Tri-County Lake in Calhoun County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Tri-County Lake is one of the Calhoun County listings for Arkansas. The country round it is oak and grass from end to end. The water covers around 287 acres, which puts most of it out of reach from the bank. Around 2.6 miles of margin, front to back. It is low-lying compared with other Arkansas water we list. Supplies mean a trip to Fordyce, 3.3 miles off. Rison is 16 miles and Hampton 18 miles. This one sits near enough to a boundary to be worth checking.

• Where to Fish on Tri-County Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Nearby survey and observation records mention green sunfish, bantam sunfish, black bullhead and bluegill. Records show what people reported, so treat the list as a guide to what lives in the area. Tri-County Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 81°F; by January the average is down near 41°F. Winter here means light layers, not lost months. The first and last hours carry the summer; the middle is slow. Autumn steadies things again once the heat lets go. Tri-County Lake runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Mapping shows an empty shoreline: no ramp, no jetty, no marked entry. For the catfish, fish bottom baits into the deeper holes and let them sit. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. If the gate is shut, Lake Lansdale at 5.5 miles is the nearest alternative. Nothing on Tri-County Lake should be assumed from this page alone.