<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/" xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/" > <channel> <title>Family and Community Fishing Program Archives • Arkansas Game & Fish Commission</title> <atom:link href="https://www.agfc.com/category/family-and-community-fishing-program/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" /> <link>https://www.agfc.com/category/family-and-community-fishing-program/</link> <description></description> <lastBuildDate>Mon, 09 Dec 2024 17:15:55 +0000</lastBuildDate> <language>en-US</language> <sy:updatePeriod> hourly </sy:updatePeriod> <sy:updateFrequency> 1 </sy:updateFrequency> <generator>https://wordpress.org/?v=6.6.2</generator> <item> <title>Arkansas Anglers may strike gold chasing rainbows</title> <link>https://www.agfc.com/news/arkansas-anglers-may-strike-gold-chasing-rainbows/</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Jeff Williams]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Tue, 03 Dec 2024 16:20:32 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Family Activities]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Family and Community Fishing Program]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Family Fishing]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category> <category><![CDATA[golden rainbow trout]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Stocked Fish]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Trout Stocking]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Winter]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Arkansas Wildlife Weekly Newsletter]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.agfc.com/?p=16709</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://www.agfc.com/news/arkansas-anglers-may-strike-gold-chasing-rainbows/">Arkansas Anglers may strike gold chasing rainbows</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.agfc.com">Arkansas Game & Fish Commission</a>.</p> ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="mt-12 max-w-7xl mx-auto"> <div class="prose prose-lg max-w-none"> <p dir="ltr">LITTLE ROCK — Anglers will have a rare opportunity this winter to catch golden trout in places stocked by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s Family and Community Fishing Program. The trout, a color variant of rainbow trout, will be stocked at all FCFP locations across the state beginning the week before Christmas. The water is cold enough during winter, even in southern Arkansas, to support the coldwater fish.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It’s a continuation of our tagging promotion that we’ve done in the past, trying to encourage more trout fishing through our Family and Community Fishing locations,” Clint Coleman, FCFP assistant coordinator, said. “We’ve (stocked) big catfish, with 50- and 60-pound blue catfish, but we’ve never done anything to promote trout fishing. We decided to try golden trout, which have been stocked in other states. We wanted to bring that opportunity to Arkansas.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Thanks to funding from the Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation’s Steve Smith Endowment, golden rainbow trout will be purchased from Crystal Lake Fisheries Inc. in Ava, Missouri, about 40 miles southeast of Springfield, and distributed across Arkansas. The AGFC’s Trout Program <a href="https://www.agfc.com/news/golden-rainbows-return-to-white-spring-rivers/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.agfc.com/news/golden-rainbows-return-to-white-spring-rivers/&source=gmail&ust=1733323354348000&usg=AOvVaw2PfYQdEDFwAHjQ56rjTyM1">stocked golden rainbow trout at the confluence of the Norfork Tailwater and White River</a> a few years ago, and they saw quite a few happy anglers posting pictures on social media. The FCFP crew are hoping to see even more smiles as they stock these special fish in program ponds around Arkansas for those who can’t make the drive to Arkansas’s famous trout tailwater fisheries.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We’re going to tag 10 golden trout per location at 39 locations across the state,” Coleman said.</p> </div> </div> <div class="w-full mt-16"> <img class="mx-auto lazyload" data-src="https://www.agfc.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/TROUT2.jpg" alt=""> </div> <div class="mt-12 max-w-7xl mx-auto"> <div class="prose prose-lg max-w-none"> <p dir="ltr">After an angler catches a tagged fish, they can call the phone number on the tag to claim their prize. Follow the instructions and mail the tag in by Feb. 28, and you’ll be entered into the big drawing at the end of the year. The winner of that drawing will receive one of three free trout-fishing trips on the Little Red River from Leland’s Lures’ and Sore Lip ’Em All Guide Service.</p> <p dir="ltr">Anglers are limited to submitting one tag per person. Coleman encourages anyone who catches a golden trout to post a photo of the fish on the AGFC Facebook page.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The prizes and the trips are great, but the opportunity to catch golden trout is even bigger,” Coleman said. “It may be once in a lifetime for some people. Only five states have golden trout and we’re lucky we’re close enough to the facility to get them.