The Making of an Arkansas Lake...
No angler ever forgets an experience on Arkansas' beautiful Lake Norfork....
In 1938, Congress authorized construction of the Norfork Dam, with operations following in 1941. This would create a body of water stretching from Tecumseh, Missouri, down through the north central portion of Arkansas to the Norfork Dam.
By the early part of 1943, the lake began to fill, and now covers 22,000 acres-an area roughly the size of Disney World! Arkansas' Lake Norfork is surrounded by land that is owned and managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, preserving the lake as a pristine resource!
Some notes on Lake Norfork and Norfork Dam:
Norfork Dam is a gravity dam. The dam resists the thrust of water through its own weight.
The dam is 2,624 feet in length, and it is 248 feet tall.
Maximum discharge of water is 331,000 cubic feet per second.
At its maximum depth, Lake Norfork is approximately 178 feet.
This angler "hot spot" has consistently produced prime "eaters" and record "keepers", alike!
A few fish facts:
Lake Norfork is stocked annually with Striped Bass, since the 1960's. The shorelines are rich in wildlife and forest, and the water is clean and cool. This produces a healthy ecosystem, well-suited for: Walleye, Bream, Crappie, Largemouth, Smallmouth, Catfish, Striped Bass, and Hybrid Bass!
Shad (a staple prey for bass and other sport fish) is rich in the lake, producing consistently large, healthy keepers!
The record Lake Norfork Striper weighed over 50 pounds, and many anglers bring in 30 and 40 pound Striped Bass, as well!
Whether your goal is to fill up on good crappie and bream-for eating or land the catch of your life, Lake Norfork is the perfect setting to make your experience beautiful and fun!
Jake Dale, owner and operator, is a professional fishing guide, for Reel Fish Guide Service. He accommodates visitors and locals to Arkansas' Lake Norfork and surrounding areas. Jake began fishing in his youth, later gaining saltwater and freshwater fishing experience in: Washington, California, Arkansas and Oregon! He and his wife live near Lake Norfork, and share their love of outdoor adventures and fishing with their children.
