Fishing in Benton County, Arkansas
County seat: Bentonville. Population 284,333 (2020).
- 10lake pages
- 17launches
- 3river pages
Pick for catfishPiscifun LumiCat II catfish rod48% OFFSale $114.99 Photo of Beaver Lake: Brandonrush, CC0 1.0
The lakes and creeks of Benton County, introduced
Benton County had 284,333 residents in 2020 and handles its paperwork in Bentonville. Measured by size, Beaver Lake tops the 10 lakes with pages here.
Boaters have 17 boat or paddle launches; bank anglers have 8 pier or bank sites. For moving water, look at War Eagle Creek, Illinois River and Osage Creek. Families get 2 program ponds stocked under the AGFC community pond program, including Bentonville Lake.
U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census counts (TIGERweb) and the 2023 Gazetteer, read November 8, 2026. AGFC access layer (ArcGIS service), read November 8, 2026.
Plotting the fishing water of Benton County
AGFC boat-and-kayak and fishing access layers and AGFC fishing-area lake points, checked November 8, 2026.
Oxbows, ponds and reservoirs in Benton County
| Lake | Size | Ramps | Kind | AGFC target fish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beaver Lake | about 28,026 acres of mapped outline | 14 | Corps lake | black bass, catfish, crappie |
| Swepco Lake | 500 acres | 0 | reservoir | black bass, bream, catfish |
| Crystal Lake | 59 acres | 1 | lake | black bass, bream, catfish |
| Lake Atalanta | about 37 acres of mapped outline | 1 | FCFP pond | bream, catfish, trout (seasonal stocking) |
| Bentonville Lake | about 11 acres of mapped outline | 0 | FCFP pond | bream, catfish, trout (seasonal stocking) |
| Shaw Park Pond | 3 acres | 0 | mapped pond | black bass, bream, catfish |
| Centerton City Lake | about 2 acres of mapped outline | 0 | mapped pond | black bass, bream, catfish |
| Veterans Park Pond II | 1 acres | 0 | mapped pond | black bass, bream, catfish |
| Gentry Community Pond | not stated | 0 | mapped pond | black bass, bream, catfish |
| Ward Nail Park Pond | not stated | 0 | mapped pond | black bass, bream, catfish |
Acreage and depth as AGFC states them in its description of this water (AGFC page), read November 8, 2026. Sizes AGFC does not state print as mapped outline area. Target fish as AGFC lists them.
For the catfish herePiscifun Chaos XS round baitcaster36% OFFSale $57.99 The fish AGFC points Benton County anglers toward
Lake pages up to 50 miles from Bentonville were tallied by AGFC target fish, and bream leads the count.
AGFC public fishing area target species, counted per lake page within 50 miles; a listing, not a catch survey.
Other named water mapped inside Benton County
There are 9 more named lakes across Benton County, listed with their mapped size.
| Water | Size | Kind | Nearest town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Flint Creek | about 417 acres of mapped outline | lake | Gentry |
| Lake Ann | about 110 acres of mapped outline | lake | Bella Vista |
| Siloam Springs Lake | about 55 acres of mapped outline | lake | Siloam Springs |
| Bella Vista Lake | about 15 acres of mapped outline | lake | Bella Vista |
| Mt Hebron Park Pond | about 3 acres of mapped outline | mapped pond | Cave Springs |
| Veterans Park Pond | about 1 acres of mapped outline | mapped pond | Rogers |
| Metfield Pond Bella Vista | about 1 acres of mapped outline | mapped pond | Pea Ridge |
| La Bellanine Lake | about 1 acres of mapped outline | lake | Sulphur Springs |
| Lowell City Pond | not stated | mapped pond | Lowell |
Outline area from the USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (GIS polygon area, not an AGFC surface-acre figure), read November 8, 2026. AGFC public fishing areas map (agfc.com), read November 8, 2026.
