Shady Lake Fishing in Howard County, Arkansas

• Overview

  Shady Lake is listed under Howard County, Arkansas. It sits in open plain. This is a pocket water of some 19 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Howard County. The closest town, Dierks, is 17 miles distant. After that come Mena at 20 miles and Mount Ida at 26 miles. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Shady Lake

  Open data we checked carries no depth for this water. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Fish reported in the area, according to open records, include orangebelly darter, greenside darter and longear sunfish. It is a record of sightings and surveys, so use it as a guide. Read Shady Lake before you fish it and the day goes better.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs 38°F to 78°F. It fishes twelve months of the year. March through May is the strongest run, with autumn a second stretch. Autumn steadies things again once the heat lets go. Shady Lake fishes to that pattern most years. A settled week fishes better than a changeable one.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. There is recorded parking some half a mile off. There is a jetty 50 yards off, worth knowing on a busy day. You can camp about half a mile away, going by the mapping. There are toilets mapped about 90 yards away. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. The nearest alternative is Gillham Lake, 15 miles out. For Shady Lake in particular, ask before you travel.