Best Location to Retire in Arkansas

We live in SE Missouri and I’m mostly retired but do some consulting for an Energy Services Company a day or 2 per week. The company might expand into Arkansas and I would work from home.

Which crappie lake in Arkansas should I start looking? We have been looking at houses on Lake of Ozarks on the lake with docks. We also prefer a good view and some space like around an acre. We prefer staying around $300,000 but might consider a little more if we found the right spot. Does anyone have suggestions on where to start looking? Thanks in advance!


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Russellville on lake Dardanelle . Big fish and lots of other good lakes within a short drive . Big town but still has small town life . We are moving there this month .

What style of crappie fishing do you prefer? Are you strictly looking for a crappie lake or do you want to fish for other species (which ones) or recreate on the water others ways besides fishing? Are you looking to catch good numbers or mainly quality fish? How important is scenery too you? Arkansas is a very diverse state with a wide range of really good crappie fisheries. Think about a continuum of lakes that range from Ozark Mountain lakes, to Arkansas River Valley lakes, to Mississippi River Oxbow lakes and everything in between.

Nimrod’s suggestion of Lake Dardanelle is a good one. Arguably one the best (if not the best) crappie lake in the state. Lake Dardanelle is just an all around really good fishery. Very productive system with good numbers and quality.

Provide a little more info and it will help others answer your question better. Thanks.


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Originally Posted by D10

What style of crappie fishing do you prefer? Are you strictly looking for a crappie lake or do you want to fish for other species (which ones) or recreate on the water others ways besides fishing? Are you looking to catch good numbers or mainly quality fish? How important is scenery too you? Arkansas is a very diverse state with a wide range of really good crappie fisheries. Think about a continuum of lakes that range from Ozark Mountain lakes, to Arkansas River Valley lakes, to Mississippi River Oxbow lakes and everything in between.

Nimrod’s suggestion of Lake Dardanelle is a good one. Arguably one the best (if not the best) crappie lake in the state. Lake Dardanelle is just an all around really good fishery. Very productive system with good numbers and quality.

Provide a little more info and it will help others answer your question better. Thanks.


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Pretty much only fish for crappie and spider rig on Reelfoot, Sardis and Enid. I have pulled crankbaits the last 2 summers and it’s productive in MS. My wife and I also enjoy jigging trees at Truman. Scenery from the house is pretty important as is some privacy. We pretty much just catch what we and our son can eat along with a few friends that beg for crappie.


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I would say Lake Dardanelle. But you might look at Atkins lake also. Lake Chicot in south east Arkansas is also an option, and you wouldn't be far from some of the Mississippi lakes.

I’m like Nimrod and D10. Dardanell is the place to go. And should be able to find a great place in your price range. Lived there a couple of years and loved it. It’s centrally located between Ft Smith, Little Rock and Springfield. Lots of good fishing in several directions. Very reasonable cost of living.

Horseshoe lake. Decent crappie lake, still reasonably close to the big four and other crappie lakes in Arkansas. You can have the peacefulness of country living and just a few minutes from Memphis and Jonesboro


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If you prefer the Ozark climate over the more humid and hot weather in Central and South Arkansas, the Mountain Home area is tough to beat. Bull Shoals and Norfork lakes are super close. Mojorig can speak more on this area than I can.



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And I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t suggest the Conway area. Conway is a short drive to several outstanding crappie fisheries (lakes Conway, Overcup, Harris Brake, Atkins, and Dardanelle). There are two hospitals in Conway now and some beautiful places to live. If you are looking for a lake side house with nicer houses, check out Beaverfork Lake. Beaverfork isn’t know for great crappie fishing but it does have crappie in it (more of a bass lake). Very nice houses around this city owned lake. Just north or Beaverfork Lake is an areas know as Wooster (between Conway and Greenbrier). This area has some really nice houses with acreage. This is where my family is planning on moving in a year or so. Fee free to call me on the phone number in my signature to talk more about crappie fishing in Central Arkansas and places to live. I will say that you will not regret moving to the Natural State. It is called that for a reason.


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Originally Posted by D10

If you prefer the Ozark climate over the more humid and hot weather in Central and South Arkansas, the Mountain Home area is tough to beat. Bull Shoals and Norfork lakes are super close. Mojorig can speak more on this area than I can.



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I will say these lakes have their challenges, but it is a awesome place to live i'm 8 mins from my recliner to the boat ramp on Norfork lots of folks chase the walleyes and stripers around here the smallmouth fishing ain't bad either