Open year-round on tailwater systems (White + Little Red + Norfork + Spring + Beaver); AGFC Trout Permit required | 5 / day combined (no more than 2 brown, 2 cutthroat and 2 brook trout); reduced to 2 / day on the White / Little Red / Norfork / Beaver tailwaters | No statewide minimum; lower White River (Norfork access – Guion): brown / cutthroat / tiger 24 in min (1 / day), brook 14 in min (1 / day); upper tailwaters: 2 trout, none over 14 in |
| Blue catfishCompare across states → | Open year-round statewide | 10 / day combined (channel + blue + flathead); no limit on the Mississippi River + Grand Lake; no limit on blue + channel on the Little (below Millwood) / Red / Sulphur rivers | No statewide minimum size |
| Channel catfishCompare across states → | Open year-round statewide | 10 / day combined (channel + blue + flathead); no limit on channel at Lake Erling, Lake Chicot, Marion McCollum Greenlee, Grand Lake + the Mississippi River; +10 channel on the Arkansas River | No statewide minimum size |
| Flathead catfishCompare across states → | Open year-round statewide | 10 / day combined (channel + blue + flathead); no limit on the Mississippi River + Grand Lake | No statewide minimum; 20 in min on the Ouachita River (Remmel Dam – Sandy Beach Access) |
Notable water-body special regulations
AGFC Trout Permit required. Bull Shoals Tailwater (Bull Shoals Dam to Norfork access): daily limit 2 trout, none over 14 in kept; below 30 min after sunset only rainbow trout may be harvested. Lower reach (Norfork access to Guion / Hwy 58 bridge): 2 trout, only 1 over 14 in — brown / cutthroat / tiger trout 24 in min + 1 / day TROPHY MANAGEMENT, brook trout 14 in min + 1 / day. Upper White (Ozark Zone Stream, above Beaver Lake): smallmouth 12 in min; paddlefish snagging Apr 15 – Jun 15 (34-in eye-to-fork, Trophy Tag, 2 / season). Catch-and-release zones: Bull Shoals C&R (Feb 1 – Oct 31, closed Nov 1 – Jan 31), Rim Shoals C&R near Cotter, Bull Shoals Seasonal Brown Trout C&R Nov 1 – Jan 31 — artificial lures / flies, barbless, no scented bait. Produced more 30+ lb brown trout than any other US fishery
Greers Ferry Tailwater. AGFC Trout Permit required; no fishing within 100 yd of Greers Ferry Dam. Daily limit 2 trout up to 14 in kept; from 30 min after sunset to 30 min before sunrise only rainbow trout may be harvested. C&R areas (JFK, Cow Shoals, Mossy Shoals): all trout released, artificial lures / flies, barbless. IGFA all-tackle world record brown trout 40 lb 4 oz caught here May 9, 1992 by Howard 'Rip' Collins (held the record 1992–2009)
North Fork River below Norfork Dam. AGFC Trout Permit required; no fishing within 100 yd of Norfork Dam. Effective Feb 1, 2026: daily limit 2 trout, none over 14 in kept; below 30 min after sunset only rainbow trout may be harvested. Norfork C&R Area (Long Hole to Bill Ackerman / River Ridge): all trout released, artificial lures / flies, barbless. USFWS Norfork National Fish Hatchery (one of the country's largest trout hatcheries by output). Dry Run Creek (hatchery outflow): youth-under-16 + mobility-impaired only, trout released immediately, single barbless artificial
Largemouth + smallmouth bass 15 in min; spotted bass 12 in min; largemouth + smallmouth + spotted combined 6 / day (up to 6 may be smallmouth). Crappie (black + white) combined 15 / day, 10 in min. Walleye 18 in min, 4 / day. Health advisory applies to eating walleye 18 in or longer. White River Border Lakes Licence lets the holder fish the Missouri portion without a Missouri nonresident licence. AR/MO joint reservoir on the White River
Largemouth + smallmouth bass 13 in min; largemouth + smallmouth + spotted combined 6 / day (up to 6 may be smallmouth). Crappie (black + white) combined 15 / day, 10 in min. Striped + hybrid striped bass combined 3 / day, 20 in min (AGFC stocks striper fingerlings annually — one of the few inland US reservoirs with a viable striped-bass program). Walleye 18 in min, 4 / day. White River Border Lakes Licence applies. AR/MO joint reservoir on the North Fork White River
