Conway, AR Fishing: Central Arkansas’s Favorite Sport Fishing Destination

Conway calls itself the City of Colleges and is considered one of the fastest developing cities in Arkansas. Though technically a Little Rock suburb, Conway stands as an autonomous residential community with its great schools and thriving economy.

Located in Central Arkansas, Conway was founded initially as a railroad town, back when its land area was gifted to the chief engineer of the Little Rock-Fort Smith Railroad, Asa P. Robinson. Today, the city bears no passenger railroad history trace except its name. 

A few years after its official establishment, a Catholic priest named Joseph Strub came to Conway. He founded the St. Joseph Colony along the north bank of the Arkansas River, attracting many German immigrants to settle in the colony by publishing a guide to Conway. This is why the city has many German street names and businesses.

As one of the state’s most populated areas, Conway attracts many residents because of its high standard of living. It is known as a hub for schools, technology, sports, and healthcare for Faulkner County, of which it is the county seat. Because of its strong emphasis on education, it is known for its vibrant arts and culture scene. 

Conway is, however, not just an urban residential district. Part of its attraction is that it is so naturally rich and beautiful, providing a wide range of outdoor recreational activities for its residents and the rest of Faulkner County. As the home to the largest lake created by the Game and Fish Commission, it is considered one of Arkansas’s favorite sport-fishing destinations.

Conway Fishing

Conway is an urban sport-fishing destination that offers abundant fishing opportunities no matter what time of the year because of its mild favorable weather.

Mention Conway to Arkansas anglers, and they will most likely point you to Lake Conway, the biggest man-made Game and Fish Commission lake in the US. It was built in 1948 by the state’s Game and Fish Commission, the first in Arkansas. The lake is accessible within the Craig D. Campbell Lake Conway Reservoir. It is known primarily for its bluegill and redear sunfish, with bluegill being its most popular catch. It is also home to trophy largemouth bass, crappie, blue catfish, channel catfish, and flathead catfish. Other fish you can expect in the lake are bowfin, chain pickerel, common carp, grass carp, black drum, green sunfish, longear sunfish, warmouth, longnose gar, and white bass. The lake is filled with tree stumps, lily pads, and logjams, making for great fish cover. Fishing in the private docks, handicapped-accessible fishing piers, and the Highway 89 bridge should also be productive.

Lake Beaverfork Park is a popular recreational spot for many Conway residents. It is home to Lake Beaverfork, a productive water body where you can catch bluegill, largemouth bass, redear sunfish, channel catfish, and crappie. You will find public boat access on the west end of the lake. There’s a public fishing pier on the northwest side as well. Visitors to Faulkner County are charged for using boat launches on the lake, which is perhaps why it’s more popular among locals.

Just southwest of Lake Beaverfork, you can find the Ouachita National Forest, a scenic forest on the border of Arkansas and Oklahoma. It’s well-loved among hikers, bikers, and off-road vehicle enthusiasts. It is home to several streams, lakes, and ponds that offer productive fishing, including 400 acres of Lake Hinkle. 

Pinnacle Mountain State Park is a few miles away from Conway and close to Little Rock. It is Arkansas’s first state park within reach of a major urban area. Known for its diverse natural habitats, Pinnacle Mountain State Park primarily leans into its environmental education advocacy. It’s a great park to visit if you want to learn more about the environment as it has many park volunteers and interpreters who can take you on a guided tour of the park. It is the best place for anglers to access the Big Maumelle River and the Little Maumelle River. The two rivers are rich in aquatic life, including largemouth bass, spotted bass, bluegill, channel catfish, blue catfish, flathead catfish, and crappie. The park has a primitive boat ramp and a fishing pier. Head to the boat ramp at Riverside Park to fish the confluence of the Little Maumelle River and the Arkansas River.

In the nearby city of Russellville, you can access Lake Dardanelle State Park, a 50-mile lake on the Arkansas River. It is a well-loved scenic fishing spot in the area with its majestic view of Mount Nebo overlooking the lake. Anglers love bank fishing on its barrier-free fishing pier, which attracts fish. Jigging and spin-fishing are great techniques to try near these fish attractors, which are popular among crappie any day of the year. 

Top 10 Fish Species in Conway, AR

The top 10 fish species in Conway, AR, are bluegill, redear sunfish, largemouth bass, spotted bass, channel catfish, blue catfish, crappie, white bass, common carp, and chain pickerel.

Seasonal Fishing

Fishing in Conway and the rest of Arkansas is great all year round. It simply depends on the fish you’d like to target. In April or May, you will find top-notch bass fishing on Lake Beaverfork and Lake Ouachita. Spawning crappie are active in Lake Dardanelle around this time of year. Wade fishing for bluegill and redear is best done in the hot and humid summer months. Topwater bass fishing continues to be great around this year in Lake Beaverfork. September is one of the best months to fish in Arkansas, with fish such as bass, catfish, and crappie actively feeding. Local experts advise fishing at night when lights around lakes attract plankton, which attracts fish forage for predator fish. Fishing for flathead catfish is best done in October and November when the fish prepare for winter. In winter, you will find success with panfish in Arkansas River’s dam tailwaters and crappie in the deeper parts of Lake Beaverfork.

Enjoy Different Family-Friendly Activities in Conway

Conway is one of Central Arkansas’s leading hubs for just about everything — arts and culture, outdoor recreational activities, shopping, and more. That’s what makes it such a livable city and a great spot to visit for the entire family.

1. Book a Fishing Charter

Getting the expert guidance of a local charter is the best way to maximize your fishing trip while remaining safe.

2. Find a Great Selection of Family-Friendly Parks and Spots

Conway has several hot spots that your entire family will love. One of them is Hogwild Family Fun Center, where you can enjoy a round of mini-golf, ride go-karts and bumper cars, and even have a go at laser tag. Cadron Settlement Park should be on your itinerary if you want something historical and outdoorsy. The city has a wide range of small and intimate city parks where you can enjoy a scenic picnic with the entire family.

3. Feed the Culture Vulture in You at Baum Gallery

Baum Gallery is Conway’s most famous art spot, located at the University of Central Arkansas. It regularly hosts displays for its art students and many other artists from all over the state and country. The best part about it is that most of its exhibits are free to view.