Fishing in Washington County, Arkansas
County seat: Fayetteville. Population 245,871 (2020).
- 12lake pages
- 12launches
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Opening notes on fishing Washington County
The courthouse for Washington County stands in Fayetteville; 245,871 people lived in the county at the 2020 count. 12 lakes with a full page sit inside the county, and Beaver Lake is the largest of them.
There are 12 boat or paddle launches and 8 pier or bank sites on AGFC maps of the county. Murphy Lake is one of 2 program ponds that AGFC stocks for family fishing in the county.
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 Washington County
AGFC boat-and-kayak and fishing access layers and AGFC fishing-area lake points, checked November 8, 2026.
Still-water pages for Washington County
| Lake | Size | Ramps | Kind | AGFC target fish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beaver Lake | about 28,026 acres of mapped outline | 14 | Corps lake | black bass, catfish, crappie |
| Lake Fayetteville | 458 acres | 1 | lake | black bass, bream, catfish |
| Bob Kidd Lake | 200 acres | 1 | reservoir | black bass, bream, catfish |
| Sequoyah Lake – Washington | about 195 acres of mapped outline | 1 | lake | not listed |
| Lake Elmdale | 126 acres | 1 | reservoir | black bass, bream, catfish |
| Lake Wedington | 102 acres | 1 | lake | black bass, bream, catfish |
| Lincoln Lake | about 85 acres of mapped outline | 1 | lake | not listed |
| Lake Wilson | about 29 acres of mapped outline | 0 | mapped pond | black bass, bream, catfish |
| Springdale Lake | about 4 acres of mapped outline | 0 | FCFP pond | bream, catfish, trout (seasonal stocking) |
| Devils Den State Park | about 3 acres of mapped outline | 0 | mapped pond | not listed |
| Murphy Lake | about 2 acres of mapped outline | 0 | FCFP pond | bream, catfish, trout (seasonal stocking) |
| Hidden Lake | not stated | 0 | Corps 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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Around Fayetteville, 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 Washington County ponds and lakes without a full page
8 further named lakes in Washington County appear here as a list until more is published about them.
| Water | Size | Kind | Nearest town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Sequoyah | about 425 acres of mapped outline | lake | Elkins |
| Budd Kidd Lake | about 193 acres of mapped outline | lake | Prairie Grove |
| Bryce Davis Pond | about 1 acres of mapped outline | mapped pond | Fayetteville |
| Fairview Memorial Pond | about 1 acres of mapped outline | mapped pond | Fayetteville |
| Clarence Kraft Pond | not stated | mapped pond | Fayetteville |
| Elks Lodge Pond | not stated | mapped pond | Johnson |
| Elkin's Community Pond | not stated | mapped pond | Elkins |
| Washington County Sheriffs Fishing Pond | not stated | mapped pond | Greenland |
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.
Moving water across Washington County
Smaller Washington County streams on the maps without a page (2)
- Middle Fork White Riverstream
- West Fork White River1 USGS gauge
USGS stations inside Washington County
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| White River Near Fayetteville, Ar | 26 cfs, 1.34 ft gage height | Nov 13 7:00 pm |
| Illinois River At Savoy, Ar | 23 cfs, 2.01 ft gage height | Nov 13 7:00 pm |
| West Fork White River East Of Fayetteville, Ar | 10 cfs, 1.54 ft gage height | Nov 13 6:30 pm |
| White River At Elkins, Ar | 9 cfs, 3.86 ft gage height | Nov 13 6:45 pm |
| Richland Creek Near Goshen, Ar | 5 cfs, 6.77 ft gage height | Nov 13 7:15 pm |
| Mud Creek Near Johnson, Ar | 4 cfs, 3.27 ft gage height | Nov 13 7:25 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 13, 2026 7:33 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.
Kid-friendly stocked ponds in Washington County
| Pond | City | Stocked with | Last stocking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Murphy Lake | Springdale | Catfish and Trout | catfish last stocked June 25, 2026; trout last stocked December 11, 2025 |
| Springdale Lake | Springdale | Catfish and Trout | catfish last stocked October 2, 2026; trout last stocked December 11, 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.
AGFC and Corps launches across Washington County
- Bob Kidd Boat RampBob Kidd Lake, boat ramp, paved surface, fishing pier, mobility-impaired
- Don Rouffa Boat Ramp on Beaver LakeBeaver Lake, boat ramp, concrete surface
- Don Rouffa Boat Ramp on White RiverWhite River, boat ramp, concrete surface
- Hwy 45 Ramp on White RiverWhite River, boat ramp, concrete surface
- Lake Wilson Boat Rampwater not named, boat ramp, dirt surface
- Lincoln Lake Boat RampLincoln Lake, boat ramp, gravel surface, restrooms
- Sequoyah Lake Boat Ramp on Sequoyah Lake – WashingtonSequoyah Lake – Washington, boat ramp, concrete surface, picnic tables, recreational area, restrooms
- Blue Springs Boat Ramp on Beaver LakeBeaver Lake, boat ramp, concrete surface
- Magness Family Access on White RiverWhite River, boat ramp, concrete surface
- Public boat ramp on Lake ElmdaleLake Elmdale, boat ramp, concrete surface
- Public boat ramp on Lake FayettevilleLake Fayetteville, boat ramp, concrete surface
- Public boat ramp on Lake WedingtonLake Wedington, boat ramp, concrete surface, rv
AGFC fishing access in Washington County
- Devils Den State ParkDevils Den State Park, bank fishing
- Handicap Fishing Pier on Lake ElmdaleLake Elmdale, fishing pier, mobility-impaired
- Hidden Lake Fishing AccessHidden Lake, bank fishing
- Lake Fayetteville PierLake Fayetteville, fishing pier, mobility-impaired
- Murphy Park PondMurphy Lake, bank fishing
- Springdale Lake Fishing AccessSpringdale Lake , bank fishing
- Public fishing access on Bob Kidd LakeBob Kidd Lake, fishing pier, mobility-impaired
- Public fishing access on Lake ElmdaleLake Elmdale, fishing pier
AGFC access layer (ArcGIS service), read November 8, 2026. Lanes, fees and hours are not fields in the AGFC layers.