Largemouth + smallmouth bass 12 in min; smallmouth daily limit 6. Walleye less than 14 in must be released immediately in Greers Ferry and its tributaries (14 in min). No limit on white bass for Greers Ferry and its tributaries. IGFA all-tackle world record walleye 22 lb 11 oz caught here March 1982 by Al Nelson — remains the AR state record and one of the historically significant walleye fisheries in America
Largemouth + smallmouth bass 15 in min; largemouth + smallmouth + spotted combined 6 / day (up to 6 may be smallmouth). Crappie (black + white) combined 15 / day, 10 in min. Striped + hybrid striped bass combined 3 / day, 20 in min. Walleye 18 in min, 4 / day (Beaver Lake and tributaries). No limit on white bass for Beaver Lake and its tributaries (including Lake Sequoyah). Game fish may be snagged below Beaver Dam Apr 15 – Jun 15. Recurring BASS Elite Series + MLF Toyota Series clear-water Ozark venue
Largemouth bass 13 in min; smallmouth bass 12 in min; largemouth + smallmouth + spotted combined 6 / day (only 2 may be smallmouth), plus 10 spotted bass above the combined limit. Striped bass 3 / day. No fishing in the Jim Collins Net Pen area. Arkansas's largest lake wholly inside the state (40,100 acres) + one of the country's clearest reservoir watersheds; recurring MLF Toyota Series venue
Hot Springs resort-area reservoir on the Ouachita River below Carpenter Dam. Statewide limits apply (no special creel / length overrides beyond statewide rules); mobility-impaired fishing piers available. Largemouth + crappie + striped-bass + catfish fishery
Smallmouth bass must be released immediately. Legal to take game fish with spear guns during season. Lake Catherine State Park access on the Ouachita River below Remmel Dam
Largemouth bass 13 in min; smallmouth bass 12 in min; largemouth + smallmouth + spotted combined 6 / day (only 2 may be smallmouth), plus 10 spotted bass above the combined limit. Legal to take game fish with spear guns during season. 13,800-acre Caddo River reservoir + striped-bass + crappie + catfish fishery
Smallmouth bass 12 in min; largemouth + smallmouth + spotted combined 10 / day (only 2 may be smallmouth), plus 10 spotted bass above the combined limit. Trout 5 / day below the Narrows Dam (AGFC Trout Permit required). 7,260-acre Little Missouri River reservoir (Pike County) — the Narrows tailwater below it is an AGFC trout + smallmouth fishery
Arkansas River impoundment (Franklin / Pope / Johnson / Logan / Yell counties — 34,300 acres). Largemouth bass 14 in min. Striped + hybrid striped bass combined 10 / day. Ten channel catfish may be taken in addition to the daily limit. Crappie shorter than 10 in must be released immediately. Recurring Bassmaster + MLF tournament venue on the McClellan-Kerr Navigation System
Arkansas River impoundment (Crawford / Franklin / Sebastian counties). Largemouth bass 14 in min. Striped + hybrid striped bass combined 10 / day. Ten channel catfish may be taken in addition to the daily limit. Legal to take game fish with spear guns during season
AR portion (Carroll / Boone counties — White River, Beaver Lake Dam to Table Rock Dam). Largemouth + smallmouth bass 15 in min; spotted bass 12 in min; combined 6 / day (up to 6 may be smallmouth). Crappie (black + white) combined 15 / day, 10 in min. Walleye 18 in min, 4 / day (Table Rock and tributaries). White River Border Lakes Licence lets the holder fish the Missouri portion without a Missouri nonresident licence. AR/MO joint reservoir
Little River reservoir (Little River / Howard / Sevier / Hempstead counties — 29,500 acres). Largemouth bass 6 / day. Spearfishing allowed during season. Below Millwood Dam the Little River carries no limit on blue + channel catfish. Premier flooded-timber largemouth + crappie + catfish fishery in southwest Arkansas
Arkansas's largest natural oxbow lake (Chicot County). Largemouth bass 15 in min, 10 / day. Crappie shorter than 10 in must be released immediately, 20 / day. No limit on channel catfish. Open to skiing and personal watercraft
