Lake Elmdale Fishing in Washington County, Arkansas

• Overview

  Lake Elmdale sits in Washington County, out in Arkansas. The surface lies 1,247 feet up. It measures about 147 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. The edge runs 2.2 miles or so, easy to work in an afternoon. It sits higher than most water we list in Arkansas. Start from Elm Springs, 1.4 miles down the road. The big place round here is Springfield, 87 miles distant. A county boundary sits nearby, which can matter for local access rules.

• Where to Fish on Lake Elmdale

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. 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. Reported across Washington County: smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, bluegill and Ozark bass. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. On Lake Elmdale the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 78°F in July and bottom out at 34°F in January. Most months fish reasonably, given the right weather. Some winters give nothing at all, so plan for open water. November and March are the quiet, comfortable months to be out. On Lake Elmdale the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. You can launch from a ramp around half a mile away. A carry of half a mile from the nearest parking is the price of fishing here. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. The nearest alternative is Lake Fayetteville, 6.1 miles out. Nothing on Lake Elmdale should be assumed from this page alone.