Russellville, AR Fishing: A City Bustling with Life

Nestled in Pope County, Arkansas, is Russelville, home of world-famous cheeseburgers, prime rib dinners, and mouth-watering southern barbecue. Before it was called Russellville, it was initially called Chactas Prairie, The Prairie, or Cactus Flats. It was home to the Cherokee people, who were forcibly relocated when the United States federal government made the land available for settlement. J.C. Holledger owned the first-ever house built in what is now Russellville. The big house made primarily of oak was eventually bought by Dr. Thomas Russell only a year later.

Years later, a store owner named Jacob Shinn established his general store business here. He had the wooden structure replaced with masonry; to this day, the building still stands and is known today as the Shinn Building. Dr. Russell and Jacob Shinn had so much influence on the town that when its residents had to decide on a name, it came down to two choices: Shinnville or Russellville. It was Russellville that won.

Today, Russellville is a city bustling with life and offers residents and visitors alike a wide array of activities to do and places to visit. It is also where Arkansas Tech University is located, which houses over 10,000 students. Home to multiple parks, soccer and baseball fields, and rich water sources, Russellville is a haven for anglers and those who want to take a quick break from life’s daily hustle and bustle.

Russellville Fishing

Russellville, Arkansas, has activities for the entire family. Biking routes, hiking trails, golfing, fishing, water skiing, kayaking, and hang gliding are just a few outdoor leisure activities available to visitors. In addition, there are various water venues in the area for those who enjoy spending time near or on the water, including rivers, lakes, whitewater streams, waterfalls, mountain creeks, and wetlands. Thus, it is no surprise that this is an exciting place for anglers as they have plenty of options.

Between the Ouachita and Ozark Mountains, the Arkansas River winds through Russellville, giving spectacular vistas, championship fishing, boating, sailing, swimming, skiing, and other recreational activities. The river system is a major waterway that runs through several states and cities, and Russellville is among them. The rich Arkansas River is home to sauger, redear sunfish, catfish, and bass.

Directly linked to the Arkansas River is the Lake Dardanelle State Park, which borders two areas on Lake Dardanelle, a 34,300-acre reservoir. Overseen by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Little Rock District, Lake Dardanelle is one of Arkansas's most accessible and attractive recreation places. With little over 34,000 acres of boating and fishing lakes, 315 miles of shoreline, and a ring of excellent picnic and camping places, visitors can do plenty of recreational activities. Drinking water, restrooms, boat launching ramps, parking spots, and tables are available at the park, making it family-friendly.

Lake Dardanelle is a crowd favorite because it has large channel catfish and blue catfish populations. Adult white bass, native to the river, migrate in schools and feed near the surface. The lake has been stocked with crappie and largemouth bass, and bluegill fishing is great. Fishing is good all year round due to the lack of a closed season and warm winters. Lake Dardanelle has one of the most stable bass habitats among all the water bodies connected to the Arkansas River system. All these factors make it an ideal place for anglers.

Late March, April, and early May are some of the best months for catching blue catfish. The action on channel catfish is usually good and consistent as well. A slip sinker rig with a floating bait above the weight is used to catch them. The rig slowly floats bait through woody catfish lairs or over weed without catching on the bottom or cover. Drifting a floating bait is another alternative because it helps cover water from the bank. Catfish can also be caught with a jig head tipped with bait.

Crappie start pre-spawn activity in late February and early March. From mid-March to April, they will migrate to the banks to spawn, which is the best time to find and catch them. Minnows, worms, and insects are the most typical baits used to catch crappie. Crappie can be attracted to almost anything. You don't have to be concerned about the bait’s color; you're simply giving them what they'd normally eat. Most anglers like minnows; some even use a live minnow tipped on a jig for a double catch.

Next is Illinois Bayou, which begins on the southern slopes of the Ozark Mountains and flows towards Russellville before entering the Arkansas River. Despite being a bayou, it has class II/III whitewater. The Illinois Bayou comprises four streams: the North Fork, Middle Fork, East Fork, and the main stem downstream from Bayou Bluff. Anglers can expect rocky outcroppings, steep hillsides of deep forest, and occasional glimpses of wildlife. On occasion, the main stem features. Here, anglers can catch channel catfish, blue catfish, flathead catfish, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, green sunfish, and warmouth.

Top-water bass fishing is thrilling and highly recommended in June, July, and August. Bass fishing is popular in tailwaters and huge reservoirs. Because bass prefer to attack wounded prey, a battered worm is ideal for usage in shallow water. Anglers utilize spinner bait with a red or pink head and crankbait with red hooks in water regions with surface covers, such as wood stumps and clumps of grass. The red makes the bass believe the bait is damaged, causing them to attack it.

Top 10 Fish Species in Russellville, AR

The top ten fish species caught in Russellville, AR, are largemouth bass, blue catfish, white bass, green sunfish, spotted bass, bluegill, flathead catfish, striped bass, walleye, and crappie.

Seasonal Fishing

In general, Russellville is a great place for fishing all year round. Whatever month or season anglers decide to visit here will surely bring home an excellent catch. However, certain months are the best for those targeting specific fish species.

In Lake Dardanelle, crappie spawn in April. Bluegills are laying eggs in May. Head to Lake Ouachita near Hot Springs in May for world-class spring walleye fishing. Summer fishing enthusiasts should keep an eye out for walleye in June, July, and August. During the summer, walleye fishing in moderate to shallow waters is suggested, especially in lakes with gravel or rocky bottoms.

Visit the Quaint and Rustic Russellville

1. Book a Fishing Charter

When you have nothing else on your mind, trips to the vast outdoors are most enjoyable. When you hire a certified fishing charter, you can be confident that all of your fishing needs will be met. Your guide would be more than delighted to assist you with finding the best fishing places teeming with your target species to the boat, equipment, and casting itself.

2. Release the Adrenaline Junkie in You at the Hourglass Escape Rooms

If you've never tried an escape room before, now is the time to do so. The adrenaline-pumping live-action entertainment in these rooms will test your brains, teamwork, and speed as you race against time to break codes, solve riddles, and escape your chamber within your time limit. Hourglass Escape Rooms offers a variety of themes with varying levels of difficulty and objectives.

3. Visit the Museum of Automobiles

The Museum of Automobiles in nearby Morrilton is one of the many interesting things to do while in the area. Even if vehicles are not your thing, the museum's gorgeous position atop Petit Jean Mountain and its fascinating history make it a great visit. The building was originally established in the 1960s by a wealthy Rockefeller who desired a world-class facility to hold his rare automobile collection, which comprised over 30 cars. In addition to automobiles, the museum also houses a few firearms, musical instruments, and vintage registration plates.