Sherwood, AR Fishing: Angling in a Farming Community

Sherwood is part of Pulaski County in Arkansas and is the fastest-growing town in the state, both in population and area. Sherwood was formed in the late 1800s as a small farming community called Sylvan Hills. Years passed, and in 1049, Sherwood was officially incorporated as a town and elected its first town council the same year.

Very few families lived in Sherwood in the 1900s without running water, electricity, or other utilities. The Koehler family brought the first-ever running water in Sherwood through pipes from three springs on a farm they owned. Today, some descendants of the Koehler family still live in the area, and the oldest standing home in Sherwood is the house built for Paul Koehler in 1927.

Sherwood celebrates two annual events, the Sherwood Fall Festival and the Enchanted Forest and Holiday Trail of Lights. These celebrations have brought crowds and tourists to Sherwood for over 60 years. The Sherwood Fest is a family-oriented festival that offers various activities, crafts, kid's activities, and family entertainment, a fitting celebration for tourists of all ages. Sherwood's Enchanted Forest and Trail of Lights is a drive-thru track located at the Sherwood Sports Complex. This trail boasts over a mile of spectacular lights. 

Sherwood offers not only fun entertainment to visitors; it also provides exceptional fishing opportunities for anglers.

Sherwood Fishing

The Indianhead Lake in Sherwood is one of the most visited fishing sites in Pulaski County. It is home to various fish species such as largemouth bass, crappie, yellow bullhead, bluegill, channel catfish, pumpkinseed, rainbow trout, and spotted bass. Anglers can fish from banks or while riding a boat. Lake authorities always encourage visiting anglers to obey Arkansas' fishing and boating laws. Fears Lake is known for its trophy fish such as largemouth bass, spotted bass, bluegill, and freshwater drum. Anglers can also head to Kellogg Creek, a stream with an elevation of 240 meters. Aside from bass and crappie, bowfin are a common sight in this area. They can also cast their line in Miles Creek, a tributary of Kellogg Creek. Bass are also the commonly caught fish in Meto Bayou. Another creek connected to Fears Lake is Duncan Creek. Anglers flock to this area because of how rich its water is. Duncan Creek offers fish like largemouth bass, rainbow trout, and bluegill.

Lake Cherrywood is a reservoir located just 1.7 miles from the center of Sherwood. Anglers can fish from banks, boats, and docks. It is also a good location for a quick picnic trip for families. The most popular species caught here are largemouth bass, crappie, channel catfish, green sunfish, blue catfish, and rainbow trout. Meanwhile, in Matthews Lake, anglers casting their lines can catch largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and black crappie. Fivemile Creek, a tributary of Matthews Lake, offers abundant fishing opportunities for fish like bass, bluegill, blue catfish, and longear sunfish. A record number of fish have been caught in Thomas Lake near Sherwood. Anglers can catch largemouth bass, bluegill, spotted bass, blue catfish, redear sunfish, channel catfish, longear sunfish, and rainbow trout.

Traveling to the northern part of Sherwood, lakes such as Hatcher Lake Number One and Hatcher Lake Number Two welcome anglers looking for a good fishing trip. Bass, crappie, and sunfish are some of the most caught fish in these lakes. Hatcher Lake Number One and Two are family-friendly lakes that anglers of all ages will surely enjoy fishing in these areas. Armstrong Branch, Brown Lake, and Cypress Branch are some fishing locations found in northern Sherwood.

Beal Lake and Todd Lake are found at the center of Sherwood, just miles away from Fears Lake. Both lakes are abundant with trophy largemouth bass. Bank fishing is also suitable when fishing in Peeler Lake, targeting largemouth bass. Trammel Lake is another area anglers must visit if they are looking for trophy largemouth bass and crappie. 

Arkansas River is another must-visit fishing location in Sherwood and Pulaski County. The fish species that anglers can catch in the river are largemouth bass, channel catfish, blue catfish, rainbow trout, white bass, flathead catfish, spotted bass, and striped bass. While fishing in the Arkansas River, anglers can utilize various fishing techniques. They can fish from the banks, use a boat or a kayak, try fly fishing, or even do baitcasting. Little Indian Lake Number One and Little Indian Lake Number Two are found near North Little Rock, just a few miles away from Sherwood. Fish found in these lakes: channel catfish, bluegill, largemouth bass, rock bass, spotted bass, blue catfish, green sunfish, rainbow trout, and freshwater drum.

The Sherwood Bass Club is a club where anglers can join by forming a team, allowing them to participate in various fishing tournaments held in Sherwood. Sherwood is rich with water bodies available to anglers of all ages. Anglers fishing in the waters of Arkansas is urged to use their best judgment when determining where they can fish and follow local fishing regulations.

Top 10 Fish Species in Sherwood, AR

The top 10 fish species found in Sherwood, AR, are spotted bass, largemouth bass, crappie, channel catfish, bluegill, yellow bullhead, pumpkinseed, freshwater drum, rainbow trout, and blue catfish.

Seasonal Fishing

The fishing season in Sherwood is open to anglers with fishing licenses year-round. Bass fishing is open year-round, but anglers can catch the best in spring. Spotted bass start their spawning season every mid-March to late May. Largemouth bass, on the other hand, spawn during spring. While spring is generally the best time to fish, it is the best season to head out and target some crappie. Crappie have an interesting spawning activity. They spawn depending on the water temperature and prefer the warmer waters during the spawning period. Catfish are active and best caught during summertime, but they are caught year-round. The spawning season for blue catfish occurs during spring or summer when the water temperatures are warm. Channel catfish commence their breeding season during the early weeks of the summer. Spring and the early days of the summer period are the most appropriate seasons to look and catch bluegill. Bluegill spawn once a month. Yellow bullhead usually start their spawning in Arkansas from May to June when the waters are warm. Anglers can capture them best after the sun sets or before sunrise. Pumpkinseed are best caught when their spawning season starts; their spawning period usually occur from May until July. Summer is the perfect season to catch freshwater drum as their populations' peak. Their spawning period occurs in the summer as they move into warmer and shallower waters. Rainbow trout commence their spawning as early as February. They are usually in the whole spawning period by March or April.

An Extraordinary Adventure Awaits in Sherwood

1. Attend an Exciting Sherwood Event

Aside from attending the Sherwood Fall Festival and visiting the Enchanted Forest and Trail of Lights, tourists are encouraged to attend Sherwood's annual Independence Day Family Celebration. It is also best to visit Sherwood during Christmas and attend the Christmas Parade, which showcases different themes yearly.

2. Spend A Day In Sherwood's Parks

Sherwood boasts seventeen parks and four public swimming pools that families can enjoy. Sherwood's parks offer baseball, softball, soccer, concession stands, playgrounds, pavilions, and protected bleachers.

3. Paint Pottery

Located just 20 minutes from central Sherwood, the Painted Pigs have provided tourists with creative entertainment since 2007. The Painted Pigs is perfect for anyone looking for new ideas and wanting to learn new techniques in arts.