Largemouth Bass

Lake Dardanelle, right on the Arkansas River, is a renowned largemouth bass fishery, and the city of Dardanelle is perfectly situated to take advantage of it. What makes this lake special is the abundance of structure – flooded timber, creek channels, and rocky points – providing ideal habitat for bass. Spring and fall are prime times, as the bass move shallow to spawn or feed aggressively before winter. For a good starting point, try launching from the Dardanelle State Park ramp; it gives you quick access to both the main lake and some of the backwater sloughs. A local tip: pay attention to the water clarity. If the Arkansas River is running muddy after a rain, focus on the clearer water in the creek arms. Dardanelle bass are known to be aggressive, so don't be afraid to throw reaction baits like crankbaits and spinnerbaits.