Fishing in Sebastian County, Arkansas
County seats: Fort Smith and Greenwood. Population 127,799 (2020).
- 10lake pages
- 13launches
- 1river pages
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Sebastian County: first things first
Sebastian County splits its county business between Fort Smith and Greenwood, and the 2020 Census found 127,799 residents across the county. 10 lakes with a page fall in the county, the biggest being Ozark Lake.
AGFC maps 13 boat or paddle launches and 7 pier or bank sites across the county. Streams with their own guide here include Arkansas River. The Arkansas River passes through as Pool 13 and Ozark Lake. The Family and Community Fishing Program covers 3 program ponds here, Carol Ann Cross 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 Sebastian County
AGFC boat-and-kayak and fishing access layers and AGFC fishing-area lake points, checked November 8, 2026.
Lakes and ponds in Sebastian County
| Lake | Size | Ramps | Kind | AGFC target fish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ozark Lake | about 9,421 acres of mapped outline | 7 | Corps lake | black bass, bream, catfish |
| Sugar Loaf Lake | 334 acres | 2 | reservoir | black bass, bream, catfish |
| Lake Jack Nolen | 208 acres | 2 | reservoir | black bass, bream, catfish |
| Greenwood City Lake | about 103 acres of mapped outline | 1 | lake | black bass, bream, catfish |
| Engineer Lake | about 38 acres of mapped outline | 1 | reservoir | black bass, bream, catfish |
| Mansfield City Lake | about 18 acres of mapped outline | 0 | mapped pond | black bass, bream, catfish |
| Wells Lake | about 8 acres of mapped outline | 0 | FCFP pond | bream, catfish, trout (seasonal stocking) |
| Torraine Lake | about 7 acres of mapped outline | 0 | FCFP pond | black bass, bream, catfish |
| Carol Ann Cross Pond | about 5 acres of mapped outline | 0 | FCFP pond | bream, catfish, trout (seasonal stocking) |
| Christmas Lake (Christmas Know Lake) | not stated | 1 | 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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Within 50 miles of Fort Smith, 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 Sebastian County that are listed only here
AGFC and the national hydrography maps name 7 more lakes in Sebastian County that are too thin on facts for a page of their own.
| Water | Size | Kind | Nearest town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pool 13 | about 2,873 acres of mapped outline | lake | Van Buren |
| Booneville Lake | about 289 acres of mapped outline | lake | Booneville |
| Greenwood Lake | about 137 acres of mapped outline | lake | Greenwood |
| Springhill Park Lake | about 2 acres of mapped outline | reservoir | Barling |
| Ossie Louise Park Pond | about 1 acres of mapped outline | mapped pond | Greenwood |
| Bicentennial Lake | about 1 acres of mapped outline | reservoir | Barling |
| Liberty Park Pond | not stated | mapped pond | Greenwood |
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 Sebastian County
- Arkansas River43 AGFC accesses, 9 USGS gauges
Live river readings for Sebastian County
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Ar River At James W. Trimble L&d Nr Van Buren, Ar | 16,200 cfs, 391.57 ft gage height | Oct 1 12:00 am Not updated since Oct 1, 2010. |
| Arkansas River At Ft. Smith, Ar. | 28,800 cfs, 11.85 ft gage height | Nov 12 8:15 pm |
| James Fork Near Hackett, Ar | 1 cfs, 2.39 ft gage height | Nov 12 7:30 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 12, 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 Sebastian County
- Arkansas River Pool 13river pool
- Ozark Lakelock-and-dam pool
AGFC public fishing areas map (agfc.com), read November 8, 2026.
Stocked community ponds in Sebastian County
| Pond | City | Stocked with | Last stocking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carol Ann Cross Pond | Fort Smith | Catfish | catfish last stocked October 1, 2026; trout last stocked December 17, 2025 |
| Torraine Lake | Fort Smith | Catfish and Trout | catfish last stocked April 30, 2026; trout last stocked December 17, 2025 |
| Wells Lake | Fort Smith | Catfish and Trout | catfish last stocked October 1, 2026; trout last stocked December 17, 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.
