Bigmouth Buffalo
The Bigmouth Buffalo is Arkansas's largest native member of the sucker family and one of North America's longest-lived freshwater fish, capable of reaching 129 years and weights exceeding 80 pounds.
Scientific Name: Ictiobus cyprinellus
- Unlike carp, they lack barbels and have a distinctive terminal mouth facing forward with thin lips at eye level.
- Their coloration ranges from coppery olive-brown to slate-blue with a white belly.
Fishing in Arkansas
Lake Conway
Arkansas River
Fourche LaFave River
Bayou Meto
Greers Ferry Lake
Lake Dardanelle
Petit Jean River
Little Red River
Saline River
Lake Ouachita
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- Preferring slow-moving backwaters, oxbow lakes, large reservoirs, and flooded vegetated areas.
- Well-adapted to Arkansas's reservoir systems.
Key Locations
- In Arkansas, they inhabit the Mississippi and Arkansas River systems.
- They support significant commercial fishing operations along the Mississippi and Arkansas Rivers.
Specific Spots
- Focus on slow-moving water in backwaters, oxbow lakes, and reservoir coves with depths less than 16 feet.
- Look for muddy areas where they're actively feeding - bubble trails and mud clouds indicate feeding activity.
- Fish on mud flats.
- For surface feeding, target areas with scum lines and foam.
Bigmouth Buffalo FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for Bigmouth Buffalo in Arkansas?
Use heavily scented baits like bread balls, dough balls, or cut bait rather than live bait.
What flies work for Bigmouth Buffalo in Arkansas?
Small nymph patterns, glo bugs, small woolly buggers, carp crack patterns, and foam patterns that imitate cottonwood seeds during June-July.
When is the best time to fish for Bigmouth Buffalo in Arkansas?
Most productive during late summer and fall when water temperatures are stable and fish are actively feeding. They spawn in spring (April-June) when water temperatures reach 55-79°F - during this period they should not be targeted as they're extremely vulnerable.
How do you catch Bigmouth Buffalo in Arkansas?
Bowfishing is the most popular method, particularly at night when they swim near the surface. For rod and reel fishing, use heavily scented baits. For fly fishing, fish patterns slowly along the bottom or suspended in mid-column on mud flats.
What do Bigmouth Buffalo eat?
As filter feeders, they primarily consume zooplankton (cladocerans and copepods), supplemented by benthic insect larvae, small crustaceans, algae, and detritus.
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