Fishing in Franklin County, Arkansas
County seats: Ozark and Charleston. Population 17,097 (2020).
- 6lake pages
- 16launches
- 3river pages
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Opening notes on fishing Franklin County
Courthouses in both Ozark and Charleston serve Franklin County, home to 17,097 people at the 2020 count. 6 lakes with a full page sit inside the county, and Ozark Lake is the largest of them.
There are 16 boat or paddle launches and 3 pier or bank sites on AGFC maps of the county. The county's river pages cover Arkansas River, Gar Creek and Mulberry River. Navigation pools on the Arkansas River here include Lake Dardanelle and Ozark 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.
Every mapped ramp and pond in Franklin County
AGFC boat-and-kayak and fishing access layers and AGFC fishing-area lake points, checked November 8, 2026.
Still-water pages for Franklin County
| Lake | Size | Ramps | Kind | AGFC target fish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ozark Lake | about 9,421 acres of mapped outline | 7 | Corps lake | black bass, bream, catfish |
| Ozark City Lake | about 408 acres of mapped outline | 1 | lake | not listed |
| Darby Lake | about 141 acres of mapped outline | 1 | Corps lake | not listed |
| Shores Lake | about 72 acres of mapped outline | 1 | lake | black bass, bream, catfish |
| Davis Lake | about 69 acres of mapped outline | 1 | lake | black bass, bream, catfish |
| Charleston Fishing 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.
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Around Ozark, to 50 miles out, bream appears on the most AGFC target lists.
AGFC public fishing area target species, counted per lake page within 50 miles; a listing, not a catch survey.
Smaller Franklin County ponds and lakes without a full page
2 further named lakes in Franklin County appear here as a list until more is published about them.
| Water | Size | Kind | Nearest town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston City Lake | about 53 acres of mapped outline | lake | Charleston |
| Franklin County Fairgrounds Pond | not stated | mapped pond | Ozark |
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.
Moving water across Franklin County
- Arkansas River43 AGFC accesses, 9 USGS gauges
- Gar Creek1 AGFC access
- Mulberry River1 AGFC access, 1 USGS gauge
USGS stations inside Franklin County
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Mulberry River Near Mulberry, Ar | 25 cfs, 1.07 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.
Arkansas River water inside Franklin County
- Lake Dardanellepool held by a Corps lock and dam
- Ozark Lakepool on the McClellan-Kerr system
AGFC public fishing areas map (agfc.com), read November 8, 2026.
AGFC and Corps launches across Franklin County
- Aux Arc Boat Ramp on Ozark LakeOzark Lake, boat ramp, concrete surface, camping, picnic tables, recreational area
- Aux Arc Park North Boat Ramp on Ozark LakeOzark Lake, boat ramp, restrooms, rv
- Charleston City Lake AccessCharleston City Lake, boat ramp, concrete surface
- Citadel Bluff Boat Ramp on Ozark LakeOzark Lake, boat ramp, concrete surface, picnic tables, recreational area, restrooms
- Darby Lake AccessDarby Lake, boat ramp, dirt surface
- Davis Lake Boat RampDavis Lake, boat ramp, concrete surface
- Gar Creek Boat Ramp on Ozark LakeOzark Lake, boat ramp, concrete surface, picnic tables, recreational area, restrooms
- Ozark City Lake RampOzark City Lake, boat ramp, concrete surface
- Ozark Dam Boat Ramp on Lake DardanelleLake Dardanelle, boat ramp, concrete surface, picnic tables, recreational area, restrooms
- River Ridge Park Boat Ramp on Ozark LakeOzark Lake, boat ramp, concrete surface
- Shores Lake Boat RampShores Lake, boat ramp, concrete surface
- Big Eddy Access on Mulberry RiverMulberry River, canoe/kayak access, stationary access surface
- Campbell Cemetery Access on Mulberry RiverMulberry River, canoe/kayak access, stationary access surface
- Indian Creek Paddle Access on Mulberry RiverMulberry River, canoe/kayak access, stationary access surface
- Redding Recreation Area Canoe Access on Mulberry RiverMulberry River, canoe/kayak access, stationary access surface
- White Oak Creek Access on Ozark LakeOzark Lake, boat ramp, concrete surface
AGFC fishing access in Franklin County
- Aux Arc Park South on Ozark LakeOzark Lake, bank fishing, restrooms, rv
- Citadel Park Ramp Access Parking Area on Ozark LakeOzark Lake, fishing area, rv
- Public fishing access on Gar CreekGar Creek, fishing pier, camping, recreational area
AGFC access layer (ArcGIS service), read November 8, 2026. Lanes, fees and hours are not fields in the AGFC layers.
