Beaver Lake in Arkansas has largemouth, spotted and smallmouth bass; white and striped bass, including hybrid stripers; walleye; white and black crappie; sunfish commonly called bream; and channel and flathead catfish. Rainbow and brown trout are associated with the Beaver Lake tailwater below the dam—not the reservoir itself.
Fish found in Beaver Lake
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lists these sport fish for the reservoir. Its 2018 Master Plan gives the more specific species names below; that is a sport-fish overview, not a complete inventory of every fish in the lake or watershed.
| Group | Fish listed |
|---|---|
| Black bass | Largemouth bass, spotted bass and smallmouth bass |
| Other bass | White bass, striped bass and hybrid white-striped bass |
| Walleye | Walleye |
| Crappie | White crappie and black crappie |
| Sunfish | Various sunfish, often referred to collectively as bream; the Corps plan does not specify individual sunfish species |
| Catfish | Channel catfish and flathead catfish |
The Corps’ Beaver Lake recreation information summarizes the reservoir fishery as bass, stripers and hybrids, walleye, crappie, bream and catfish. The 2018 Beaver Lake Master Plan names the individual bass, crappie and catfish species.
Are trout in Beaver Lake?
Rainbow and brown trout are associated with fishing in the Beaver Lake tailwater below Beaver Dam. They should not be added to the reservoir’s fish list: the Corps distinguishes below-dam trout fishing from fishing in the lake itself.
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What recent fishing reports say
AGFC’s Beaver Lake report updated August 20, 2026 described conditions for that late-summer reporting period, not a year-round pattern. It reported striped bass as the strongest option, crappie scattered around the lake, walleye at 25–35 feet, and catfish near main-channel drop-offs at about 30 feet. The observations were attributed to Jon Conklin of FishOn Guide Service. Conklin said: “Stripers are still the best option at this point. Get out early at 4: 30 a.m. and get your fish before 8 a.m.”
That report also mentioned crawler harnesses among methods that can work for walleye. Treat the depth and timing details as a dated fishing snapshot; conditions can vary. Check the AGFC weekly fishing report for current conditions before choosing a target or technique.
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How to check current lake information
- For detailed management information, AGFC’s fisheries survey index lists Beaver Lake summaries for 2025 and 2024.
- For reports, fishing locations and license resources, use AGFC’s fishing page. AGFC says anglers age 16 or older need an Arkansas fishing license.
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