Boating on Lake Catherine

Lake Catherine by the Numbers

Lake Catherine covers approximately 1,940 acres and stretches 11 miles through the Ouachita Mountain valleys between Remmel Dam at the downstream end and the tailrace area above where Lake Hamilton's outflow enters. It is the smallest of the five Diamond Lakes. The elongated shape through mountain terrain creates a lake that feels longer than it is wide, with narrow passages between shoreline ridges giving way to broader sections in the main coves and bays.

Full pool elevation varies by location; the lake follows the valley contour rather than sitting in a broad bowl. Maximum depth exceeds 50 feet in sections of the main channel. Navigation is straightforward for boaters familiar with the lake, though the narrow valley sections require attention to speed and wake in areas where coves are close together. No formal no-wake zones are posted on the main lake body, but common courtesy and AGFC rules on reasonable operating speed apply.

The Marina Situation: Lake Catherine State Park

Lake Catherine State Park Marina is the only full-service marina on the lake. Located on the south shore within the state park, it operates on a seasonal schedule:

• Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day: open daily, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
• Tuesday after Labor Day through October: Friday–Tuesday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. (closed Wednesday–Thursday)
• November through March 15: closed
• March 16 through Friday before Memorial Day: Friday–Tuesday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.

The marina sells fuel (including ethanol-free gas), bait, snacks, and basic supplies. Boat rentals available seasonally include pontoon boats, 16-foot fishing boats with motors, kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards. Kayak and paddleboard rentals are available year-round even when the full marina is closed. The park has a public boat launch ramp and trailer parking at no charge.

Park contact: 501-844-4176. The marina phone connects to the visitor center; marina staff can be reached in season when the facility is open.

What the marina does not have: overnight slip rentals for visiting boats, a restaurant, or retail beyond basic supplies. This is consistent with the state park's mission — it is a public access facility, not a commercial marina enterprise. Lakefront homeowners on Catherine who need fuel or supplies during the marina's off-hours (evenings, mid-week in shoulder season, November–March) make the short drive to Hot Springs.

Boat Ramps and Public Access

Beyond the state park ramp, the Diamondhead community maintains neighborhood boat ramps available to POA members. These provide residents with lake access via tow vehicle and trailer. Some Diamondhead lots without direct lakefront have deeded lake access through these ramps — an important distinction for buyers who want lake access without paying lakefront prices.

The state park ramp is publicly accessible with no ramp fee. Trailer parking at the park is free. This makes it feasible for visitors and non-lakefront residents to launch and retrieve boats on Catherine without marina fees. In practice, the ramp handles light traffic; Catherine has far fewer day visitors trailering boats than Hamilton on a comparable summer weekend.

What to Expect on the Water

Lake Catherine's boating environment is its most distinctive quality compared to Lake Hamilton. On a Saturday afternoon in July, Hamilton's main channel carries significant wake boat, pontoon, and jet ski traffic. Catherine on the same Saturday afternoon is noticeably quieter — far fewer boats per acre, more room to run, more natural shoreline with no boat traffic in sight from the coves.

Catherine is suitable for all standard lake boat types: pontoons, bass boats, ski/wake boats, PWC, kayaks, and canoes. No horsepower restrictions apply on the main lake (unlike some smaller nearby waters). The mountain valley shape provides natural wind protection in most areas; the lake rarely builds large standing waves except during severe weather moving through.

The 11-mile length means a round-trip run from the lower end near Remmel Dam to the upper end takes real time on a pontoon at cruising speed. Plan runs rather than assuming a quick loop will cover the whole lake. Spencer Bay and the various coves along the main channel reward slower exploration by kayak or paddle boards more than by high-speed powerboat.

Entergy's Boating-Related Rules

Boating access to Lake Catherine does not require an Entergy permit — the water is public. However, any anchoring, buoy placement, or extended mooring in a specific location that isn't a deeded dock may require coordination with Entergy. New buoys are no longer permitted in residential areas of the lake. Houseboat mooring (listed as permitted in LakeHomes.com data) is technically allowed but subject to Entergy's shoreline management review for any permanent or semi-permanent placement.

The FERC license provides for special whitewater release flows from Remmel Dam on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, Memorial Day through Labor Day, creating floatable conditions in the Ouachita River below the dam. These releases do not significantly affect on-lake boating but do affect the area immediately below Remmel Dam; stay clear of dam tailrace areas during generation periods.

Getting Your Boat Ready After Winter

Catherine's 3-foot winter drawdown requires dock-related preparation before the boating season opens. The lake refills by March 15; the state park marina opens in mid-March for shoulder-season hours. If your dock permit is in order and the dock is back at its permitted position after refill, you can be on the water by late March. Bass fishing in March and April (before the major holiday weekends bring more traffic) is one of the most pleasant windows of the year on this lake.