River pages for Benton County
- War Eagle Creek2 AGFC accesses, 1 USGS gauge
- Illinois RiverAGFC water trail, 1 AGFC access, 3 USGS gauges
- Osage Creek1 AGFC access, 2 USGS gauges
Stream gauges in Benton County
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois River South Of Siloam Springs, Ar | 584 cfs, 2.40 ft gage height | Oct 1 1:45 am Not updated since Oct 1, 2025. |
| Illinois River At Hwy. 16 Near Siloam Springs Ar | 179 cfs, 6.08 ft gage height | Nov 13 8:00 pm |
| Osage Creek Near Elm Springs, Ar | 83 cfs, 2.61 ft gage height | Nov 13 8:00 pm |
| Osage Creek Near Cave Springs, Ar | 28 cfs, 1.31 ft gage height | Nov 13 7:45 pm |
| Spavinaw Creek Near Cherokee City, Ar | 26 cfs, 5.37 ft gage height | Nov 13 8:15 pm |
| Spavinaw Creek Near Maysville, Ar | 18 cfs, 6.64 ft gage height | Nov 13 8:15 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 13, 2026 8:32 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
AGFC public fishing areas map (agfc.com), read November 8, 2026. USGS Water Data for the Nation, live through the site, retrieved on page view.
AGFC program ponds of Benton County
| Pond | City | Stocked with | Last stocking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bentonville Lake | Bentonville | Catfish and Trout | catfish last stocked September 25, 2026; trout last stocked December 11, 2025 |
| Lake Atalanta | Rogers | Trout | trout last stocked December 11, 2025 |
Family and Community Fishing Program ponds
Last-stocked dates as printed on the AGFC Family and Community Fishing Program page (agfc.com; AGFC prints no numbers per pond), read November 8, 2026.
Put-ins listed in Benton County
- Chamber Springs Boating Access on Illinois RiverIllinois River, boat ramp, concrete surface
- Crystal Lake AccessCrystal Lake, boat ramp, concrete surface, fishing pier, mobility-impaired
- Lake Atalanta Boat RampLake Atalanta, boat ramp, concrete surface, mobility-impaired, restrooms
- Prairie Creek Boat Ramp on Beaver LakeBeaver Lake, boat ramp, concrete surface, camping, fishing pier, mobility-impaired
- Siloam Springs Boat RampSiloam Springs Lake, boat ramp, concrete surface
- Swepco Lake Boat Ramp on Lake Flint CreekLake Flint Creek, boat ramp, concrete surface, fishing pier
- Hickory Creek Boat Ramp on Beaver LakeBeaver Lake, boat ramp, concrete surface
- Horseshoe Bend Boat Ramp on Beaver LakeBeaver Lake, boat ramp, concrete surface
- Indian Creek Boat Ramp on Beaver LakeBeaver Lake, boat ramp, concrete surface
- Lost Bridge North Boat Ramp on Beaver LakeBeaver Lake, boat ramp, concrete surface
- Lost Bridge South Boat Ramp on Beaver LakeBeaver Lake, boat ramp, concrete surface
- Monte Ne Boat Ramp on Beaver LakeBeaver Lake, boat ramp, concrete plank surface
- Public boat ramp on Beaver LakeBeaver Lake, boat ramp, paved surface, camping, picnic tables, recreational area
- Rocky Branch Boat Ramp on Beaver LakeBeaver Lake, boat ramp, concrete surface
- Siloam Springs Kayak Park Access on Illinois RiverIllinois River, canoe/kayak access, stationary access surface
- Starkey Boat Ramp on Beaver LakeBeaver Lake, boat ramp, concrete surface
- Ventris Boat Ramp on Beaver LakeBeaver Lake, boat ramp, concrete surface
Bank fishing sites in Benton County
- Gentry Pond on Gentry Community PondGentry Community Pond, bank fishing
- North Pier on Bentonville LakeBentonville Lake, fishing pier, mobility-impaired, recreational area
- Shaw Family Park on Shaw Park PondShaw Park Pond, bank fishing
- Veterans Park on Veterans Park Pond IIVeterans Park Pond II, bank fishing
- Ward Nail ParkWard Nail Park Pond, bank fishing, recreational area, restrooms
- Centerton City Lake Fishing AccessCenterton City Lake, fishing area
- Osage Creek Fishing AccessOsage Creek, bank fishing
- Public fishing access on Crystal LakeCrystal Lake, fishing pier, mobility-impaired
AGFC access layer (ArcGIS service), read November 8, 2026. Lanes, fees and hours are not fields in the AGFC layers.
