2026 regulation year
Lake Chicot 2026 — Arkansas Fishing Regulations
Arkansas statewide rules apply unless overridden below.
Last updated
Lake Chicot carries 4 special-regulation overlays on top of Arkansas's 2026 fishing rules — covering Largemouth bass, Crappie, Channel catfish. Verify the agency booklet before launching: in-season changes are not yet wired to this page.
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State-level special regulation
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
Source: Arkansas special-water list
Per-species rules on Lake Chicot
15 in min largemouth, 10 / day; Arkansas's largest natural oxbow lake
20 / day, 10 in min; Arkansas's largest natural oxbow lake
No limit on channel catfish; Arkansas's largest natural oxbow lake
Official source
Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) publishes the authoritative 2026 Arkansas fishing regulations. Special-regulation lakes and rivers are listed in the agency booklet — always verify before fishing.
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.
Other special-regulation waters in Arkansas
Frequently asked questions
- What special fishing regulations apply at Lake Chicot?
- Lake Chicot carries 4 special-regulation overlays that override Arkansas' statewide 2026 rules, covering Largemouth bass, Crappie, and Channel catfish. One of them reads: "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." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.
- Do I need a fishing license to fish Lake Chicot?
- Yes. Lake Chicot is in Arkansas, so a valid Arkansas fishing license is required just as it is anywhere else in the state, issued by Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC). The special regulations on this page change the bag, size, slot, or gear rules for Lake Chicot; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Arkansas rules.
- Do Lake Chicot's special rules replace Arkansas' statewide limits?
- Only where they conflict. Arkansas' statewide 2026 regulations apply on Lake Chicot by default; the overlays above replace the matching statewide rules for the species or gear they name, while everything not specifically overridden still follows the statewide rule. When a water-body rule and the statewide rule disagree, the water-body rule wins.
- Which species have special rules on Lake Chicot?
- Largemouth bass, Crappie, and Channel catfish have a water-body-specific rule on Lake Chicot, each linking to its full Arkansas regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide Arkansas limits.