Sugarloaf Lake Fishing Spot
- Mean Depth: 14'
- Max Depth: 55'
- Last Modified By: vinny60 on 09/14/09 09:24 AM
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Sugarloaf Lake Description
Follow Arkansas Highway 253 south from its junction with U.S. Highway 271 in Ft. Smith. Continue on Highway 253 to it’s junction with Arkansas Highway 45, then follow Highway 45 south to Arkansas Highway 252 just north of Midland. Highway 252 leads west to lake access road about a mile further down. The Game and Fish Commission provides a concrete boat ramp, two fishing jetties, a picnic area and primitive campsites at mid-lake on the north shore. Shale boat ramps are located at the lakes’ northeast and northwest corners. During the summer months, a boar dock on the lake’s northeast corner offers fishing supplies, boat and motor rentals, paddleboats, as swimming area, restaurant , campsites and picnic area. Fishing supplies are also available at a grocery store on the north shore road. Motels are available in Fort Smith. Sugarloaf Lake lies in the broad Arkansas River Valley between Ft. Smith and the Ouachita National Forest. The Sugarloaf Mountains, for which the lake was named, form a picturesque backdrop rising 1800 feet above the lake’s south side. Local landowners donated the lake site in 1954, including 10 acres for the recreation area at mid-lake on the north shore. Sugarloaf’s proximity to Fort Smith makes it on of the most popular small-lake fishing areas in west Arkansas. Fishing for bream and largemouth bass is excellent, and visiting anglers also catch plenty of nice channel catfish and crappies. Anglers often find fish holding around the stumps, snags and other timber covering about half the lake bottom. During spawning season and part of autumn, fishing weedbeds, buckbrush, willows and other shoreline cover is productive, while summer and winter anglers concentrate their efforts around deep-water structure and cover. Boaters can get around easily with a small boat and trolling motor, and bankfishing is available around the northside fishing jetties.