One of the Arkansas Ozarks' favorite watery playgrounds is Greers Ferry Lake, located in the north-central portion of the state. With 40,000 acres of lake surface to accommodate both boaters and fishermen, the fishing at the lake is superb throughout the year. Greers Ferry Lake offers great walleye fishing and excellent crappie fishing. In fact every game fish native to the state has been stocked in the clear waters of the lake by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.
The lake was formed by Greers Ferry Dam that was completed in July 1964 at a cost of approximately $46,500,000. The lake and dam were dedicated in 1963 by President John F. Kennedy, his last public appearance before the fateful trip to Dallas.
A rainbow trout hatchery is in operation and furnishes the rainbow trout for stocking and fishing in the lake and below the dam in the Little Red River. Record fish catches are a common occurrence at Greers Ferry, which abounds in game fish such as bream, channel catfish, rainbow trout, and largemouth and white bass. And of course Greers Ferry Lake offers great walleye fishing and excellent crappie fishing. During the winter months, one doesn’t have to look long to find anglers who have taken huge walleyes. Fifteen- to 18-pounders are caught yearly during the late-February to mid-March spawning time, and many think this is the probable home of another world record. Most walleyes are caught in three tributaries – the Middle Fork, South Fork and Devil’s Fork of the Little Red River.
There are good odds that the next state largemouth bass record will come from Greers Ferry Lake. A largemouth bass that weighed 15 pounds, 15 ounces was caught on Greers Ferry Lake in 1988. This U.S. Army Corps of Engineers impoundment has produced several state-record hybrids, and the lake became the focus of nationwide attention when Jerald Shaum caught his world-record 27-pound, 5-ounce hybrid in 1997. In summer, many hybrid aficionados night fish with 8- to 10-inch live gizzard shad. Typical tackle is a 6-1/2- to 7-foot medium-action rod paired with a baitcasting reel spooled with 20- to 30-pound-test monofilament.
Other sporting activities include boating, swimming, camping, picnicking, scuba diving, and water skiing. There is a developed nature trail winding up Sugar Loaf Mountain, an island in the lake, which affords a breathtaking view of the lake and surrounding countryside from its summit.