Fishing Ward Lake in Polk County, Arkansas

• Overview

  In Arkansas, Ward Lake falls inside Polk County. It sits in pine and hardwood country. At 19 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. It sits higher than most water we list in Arkansas. Head to Mena, 1.6 miles away, for anything you forgot. The nearest city of size is Little Rock, 112 miles away. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Ward Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Built water gives depth close in, which suits a bank angler. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. Records held for Polk County cover orangebelly darter, greenside darter, green sunfish and Rio Grande longear sunfish. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. On Ward Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put July at about 78°F and January near 38°F. It fishes twelve months of the year. Shade and hour of day matter more than month. The cooler months are the comfortable ones to fish here. That is the shape of the year on Ward Lake. Long daylight spreads the feeding across more hours.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. Records show it does not hold water year-round. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Cox Lake at 2.5 miles is the sensible second choice. Check the position on Ward Lake before loading the car.