Fishing at Lake Norrell, Saline County, Arkansas

• Overview

  Out in Saline County, Arkansas, sits Lake Norrell. The bank is 472 feet above sea level. This is sizeable water at about 270 acres, and a boat opens up most of it. Salem is the closest town at 8 miles. It is 21 miles to Little Rock, the nearest city. The county line runs close by, so rules can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Lake Norrell

  We hold no depth figure for this one. Levels move with the draw rather than the rain on water like this. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. Records held for Saline County cover creole darter, redspot darter, green sunfish, longear sunfish and greenside darter. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. Lake Norrell repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 80°F for July and 39°F for January. The year never really closes; it just gets uncomfortable in summer. October and November give a second good stretch as it cools. Spring and autumn carry the year; summer squeezes it into the ends of the day. Plan any trip to Lake Norrell around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. Mapping shows a ramp about half a mile from the shore. Bluegill and other panfish take small jigs or worms under a float near any cover. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. If the gate is shut, Lake New Moon at 3.4 miles is the nearest alternative. Treat Lake Norrell as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.