Paddling, fishing oasis awaits at Lake Sequoyah in Fayetteville

Visitors to Fayetteville's Lake Sequoyah might think they've made a wrong turn and ended up in the far flung low country of eastern Arkansas.

Beds of grass and lily pads dot the small lake. Most of it is shallow, not deep and rocky like a typical Ozarks lake.

Gliding along the narrow upstream end of Lake Sequoyah is like exploring a swamp in the Delta, but a glance at the hill country scenery reminds visitors they're in the Ozarks.

Mike McBride had the lake to himself before sunrise on an overcast Friday on June 24. A quick fishing trip was in order before temperatures sizzled as the sun climbed. His canoe was the right boat, nice and quiet to preserve the tranquil early hour. Only his voice broke the silence.

"This is the perfect lake for a canoe or kayak," McBride said. At 400 acres, it's easy to cover the whole reservoir. McBride has been prowling around Lake Sequoyah since he was nine Now, at age 48, he runs the bait shop and office.

Power boats can be launched on the lake, he said, so long as they travel at idle speed. Lake Sequoyah is a no-wake lake. The little lake is a haven for fishing, paddling and seeing wildlife from the water or trails along the shore.

"Right now we've got lots of birds. There's a heron rookery upstream so people might see a lot of great blue herons. We've got all kinds of resident ducks and, of course, Canada geese," he said.

Furry critters drink from the lake.

"I haven't sen him this morning, but there's been a black bear coming down here," he said.

It would be hard to visit the lake for long and not see deer, McBride said.

Most of his focus this calm morning was on fish, particularly the lake's black bass. Summertime is prime for early-bird fishermen to catch bass on on top-water lures. Having a big largemouth bass blow the water to smithereens around a surface lure is one of fishing's biggest thrills. Buzz baits are the favorite top-water lure at Lake Sequoyah, McBride said. Top-water plugs like Zara Spooks and Chug Bugs draw thunderous strikes.

McBride had deeper thoughts when fish ignored his top-water offerings. He tied on a spinner bait and worked it five feet deep. The switch jump-started his fishing. McBride caught three dandy largemouths along the riprap of the dam. A couple more fish hit along the edges of grass beds by the spillway. A spinner bait with a white and chartreuse skirt did the trick.

"When people ask me about the bass fishing here, I tell them you can catch a lot of decent sized ones," he said. "Don't expect to catch a lunker, but you might."

The biggest Lake Sequoyah largemouth McBride has seen was a 9-pounder caught two years ago by Andy Stone, a regular at the lake. Stone used a plastic worm.

Crappie and redear are two other species anglers favor.

"This is the best redear year we've had," McBride said. Redear fishing was phenomenal in the spring, but anglers can still catch a mess. "You just have to hunt for them," McBride said. Fish with worms or crickets close to the bottom under a bobber.

Fishing from a boat is best because an angler can cover more water. Shore fishing can be done in the area around the boat ramp and on the west bank near the old White River bridge.

McBride knows the fishing, wildlife and the lake's history. Lake Sequoyah was built as a water supply lake in 1959. It opened for fishing in 1961. Lake Sequoyah is open from sunrise to sunset.

"Gordon Mhoon was the first boat dock operator," McBride said. "There wasn't even a building. He just worked from a table he set up. If it was raining, you'd sit in his pickup, and he'd write out your fishing permit."

A small daily fee is charged for fishing and boat launching. Annual permits are available. Either can be purchased at the bait shop, near the lake entrance. The building replaced the table that Mhoon worked from long ago.

Flip Putthoff can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @NWAFlip