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Visit<a href="http://www.agfc.com/familyfishing" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.agfc.com/familyfishing&source=gmail&ust=1733323354349000&usg=AOvVaw0zB7z2B_yw28nN_BmNEizx"> www.agfc.com/familyfishing</a> for a list of FCFP locations.</p> <p dir="ltr"> <p dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;">####</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>CUTLINES:</em></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>TROUT1</em><br /> <em>Golden trout will be available at Family and Community Fishing Program locations this winter. Photo courtesy of Crystal Lake Fisheries Inc.</em></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>TROUT2</em><br /> <em>Golden trout are rainbow trout with different pigmentation. Photo by Mike Wintroath.</em></p> </div> </div> <p>The post <a href="https://www.agfc.com/news/arkansas-anglers-may-strike-gold-chasing-rainbows/">Arkansas Anglers may strike gold chasing rainbows</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.agfc.com">Arkansas Game & Fish Commission</a>.</p> ]]></content:encoded> </item> <item> <title>Two big fishing events set for Lake Valencia</title> <link>https://www.agfc.com/news/two-big-fishing-events-set-for-lake-valencia/</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Jim Harris]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Wed, 11 Sep 2024 19:11:32 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Big Catch]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Community Fishing Event]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Family and Community Fishing Program]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Fishing]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Lake Valencia]]></category> <category><![CDATA[The Big Catch]]></category> <category><![CDATA[The Big Catch Community Fishing Event]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Arkansas Wildlife Weekly Newsletter]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.agfc.com/?p=16093</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://www.agfc.com/news/two-big-fishing-events-set-for-lake-valencia/">Two big fishing events set for Lake Valencia</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.agfc.com">Arkansas Game & Fish Commission</a>.</p> ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="mt-12 max-w-7xl mx-auto"> <div class="prose prose-lg max-w-none"> <p dir="ltr">A season of summer fishing derbies and family events culminates in mid-September with a couple of big activities for kids, adults and seniors, both that include the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s participation.</p> <p dir="ltr">This Friday, Sept. 13, the AGFC will participate in a free senior fishing event at Lake Valencia in Maumelle. The Senior Fishing Derby will be held from 9 a.m. to noon. Free food and door prizes will be available, and besides the catfish it’s stocking in Lake Valencia, the AGFC will also bring the music.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We are co-hosting the largest community event for seniors,” Maurice Jackson, the coordinator of the AGFC’s Family and Community Fishing Program, said of Friday’s plans in concert with the Maumelle Parks and Recreation Dept. “Lunch will be provided for all the seniors, but they must register for the event.”</p> <p dir="ltr">To register or for more information, call 501-851-4344 or email <a href="mailto:seniorservices@maumelle.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">seniorservices@maumelle.org</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr">The fun and ready-to-catch-and-cook fish return to Lake Valencia next week when the AGFC helps Community First Alliance Inc. with its second Big Catch of the year on Saturday, Sept. 21. The Big Catch, so popular from its start that the event expanded to twice in the calendar year, is held both in spring and fall, and it’s the largest community fishing event in the state. The event runs from 8 a.m. to noon and is free for everyone, but ages 16 and older must have a valid Arkansas fishing license. There will be food, games and prizes; bring your own fishing gear.</p> </div> </div> <div class="w-full mt-16"> <img class="mx-auto lazyload" data-src="https://www.agfc.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/TWO-KIDS-FISHING.jpg" alt=""> </div> <div class="mt-12 max-w-7xl mx-auto"> <div class="prose prose-lg max-w-none"> <p dir="ltr">“Gary Casey, who is the founder of the Big Catch, is our partner on the event,” Jackson said. “We are expecting a record crowd for the fall event. Last year we had about 1,700 at the September event.”</p> <p dir="ltr">If you haven’t attended the previous Big Catch events, you can learn how to clean and cook catfish, how to kayak, and be entered into a chance to win a deer hunting trip.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We will have inflatables, games, prizes and food for the first 500 anglers,” Jackson said. “This traditionally wraps up the catfish and catfish event season statewide. In November, we will begin stocking rainbow trout in many of our ponds.”