To reach Lake Poinsett from Harrisburg, travel one mile east on state Route 14, then go three miles south on state Route 163. For a lake map and additional information, visit the AGFC Web site, www.agfc.com. For additional information, contact Lake Poinsett State Park, (870) 578-2064.

LAKES DUNN AND AUSTELL
The 90 miles of Interstate 40 from Little Rock east to Forrest City cross flat-as-a-pancake delta farmland. At Forrest City, however, travelers notice a subtle rise in the terrain -- Crowley's Ridge. North on the Ridge, about a 15-minute drive from I-40, are two more fine bass lakes, Dunn and Austell in 7,000-acre Village Creek State Park.

These two upland waters are small, with Dunn covering only 65 acres and Austell only 85. Despite their diminutive sizes, however, both lakes are well known for producing huge largemouth bass. Numerous 10-pound-plus fish have been landed from this duo of fine waters, including a 15-pound, 12-ounce fish from Austell, the third largest ever caught in Arkansas. Both lakes are past their prime now, with fewer trophies being caught. But during the past couple of years, local anglers reportedly have been boating some 8- and 9-pounders during spring, and unverified reports of bass over 10 pounds surface now and then, despite the fact that the anglers who catch fish that size would just as soon the world doesn't know about the fabulous fishing on these Crowley's Ridge honeyholes.

By the time May rolls around, many Dunn and Austell bass will already have spawned. But some fish remain in warmer water along the banks, holding 2 to 15 feet deep in woody cover.

On Dunn, look for fish around brushy points and in coves with dense stands of dead timber. The arm of the lake running north from the boat dock is productive at times, but most anglers seem to have their best luck fishing the small, heavily timbered fingers jutting into the eastern shore, across the lake from the swimming beach. On breezy days, concentrate your efforts around the numerous points in this area, where shad and other baitfish stack up and attract feeding bass.

In May, many anglers look for Austell lunkers hiding around stumps, beaver lodges and fallen timber in the lake arm running north from the swimming beach. This arm has produced several of the lake's largest bass. Also productive are shallow, timbered flats adjacent to the creek channel running through Austell's southwest arm, two deep wooded coves on the lake's south side and around logs and brush adjacent to the riprapped dam.