Boat ramps in Sebastian County
- Booneville City Lake RampBooneville city lake, boat ramp, concrete surface
- Christmas Knob AccessChristmas Lake (Christmas Know Lake), boat ramp, dirt surface
- Engineers Lake AccessEngineer Lake, boat ramp, dirt surface
- Fort Smith Park Boat Ramp on Arkansas River Pool 13Arkansas River Pool 13, boat ramp, concrete surface
- Greenwood City Lake Boat RampGreenwood City Lake, boat ramp, concrete surface
- Jack Nolen East AccessLake Jack Nolen, boat ramp, concrete surface
- Jack Nolen Lake Boat Ramp #1Lake Jack Nolen, boat ramp, concrete surface
- Massard Creek Boat RampArkansas River – Pool 13, boat ramp, concrete surface
- Pool 13 Springhill Park Boat RampArkansas River – Pool 13, boat ramp, concrete surface
- Sugar Loaf East Boat RampSugar Loaf Lake, boat ramp, concrete surface
- Sugar Loaf West Boat RampSugar Loaf Lake, boat ramp, concrete surface
- Vache Grasse Boat Ramp on Ozark LakeOzark Lake, boat ramp, concrete surface, picnic tables, recreational area, restrooms
- Ozark Pool Springhill Boat RampOzark Lake, boat ramp, concrete surface
Piers and bank areas across Sebastian County
- Torraine Lake Fishing AccessTorraine Lake, bank fishing, picnic tables, recreational area, restrooms
- Wells Lake Fishing PierWells Lake, fishing pier, mobility-impaired, recreational area
- Mansfield City Lake Fishing AccessMansfield City Lake, fishing area
- Public fishing access (west), Sebastian Countywater not named, fishing pier
- Public fishing access on Sugar Loaf LakeSugar Loaf Lake, fishing jetty, fishing pier, mobility-impaired
- Public fishing access on Sugar Loaf LakeSugar Loaf Lake, fishing jetty
- Sugar Loaf Lake Bank Fishing AreaSugar Loaf Lake, bank fishing
AGFC access layer (ArcGIS service), read November 8, 2026. Lanes, fees and hours are not fields in the AGFC layers.
Corps dam readings for Sebastian 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.
Base limits on Sebastian County lakes and rivers
Sebastian 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 Sebastian County waters
- Arkansas RiverBlack Bass (Largemouth, Spotted, And Smallmouth): Largemouth Bass 14-inch minimum.
- Lake Jack NolenBlack Bass (Largemouth, Spotted, And Smallmouth): Daily limit of 6.
- Ozark LakeCrappie: 10-inch minimum.
Every Arkansas water-specific limit
Rod-and-pole only water across Sebastian County
Code 26.08 lists Carol Cross Lake in Sebastian 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 Sebastian 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 Sebastian County water
Count 1 organizer entries for Sebastian 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.
Tackle shops, marinas and guides in Sebastian County
Sebastian County shop listings
- Academy Sports + Outdoors, 5001 Phoenix Avebait and tackle shop, Fort Smith
- Bass Pro Shops, 2101 Bass Pro Drbait and tackle shop, Fort Smith
- Dick's Sporting Goods, 3825 Phoenix Avebait and tackle shop, Fort Smith
- Mackie's One Stopbait and tackle shop, Fort Smith
- Tackle Boxbait and tackle shop, Fort Smith
- The Woodsman Companybait and tackle shop, Fort Smith
- Tno Fishingbait and tackle shop, Greenwood
Yellow Pages and tourism guide listings (city of business), read November 8, 2026.
Next to Sebastian County
Places to stay in Sebastian County
- Fort Smithpop. 89,142
- Greenwoodpop. 9,516
- Barlingpop. 4,782
- Lavacapop. 2,450
Next door to Sebastian County
- Scott County26 miles southeast
- Crawford County27 miles north
- Franklin County31 miles northeast
- Logan County31 miles east
A Piscifun casting setup for the drive to Sebastian County
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Natural State fish to know by sight at Sebastian County
Photo: Deskana, CC BY-SA 3.0
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Photo: USFWS Fish and Aquatic Conservation, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Short replies on fishing in Sebastian County
How many boat launches does AGFC map in Sebastian County?
13 launches, listed above by name.
Which still water in Sebastian 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 Sebastian County?
AGFC lists bream on the most lake pages within 50 miles, then catfish, black bass and crappie.
Does Sebastian County have a bait shop listed?
7; Academy Sports + Outdoors, 5001 Phoenix Ave is among them.
Which town runs Sebastian County government?
The county keeps two: Fort Smith and Greenwood.
Do I need an AGFC license to fish Sebastian County water?
Licenses run $10.50 for residents and $60 for nonresidents on the AGFC fee page.
Which counties border Sebastian County?
Scott County, Crawford County and Franklin County lie closest.
What crappie rule covers Sebastian County water?
Statewide: daily limit of 30 crappie (all species combined) with no length restrictions. Waters with their own Code line differ.
Which Sebastian County waters break from the statewide limits?
3 waters with a page here carry their own Code line, starting with Arkansas River.
Is there a stocked kids pond in Sebastian County?
Carol Ann Cross Pond, Torraine Lake and Wells Lake: Catfish, catfish last stocked October 1, 2026; trout last stocked December 17, 2025.
Are there bass tournaments in Sebastian County?
1 organizer entry on file, none with a date still ahead.
Has an Arkansas record fish come from Sebastian County?
Flathead Catfish, 80 lbs., 0 oz. (rod and reel), from Arkansas River.
Load the boat for Sebastian County
Open a lake for its launches, limits and dam readings.