04/21/2026
New regulations effective July 1st are a huge win for Smallmouth Bass in Arkansas. Several new streams have been elevated to the Smallmouth Bass Blue Ribbon Stream status. Where we once had 2, we will now have 10. Where we once had small sections of streams designated as one fish areas, we will now be implementing a daily limit of one fish with a minimum length of 15ā, for the entire length of the following streams:
Buffalo River
Caddo River
Crooked Creek
Current River
Eleven Point River
Illinois River
Kings River
Spring River
War Eagle Creek
White River
I know many of us were hoping that the one fish 18ā minimum on our current trophy sections would remain in effect, but it is the belief of the agency that implementing a one fish rule stream-wide will ultimately result in an increase of fish numbers and size across the board.
The statewide daily limit for all other flowing waters will be two fish with a minimum length of 12ā inches. Prior to the regulation update, anglers could keep up to four 10ā smallmouth from Ouachita streams and four 12ā smallmouth from Ozark Streams. This reduction from 4 to 2 is a great step in the right direction.
While I will always advocate for catch and release, and hope to see it someday in Arkansas, I am very excited to see this progress and hopeful that it will make a difference. Thanks again to everyone who participated in the process!
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