Fishing Brown Lake in Pulaski County, Arkansas

• Overview

  Pulaski County, Arkansas, is where Brown Lake sits. It sits at 305 feet above sea level. Surface area runs to about 8 acres — small enough to read in one session. Gibson is the closest place, 2.6 miles off. For a city, Little Rock is 12 miles off. Alternatives close at hand: Hatcher Lake Number One 0.6 miles, Hatcher Lake Number Two 0.7 miles away, Thomas Lake 3 miles and Brushlake Reservoir 4.4 miles away. The line between counties passes nearby, which can change who manages the water.

• Where to Fish on Brown Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. Across Pulaski County, recorded fish include largemouth bass, longear sunfish, green sunfish, bluegill and warmouth. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. Brown Lake gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 39°F in January to roughly 82°F in July. Winter is the comfortable season here rather than the difficult one. The first and last hours carry the summer; the middle is slow. The hot months push the fishing to dawn and dusk. On Brown Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. Failing this one, try Hatcher Lake Number One, 0.6 miles away. Where Brown Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.