Fishing in Crawford County, Arkansas
County seat: Van Buren. Population 60,133 (2020).
- 9lake pages
- 11launches
- 3river pages
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Crawford County: first things first
Crawford County runs its county government from Van Buren, and the 2020 Census found 60,133 residents. 9 lakes with a page fall in the county, the biggest being Ozark Lake.
AGFC maps 11 boat or paddle launches and 7 pier or bank sites across the county. Streams with their own guide here include Arkansas River, Clear Creek and Mulberry River. The Arkansas River passes through as Pool 13. The Family and Community Fishing Program covers 1 program pond here, Van Buren City Park Pond among them.
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 Crawford County
AGFC boat-and-kayak and fishing access layers and AGFC fishing-area lake points, checked November 8, 2026.
Lakes and ponds in Crawford County
| Lake | Size | Ramps | Kind | AGFC target fish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ozark Lake | about 9,421 acres of mapped outline | 7 | Corps lake | black bass, bream, catfish |
| Fort Smith Lake | about 901 acres of mapped outline | 1 | lake | not listed |
| Lee Creek Reservoir | about 582 acres of mapped outline | 1 | reservoir | not listed |
| Lee Creek Lake | about 435 acres of mapped outline | 1 | lake | black bass, bream, catfish |
| T J House Reservoir | about 139 acres of mapped outline | 1 | reservoir | not listed |
| Alma City Lake | 124 acres | 0 | lake | black bass, bream, catfish |
| Dyer Lake | about 57 acres of mapped outline | 1 | lake | black bass, bream, catfish |
| Van Buren City Park Pond | about 7 acres of mapped outline | 0 | FCFP pond | black bass, bream, catfish |
| Lou Emma Lake | about 4 acres of mapped outline | 0 | 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 Van Buren, 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 Crawford County that are listed only here
AGFC and the national hydrography maps name 4 more lakes in Crawford County that are too thin on facts for a page of their own.
| Water | Size | Kind | Nearest town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Shepherd Springs | about 1,314 acres of mapped outline | lake | Chester |
| Frog Bayou | about 366 acres of mapped outline | mapped pond | St. Paul |
| Hollis Lake | about 164 acres of mapped outline | lake | Barling |
| Lake Alma | about 109 acres of mapped outline | lake | Alma |
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.
Rivers and creeks in Crawford County
- Arkansas River43 AGFC accesses, 9 USGS gauges
- Clear Creek3 AGFC accesses
- Mulberry River1 AGFC access, 1 USGS gauge
Live river readings for Crawford County
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Jack Creek Near Winfrey, Ar | 0 cfs, -0.13 ft gage height | Nov 13 8:15 pm |
| Frog Bayou At Winfrey, Ar | 0 cfs, 2.33 ft gage height | Nov 13 8:00 pm |
| Ar River At Van Buren, Ar | 19.53 ft gage height | Nov 13 8:00 pm |
| Frog Bayou At Rudy, Ar | -2.05 ft gage height | Nov 13 8:00 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.
River pools with a page in Crawford County
- Arkansas River Pool 13river pool
AGFC public fishing areas map (agfc.com), read November 8, 2026.
Stocked community ponds in Crawford County
| Pond | City | Stocked with | Last stocking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Van Buren City Park Pond | Van Buren | Catfish and Trout | no date printed |
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.
Boat ramps in Crawford County
- Clear Creek Boat Ramp on Ozark LakeOzark Lake, boat ramp, concrete surface, picnic tables, recreational area, restrooms
- Dyer Bay Boat Ramp on Ozark LakeOzark Lake, boat ramp, concrete surface
- Dyer Lake Boat RampDyer Lake, boat ramp, concrete surface
- Lake Fort Smith Boat RampFort Smith Lake, boat ramp, concrete surface
- Lee Creek Boat Ramp on Arkansas River Pool 13Arkansas River Pool 13, boat ramp, concrete surface, picnic tables, recreational area, restrooms
- Lee Creek COE Boat Ramp on Arkansas River Pool 13Arkansas River Pool 13, boat ramp, concrete surface
- Lee Creek Park Boat RampLee Creek Lake, boat ramp
- Lee Creek Reservoir Boat RampLee Creek Reservoir, boat ramp, concrete surface, fishing pier, mobility-impaired
- TJ House Boat RampT J House Reservoir, boat ramp, concrete surface
- Vine Praire Use Area Boat Ramp on Ozark LakeOzark Lake, boat ramp, concrete surface
- Bluff Hole Park Access on Ozark LakeOzark Lake, boat ramp, gravel surface
Piers and bank areas across Crawford County
- Alma City Lake Fishing AccessAlma City Lake, fishing pier
- Van Buren Pond on Van Buren City Park PondVan Buren City Park Pond, bank fishing, picnic tables, recreational area, restrooms
- Area D Parking Area Fishing Accesswater not named, fishing area
- Clear Creek Camping Area Fishing AccessClear Creek, bank fishing
- Clear Creek Parking Area Fishing AccessClear Creek, bank fishing
- Forest Service access areas on Mulberry RiverMulberry River, bank fishing
- Public fishing access on Lou Emma LakeLou Emma Lake, fishing pier
AGFC access layer (ArcGIS service), read November 8, 2026. Lanes, fees and hours are not fields in the AGFC layers.
