A small johnboat can be used to access remote U.S. Forest Service lakes such as Little Bear Creek, Dry Fork and Cove Creek lakes, all of which hold healthy populations of nice channel cats. Photo by Keith Sutton.

If you are one of this nation’s 7 million or so catfish fans, you are fortunate, indeed, if you reside in Arkansas, one of the country’s true catfishing paradises. Few states can boast, as can Arkansas, that catfish are found in practically every body of water in the state, from the smallest ponds and creeks to the largest lakes and rivers. Among public fishing waters, only the coldest tailwater trout streams are entirely devoid of these whiskered polebenders.

Natural State cats reach gargantuan proportions, too. Current state-record listings show channel cats up to 38 pounds, flatheads up to 80 and a blue cat surpassing the 116-pound mark. And these are just the record-book fish. Cats larger than these have been taken in Arkansas waters, but for various reasons didn’t qualify for record-book status. One such monster was a 139-pound flathead that is probably the largest individual of this species caught in the U.S. in modern times.

Yes, Arkansas catfish fans are a fortunate group. We have lots of big catfish in lots of places producing lots of quality catfishing opportunities. Of course, you probably knew that already, right? What you need are some specifics -- in-depth information on some prime catfishing hotspots where you have a better than average chance of catching some trophy cats or a mess of fish for the dinner table.

Well, here it is, folks: a select list of some of Arkansas’ best bets for catfishing this year, including top picks for trotliners, snaggers, jug-fishermen, rod-and-reelers and more. I won’t guarantee that you’ll catch cats every time out on these waters, but with an in-depth knowledge of proper catfishing techniques and a good dose of luck, you should be able to string up some right sizable messes of jumbo cats.

BEST BET FOR TROTLINERS
Trotlining rivals rod-and-reel fishing for the title of “Most Popular Catfishing Method” in Arkansas. It’s a first-rate way to put loads of cats in the boat, and, despite popular misconceptions, it’s super-fun. When you lay a hand on a trotline and feel that surge of energy that signals a cat on the line, you can’t help but feel a rush of excitement.

Picking the best trotlining hotspot is tough, because there are so many blue-ribbon areas from which to choose. After some thought, my first inclination was to give top honors to the Mississippi River. But while this huge body of water offers superb opportunities for catching amazing numbers of outsized cats, it is also a dangerous area for novice anglers to pursue this sport. Powerful currents and excessive barge traffic would prevent many catters from getting full enjoyment out of a trotlining trip here. That being the case, I decided to elevate Lake Conway to Arkansas’ number one trotlining honeyhole.

Why? First of all, this 6,700-acre Arkansas Game and Fish Commission lake is home to all four types of catfish found in Arkansas: channels, blues, flatheads and bullheads. Second, these fish reach exceptional sizes in this fertile lake. Trotliners catch 50-pound-plus flatheads with astounding regularity, and blues and channels up to 15 pounds are common. Third, Lake Conway provides an ideal setting for a relaxing trotlining excursion. There are no barge wakes, heavy currents or speedboats to worry about, so cat anglers can relax and enjoy some peace and quiet while running their lines. And last but not least, Conway offers near-perfect physical conditions for trotlining. There are literally hundreds of thousands of snags, stumps, trees and bushes between which you can rig your lines, and this big lake offers an incomparable variety of catfish-holding structure.