Table Rock Lake, spanning more than 43 to 52 thousand acres (depending on water level) and 800 miles of shoreline, has become a perennial favorite vacation spot for tourists, pleasure boaters, fishermen and lovers of water sports of all kinds. Located in the beautiful Ozark Mountain Country of southwestern Missouri, Table Rock Lake is situated near one of the nation’s most popular entertainment and leisure destinations, Branson, Missouri.
Great Fun On Table Rock Lake Fishing: Acclaimed as one of the top bass fishing lakes in North America, Table Rock boasts an abundance of bass, crappie, white bass, catfish, and bluegill. An aggressive fish management program, resulting in an impressive resurgence of largemouth, Kentucky and smallmouth bass of exceptional size, has allowed the lake to become an exciting stop for hobbyists and professionals alike. Nature enthusiasts and hunters enjoy using the public lands surrounding Table Rock Lake which includes portions of the Mark Twain National Forest.
History: Table Rock was created in August of 1958, when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers built Table Rock Dam across the White River. Construction had begun in October of 1954 and by June of 1959 hydro-electric power was being distributed to the Ozarks. The area had already established itself as a prime fishing and recreation area as far back as the 1930s, but needed protection from devastating floods on the White River. Beneath the dam, the Missouri Department of Conservation operates a fish hatchery, which is used to stock trout in Lake Taneycomo.
Table Rock got its name, from an actual rock formation, located in Mildred, Missouri.
“It is a large, flat rock that was to be the original dam site. The Army Corps of Engineers, after drilling and taking core samples, learned the ground below Table Rock was too unstable for a dam of that size. There are caves and sinkholes in the immediate area.”
“The dam site was moved a mile and a half upstream to its present location. The lake filled to capacity in 1961 — almost a year ahead of schedule.”
Activities: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers manages the lake and Table Rock Dam. Thirteen Corps of Engineers operated campgrounds, located adjacent to Table Rock Lake, provide swimming areas, boat launch sites, campgrounds and family picnic areas. Full service marinas supply convenient services and a wide variety of water related activities for visitors. Boat cruises ranging from small pleasure craft and amphibious vehicles to a full-sized Showboat are also available.
