Lake Conway Gates to Close December 2 for Refill
Arkansas wildlife officials plan to shut Lake Conway's gates after three years of renovation work, starting the slow process of refilling the lake.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Fishing
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The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission plans to close Lake Conway's gates on December 2, 2026, beginning the refilling process after three years of renovation work. Officials announced the plan at a public meeting at Mayflower High School on Monday evening.
Why it matters
Closing the gates allows the lake to start holding water again after the renovation. Refill speed depends on rainfall, so the timeline for restored fishing remains uncertain.
Renovation work on Lake Conway has taken three years, and more than 200,000 golden shiners were stocked last week in areas that still hold water. Officials have not yet established how quickly the lake will refill, since that depends on rainfall.
The players
Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
The state agency responsible for managing Arkansas's fish and wildlife resources and overseeing the Lake Conway renovation.
The details
Most infrastructure work below the waterline is complete and the water control structures are functional. The renovation added a new primary spillway and an auxiliary structure with gates that will allow future management drawdowns and maintenance.
Timeline
Three years: renovation work on Lake Conway.
Monday evening: officials announced the gate closure plan at Mayflower High School.
December 2, 2026: planned closure of Lake Conway's gates.
Late spring or early summer 2027: sport fish stocking could begin if water conditions cooperate.
Season Trajectory
The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission will no longer conduct the routine winter drawdown at Lake Conway, marking a departure from its prior management practice. Restoring the lake's sport fish population is projected to take years, with a reasonably fishable population possible by fall 2028 and harvest generally expected around summer 2030.
Anglers planning around Lake Conway should expect no fishing while the lake refills, and the lake's fishing limits will not return for about four years. Water levels will depend on rainfall, so the timing of reopening remains uncertain.
The takeaway
Anglers should plan for a multi-year wait before Lake Conway returns to a fishable state, since stocking and population recovery take time after refilling begins. Monitoring rainfall and official announcements will show when conditions are right.
What happens next
Gates close December 2, 2026, and sport fish stocking could begin in late spring or early summer 2027 if water conditions cooperate.
Further reading
Explore more on Fishing to see how lake renovations affect angling plans across the state.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KATV.
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