Willies Lake in Sebastian County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Within Sebastian County, Arkansas, you have Willies Lake. It sits at 515 feet above sea level. Surface area runs to about 12 acres — small enough to read in one session. The town to know is Barling, 2.4 miles out. Further out sit Arkoma (6.5 miles) and Fort Smith (6.6 miles). Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing.

• Where to Fish on Willies Lake

  Open data we checked carries no depth for this water. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Levels move with the draw rather than the rain on water like this. Sebastian County records list green sunfish, bluegill, largemouth bass and channel catfish among the fish reported. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. Treat Willies Lake as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate records put July near 82°F and January near 38°F. Summer heat is the limit here, not winter cold. The first and last hours carry the summer; the middle is slow. April and May are the settled weeks, with October close behind. The season on Willies Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. You can leave the car about half a mile from the water. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. If the gate is shut, McMahan Lake at 2.6 miles is the nearest alternative. Where Willies Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.