</p> <p dir="ltr">With a busy month of events, Lake Valencia will be stocked four times this month, Jackson said. “We’ll be posting ‘No Fishing’ signs the day before the senior event and the day before the Big Catch.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The Big Catch is free, and registration is available right up to the event beginning at 7:30 a.m. Sept. 21. But you can avoid the expected long line for last-minute registration and sign up in advance by registering online at the Community First Alliance Inc. website,<a href="http://www.c1a.life/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.c1a.life&source=gmail&ust=1726164853026000&usg=AOvVaw1aG90Oa6kRXOwa3I8f2pUv"> www.c1a.life</a>.</p> </div> </div> <div class="w-full mt-16"> <img class="mx-auto lazyload" data-src="https://www.agfc.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/TWO-KIDS-WITH-FISH.jpg" alt=""> </div> <div class="mt-12 max-w-7xl mx-auto"> <div class="prose prose-lg max-w-none"> <p dir="ltr">September wraps up with National Hunting and Fishing Day scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 28, which will give both anglers and hunters the perfect excuse to pull away from fall chores and celebrate the Arkansas outdoors. Many of the stocked ponds around the state will still have table fare-sized catfish available, and many hunting seasons will be underway, including dove, early teal and early Canada goose season, with deer archery season opening that day and bear archery season already underway.</p> <p dir="ltr">For a list and map of community fishing locations among the Family and Community Fishing Program’s stocked ponds, visit <a href="http://www.agfc.com/fishing/where-to-fish/family-and-community-fishing-program-stocked-ponds/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.agfc.com/fishing/where-to-fish/family-and-community-fishing-program-stocked-ponds/&source=gmail&ust=1726164853026000&usg=AOvVaw0rl7WFdG8usmmgb2z6LozM">www.agfc.com/fishing/where-to-<wbr />fish/family-and-community-<wbr />fishing-program-stocked-ponds</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr">####</p> <p> </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>CUTLINES:</em></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>SENIOR WITH CATFISH</em><br /> <em>This senior angler enjoyed plenty of fishing fun during the 2017 senior’s fishing derby. </em></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>TWO KIDS FISHING</em><br /> <em>The Big Catch is the largest community fishing event of the year. </em></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>TWO KIDS WITH FISH</em><br /> <em>Freshly stocked catfish will be ready to catch at Lake Valencia on Sept. 21. </em></p> </div> </div> <p>The post <a href="https://www.agfc.com/news/two-big-fishing-events-set-for-lake-valencia/">Two big fishing events set for Lake Valencia</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.agfc.com">Arkansas Game & Fish Commission</a>.</p> ]]></content:encoded> </item> <item> <title>Greenbrier’s Matthews Park Puts Out Welcome Mat for Family Fishing Saturday</title> <link>https://www.agfc.com/news/greenbriers-matthews-park-puts-out-welcome-mat-for-family-fishing-saturday/</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Jim Harris]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Thu, 13 Jun 2024 15:44:50 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Community Fishing Event]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Family and Community Fishing Program]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Family Fishing]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Fishing]]></category> <category><![CDATA[fishing event]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Fishing in Arkansas]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Ponds]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Arkansas Wildlife Weekly Newsletter]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.agfc.com/?p=15125</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://www.agfc.com/news/greenbriers-matthews-park-puts-out-welcome-mat-for-family-fishing-saturday/">Greenbrier’s Matthews Park Puts Out Welcome Mat for Family Fishing Saturday</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.agfc.com">Arkansas Game & Fish Commission</a>.</p> ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="mt-12 max-w-7xl mx-auto"> <div class="prose prose-lg max-w-none"> <p class="m_-7190660999024487512gmail-CDt4Ke" dir="ltr">GREENBRIER — Anglers who may have missed out or didn’t get enough of Free Fishing Weekend last week will have an opportunity Saturday, June 15, to help celebrate a fledgling pond in Central Arkansas and enjoy catching some stocked catfish that are ready for the dining table.</p> <p class="m_-7190660999024487512gmail-CDt4Ke" dir="ltr">Unlike a few days ago, it’s not all free this week — anglers 16 and older will need to have a valid Arkansas fishing license — but there will be a free fishing derby and prizes, a kids’ zone, free hotdogs for the first 100 anglers, water, a fish cleaning and cooking demonstration, local vendors, music and a dance competition in a party atmosphere thanks to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s Family and Community Fishing Program when the Matthews Park pond is officially welcomed into the FCFP roster.