ARKABUTLA LAKE
3905 Arkabutla Dam Road, Coldwater
(662) 562-6261

Just 20 minutes south of Memphis, Arkabutla Lake is a sailor's haven, a fisherman's dream and a draw for hunters, campers and hikers. The 40,704-acre lake was created by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on the Coldwater River.

It's prevailing westerly wind makes Arkabutla one of the best sailing lakes in the nation. It has eight boat ramps and 333 campsites. There are nature trails, picnic areas, playgrounds and swimming beaches.

More than 35,600 acres of land surrounding the lake are open to public hunting for dove, squirrel, bobwhite quail, rabbit, deer and turkey.

Arkabutla is rated one of the top five crappie fishing locations in the U.S. Fish in the lake include largemouth and white bass, black and white crappie, and channel and flathead catfish. Because of the lake's turbidity and lack of depth, all game fish tend to stay shallow.