Fees May Soon be Waived at Lake Sequoyah | Fayetteville Parks Board Unanimously Approves Motion

Fayetteville residents and visitors who enjoy fishing or boating on Lake Sequoyah in August may soon be able to do so without daily or annual fees.

The city’s Parks and Recreation Advisory Board voted unanimously to waive the fees for boating and fishing on one of the region’s most popular fishing spots. The proposal will be sent to the city council later this week for full approval. 

The lake, which is about ten minutes southeast of downtown Fayetteville, is famous for its largemouth bass, crappie, and channel catfish populations which are all fair or better this season. The lake is one of several, along with Wedington, Fayetteville, and Wilson, which are maintained by the city.

If the motion is passed by the city council, Lake Sequoyah will become like Lake Wilson which waived fees earlier this year. Lake Wilson, located southeast of the Fayette Junction, east of Greenland off of Lake Wilson drive, is currently open daily from dawn until dusk.

The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board (PRAB) usually charges $6/day for boating access and $3/day to fish from the banks of Lake Sequoyah. Annual use permits for fishing and boating, as well as permits for motorized and non-motorized boats, are available and the current fee schedule can be found on the PRAB website.

Lake Sequoyah’s former longtime marina operator retired earlier this year, prompting a need for the city to find a new flexible option for opening the lake to the public on a daily basis. 

Members approved the motion to eliminate fees 8-0 during the Monday afternoon session. A state fishing license will likely still be required, just as in the case of Lake Wilson. If approved by the city council, Fayetteville would be sacrificing about $16,000 in annual permit fees which are given to the city’s general fund. 

According to board member Andrew Brink, losing fees from the 2000 or so permits sold per year would be offset by an increase in the region’s fishing activity, "I think it opens up fishing in Fayetteville, and I think there's kind of a need for that. The more people who can fish, the more who will see the lake."

The city of Fayetteville would still be making money from the lake’s concession stand and is currently soliciting bids for a concessionaire who would be responsible for the bait shop. 

Aug 10, 2022 - The next Fayetteville city council meeting is tentatively scheduled for August 16th, and the agenda will be visible on its website after the agenda meeting the week prior.