Celebrate Trout Day in Texarkana with AGFC

TEXARKANA — Get ready to tackle some trout from 9 a.m.-noon Jan. 25 at Lake Dieffenbacher and enjoy some food and fun at the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s Trout Day event.

Texarkana may be hours from the famed trout tailwaters of north and central Arkansas, but thanks to some help from state and federal fish hatcheries and a blast of cold from Old Man Winter, hatchery-grown rainbow trout are swimming in the pond and ready to put up a fight.

“We appreciate Texarkana Parks and Recreation and the Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation for their help organizing this event,” Maurice Jackson, Family and Community Fishing Program Coordinator, said. “Having partners like this makes it possible to bring the family fun of Trout Day to all corners of Arkansas.”

Jackson says anglers must register before the event at register-ed.com/events/view/221705. Anglers 16 and older must have a valid fishing license and trout permit (available at www.agfc.com/licenses) to participate. No other fees are required. Fishing gear is available on-site, but anglers are encouraged to bring their own rods and reels.

“For trout you want to use the same size hooks you use for bream or crappie (sizes 2 to 8) and you’ll want to use light line (4- to 8-pound test),” Jackson said. “Trout are much more line shy than the catfish we stock in our ponds during summer. An ultralight- to medium-action rod will be perfect for fighting the trout and managing the lighter lures you use to catch them.”

Anglers may even tie into one of the remaining golden rainbow trout stocked earlier this year by the AGFC.

“Those golden trout have really generated a lot of interest in our FCFP locations this winter,” Jackson said. “We put 400 tagged golden trout in ponds throughout the state, with each trout location receiving at least 10. Right now there are 225 of those tags remaining in the ponds.

Anglers who catch a tagged golden rainbow trout can clip the tag and send it to the AGFC for a free tackle pack courtesy of Leland’s Lures. All anglers submitting tags also will be entered into a drawing for one of three guided fishing trips for four on the Little Red River near Heber Springs.

“Sore Lip ‘Em All Guide Service has been really great at helping us introduce new trout anglers to the Little Red River,” Jackson said. “Anglers who may never visit one of Arkansas’s famous trout tailwaters are now getting exposure to this fantastic fishery, and it all started at one of our ponds.”

Visit www.agfc.com/familyfishing to learn more about the golden rainbow trout winter fishing promotion and find a list of locations where the trout are stocked in winter.

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CUTLINES:

FLYER
The AGFC will host its annual Trout Day celebration at Lake Dieffenbacher in Texarkana Jan. 25. The event is free but registration is required.

GOLDEN TROUT
More than 220 of the 400 tagged golden trout the AGFC placed statewide are still swimming and ready to catch.