Harris Brake Lake Vacation Rentals

Why Rent On Harris Brake Lake

Harris Brake Lake is a 1,300-acre reservoir in Perry County, Arkansas, built in 1955 to create a wildlife management and recreation area in the rolling Ouachita Mountain foothills, about 45 minutes west of Little Rock. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission manages both the lake and the adjacent 2,859-acre Harris Brake Wildlife Management Area, a bottomland hardwood tract that is one of the few AGFC-owned areas west of Little Rock. The combination of productive freshwater fishing, accessible hunting, and close proximity to central Arkansas makes Harris Brake one of the more practical multi-use outdoor destinations in the state — a lake where serious anglers and duck hunters arrive with specific purpose and leave satisfied.

On the water

Harris Brake has the kind of cover and structure that serious bass anglers seek: shoreline brush, standing and sunken cypress trees, underwater creek channels, submerged points, old docks, and artificial fish attractors throughout. Largemouth bass, hybrid striped bass, bluegill, redear sunfish, crappie, and channel catfish are all well established. Five boat ramps — three concrete, two gravel — distribute access around the lake without funneling everyone through a single launch. A lakeside bait shop provides boat and motor rentals, fishing supplies, and basic camping and picnic facilities, making the lake accessible for visitors without their own equipment. A handicapped-accessible fishing pier provides bank access without a boat. A valid Arkansas fishing licence is required for anglers 16 and older. Blue-green algae can occur in warm, calm conditions — check current AGFC or Arkansas Department of Health advisories before prolonged water contact, and bring insect repellent from April through October.

What to do near Harris Brake Lake

The adjacent Harris Brake Wildlife Management Area, north of Arkansas Highway 300, offers duck hunting in bottomland hardwood forests during waterfowl season, along with squirrel, rabbit, and raccoon hunting; a free annual General Use Permit available through the AGFC website is required to hunt or trap on the WMA. The WMA is open to waterfowl hunting on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday during duck season — check the AGFC waterfowl guidebook for current season dates and any access restrictions. Lake Sylvia, in the Ouachita National Forest about 15 miles south off Arkansas Highway 9, adds developed camping with hookups, a swimming area, picnic facilities, and hiking trails for visitors wanting more amenity infrastructure than Harris Brake provides.

When to go and where to stay

Spring, March through May, is the most productive fishing season — largemouth bass move shallow to spawn, crappie stage on structure in predictable depth ranges, and redear sunfish fishing peaks in April and May. Summer mornings and evenings produce good bass and catfish action. Fall, October through November, shifts the lake’s character toward duck hunting as a different kind of visitor arrives focused on decoys and blinds rather than topwater lures. Primitive lakeside camping is the most immediate overnight option. Vacation homes and short-term rentals in the Conway and Little Rock areas, both about 45 minutes east, provide more comfortable bases with full kitchens for multi-night stays. Browse Lake.com for pet-friendly rentals in the greater Conway and central Arkansas area, including properties large enough to store gear and accommodate a group of anglers or hunters comfortably.