Little maumelle is close, peaceful and many times productive.
I prefer to put in at the horse farm (pay launch). There are some pretty nice crappie in there.

Don't forget about Nimrod (one hour). Plum bayou can be good (40 minutes) when it is right.

I must confess i do a lot of my fishing on a private duck club (to remain unnamed) (sorry) in the Grand Prarie.

Don't give up on Conway. Learn it. The summer draw down will give all of us a good look at what's down under.