Fishing in Craighead County, Arkansas
County seats: Jonesboro and Lake City. Population 111,231 (2020).
- 8lake pages
- 15launches
- 1river pages
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The lakes and creeks of Craighead County, introduced
County records for Craighead County sit in Jonesboro and Lake City, and 111,231 people lived there at the 2020 Census. Measured by size, Cockleburr Slough tops the 8 lakes with pages here.
Boaters have 15 boat or paddle launches; bank anglers have 3 pier or bank sites. For moving water, look at St. Francis River. Families get 2 program ponds stocked under the AGFC community pond program, including Arkansas State University Pond.
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 Craighead County
AGFC boat-and-kayak and fishing access layers and AGFC fishing-area lake points, checked November 8, 2026.
Oxbows, ponds and reservoirs in Craighead County
| Lake | Size | Ramps | Kind | AGFC target fish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cockleburr Slough | about 52 acres of mapped outline | 1 | lake | black bass, bream, catfish |
| Lake Bono | about 42 acres of mapped outline | 1 | lake | bream, catfish |
| Turkey Island Slough | about 32 acres of mapped outline | 0 | lake | black bass, bream, catfish |
| Arkansas State University Pond | about 2 acres of mapped outline | 0 | FCFP pond | bream, catfish, trout (seasonal stocking) |
| Caraway City Pond | about 2 acres of mapped outline | 0 | mapped pond | bream, catfish |
| Craighead Forest Youth and Senior Pond | not stated | 0 | FCFP pond | bream, catfish, trout (seasonal stocking) |
| Chatman-Dewey Run | not stated | 1 | lake | black bass, bream, catfish |
| Eight Mile Ditch | not stated | 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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Lake pages up to 50 miles from Jonesboro were tallied by AGFC target fish, and catfish 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 Craighead County
There are 2 more named lakes across Craighead County, listed with their mapped size.
| Water | Size | Kind | Nearest town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Craighead Forest Lake | about 70 acres of mapped outline | lake | Jonesboro |
| Westside School Outdoor Classroom Pond | not stated | mapped pond | Bono |
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 Craighead County
- St. Francis RiverAGFC water trail, 22 AGFC accesses
Stream gauges in Craighead County
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Cache River At Egypt, Ar | 0 cfs, 1.87 ft gage height | Nov 13 7:45 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 Craighead County
| Pond | City | Stocked with | Last stocking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas State University Pond | Jonesboro | Catfish and Trout | catfish last stocked October 19, 2026; trout last stocked December 15, 2025 |
| Craighead Forest Youth and Senior Pond | Jonesboro | Catfish and Trout | catfish last stocked April 3, 2026; trout last stocked December 15, 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 Craighead County
- Bono Lake Boating AccessLake Bono, boat ramp, concrete surface
- Cockleburr Slough Access on St. Francis RiverSt. Francis River, boat ramp, concrete surface
- Craighead Forest Park Lake Boating Accesswater not named, boat ramp, concrete surface
- Deep Landing Access on St. Francis RiverSt. Francis River, boat ramp, gravel surface
- Iron Bridge Boating Access on St. Francis RiverSt. Francis River, boat ramp, gravel surface
- Lake City Access #1 on St. Francis RiverSt. Francis River, boat ramp, concrete surface
- Lake City Access #2 on St. Francis RiverSt. Francis River, boat ramp, concrete surface
- Lester Access on St. Francis RiverSt. Francis River, boat ramp, gravel surface
- Locust Creek Access on St. Francis RiverSt. Francis River, boat ramp, gravel surface
- St. Francis Sunken Lands Cockleburr Slough Parking Area Boat RampCockleburr Slough, boat ramp
- St. Francis Sunken Lands Hatchie Coon Parking Area 4 Boat Ramp on Chatman-Dewey RunChatman-Dewey Run, boat ramp, recreational area
- St. Francis Sunken Lands Williams Access Parking Area on Eight Mile DitchEight Mile Ditch, boat ramp
- Turkey Island Slough Access on St. Francis RiverSt. Francis River, boat ramp, gravel surface
- Williams Access on St. Francis RiverSt. Francis River, boat ramp, concrete surface
- Straightout Accesswater not named, boat ramp, gravel surface
Bank fishing sites in Craighead County
- Arkansas State University PondArkansas State University Pond, bank fishing
- Caraway City PondCaraway City Pond, fishing area
- St. Francis Sunken Lands Turkey Island Fishing Access on Turkey Island SloughTurkey Island Slough, fishing area
AGFC access layer (ArcGIS service), read November 8, 2026. Lanes, fees and hours are not fields in the AGFC layers.
