Lake Ann in Benton County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Out in Benton County, Arkansas, sits Lake Ann. Height above sea level is 1,083 feet. The water covers some 110 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. A shoreline of some 2.3 miles keeps the choices simple. By elevation it is in the upper part of our Arkansas listings. Bella Vista is the closest town at 2.6 miles. After that come Pea Ridge at 6.3 miles and Bentonville at 7 miles. The line between counties passes nearby, which can change who manages the water.

• Where to Fish on Lake Ann

  Depth is not on record here, which means reading the ground instead. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Species logged across Benton County include largemouth bass, orangethroat darter and bluegill. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. Read Lake Ann for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put July at about 78°F and January near 33°F. The year turns gently, without extremes at either end. In milder years the edges alone go, and the middle never sets. Spring and autumn carry the year; summer squeezes it into the ends of the day. On Lake Ann that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. You can launch: the ramp is half a mile away. Expect a half a mile walk in from where the car goes. A pier half a mile from here gives a platform over deeper water. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Should this one be busy, Lake Norwood is 1.1 miles off. Ask locally about Lake Ann if anything is unclear.