Irons Fork
- Access
- The lake is accessible from Arkansas Highway 71, about 10 miles from Mena.
- Aquatic Vegetation
- Water willow surrounds most of the lake's shoreline
- Area Specific Regulations
- Use of common carp as bait is prohibited.
- Area Type
- Lake
- Bottom Features
- Scattered brush piles and stumps
- Constructed
- 1977
- Depth
- Estimated maximum depth of 60 feet
- Description
- Irons Fork Lake was built by the Soil Conservation Service for flood control and is a water supply lake for the city of Mena. The AGFC assumed fisheries management responsibility for the lake in 1979. Irons Fork was accidentally drained in 1988 and later restocked by the AGFC with bass, bluegill, redear sunfish, catfish and crappie. The misfourtune turned out to be a large benefit for the sport fish population and anglers, because the low water also enabled the AGFC to place large tree shelters and fish attractors on the lakebed before it was refilled.
- Facilities
- One concrete ramp is the only access to the lake. No swimming or recreational sports are allowed on Irons Fork Lake.
- Fish Forage
- Shad, minnows and sunfish
- Location
- Northern Polk County, north of Mena
- Major Sportfish
- Black crappie, bluegill, longear sunfish, channel catfish, spotted bass and largemouth bass
- Other Fish
- Chain pickerel, brook silversides, darters, grass carp, green sunfish, logperch, spotted suckers, warmouth and yellow bullhead
- Ownership
- The City of Mena
- Size
- 306 acres
- Visible Cover
- Some standing timber and blown down trees