Fishing at Budd Kidd Lake, Washington County, Arkansas

• Overview

  You will find Budd Kidd Lake in Washington County, Arkansas. It sits in open valley. At about 193 acres, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. The full circuit measures close to 2.6 miles on foot. On our Washington County list it sits near the top for size. Prairie Grove lies 2.4 miles from the water. Broken Arrow is the closest city, 80 miles away. No boundary runs near, so the county rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Budd Kidd Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. Standing timber shows when the level drops, and fish sit against it. County-wide records name smallmouth bass, largemouth bass and bluegill. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. Fish Budd Kidd Lake to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 78°F in July and bottom out at 35°F in January. Most months fish reasonably, given the right weather. It should never be assumed safe, whatever the month says. Spring and autumn carry the year; summer squeezes it into the ends of the day. The season on Budd Kidd Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. No car park, ramp or path is recorded within easy reach of the shore. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Rodgers Lake sits 2.7 miles off and takes the overflow. Confirm access to Budd Kidd Lake locally before you travel.