Arkansas's Third-Largest Game and Fish Commission Lake
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Why Rent On Harris Brake Lake
Harris Brake Lake in Faulkner County, central Arkansas, is the third-largest lake owned by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, built in 1955 as one of the largest lakes ever constructed by a state wildlife agency. The lake’s two lakeside bait shops offering boat and motor rentals alongside fishing supplies, its four concrete and two gravel boat ramps, and its camping and picnic areas give it a recreational infrastructure that reflects its long status as one of the centerpieces of central Arkansas lake culture.
A Central Arkansas Lake Rental Within Range of Little Rock
Perryville and Morrilton, within 20 to 30 miles of Harris Brake Lake in the Arkansas River Valley, offer vacation rentals that give families a practical home base for a central Arkansas lake week. A cabin or vacation home with a full kitchen, multiple bedrooms, and outdoor space puts you within easy range of one of the most consistently well-managed state fishing lakes in Arkansas. The surrounding Faulkner County landscape combines the wooded hillsides of the Arkansas River Valley with the open agricultural character of central Arkansas, and the combination makes for pleasant daily drives to and from the lake.
Boat Rentals, Bait Shops, and Organized Access
One of Harris Brake Lake’s most useful features for visiting families is the presence of two lakeside bait shops that provide boat and motor rentals alongside fishing tackle and supplies. This means families who arrive without their own watercraft have immediate, organized access to the water without any advance logistics. The four concrete boat ramps and two gravel ramps distribute access across the lake’s shoreline in a way that prevents any single launch area from becoming overwhelmed, and the camping areas give families who want overnight lake time a simple and practical option.
Bass, Catfish, and the Central Arkansas Fishing Tradition
Harris Brake Lake is deeply embedded in the central Arkansas fishing tradition, and the families who fish it regularly describe the bass and catfish populations in the warm, productive waters with the particular affection of people who have returned to the same lake for generations. The Game and Fish Commission’s management has maintained that tradition through consistent stocking, habitat management, and water quality oversight that keeps the lake productive year after year. A morning of bank fishing with a cane pole and live bait on Harris Brake is a specifically Arkansas experience that no resort lake can replicate.
Woolly Hollow State Park and Central Arkansas’s Day-Trip Circuit
Woolly Hollow State Park, with its 40-acre lake Bennett and historic CCC-built facilities, is just a short drive from Harris Brake and provides a beautiful complement to a lake week based at Harris Brake. The combination of the two lakes, one a working Game and Fish Commission fishing lake and the other a scenic state park reservoir with swimming and hiking, gives families in the Faulkner County area an unusual variety of lake experiences within a single central Arkansas stay. Little Rock, about 45 minutes to the southeast, provides the full range of urban amenities for evenings and rainy days.
- Surface area (mi)
- 3.27
- Max depth (ft)
- 27.99
- Elevation (ft)
- 282.15
Popular activities
- Boating
- Waterskiing
- Wakeboarding
- Jet Skiing
- Fishing
- Hiking
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Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to dive into what Harris Brake Lake has to offer? Let’s tackle some of the burning questions you might have as you plan your visit!
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No, swimming is not allowed in Harris Brake Lake. There is a swimming area available at Lake Sylvia in the Ouachita National Forest nearby, but not at Harris Brake Lake itself.
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Harris Brake Lake is a popular destination because of its excellent fishing opportunities. The lake is known for its abundant bluegill, channel catfish, crappie, hybrid striped bass, and largemouth bass. It also offers multiple boat ramps, lakeside bait shops, and nearby hunting areas, making it a versatile outdoor recreation site.
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The daily catch limits for different fish species at Harris Brake Public Fishing Lake in Arkansas vary. For black bass, the limit is 10, with only one bass allowed over 21 inches in some areas. For bream, the limit is 50 if they are over 4 inches long, and for catfish, it is 10, excluding bullhead catfish.
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There is a public swimming area at Harris Brake Lake. This swimming area is part of the lake’s recreational facilities, which also include camping, picnic areas, and hiking trails. It is located near the lakeside camping and picnic facilities.
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Harris Brake Lake is near the towns of Perryville, Perry, and Houston. It is located one mile south of Perryville in Perry County. These towns are conveniently close for accessing the lake’s amenities and surrounding area.