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Lake Barnett, formerly known as White County Lake, is one of the Game & Fish Commission's most picturesque fishing spots. Although the surface acreage is relatively small, this narrow, serpentine lake winds for nearly three miles through forested hills. Rock bluffs and ledges tower over much of the shoreline. Some anglers describe it as a miniature version of Greers Ferry Lake.
Construction was a joint effort involving the Game & Fish Commission, the U. S. Soil Conservation Service and the Bayou Des Arc Improvement District. The lake was built on Bayou Des Arc to control flooding on nearby farmlands. It was named for Elbert Barnett of Romance whose efforts were instrumental in starting the project.
Largemouth bass, bluegills and redear sunfish are foremost on the minds of most anglers visiting Lake Barnett, although the lake also has healthy populations of channel catfish, crappies and warmouths. Many anglers concentrate their efforts along the old bayou channel and in the very dense flooded timber covering all but the easternmost portion of the lake
The lake's most prominent landmark is Red Bluff, a 150-foot rock formation jutting high above the water at mid-lake on the north shore. In the shadow of the bluff is another fascinating geological anomaly, a tall "chimney" of layered rocks standing like watchtower above the lake. Observant visitors will see kingfishers, red-headed and pileated woodpeckers, herons, egrets, vultures and even an occasional deer.
Boat travel is slow due to the lake's tight-knit timber stands, and small craft are advisable for easy passage. Boaters must watch carefully for the orange flagging and metal reflectors local anglers have used to mark the safest boating routes.
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