For anglers who remember Lake Monticello as one of Arkansas’ premier trophy bass destinations, the latest reports coming from the southeast Arkansas lake are bringing back some familiar excitement.
After undergoing a major renovation, Lake Monticello is once again showing signs that it could become a destination for anglers chasing big largemouth bass. Arkansas Game and Fish Commission biologists say the lake is trending in the right direction, and recent catches are providing plenty of evidence.
Two bass weighing more than 10 pounds were caught during the spring, including a 10.22-pound largemouth caught by Rod Martinez that qualified for Arkansas’ inaugural Legacy Lunker program. That fish was donated to the AGFC’s hatchery program, where it was paired with a male Titan MAXX Florida bass in an effort to produce future trophy-class offspring. Another bass weighing more than 10 pounds was caught in April, after the Legacy Lunker donation period had ended.
The big fish aren’t the only encouraging sign. During its spring electrofishing survey, AGFC biologists found bass in the 6-pound range, with catch rates exceeding both the regional average and the lake’s 2025 numbers. Anglers have also reported catching bass of 8 pounds and larger.
Much of the lake’s potential can be traced back to its renovation and stocking program. Lake Monticello was drawn down after structural work on the dam, and the lake began refilling in 2022. Beginning in 2023, AGFC stocked forage species before introducing largemouth bass and crappie. The agency later added approximately 22,000 genetically selected Florida largemouth bass from Red Hills Fishery in Georgia, including its Titan MAXX strain, which was selected for traits associated with trophy growth.
Just as important, the lake now has an abundant food supply. Biologists have documented strong populations of threadfin shad, redear sunfish and bluegill—exactly the kind of forage that can fuel rapid growth in largemouth bass and crappie.
Management has also shifted as the fishery matures. Beginning in 2026, anglers were allowed to harvest five bass per day, but only one may be 16 inches or longer. The regulations are designed to allow some harvest while continuing to protect the lake’s larger fish.
For now, Lake Monticello’s comeback is still a work in progress. But with abundant forage, strong sampling results and multiple bass topping 10 pounds already hitting anglers’ scales, Arkansas may once again have a trophy bass lake worth putting on the national radar.