Thread: Willow Beach

Personally, I have never tried it. But, it is just across the river from me. I pass by it at least once a week going to lunch. I have never seen a boat on the lake nor a rig at the ramp in the 10 years or so I have lived here. So, I have always wondered if the stories are true.
DP

I have launched there a few times and never had anyone say a word to me. I remember when there was a store there and you could pay the man to launch. I see people there in the spring time when I drive by. I wouldn't be worried at all to go put my boat in today.

Personally I have never tried to launch there, the POSTED, PRIVATE LAKE signs at the 2 boat ramps have kept me away, I don't like the idea of getting caught trespassing. I would love to fish it, since I live about 5 minutes from the ramp.

Wait, you are talking about the ramps right off the England hwy, right? Not the Corps park that goes into the back water on the River?

I was told that ramp actullay belonged to the COE?

Somebody shoot me some lat/longs, some really good directions, or better yet a googleearth map and I'll check it out on our maps at the office in LR. If it's in the Corps area then it's open to the public.

If its accessable backwater of the river, then it's public.

If you're in the area, come to the Federal Building at 700 West Capitol (bring a picture ID to get past the guards) sign the visitor's log book and come to the 7th floor. Call me at 324-5716 after 7am and before 4pm. I'll meet you at the elevator and we'll go over the maps together.

aj aka (John Garrett)

Here's a link to a map of the area - http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&sadd...2&ie=UTF8&z=16

The coordinates should be very close to the boat ramps in question. From what I've been able to ascertain up to this point the ramps are on private propertly, which belongs to Floyd Fulkerson. Floyd doesn't care who uses the ramps or fishes in the lake but some of the local residents have taken it upon themselves to try to keep out, which violates Arkansas Game and Fish Regulations. So if you use the boat ramps or fish in the lake and are questioned, threatened, told that you can't fish there or are interfered with in any way, get the name and address of the person(s) harassing you and call the AG&FC enforcment office at 501-470-1314 and report the violation. It's very likely that the offenders will be ticketed and prosecuted by the AG&FC.

Jerry, I did some investigating today and here's what I found out.

1. The Corps has no property around Willow Beach Lake. We DO have a ramp on the river to the south, but there is no Federal property on Willow Beach Lake itself.

2. The ramps in question were not built by either the Corps or the AG&F. I called the G&F and they stated they had no property on the lake. They did tell me that Ross Spurlock was the enforcement officer for that area and the even though there is no (technically) public ramp, that the waters in the lake itself are considered "Waters of the US" and therefore belong to the public.

So, if you get permission to use the ramps, you are good to go legally. Otherwise, fish at your own risk because the ramps were built by private individuals or other entities and they definitely are located on private property. Looks to me that private property encompasses the entire shoreline of the lake with maybe the exception being at the south end where the levy crosses. If I wanted to fish the lake bad, I'd find out the ownership of the south levy area.

One can find out who owns the land where the ramps are located--and the south levy-- by visiting the Pulaski County Court House. Ask to look for a Pulaski County Plat book or ask the County Clerk's office for the individual that pays the taxes on the particular property of interest.

Hope this helps. <><

aj