</p> <p class="m_-7190660999024487512gmail-CDt4Ke" dir="ltr">The event will run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.</p> </div> </div> <div class="w-full mt-16"> <img class="mx-auto lazyload" data-src="https://www.agfc.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Completed-Pond.jpg" alt=""> </div> <div class="mt-12 max-w-7xl mx-auto"> <div class="prose prose-lg max-w-none"> <p>Maurice Jackson, the FCFP coordinator, said the “grand opening” of the park and pond is a long time coming. The program has held events at Matthews Park in recent years, but because of the COVID-19 pandemic, when the park and pond were built, there was never a proper opening. Saturday’s event will serve that purpose with invited local dignitaries led by Greenbrier Mayor Sammy Hartwick.</p> <p>“Our park has been open a couple of years and it’s being used for many things,” Mayor Hartwick said. “So many people are up there now using the splash pad, and we’ll see folks under the pavilion with birthday parties for kids. A circus based out of Springfield (about 10 miles from Greenbrier) is up there doing horse riding training for kids … It’s what we were hoping for when we build the park and pond, having people come out and have a good time.</p> <p>“It looks like Mr. Jackson has quite an agenda” for Saturday’s event, the mayor added.</p> </div> </div> <div class="w-full mt-16"> <img class="mx-auto lazyload" data-src="https://www.agfc.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Construction.png" alt=""> </div> <div class="mt-12 max-w-7xl mx-auto"> <div class="prose prose-lg max-w-none"> <p class="m_-7190660999024487512gmail-CDt4Ke" dir="ltr">The park, which is 55 acres with a pond taking up a small portion of that, was named for Percy “P.B.” Matthews, who served as the town’s mayor and recorder-treasurer five times in the 1950s and ’60s. The Matthews family owned the land, off Ivy Street and east of U.S. Highway 65 (South Broadview Street), and it sat idle and for sale for about 20 years, Hartwick said. Hartwick saw an opportunity to develop the land for city use, and the two children of the late Matthews who live out of state agreed to the city’s offer, allowing the city of Greenbrier to pay the sale amount over two years.</p> <p class="m_-7190660999024487512gmail-CDt4Ke" dir="ltr">“Our citizens, they are great people and they saw the need,” Hartwick said, noting the half-cent sales tax that Greenbrier voters approved for the park and a new fire station. When the bond is paid off, two-thirds of the half-cent tax sunsets and the remainder will provide for operation and maintenance, he said.</p> <p class="m_-7190660999024487512gmail-CDt4Ke" dir="ltr">Also, a timely matching grant of $250,000 from the Arkansas Parks and Tourism’s Outdoors Recreation Grants Program helped fund the park and amenities.<br /> “Man, it’s just a blessing,” Hartwick said.</p> <p class="m_-7190660999024487512gmail-CDt4Ke" dir="ltr">The AGFC’s Jackson continues growing the FCFP, providing family fishing opportunities with special events at several communities throughout Faulkner and White counties, as well as in northeastern Arkansas. To be a part of the FCFP lineup, a town must be in a county of at least 25,000 people. Vilonia’s Weaver Family Community Pond recently was added to the roster, and Beebe’s Community Pond in White County came on board at the same time as Matthews Park during the waning days of the pandemic. The program’s 50th pond, now being built in Osceola, should come online by the fall, Jackson said. Marion opened an FCFP location at its Recreation Complex in recent years, just after West Memphis’s Tilden Rodgers Park Pond joined the roster.</p> <p class="m_-7190660999024487512gmail-CDt4Ke" dir="ltr">Greenbrier city officials anticipate up to 500 people attending Saturday’s fishing derby. All ages are welcome. Advanced registration is urged; visit<a href="https://register-ed.com/events/view/214185" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://register-ed.com/events/view/214185&source=gmail&ust=1718378994992000&usg=AOvVaw1lbKfeQgGofIdAbpHfR-Ql"> https://register-ed.com/<wbr />events/view/214185</a> to register. Participants should bring their own fishing gear.</p> <p class="m_-7190660999024487512gmail-CDt4Ke" dir="ltr">For a full list of FCFP ponds around the state and an interactive map to find them, visit <a href="https://www.agfc.com/fishing/where-to-fish/family-and-community-fishing-program-stocked-ponds/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.agfc.com/fishing/where-to-fish/family-and-community-fishing-program-stocked-ponds/&source=gmail&ust=1718378994992000&usg=AOvVaw1BGznuOOSNjWOkY_dD6g6K">https://www.agfc.com/fishing/<wbr />where-to-fish/family-and-<wbr />community-fishing-program-<wbr />stocked-ponds/</a>.</p> <p class="m_-7190660999024487512gmail-CDt4Ke" dir="ltr">Also, 22 catfish derbies are scheduled throughout the state through the month of June with stocking by the AGFC’s fishing derby program. For a list of derbies, see<a href="https://www.agfc.com/education/fishing-derby-program/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.agfc.com/education/fishing-derby-program/&source=gmail&ust=1718378994992000&usg=AOvVaw382WkHn9CScj42vDsMd00M"> https://www.agfc.com/<wbr />education/fishing-derby-<wbr />program/</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;">####</p> <p class="m_-7190660999024487512gmail-CDt4Ke" dir="ltr"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>CUTLINES:</em></span></p> <p class="m_-7190660999024487512gmail-CDt4Ke" dir="ltr"><em>TWO YOUNG ANGLERS:</em><br /> <em>June 15 marks the “grand opening” celebration of Matthews Park Pond in Greenbrier being added to the AGFC’s Family and Community Fishing Program.