Latest dam data from Benton County
Beaver Lake
USACE Little Rock District Beaver Dam reading for Beaver Lake, November 8, 2026.
USACE Little Rock District via USACE Access to Water (location page), latest values at retrieval November 8, 2026. Provisional.
Creel rules behind Benton County fishing
These AGFC statewide rows govern Benton County fishing wherever no exception is printed. The AGFC fee table lists $10.50 for the resident license and $60 for the nonresident annual.
| Species | Statewide rule as printed | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Alligator Gar | daily limit of 1 with 36-inch maximum length. | N1.01(C) |
| American Eel | daily limit of 2 fish with no length restrictions. | N1.01(D) |
| Black Bass (Largemouth, Spotted, And Smallmouth) | daily limit of 10 black bass (all species combined) with no length restrictions. Reservoir Smallmouth Bass, daily limit of 6, 12-inch minimum; Flowing Waters Smallmouth Bass, daily limit of 2, 12-inch minimum. | N1.01(E) |
| Bream | Daily limit is 50 fish over 4 inches, no limit on bream 4 inches or shorter. | N1.01(F) |
| Catfish (Except Bullhead) | daily limit of 10 catfish (all species combined) with no length restrictions. | N1.01(G) |
| Crappie | daily limit of 30 crappie (all species combined) with no length restrictions. | N1.01(H) |
| Paddlefish | daily limit of 2 Paddlefish with no length restrictions. | N1.01(I) |
| Rock Bass | daily limit of 10 Rock Bass with no length restrictions. | N1.01(J) |
| Sauger | daily limit of 6 Sauger with no length restrictions. | N1.01(K) |
| Saugeye | daily limit of 6 Saugeye with no length restrictions. | N1.01(L) |
Waters with special limits in Benton County
- Beaver LakeBlack Bass (Largemouth, Spotted, And Smallmouth): Daily limit of 6, Largemouth Bass and Smallmouth Bass 15-inch minimum.
- Illinois RiverBlack Bass (Largemouth, Spotted, And Smallmouth): Daily limit of 1 Smallmouth Bass 15-inch minimum.
- Lake AtalantaCatfish (Except Bullhead): Daily limit of 5.
- Swepco LakeBlack Bass (Largemouth, Spotted, And Smallmouth): Only 1 Largemouth Bass longer than 18 inches.
- War Eagle CreekBlack Bass (Largemouth, Spotted, And Smallmouth): Daily limit of 2, including only 1 Smallmouth Bass 15-inch minimum.
Every Arkansas water-specific limit
Benton County waters closed to trotlines and jugs
For Benton County, Code 26.08 names Lake Atalanta and Lake Bentonville as rod-or-pole only.
Rod-or-pole and border water rules
AGFC Code of Regulations (regulation library), read November 8, 2026. Fishing license prices as printed on the AGFC license descriptions and fees page (agfc.com), matching Code Addendum D1.01, read November 8, 2026.
Record-book fish around Benton County
| Species | Weight | Division | Water | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paddlefish | 127 lbs., 6 oz. | rod and reel | Beaver Lake | June 18, 2024 |
| River Redhorse | 9 lbs., 3 oz. | rod and reel | Osage Creek | Dec. 20, 2022 |
Arkansas state record fish as listed by AGFC (record list), read November 8, 2026.
Bass trails and derbies in Benton County
Trails and clubs list 2 events on Benton County water; 1 are upcoming.
| Date | Event | Water | Organizer |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 11, 2027 | Beaver Lake, Rogers, Ark. | Beaver Lake | Major League Fishing |
| May 3, 2026 | Bass Pro Tour Stage 5, Beaver Lake 2026 | Beaver Lake | Major League Fishing |
Organizer schedule and results pages, checked November 2026.
