Water levels is key to when best fishing as well as temps. Spawn is usually mid April here on Nimrod. Southern Arkansas can be much better sooner and even later farther north. If flood control lakes are normal level it can make finding fish much easier. I start catching good fish stage'n in March on Nimrod and usually catch them in deep water through June. Some fish are always stage'n as they all don't spawn at once. Post spawn fish usually return to same haunts they used prespawn. There are many lakes that produce good fish if water levels and time'n is right.

Start places like Millwood early working your way north to Greason, Nimrod , Conway just for a few examples.