Fishing in Boone County, Arkansas
County seat: Harrison. Population 37,373 (2020).
- 2lake pages
- 5launches
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Boone County: first things first
Boone County runs its county government from Harrison, and the 2020 Census found 37,373 residents. 2 lakes with a page fall in the county, the biggest being Bull Shoals Lake.
AGFC maps 5 boat or paddle launches and 2 pier or bank sites across the county.
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.
A map of launch and lake points in Boone County
AGFC boat-and-kayak and fishing access layers and AGFC fishing-area lake points, checked November 8, 2026.
Lakes and ponds in Boone County
| Lake | Size | Ramps | Kind | AGFC target fish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bull Shoals Lake | 48,225 acres | 22 | Corps lake | black bass, bream, catfish |
| Harrison City Lake | about 7 acres of mapped outline | 0 | lake | black bass, bream |
These lakes outside Boone County sit closest to Harrison.
| Lake | From Harrison | Size | Ramps | Kind | AGFC target fish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leatherwood Lake | 23 miles northwest | 85 acres | 1 | lake | black bass, bream, catfish |
| Table Rock Lake | 23 miles northwest | about 33,821 acres of mapped outline | 1 | Corps lake | black bass, bream, catfish |
| Berryville Lake | 26 miles west | 1 acres | 0 | mapped pond | black bass, bream, catfish |
| McCabe Park | 40 miles east | about 3 acres of mapped outline | 0 | mapped pond | black bass, bream, catfish |
| Amon’s Lake | 44 miles east | about 1 acres of mapped outline | 1 | mapped pond | bream, catfish, trout (seasonal stocking) |
| Hindsville Lake | 44 miles west | 10 acres | 1 | lake | 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.
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Within 50 miles of Harrison, bream heads the AGFC target lists.
AGFC public fishing area target species, counted per lake page within 50 miles; a listing, not a catch survey.
Named lakes in Boone County that are listed only here
AGFC and the national hydrography maps name 2 more lakes in Boone County that are too thin on facts for a page of their own.
| Water | Size | Kind | Nearest town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bull Shoals Lake Nursery Pond | about 15 acres of mapped outline | mapped pond | Lead Hill |
| Alpena City Park | not stated | mapped pond | Alpena |
Outline area from the AGFC lake or pond 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.
Rivers and creeks in Boone County
Live river readings for Boone County
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Bear Creek Near Omaha, Ar | 0.02 ft gage height | Nov 13 7:30 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.
Boat ramps in Boone County
- Boating Access on Bull Shoals LakeBull Shoals Lake, boat ramp, paved surface, picnic tables, recreational area, restrooms
- Cricket Creek Boat Ramp on Table Rock LakeTable Rock Lake, boat ramp, concrete surface
- Lead Hill High Water Boat Ramp on Bull Shoals LakeBull Shoals Lake, boat ramp, concrete surface
- New Lead Hill Boat Ramp on Bull Shoals LakeBull Shoals Lake, boat ramp, concrete surface
- Old Lead Hill Boat Ramp on Bull Shoals LakeBull Shoals Lake, boat ramp, concrete surface
Piers and bank areas across Boone County
- Harrison City Lake Fishing AccessHarrison City Lake, bank fishing, picnic tables, recreational area, restrooms
- Alpena City ParkAlpena City Park, fishing area
AGFC access layer (ArcGIS service), read November 8, 2026. Lanes, fees and hours are not fields in the AGFC layers.
Corps dam readings for Boone County lakes
Bull Shoals Lake
USACE Little Rock District Bull Shoals Dam reading for Bull Shoals Lake, November 8, 2026.
USACE Little Rock District via USACE Access to Water (location page), latest values at retrieval November 8, 2026. Provisional.
Base limits on Boone County lakes and rivers
Boone County anglers follow these statewide limits except on waters listed with their own rule. AGFC sells the Resident Fisheries Conservation License for $10.50; a visitor buys the nonresident annual at $60.
| 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) |
Code exceptions for Boone County waters
- Bull Shoals LakeBlack Bass (Largemouth, Spotted, And Smallmouth): Daily limit of 6, Largemouth Bass and Smallmouth Bass 15-inch minimum and Spotted Bass 12-inch minimum.
Every Arkansas water-specific limit
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.
Where Boone County shows up on the record list
| Species | Weight | Division | Water | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smallmouth Bass | 7 lbs., 5 oz. | rod and reel | Bull Shoals Lake | April 1, 1969 |
| Spotted Bass | 7 lbs., 15 oz. | rod and reel | Bull Shoals Lake | March 26, 1983 |
| Quillback Carpsucker | 8 lbs., 0 oz. | unrestricted tackle | Bull Shoals Lake | March 2, 2024 |
| American Eel | 5 lbs., 5 oz. | unrestricted tackle | Bull Shoals Lake | June 24, 2018 |
Arkansas state record fish as listed by AGFC (record list), read November 8, 2026.
