Lake Bentonville
- Access
The lake entrance is clearly marked by signs on Arkansas Highway 102, one-half mile west of the intersection of U.S. Highway 71 and Arkansas Highway 102. The signs direct traffic south on a paved county road from which a lake sign is clearly visible one-quarter mile south of Arkansas Highway 102. Turn left at the sign, and you're there.
- Aquatic Vegetation
None (muddy water shades out sunlight, preventing aquatic plant growth)
- Area Specific Regulations
- Open to fishing with rod or pole only.
- Largemouth bass must be released immediately.
- Catfish daily limit is 3.
- Bream daily limit is 25.
- Trout daily limit is 5. A trout permit is required to keep trout.
- Waters open to electric trolling motors only.
- Bottom Features
The north end of the Bentonville airport runway juts into the lake to form a sort of fishing jetty. Otherwise, this lake is constructed like a big farm pond with a flat mud bottom.
- Constructed
1964
- Depth
Average depth 6 feet, maximum depth 10 feet
- Description
About the size of a large farm pond, Lake Bentonville is tailor-made for bankfishing. There's no boat ramp here, because boats aren't needed. Anglers find plenty of fishing action sitting in lawnchairs on the bank. Visitors can fish from the shoreline around the entire lake. Lake Bentonville is first and foremost a catfish lake. The Centerton State Fish Hatchery is just 4 miles away, and when brood catfish grow too large to fit in the hatchery's 25 gallon spawning barrels, they're often stocked here. The lake has produced catfish up to 35 pounds. Lake Bentonville also supports a fair population of largemouth bass, bluegills, and crappies, although fishing pressure on this small impoundment limits the numbers of these fish available to anglers.
- Facilities
None on the lake. Bait and tackle are available in Bentonville and Centerton. Motels and restaurants are available in nearby communities.
- Fish Forage
Small sunfish, crayfish, insect larvae
- Location
Central Benton County, just south of Arkansas Highway 102 within the city limits of Bentonville
- Major Sportfish
Bluegill, channel catfish, crappie, largemouth bass
- Other Fish
Blue catfish, grass carp, green sunfish, redear sunfish, warmouth
- Other Points of Interest
While in the area, take time to visit the Centerton State Fish Hatchery off Arkansas Highway 102, one mile south of Centerton. The facilities are open to the public Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism operates a Tourist Information Center on U.S. Highway 71 north of Bentonville. Local arts and crafts are popular tourist attractions in this area year-round.
- Ownership
Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.
- Restaurants, Camping and other Facilities
Restaurants and other facilities are located in nearby Bentonville.
- Size
10 acres
- Visible Cover
Buckbrush, numerous willows along the shoreline