Arkansas 2026-27 Fishing Regulations Changes in Effect, New Guidebook Released

Get your hands on the new 2026-27 Arkansas Fishing Guidebook by downloading a copy right to your phone.

Anglers and boaters in Arkansas should be familiar with the Arkansas Fishing Guidebook, which is produced by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and historically released during January each year. This year is a little different. From 2026 and beyond, fishing regulations changes take effect July 1 of each year, the same effective date as hunting regulations changes passed by the Commission.

“The timing of effective dates was part of our agency-wide effort to streamline regulations and make them more consistent for hunters and anglers to follow,” Ben Batten, AGFC Deputy Director, said. “Before, regulations regarding hunting were set at different times, and the public was expected to keep track during multiple regulation-setting processes. Now we have one schedule that affects all hunting, fishing and outdoor-associated regulations within the agency.”

The 2026-27 guidebooks feature a green border and a callout stating “This guidebook effective beginning July 1, 2026.” Although guidebooks distributed in January may still be floating around at license dealers, printed copies of the latest books are making their way from the printer to all previously supplied locations to ensure anglers are properly informed about the latest regulations changes.

Here are a few of the most important changes for anglers, effective July 1:

• Anyone 16 and older camping, hiking, birding, fishing, hunting or otherwise accessing AGFC-owned wildlife management areas or lakes must have either a valid hunting license, fishing license or AGFC WMA/Lake Conservation Permit (available at www.agfc.com/licneses for $10.50). People traveling through a WMA on a direct route or designated through-trail without engaging in any activity, and people on a public road (other than an AGFC-maintained road) or navigable waterway also are exempt.

• All possession limits of fish have been eliminated. Daily creel limits are still in place, but fish no longer count toward a possession limit once they reach a final point of storage and consumption.

• As a continued response to trout production losses at the Jim Hinkle Spring River State Fish Hatchery and the Norfork National Fish Hatchery, the following regulations were adopted until further notice:

  • In the entire Norfork tailwater and the Bull Shoals tailwater from the dam to the Norfork Access boat ramp, anglers may only keep two rainbow trout, and all trout longer than 14 inches must be released immediately.

  • In Bull Shoals tailwater, from the Norfork Access boat ramp to the Arkansas Highway 58 bridge at Guion, anglers may keep two trout, only one of which may be over 14 inches. Minimum length limits for brown trout (24 inches), cutthroat trout (24 inches), tiger trout (24 inches) and brook trout (14 inches) still apply.

  • In the tailwaters of Greers Ferry Dam and Beaver Dam, anglers may only keep two trout; both must be less than 14 inches long.

• The minimum length limit for brown trout on the Spring River is 16 inches.

• On the Little Missouri River (Narrows tailwater), anglers may use artificial lures with multiple hooking points while fishing in catch-and-release areas; all hooking points must be barbless. The winter catch-and-release area here also has been removed.

• The following 10 Arkansas streams have been designated as “Blue Ribbon Smallmouth Streams,” where anglers may only keep 1 fish per day, which must be longer than 15 inches:

  • Buffalo River

  • Caddo River

  • Crooked Creek

  • Current River

  • Eleven Point River

  • Illinois River

  • Kings River

  • Spring River

  • War Eagle Creek

  • White River

• On all other flowing waters in the state. The smallmouth daily creel limit is 2 fish, which must be longer than 12 inches.

• Lake Wilhelmina has reopened after repair and renovation. Only catch-and-release angling is allowed until further notice.

• The minimum length limit for walleye on Greers Ferry Lake and its tributaries has increased from 14 inches to 16 inches.

• Crappie shorter than 10 inches in the Ozark Pool (Pool 12) of the Arkansas River and Horseshoe Lake (Crittenden County) must be released immediately.

• The daily limit for largemouth bass on Lake Monticello is five, and only one of those may be 16 inches or longer.

• The daily limit for crappie on Lake Monticello and Lake Cargile is 15 crappie, and only seven of those may be 12 inches or longer.

• At Horseshoe Lake (Crittenden County) and Tommy L. Sproles Lake Pickthorne, 10 channel catfish may be taken in addition to the daily limit.

• An angler is not required to be within hearing or sight of limblines.

Download a copy of the most up-to-date Fishing Guidebook at www.agfc.com.

####

CUTLINES:

PROMO
Download a 2026-27 Arkansas Fishing Guidebook today. Printed copies will be delivered to license vendors and AGFC regional offices in the next few weeks. AGFC image. 

TROUT KID
Many trout regulations were adjusted in response to stocking shortfalls after natural events slowed trout production at two trout hatcheries late last year. AGFC image.