Corps dam readings for Crawford County lakes
Ozark Lake
USACE Little Rock District Ozark Lock & Dam 12 reading for Ozark Lake, November 8, 2026.
USACE Little Rock District via USACE Access to Water (location page), latest values at retrieval November 8, 2026. Provisional.
Tackle counters near Crawford County
- Mackie's One Stopbait and tackle shop, Fort Smith, 3 miles
- The Woodsman Companybait and tackle shop, Fort Smith, 6 miles
- Academy Sports + Outdoors, 5001 Phoenix Avebait and tackle shop, Fort Smith, 8 miles
- Dick's Sporting Goods, 3825 Phoenix Avebait and tackle shop, Fort Smith, 8 miles
- Tackle Boxbait and tackle shop, Fort Smith, 9 miles
Yellow Pages listings; straight-line miles only for shops with an exact address point.
Base limits on Crawford County lakes and rivers
Crawford 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 Crawford County waters
- Arkansas RiverBlack Bass (Largemouth, Spotted, And Smallmouth): Largemouth Bass 14-inch minimum.
- Lee Creek ReservoirBlack Bass (Largemouth, Spotted, And Smallmouth): Unlawful to possess Largemouth Bass from 13-16 inches.
- Lou Emma LakeBlack Bass (Largemouth, Spotted, And Smallmouth): Daily limit of 5.
- Ozark LakeCrappie: 10-inch minimum.
Every Arkansas water-specific limit
Rod-and-pole only water across Crawford County
Code 26.08 lists Lake Cambadelle and Lake Lou Emma in Crawford County as waters where only a rod or pole may be used.
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.
Where Crawford County shows up on the record list
| Species | Weight | Division | Water | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flathead Catfish | 80 lbs., 0 oz. | rod and reel | Arkansas River | Oct. 28, 1989 |
| Alligator Gar | 215 lbs., 0 oz. | rod and reel | Arkansas River | July 31, 1964 |
| Sauger | 6 lbs., 12 oz. | rod and reel | Arkansas River | Dec. 15, 1976 |
| Highfin Carpsucker | 1 lbs., 12 oz. | unrestricted tackle | Arkansas River | June 19, 2017 |
| River Carpsucker | 3 lbs., 2 oz. | unrestricted tackle | Arkansas River | June 19, 2017 |
| Longnose Gar | 54 lbs., 0 oz. | unrestricted tackle | Arkansas River | Aug. 4, 2011 |
Arkansas state record fish as listed by AGFC (record list), read November 8, 2026.
Competitive fishing on Crawford County water
Count 1 organizer entries for Crawford County water, 0 still on the schedule.
| Date | Event | Water | Organizer |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 20, 2026 | Fishers of Men Arkansas Central Classic, Arkansas River 2026-06 | Arkansas River | Fishers of Men National Team Trail |
Organizer schedule and results pages, checked November 2026.
Next to Crawford County
Places to stay in Crawford County
- Van Burenpop. 23,218
- Almapop. 5,825
- Mulberrypop. 1,543
- Cedarvillepop. 1,424
- Kiblerpop. 1,005
Next door to Crawford County
- Franklin County20 miles east
- Sebastian County27 miles south
- Washington County27 miles north
- Logan County38 miles southeast
A Piscifun casting setup for the drive to Crawford County
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Natural State water near Crawford County, on camera
Photo: Wiley.andrew.r, CC BY 4.0
Photo: National Trails Office ( US National Park Service ), Public domain
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Photo: Forest Service Photography, Public domain
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Photo: Mobilus In Mobili, CC BY-SA 2.0
Short replies on fishing in Crawford County
How many boat launches does AGFC map in Crawford County?
11 launches, listed above by name.
Which still water in Crawford County holds the most acres?
By size it is Ozark Lake: about 9,421 acres of mapped outline.
Which species does AGFC point to near Crawford County?
AGFC lists bream on the most lake pages within 50 miles, then catfish, black bass and crappie.
Does Crawford County have a bait shop listed?
None in the county; the list above covers the closest.
Which town runs Crawford County government?
County offices are in Van Buren.
Do I need an AGFC license to fish Crawford County water?
Licenses run $10.50 for residents and $60 for nonresidents on the AGFC fee page.
Which counties border Crawford County?
Franklin County, Sebastian County and Washington County lie closest.
What crappie rule covers Crawford County water?
Statewide: daily limit of 30 crappie (all species combined) with no length restrictions. Waters with their own Code line differ.
Which Crawford County waters break from the statewide limits?
4 waters with a page here carry their own Code line, starting with Arkansas River.
Is there a stocked kids pond in Crawford County?
Van Buren City Park Pond: Catfish and Trout.
Are there bass tournaments in Crawford County?
1 organizer entry on file, none with a date still ahead.
Has an Arkansas record fish come from Crawford County?
Flathead Catfish, 80 lbs., 0 oz. (rod and reel), from Arkansas River.
Load the boat for Crawford County
Open a lake for its launches, limits and dam readings.