Lake Hamilton Access Slated for Trophy-Class Renovation

Boaters wishing to launch on the south side of Lake Hamilton between July 13-17 may want to reroute their plans for a few days as the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission is launching the first phase of a planned renovation to increase convenience and safety at the Andrew Hulsey Lake Hamilton Access that sits beside the Andrew Hulsey State Fish Hatchery and AGFC regional office in Hot Springs.

The Hulsey Access is likely one of the most heavily used fishing access points the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission owns in central Arkansas, especially with fishing tournament anglers.

“Multiple fishing tournaments launch from the Hulsey ramp every week, and it’s also extremely popular with pleasure boaters launching to enjoy a day of tubing or skiing on the lake,” Andy Yung, regional fisheries supervisor in the AGFC’s Hot Springs office, said. “It’s also popular with people in kayaks and canoes, and a recently developed kayak launching area on the opposite side of the parking lot from the boat ramp has already seen a lot of use. The new renovation is helping direct the flow of traffic and parking around the access as well as installing upgraded loading docks for boaters to use.”

Yung says contractors have already removed the wood courtesy dock next to the ramp and poured new bulkheads and sidewalks for new floating docks.

“We’ll have two floating docks when the project is complete,” Yung said. “One will be near the ramp, but the other will be near the back of the cove next to the parking area. The one courtesy dock we have now can become inaccessible when the lake undergoes winter drawdown, but these floating docks should be usable throughout a longer portion of the year.”

Yung says the restrooms, weigh-in facility, fishing pier and fish attractor location all will stay at the access.

“We will maintain the fish attractors in deeper water, away from the bank, so anglers can continue to use that area for beaching boats during high traffic times,” Yung said. “It also allows tournament-released fish a place to recover post-release.”

The parking area and ramps will also undergo repaving and restriping during the brief closure to address current crowding issues.

“We’ve laid out the striping designs to make better use of the parking area and give boaters a little more room to park their trailers without getting boxed in,” Yung said. “Contractors also moved a transformer away from the parking area during an earlier phase of construction, which opened up a little more room there, too.”

Reid Phifer, interim chief of operations for the AGFC, said agency engineers and fisheries biologists consulted with major bass tournament trails before drawing up the new upgrades.

“The available weigh-in and access facilities play a really big role in tournament selection location for major circuits,” Phifer said. “The Hulsey access has held a few major circuits in the past, namely the FLW Cup and the All American, both run by Major League Fishing, and it’s the home of the annual Commissioners’ Cup youth bass fishing tournament, but these upgrades will make it even more attractive for tournaments with larger numbers of boats.”

New directional signs will help guide anglers with power boats, helping keep paddlecraft launching at its designated section and preventing people from parking on that area.

“We designed the paddlecraft launch to keep things moving at the boat ramp while offering a safer location for kayakers to load up and ease into the water,” Phifer said. “With Electric Island having a great hiking trail nearby, we have a lot of paddlers who enjoy this ramp as well.”

The added launch was developed with safety in mind, but paddlers should be very intentional about when they choose to enjoy the access. Canoes, kayaks and stand-up paddleboards are the lowest, slowest and most vulnerable boats on the water, so even with the new access to help separate these vessels from power boats at the launch, paddlers should wear brightly colored life jackets and clothing and paddle in groups whenever possible to be more visible to other boats. It’s also a good idea to hug the shoreline when possible and carry a whistle to make other boaters aware of their presence, especially during high traffic times.

According to Yung and Phifer, boaters wishing to launch on Hamilton during the week of July 13-17 can choose between two free public options. The Hill Wheatley Park ramp is at 688 Majestic Lodge Road in Hot Springs. It has a courtesy dock, a sandy swim beach and picnic tables. The other option is the Sunnybrook Landing Access off of Carpenter Dam Road, which offers a boat ramp, a small courtesy dock and fishing pier.

“Neither location offers as much parking as the Hulsey Access, and we appreciate everyone’s patience while the repaving and restriping takes place,” Yung said. “Weather permitting, the contractors will complete the work quickly and minimize the inconvenience of the temporary closure.”

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CUTLINES:

TRAILERS
The AGFC will close the parking and launching area of the Hulsey Hatchery Access on Lake Hamilton July 13-17 for repaving and restriping of the parking lot. AGFC image. 

SIGN
The wooden courtesy dock has been removed and will be replaced with floating docks accessible during winter drawdowns. AGFC image.

BUILDING
The existing weigh-in facility will be complemented with better parking and infrastructure to encourage more use by large fishing tournament organizations. AGFC image.