Competitive fishing on Boone County water
Count 13 organizer entries for Boone County water, 5 still on the schedule.
| Date | Event | Water | Organizer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb. 27, 2027 | BULL SHOALS | Bull Shoals Lake | Fishers of Men National Team Trail |
| March 6, 2027 | BULL SHOALS (open) | Bull Shoals Lake | Fishers of Men National Team Trail |
| April 11, 2027 | April 11 – Bull Shoals Lake, Harrison, Ark. | Bull Shoals Lake | B.A.S.S. |
| May 15, 2027 | BULL SHOALS | Bull Shoals Lake | Fishers of Men National Team Trail |
| May 29, 2027 | BULL SHOALS (open) | Bull Shoals Lake | Fishers of Men National Team Trail |
| June 6, 2026 | Fishers of Men Arkansas Northwest Classic, Bull Shoals Lake 2026-06 | Bull Shoals Lake | Fishers of Men National Team Trail |
| March 14, 2026 | Fishers of Men Arkansas Northwest Classic, Bull Shoals Lake 2026-03 | Bull Shoals Lake | Fishers of Men National Team Trail |
| June 7, 2025 | Fishers of Men Arkansas Northwest Classic, Bull Shoals Lake 2025-06 | Bull Shoals Lake | Fishers of Men National Team Trail |
| April 19, 2025 | Fishers of Men Arkansas Central Classic, Bull Shoals Lake 2025-04 | Bull Shoals Lake | Fishers of Men National Team Trail |
| April 12, 2025 | Fishers of Men Arkansas Northwest Classic, Bull Shoals Lake 2025-04 | Bull Shoals Lake | Fishers of Men National Team Trail |
| March 22, 2025 | Fishers of Men Arkansas Northwest Classic, Bull Shoals Lake 2025-03 | Bull Shoals Lake | Fishers of Men National Team Trail |
| not printed | Phoenix BFL Arkie Division final, Bull Shoals Lake 2026 | Bull Shoals Lake | Major League Fishing |
Organizer schedule and results pages, checked November 2026.
Tackle shops, marinas and guides in Boone County
Boone County shop listings
- Lead Hill Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Lead Hill
- Riverside Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Lead Hill
- Rock Springs Tackle, 1902 Rock Springs Rdbait and tackle shop, Harrison
- Cricket Creek Marinamarina, Omaha
- Sugarloaf Harbor Marinamarina, Lead Hill
- Tucker Hollow Marinamarina, Lead Hill
Yellow Pages and tourism guide listings (city of business), read November 8, 2026.
Next to Boone County
Places to stay in Boone County
- Harrisonpop. 13,069
Next door to Boone County
- Marion County22 miles east
- Carroll County26 miles west
- Newton County28 miles south
- Searcy County35 miles southeast
A Piscifun casting setup for the drive to Boone County
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Banks and coves around Boone County, through a lens
Photo: NPS, Public domain
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Photo: The original uploader was Bobak at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 2.5
Photo: Semipaw, CC BY 3.0
Photo: CoreBurn, CC BY 2.0
Short replies on fishing in Boone County
How many boat launches does AGFC map in Boone County?
5 launches, listed above by name.
Which still water in Boone County holds the most acres?
By size it is Bull Shoals Lake: 48,225 acres.
Which species does AGFC point to near Boone County?
AGFC lists bream on the most lake pages within 50 miles, then black bass, catfish and crappie.
Does Boone County have a bait shop listed?
6; Lead Hill Bait & Tackle is among them.
Which town runs Boone County government?
County offices are in Harrison.
Do I need an AGFC license to fish Boone County water?
Licenses run $10.50 for residents and $60 for nonresidents on the AGFC fee page.
Which counties border Boone County?
Marion County, Carroll County and Newton County lie closest.
What crappie rule covers Boone County water?
Statewide: daily limit of 30 crappie (all species combined) with no length restrictions. Waters with their own Code line differ.
Which Boone County waters break from the statewide limits?
1 water with a page here carry their own Code line, starting with Bull Shoals Lake.
Are there bass tournaments in Boone County?
13 organizer entries on file; next is BULL SHOALS on Bull Shoals Lake, Feb. 27, 2027.
Has an Arkansas record fish come from Boone County?
Smallmouth Bass, 7 lbs., 5 oz. (rod and reel), from Bull Shoals Lake.
Load the boat for Boone County
Open a lake for its launches, limits and dam readings.