How full the Franklin County reservoirs are running
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.
The nearest tackle stores to Franklin County
- Bodacious Bass Baitsbait and tackle shop, Paris, 15 miles
- Spadra Waterfront Marinamarina, Clarksville, 22 miles
- Mackie's One Stopbait and tackle shop, Fort Smith, 31 miles
- The Woodsman Companybait and tackle shop, Fort Smith, 31 miles
- Academy Sports + Outdoors, 5001 Phoenix Avebait and tackle shop, Fort Smith, 32 miles
Yellow Pages listings; straight-line miles only for shops with an exact address point.
Keeping fish across Franklin County
Unless a water carries its own Code line, these statewide AGFC limits apply everywhere in Franklin County. Anyone 16 or older needs a license: $10.50 for Arkansans, $60 for a nonresident year.
| 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) |
Where statewide limits change in Franklin County
- Arkansas RiverBlack Bass (Largemouth, Spotted, And Smallmouth): Largemouth Bass 14-inch minimum.
- Ozark LakeCrappie: 10-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.
AGFC record fish caught near Franklin County
| 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.
Weigh-ins and team events on Franklin County water
Organizer pages tie 1 event or results to Franklin County water; 0 still lie ahead.
| 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.
Minutes past Franklin County
Communities across Franklin County
- Ozarkpop. 3,542
- Charlestonpop. 2,588
Over the line from Franklin County
- Crawford County20 miles west
- Logan County22 miles southeast
- Johnson County24 miles east
- Sebastian County31 miles southwest
Piscifun gear a Natural State angler might bring to Franklin County
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Telling the Franklin County fish apart at a glance
Photo: Cliff, CC BY 2.0
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Photo: USFWS Fish and Aquatic Conservation, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: Nick Tobler (Cowturtle), CC BY 4.0
Getting the facts straight on Franklin County fishing
Where can a johnboat go in the water in Franklin County?
AGFC maps 16 launches here.
Which Franklin County lake spreads out the farthest?
Ozark Lake, measuring about 9,421 acres of mapped outline.
What fish are on AGFC lists around Franklin County?
AGFC lists bream on the most lake pages within 50 miles, then catfish, black bass and crappie.
Where do Franklin County anglers pick up minnows?
No Yellow Pages tackle listing falls inside the county; the closest stores over the line are above.
Where does Franklin County keep its county courthouse in Arkansas?
There are two, Ozark and Charleston.
Which AGFC license covers fishing in Franklin County?
Expect to pay $10.50 (Arkansas resident) or $60 (out of state) for a year of fishing.
What Arkansas counties sit beside Franklin County?
By distance: Crawford County, Logan County and Johnson County.
What daily limit applies to crappie in Franklin County?
Statewide: daily limit of 30 crappie (all species combined) with no length restrictions. Waters with their own Code line differ.
Are there special rules on Franklin County lakes?
2 waters with a page here carry their own Code line, starting with Arkansas River.
When is the next Arkansas weigh-in on Franklin County water?
1 organizer entry on file, none with a date still ahead.
Which records were caught in Franklin County?
Flathead Catfish, 80 lbs., 0 oz. (rod and reel), from Arkansas River.
Spend a Natural State morning on Franklin County water
Ramp pages carry AGFC surface notes and directions.