Bait counters across Benton County
Where to buy minnows in Benton County
- Academy Sports + Outdoors, 3299 Highway 412 Ebait and tackle shop, Siloam Springs
- Academy Sports + Outdoors, 3855 S 26th Stbait and tackle shop, Rogers
- Bailey's Beaver Lake Striper Guide Servicebait and tackle shop, rogers
- Barnetts Motorsbait and tackle shop, Garfield
- Bass Pro Shops, 2300 S Promenade Blvdbait and tackle shop, Rogers
- D & J Bait Farmbait and tackle shop, Garfield
- Hart Tackle Companybait and tackle shop, Lowell
- Hook Line & Sinker, 103 Marina Drbait and tackle shop, Bella Vista
- Hook Line & Sinker, 3706 N Walton Blvdbait and tackle shop, Bentonville
- Hook Line & Sinker, 98 E Locust Stbait and tackle shop, Rogers
- K & K Guide Servicebait and tackle shop, Rogers
- Knoedl's Outdoor Techbait and tackle shop, Hiwasse
- Southern Hills Outfittersbait and tackle shop, Centerton
- Hickory Creek Marinamarina, Springdale
- Hickory Creek Marina Incmarina, Lowell
- Horseshoe Bend Marinamarina, Rogers
- Lost Bridge Marinamarina, Garfield
- Prairie Creek Marinamarina, Rogers
- Rocky Branch Marinamarina, Rogers
Northwest Arkansas tackle shops
Guide services listed in Benton County
- Big 1's Striper Guidefishing guide, Rogers, (479) 633-0662
- Fishing with Robfishing guide, Bentonville, (479) 256-8594
- Just Fishin' Guidesfishing guide, Bentonville, (479) 531-5741
- Ozark Fly Flingerfly fishing guide, Rogers, (479) 621-0470
- Paul Edwards Bass Fishing Guide Servicefishing guide, Rogers, (479) 633-8323
- Ron Crawford's Bass Fishing Guide Servicefishing guide, Rogers, (479) 925-4266
Yellow Pages and tourism guide listings (city of business), read November 8, 2026.
Near Benton County
Cities of Benton County
- Rogerspop. 69,908
- Bentonvillepop. 54,164
- Bella Vistapop. 30,104
- Centertonpop. 17,792
- Siloam Springspop. 17,287
- Lowellpop. 9,839
- Pea Ridgepop. 6,559
- Cave Springspop. 5,495
- Gentrypop. 3,790
- Gravettepop. 3,547
- Little Flockpop. 3,055
- Bethel Heightspop. 3,015
- Decaturpop. 1,773
- Highfillpop. 1,587
Bordering Benton County
- Washington County25 miles south
- Madison County37 miles southeast
- Carroll County40 miles east
- Crawford County52 miles south
Piscifun reels and braid packed for Benton County
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Banks and coves around Benton County, through a lens
Photo: RolandDart, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Brandonrush, CC0 1.0
Photo: Alfredo Carrillo, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Alfredo Carrillo, CC BY 2.0
Lakes and creeks of Benton County, in questions
Which launches does AGFC show for Benton County?
The AGFC layers place 17 launches in the county.
What is the widest lake in Benton County?
Beaver Lake leads with about 28,026 acres of mapped outline.
What should I fish for around Benton County?
AGFC lists bream on the most lake pages within 50 miles, then catfish, black bass and crappie.
Which Benton County stores sell tackle?
Academy Sports + Outdoors, 3299 Highway 412 E leads 19.
Where is the Benton County courthouse?
Bentonville holds it.
What does an Arkansas fishing license cost for Benton County water?
Anyone 16 or older needs a license: $10.50 for Arkansans, $60 for a nonresident year.
Which counties are closest to Benton County?
The nearest county pages are Washington County, Madison County and Carroll County.
How many crappie may a Benton County angler keep?
Statewide: daily limit of 30 crappie (all species combined) with no length restrictions. Waters with their own Code line differ.
Does AGFC list exceptions for Benton County water?
5 waters with a page here carry their own Code line, starting with Beaver Lake.
Which Benton County pond does AGFC stock for families?
Bentonville Lake and Lake Atalanta: Catfish and Trout, catfish last stocked September 25, 2026; trout last stocked December 11, 2025.
Do trails hold events on Benton County water?
2 organizer entries on file; next is Beaver Lake, Rogers, Ark. on Beaver Lake, March 11, 2027.
Which AGFC records came from Benton County?
Paddlefish, 127 lbs., 6 oz. (rod and reel), from Beaver Lake.
Plan a Natural State day in Benton County
Lake pages list ramps, AGFC target fish and any Code exception.