Creel rules behind Craighead County fishing
These AGFC statewide rows govern Craighead 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) |
Craighead County waters closed to trotlines and jugs
For Craighead County, Code 26.08 names Craighead Forest Lake 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 Craighead County
No record on the AGFC list names Craighead County water, so the nearest record waters within 70 miles follow.
| Species | Weight | Division | Water | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saugeye | 9 lbs., 0 oz. | rod and reel | Lake Frierson | Jan. 30, 2012 |
| Shadow Bass | 1 lb., 12 oz. | rod and reel | Spring River | July 5, 1999 |
| American Eel | 5 lbs., 4 oz. | rod and reel | Spring River | July 12, 2015 |
| American Eel | 5 lbs., 4.4 oz. | rod and reel | Spring River | July 15, 2015 |
Arkansas state record fish as listed by AGFC (record list), read November 8, 2026.
Bait counters across Craighead County
Where to buy minnows in Craighead County
- Academy Sports + Outdoors, 2800 Parkwood Rdbait and tackle shop, Jonesboro
- Southern Pro Tackle Incbait and tackle shop, Brookland
Yellow Pages and tourism guide listings (city of business), read November 8, 2026.
Near Craighead County
Cities of Craighead County
- Jonesboropop. 78,576
- Brooklandpop. 4,064
- Bonopop. 2,409
- Lake Citypop. 2,326
- Baypop. 1,876
- Monettepop. 1,506
- Carawaypop. 1,133
Bordering Craighead County
- Poinsett County18 miles south
- Greene County21 miles north
- Lawrence County30 miles northwest
- Mississippi County33 miles east
Piscifun reels and braid packed for Craighead County
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Banks and coves around Craighead County, through a lens
Photo: Magnolia677, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Brandonrush, CC0 1.0
Photo: Brandonrush, CC0 1.0
Photo: Ken Bingham, CC BY 2.0
Lakes and creeks of Craighead County, in questions
Which launches does AGFC show for Craighead County?
The AGFC layers place 15 launches in the county.
What is the widest lake in Craighead County?
Cockleburr Slough leads with about 52 acres of mapped outline.
What should I fish for around Craighead County?
AGFC lists catfish on the most lake pages within 50 miles, then bream, black bass and crappie.
Which Craighead County stores sell tackle?
Academy Sports + Outdoors, 2800 Parkwood Rd leads 2.
Where is the Craighead County courthouse?
Jonesboro and Lake City share the role.
What does an Arkansas fishing license cost for Craighead County water?
Anyone 16 or older needs a license: $10.50 for Arkansans, $60 for a nonresident year.
Which counties are closest to Craighead County?
The nearest county pages are Poinsett County, Greene County and Lawrence County.
How many crappie may a Craighead County angler keep?
Statewide: daily limit of 30 crappie (all species combined) with no length restrictions. Waters with their own Code line differ.
Which Craighead County pond does AGFC stock for families?
Arkansas State University Pond and Craighead Forest Youth and Senior Pond: Catfish and Trout, catfish last stocked October 19, 2026; trout last stocked December 15, 2025.
Plan a Natural State day in Craighead County
Lake pages list ramps, AGFC target fish and any Code exception.