Logan / Yell counties. Largemouth bass 15 in min. Crappie 9 in min, 20 / day. Legal to take game fish with spear guns during season. USACE flood-control reservoir on the Petit Jean River
Little Rock municipal water-supply reservoir (Pulaski County — 8,900 acres). Boats must be at least 14 ft long; as a municipal water supply the lake carries many access regulations (call 501-868-4391 or visit carkw.com). Largemouth bass shorter than 14 in must be released on the Maumelle River below the dam
DRAINED — the Craig D. Campbell Lake Conway Reservoir (Faulkner County) was drained Nov 15, 2023 as part of a 5-year reconstruction project; the historic 6,700-acre flooded-cypress crappie reservoir does not currently exist as a fishery. Only the Dr. J.H. Flanigin Nursery Pond remains open for public fishing under statewide limits on largemouth, crappie, bream, catfish and (in season) rainbow trout
Ozark Zone Blue Ribbon Stream + NPS National River (federal jurisdiction overlay). Smallmouth bass 2 / day, 14 in min; from the Clabber Creek confluence downstream to the White River, smallmouth 1 / day, 18 in min TROPHY MANAGEMENT. NPS rules: baitfish / crayfish only if caught on the Buffalo or its tributaries; no gaffing / hogging / noodling / yo-yo / spearfishing; outboards prohibited above Erbie Ford and ≤10 hp below. Premier Ozark float-fishing smallmouth destination
Ozark Zone Blue Ribbon Stream (Marion County — AGFC's premier stream smallmouth fishery). Smallmouth bass 2 / day, 14 in min; along the Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation property near Kelley's Slab smallmouth must be released immediately. Classic Ozark float-stream destination
Ozark Zone Quality Stream (Carroll / Madison counties). Smallmouth bass 2 / day, 14 in min; from Trigger Gap to the Highway 62 bridge smallmouth 1 / day, 18 in min TROPHY MANAGEMENT. Walleye 18 in min, 4 / day. Spring float-fishing destination
Ozark Zone Quality Stream (Benton / Madison counties). Black bass 2 / day; smallmouth bass 14 in min. Beaver Lake tributary smallmouth float-stream
Boston Mountain Zone Quality Stream (Franklin / Johnson counties). Smallmouth bass 2 / day, 12 in min; from I-40 to the Arkansas River largemouth shorter than 14 in must be released. Premier whitewater Class II-III float-fishing destination
Ouachita Zone Quality Stream (above DeGray Lake). Smallmouth bass 2 / day, 12 in min. Clear Ouachita Mountain float-stream feeding Lake DeGray
Ouachita Zone Quality Stream. Smallmouth bass 2 / day, 12 in min. Steep whitewater Ouachita Mountain river (Cossatot River State Park-Natural Area)
Ouachita Zone Quality Stream (including its four headwater forks). Smallmouth bass 2 / day, 12 in min. Within Felsenthal National Wildlife Refuge largemouth 13 in or shorter must be released. The longest free-flowing river in Arkansas
Ozark Zone Quality Stream (Missouri state line to the Spring River confluence). Smallmouth bass 2 / day, 14 in min. Do not disturb Ozark hellbenders; crayfish fishing closed on the river and its tributaries
Ouachita Zone Quality Stream. Above Lake Greeson (including Albert Pike Recreational Area): trout 5 / day (Trout Permit required), smallmouth 2 / day, 12 in min. Narrows Tailwater (Lake Greeson Narrows Dam to Ouachita River): smallmouth 1 / day, 18 in min; rainbow trout 5 / day, all brown trout released; Narrows year-round / summer / winter C&R areas (artificial lures + flies, barbless)
Izard County Ozark stream. Hogging / noodling open July 15 – Oct 31 upstream of U.S. 167 and June 1 – Oct 31 downstream; crayfish fishing closed. Horseshoe Bend Pool: game-fish daily limit half the statewide limit, black bass 12 in min, rod-or-pole only
Ozark Zone Quality Stream (Fulton County — spring-fed cold-water river, the only naturally cold-water trout river in Arkansas). Below Mammoth Spring Dam No. 1 to Myatt Creek: trout 5 / day, only 1 over 14 in (cutthroat 2 / day) — Trout Permit required. Smallmouth bass 2 / day, 14 in min. AGFC Mammoth Spring State Fish Hatchery + Jim Hinkle Spring River State Fish Hatchery stock rainbow trout