How full the Washington County reservoirs are running
Beaver Lake
USACE Little Rock District Beaver Dam reading for Beaver Lake, November 8, 2026.
USACE Little Rock District via USACE Access to Water (location page), latest values at retrieval November 8, 2026. Provisional.
Keeping fish across Washington County
Unless a water carries its own Code line, these statewide AGFC limits apply everywhere in Washington 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 Washington County
- Beaver LakeBlack Bass (Largemouth, Spotted, And Smallmouth): Daily limit of 6, Largemouth Bass and Smallmouth Bass 15-inch minimum.
- Bob Kidd LakeBlack Bass (Largemouth, Spotted, And Smallmouth): Unlawful to possess Largemouth Bass from 13-16 inches.
- Devils Den State ParkCatfish (Except Bullhead): Daily limit of 5.
- Hidden LakeCatfish (Except Bullhead): Daily limit of 5.
Every Arkansas water-specific limit
Rod-or-pole waters in Washington County
In Washington County, Code 26.08 limits Devil’s Den State Park Lake and posted U.S. Forest Service ponds and lakes to rod-or-pole fishing.
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.
AGFC record fish caught near Washington County
| Species | Weight | Division | Water | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freshwater Drum | 45 lbs., 7 oz. | rod and reel | Lake Wilson | July 11, 2004 |
| Paddlefish | 127 lbs., 6 oz. | rod and reel | Beaver Lake | June 18, 2024 |
Arkansas state record fish as listed by AGFC (record list), read November 8, 2026.
Weigh-ins and team events on Washington County water
Organizer pages tie 2 events or results to Washington County water; 1 still lie ahead.
| Date | Event | Water | Organizer |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 11, 2027 | Beaver Lake, Rogers, Ark. | Beaver Lake | Major League Fishing |
| May 3, 2026 | Bass Pro Tour Stage 5, Beaver Lake 2026 | Beaver Lake | Major League Fishing |
Organizer schedule and results pages, checked November 2026.
Bait shops around Washington County
Marinas and tackle in Washington County
- Academy Sports + Outdoors, 3864 N Steele Blvdbait and tackle shop, Fayetteville
- Copeland Acresbait and tackle shop, Fayetteville
- Custom Lure Tackle Shopbait and tackle shop, Fayetteville
- P J's Finesse Baitsbait and tackle shop, Fayetteville
- War Eagle Marinamarina, Springdale
Yellow Pages and tourism guide listings (city of business), read November 8, 2026.
Minutes past Washington County
Communities across Washington County
- Fayettevillepop. 93,949
- Springdalepop. 84,161
- Farmingtonpop. 7,584
- Prairie Grovepop. 7,045
- Tontitownpop. 4,301
- Johnsonpop. 3,609
- Elkinspop. 3,602
- Elm Springspop. 2,361
- West Forkpop. 2,331
- Lincolnpop. 2,294
- Goshenpop. 2,102
- Greenlandpop. 1,213
Over the line from Washington County
- Benton County25 miles north
- Crawford County27 miles south
- Madison County28 miles east
- Franklin County37 miles southeast
Piscifun gear a Natural State angler might bring to Washington County
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Natural State water near Washington County, on camera
Photo: Brandonrush, CC0 1.0
Photo: Brandonrush, CC0 1.0
Photo: G. Lamar, CC BY 2.0
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Photo: Clinton Steeds, CC BY 2.0
Getting the facts straight on Washington County fishing
Where can a johnboat go in the water in Washington County?
AGFC maps 12 launches here.
Which Washington County lake spreads out the farthest?
Beaver Lake, measuring about 28,026 acres of mapped outline.
What fish are on AGFC lists around Washington County?
AGFC lists bream on the most lake pages within 50 miles, then catfish, black bass and crappie.
Where do Washington County anglers pick up minnows?
5 listings, including Academy Sports + Outdoors, 3864 N Steele Blvd.
Where does Washington County keep its county courthouse in Arkansas?
Fayetteville is the seat.
Which AGFC license covers fishing in Washington County?
Expect to pay $10.50 (Arkansas resident) or $60 (out of state) for a year of fishing.
What Arkansas counties sit beside Washington County?
By distance: Benton County, Crawford County and Madison County.
What daily limit applies to crappie in Washington 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 Washington County lakes?
4 waters with a page here carry their own Code line, starting with Beaver Lake.
Does AGFC stock a town pond in Washington County?
Murphy Lake and Springdale Lake : Catfish and Trout, catfish last stocked June 25, 2026; trout last stocked December 11, 2025.
When is the next Arkansas weigh-in on Washington County water?
2 organizer entries on file; next is Beaver Lake, Rogers, Ark. on Beaver Lake, March 11, 2027.
Which records were caught in Washington County?
Freshwater Drum, 45 lbs., 7 oz. (rod and reel), from Lake Wilson.
Spend a Natural State morning on Washington County water
Ramp pages carry AGFC surface notes and directions.