The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission will officially celebrate the reopening of Lake Wilhelmina with a ribbon-cutting and rededication ceremony on May 15, 2026, at 10:30 AM at the lake’s newly constructed fishing pier.
The 200-acre lake underwent a major renovation beginning in June 2024 after severe infrastructure issues caused uncontrollable water loss from the lake.
According to AGFC officials, falling water levels first noticed in 2019 led to the discovery of 2 large holes in the lakebed caused by ruptures in the aging outflow pipe running through the dam into Powell Creek.
“We made temporary repairs with sandbags to stop the water loss, but we needed to drain the lake to perform a complete fix,” said Reid Phifer, assistant chief of operations for AGFC.
Contractors replaced and re-sleeved the aging 30-inch outflow pipe while also upgrading the lake’s water-control tower, lower gates, stems, actuators, and radial gates regulating lake levels.
Additional improvements included a floating courtesy dock for boaters and a brand-new fishing pier.
AGFC Fisheries staff also used the drawdown period to create extensive fish habitat improvements throughout the lake. Crews installed stakebeds, fish attractors, PVC habitat structures, log cribs, and 19 pea gravel spawning beds to improve fishing opportunities for bass, crappie, catfish, bream, and baitfish.
“Most of these fish attractors are within casting distance of the bank,” said AGFC Fisheries Supervisor Andy Yung. “There are plenty of fish attractors to satisfy shorebound anglers throughout many fishing trips.”
Officials say recent spring rains have rapidly refilled the lake, now sitting within 5 feet of normal pool elevation. AGFC has already begun stocking forage species and game fish, including bluegill fingerlings.
While anglers may begin fishing immediately after reopening, Lake Wilhelmina will remain catch-and-release only while fish populations continue rebuilding.
AGFC says anglers should begin seeing more catchable fish populations develop over the next year as the restored fishery continues improving.
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