White River below Beaver Dam to the Houseman Access. AGFC Trout Permit required; no fishing within 100 yd of Beaver Dam. Daily limit 2 trout up to 14 in kept; below 30 min after sunset only rainbow trout may be harvested. Cold-water Beaver Dam release supports rainbow + brown trout above the head of Table Rock Lake
McClellan-Kerr Navigation System (Oklahoma state line to Wilbur D. Mills Dam No. 2). Largemouth bass shorter than 14 in must be released immediately. Striped + hybrid striped bass combined 10 / day; ten channel catfish may be taken in addition to the daily limit. Between Dam 2 and the Yancopin bridge statewide daily limits apply; from the Mississippi confluence to the Yancopin Railroad Bridge no limit on catfish. Hogging / noodling May 15 – Oct 31. AR state-record flathead 80 lb (Arkansas River, 1989)
AR/MS + AR/TN reciprocal compact (anglers fishing the main stem may use AR, MS or TN Fishing Licence). White bass 50 / day; crappie (black + white combined) 50 / day; NO limit on catfish (channel + blue + flathead); all sturgeon must be released immediately. Hogging for buffalo / catfish / carp / drum legal May 1 – Jul 15; ≤100 hooks. AR state-record blue catfish 116 lb 12 oz (Mississippi River, Aug 3 2001 — Charles Ashley Jr.)
Lafayette County flooded-timber reservoir. Crappie shorter than 10 in must be released immediately. NO limit on channel catfish; 10 blue catfish may be taken in addition to the combined catfish daily limit. Legal to take game fish with spear guns during season
Frequently asked questions
- Do you need a fishing license to fish in Arkansas?
- Yes. Arkansas requires residents and non-residents alike to hold a valid fishing license, with the usual exemptions for young children, state free-fishing days, and some senior or disabled-veteran categories. Buy directly from Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC); resident and non-resident fees are listed in the tables above.
- How much is a fishing license in Arkansas?
- Resident fees range from $5.00 (resident trout permit) to $850.00 (resident lifetime fishing (any age)); Non-resident fees range from $11.00 (non-resident 1-day fishing) to $50.00 (non-resident annual fishing). The full breakdown — annual, multi-day, senior, and lifetime options — is in the license-fee tables above, and you can compare Arkansas against every other state on the license-fee comparator.
- What fish can you catch in Arkansas?
- Arkansas anglers most commonly target Largemouth bass, Smallmouth bass, Walleye, Crappie, Trout (rainbow + brown + cutthroat + brook), Blue catfish, and others. Each species sets its own season, daily bag, and size or slot limit — compare them in the species table above, or open a species page for the full 2026 rule.
- When does fishing season open in Arkansas?
- It depends on the species — Arkansas sets a separate season for each. Warmwater fish like bass, catfish, and panfish are open year-round in most of the state, while trout, walleye, salmon, and other cold-water or migratory species have dated seasons. The season column in the table above shows each one, and Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) can shift dates by emergency order.
- Are there special fishing rules on specific Arkansas waters?
- Yes. 36 named Arkansas waters carry regulations that differ from the statewide rule, including White River main stem, Little Red River, Norfork Tailwater, and 33 more. See the notable water-body special regulations above for the exact rule on each.
Official source
Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) is the authoritative source for Arkansas fishing regulations. Always verify rules before fishing — emergency closures and in-season changes can override published booklets.
Visit official Arkansas fishing regulations →
Emergency-order channel
In-season closures, slot-limit changes, and run-count-driven harvest pauses are posted to Arkansas Game and Fish Commission's emergency-order feed — check it before any Arkansas trip during the active season.