Fishing in Izard County, Arkansas
County seat: Melbourne. Population 13,577 (2020).
- 1lake pages
- 7launches
- 2river pages
Pick for troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo of White River: Luhsteesay, CC BY 4.0
Fishing Izard County at a glance
The 2020 count put Izard County at 13,577 residents, with Melbourne as its seat. Of 1 lake in the county with a page, Crown Lake covers the most water. Bull Shoals Tailwater gives the county a trout fishery fed by the dam.
The access layers show 7 boat or paddle launches and 3 pier or bank sites for the county. River anglers can start with White River and Strawberry River.
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.
For the trout herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 Where the AGFC points fall across Izard County
AGFC boat-and-kayak and fishing access layers and AGFC fishing-area lake points, checked November 8, 2026.
Choosing a lake in Izard County
| Lake | Size | Ramps | Kind | AGFC target fish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crown Lake | 640 acres | 1 | lake | black bass, bream, catfish |
Lakes just over the Izard County boundary, nearest to Melbourne first.
| Lake | From Melbourne | Size | Ramps | Kind | AGFC target fish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mirror Lake | 18 miles southwest | about 2 acres of mapped outline | 0 | lake | trout |
| Stinger Lake | 18 miles southwest | not stated | 0 | lake | black bass, bream, catfish |
| Cave City Park | 20 miles southeast | not stated | 0 | mapped pond | bream, catfish |
| Salem City Pond | 22 miles north | not stated | 0 | mapped pond | black bass, bream, catfish |
| Lake Chanute | 23 miles northeast | about 55 acres of mapped outline | 1 | lake | black bass, bream, catfish |
| Rowe Lake | 25 miles southeast | about 1 acres of mapped outline | 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.
Target species on lake pages around Izard County
Out to 50 miles from Melbourne, AGFC names bream on more lake pages than any other fish.
AGFC public fishing area target species, counted per lake page within 50 miles; a listing, not a catch survey.
Lakes in Izard County waiting on more AGFC facts
3 more lakes in Izard County have a name on the maps but few published facts.
| Water | Size | Kind | Nearest town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diamond Lake | about 610 acres of mapped outline | lake | Horseshoe Bend |
| Melbourne City Lake | about 7 acres of mapped outline | lake | Melbourne |
| Hayden Bend | not stated | lake | Mount Olive |
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.
Creeks running through Izard County
- White RiverAGFC trout water, 53 AGFC accesses, 15 USGS gauges
- Strawberry River4 AGFC accesses, 1 USGS gauge
Unpaged streams across Izard County (1)
- Little Strawberry Riverstream
River stages across Izard County
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| White River At Calico Rock, Ar | 3,880 cfs, 3.52 ft gage height | Nov 12 6:15 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 12, 2026 6:33 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.
Tailwater trout fishing reached from Izard County
- Bull Shoals TailwaterWhite River
AGFC public fishing areas map (agfc.com), read November 8, 2026. AGFC trout waters page, read November 8, 2026.
Public ramps in Izard County
- Box Hound Marina Boat Ramp on Crown LakeCrown Lake, boat ramp, concrete surface, camping, picnic tables, recreational area
- Calico Rock Boat Ramp on White RiverWhite River, boat ramp, concrete surface, restrooms
- Chesmond Ferry Boat Ramp on White RiverWhite River, boat ramp, concrete surface, restrooms
- Guion (Izard Co.) Boat Ramp on White RiverWhite River, boat ramp, concrete surface
- Horseshoe Bend Boat Ramp on Strawberry RiverStrawberry River, boat ramp, concrete surface
- Mount Olive Boat Ramp on White RiverWhite River, boat ramp, concrete surface
- Sylamore Boat Ramp on White RiverWhite River, boat ramp, dirt surface, restrooms
Where to fish from the bank in Izard County
- Hayden Bend Fishing AccessHayden Bend, fishing area
- Public fishing access on Crown LakeCrown Lake, fishing pier, mobility-impaired
- Public fishing access on White River (east), Izard CountyWhite River, fishing jetty
AGFC access layer (ArcGIS service), read November 8, 2026. Lanes, fees and hours are not fields in the AGFC layers.
What Izard County anglers may keep
For most Izard County water the statewide Code limits below are the ones to follow. A resident angler spends $10.50 and a nonresident $60 on the yearly AGFC license.
| 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) |
Water-specific limits across Izard County
- White RiverBlack Bass (Largemouth, Spotted, And Smallmouth): Daily limit of 1 Smallmouth Bass 15-inch minimum.
Every Arkansas water-specific limit
Tackle-restricted water in Izard County
Horseshoe Bend Pool on Strawberry River in Izard County are rod-or-pole water under Code 26.08. (2 pole maximum limit)
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.
Arkansas record list entries close to Izard County
| Species | Weight | Division | Water | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gizzard Shad | 2 lbs., 14 oz. | rod and reel | White River | May 9, 1992 |
| White Sucker | 1 lb., 14 oz. | rod and reel | White River | June 16, 2025 |
| Rainbow Trout | 19 lbs., 1 oz. | rod and reel | White River | March 14, 1981 |
Arkansas state record fish as listed by AGFC (record list), read November 8, 2026.
Shops and guides in Izard County
Stores selling tackle in Izard County
- Jenkins Fishing Servicebait and tackle shop, Calico Rock
- Lindsey Trout Dockbait and tackle shop, Calico Rock
Yellow Pages and tourism guide listings (city of business), read November 8, 2026.
Around the Izard County area
Bases for a trip in Izard County
- Horseshoe Bendpop. 2,440
- Melbournepop. 1,830
Counties beside Izard County
- Fulton County20 miles north
- Stone County21 miles southwest
- Sharp County25 miles east
- Baxter County27 miles northwest
What Piscifun sells that suits a trip to Izard County
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Visual guide to fish swimming at Izard County
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: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
What Arkansas anglers ask about Izard County water
Can I put a johnboat in somewhere in Izard County?
7 launches on the AGFC layers, with directions links above.
Which Izard County lake tops the size list?
That is Crown Lake, 640 acres.
Which fish lead AGFC lists near Izard County?
AGFC lists bream on the most lake pages within 50 miles, then catfish, black bass and crappie.
Does Izard County have a bait and tackle counter?
2, beginning with Jenkins Fishing Service.
Which Arkansas town is seat of Izard County?
The seat is Melbourne.
What will a license cost me in Izard County?
AGFC sells the Resident Fisheries Conservation License for $10.50; a visitor buys the nonresident annual at $60.
Which other Arkansas county pages lie near Izard County?
Closest by centre point: Fulton County, Stone County and Sharp County.
Is there a crappie limit in Izard County?
Statewide: daily limit of 30 crappie (all species combined) with no length restrictions. Waters with their own Code line differ.
Where do limits change in Izard County?
1 water with a page here carry their own Code line, starting with White River.
Has Izard County produced a record fish?
Gizzard Shad, 2 lbs., 14 oz. (rod and reel), from White River.
Can I fish a trout tailwater in Izard County?
Bull Shoals Tailwater, with its own trout rules and permit. Keeping trout, or fishing the tailwaters and Spring River reach listed in Code 27.01, adds a trout permit ($10 resident, $20 nonresident).
Pick an AGFC lake or river in Izard County
Each AGFC launch page opens with a map link for directions.