</em></p> <p class="m_-7190660999024487512gmail-CDt4Ke" dir="ltr"><em>COMPLETED POND:</em><br /> <em>The AGFC will stock hundreds of catchable-sized channel catfish for anglers to enjoy, and the park will be buzzing with a party atmosphere Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.</em></p> <p class="m_-7190660999024487512gmail-CDt4Ke" dir="ltr"><em>CONSTRUCTION:</em><br /> <em>The 55 acres where Matthews Park now sits once sat vacant for more than 20 years before residents of Greenbrier approved a half-cent sales tax increase to help purchase and transform the property.</em></p> </div> </div> <p>The post <a href="https://www.agfc.com/news/greenbriers-matthews-park-puts-out-welcome-mat-for-family-fishing-saturday/">Greenbrier’s Matthews Park Puts Out Welcome Mat for Family Fishing Saturday</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.agfc.com">Arkansas Game & Fish Commission</a>.</p> ]]></content:encoded> </item> <item> <title>Family and Community Program Says ‘Hola’ to Northwest Area Anglers</title> <link>https://www.agfc.com/news/family-and-community-program-says-hola-to-northwest-area-anglers/</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Jim Harris]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Wed, 24 Apr 2024 21:25:39 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Family and Community Fishing Program]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Family Fun Day]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Arkansas Wildlife Weekly Newsletter]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.agfc.com/?p=14646</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://www.agfc.com/news/family-and-community-program-says-hola-to-northwest-area-anglers/">Family and Community Program Says ‘Hola’ to Northwest Area Anglers</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.agfc.com">Arkansas Game & Fish Commission</a>.</p> ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="mt-12 max-w-7xl mx-auto"> <div class="prose prose-lg max-w-none"> <p dir="ltr">SPRINGDALE — Cinco de Mayo (May 5) is a major holiday among the Hispanic community, celebrating a Mexican Army victory over the French in the Battle of Puebla in 1862. The holiday feeling will kick off here a day earlier — Saturday, May 4 — with a celebration of fishing and the outdoors when the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s Family and Community Fishing Program brings its Family Fun Day to Murphy Park’s pond.</p> <p dir="ltr">The free event, open to all, will be 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at Murphy Park, 501 S. Pleasant St. Maurice Jackson, the program coordinator, said a concerted effort has been made to target advertising for the event toward the significant Hispanic population in northwest Arkansas.</p> <p dir="ltr">“This event has a different twist because we’re doing a Latino push and putting out advertising in Spanish to reach that community,” he said, noting that in addition to fliers and print media advertising, the AGFC has also reached out through Univision of Arkansas, the state’s largest media outlet for the Hispanic audience.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It’s actually the largest community fishing event in the state that is geared toward reaching out to the Hispanic population,” Jackson said. He added that a Family Fun Day is considered the “flagship event” for his program.</p> <p dir="ltr">Jessica Feltz, the AGFC’s conservation social scientist, said 8 percent of the state’s population (in the 2020 U.S. Census) is Hispanic or Latino, and Washington and Benton counties are home to the highest percentage of Hispanic or Latino residents. The most recent national survey of anglers, which includes a state level report, estimates that 28 percent of Hispanic residents in Arkansas participate in fishing, or fished in 2022, she said.</p> </div> </div> <div class="w-full mt-16"> <img class="mx-auto lazyload" data-src="https://www.agfc.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Family-Day-Espanol.png" alt=""> </div> <div class="mt-12 max-w-7xl mx-auto"> <div class="prose prose-lg max-w-none"> <p dir="ltr">The FCFP plans two or three Family Fun Day showcase events annually, featuring music, free food for the first 500 attendees, prizes, canoeing, archery and BB gun shooting, kids zone, fish cooking and cleaning demonstrations, wild game provided by Arkansas Hunters Feeding the Hungry, and health screenings, among other outdoors-related activities. The number of other fishing derbies the AGFC and FCFP will be involved with — Jackson said the agency has scheduled around 300 derbies this fishing season — will limit their “fun day” events to two this year. Jonesboro’s Arkansas State University Pond is the site May 18 for this year’s other Family Fun Day.</p> <p dir="ltr">In Springdale, personnel from the J.B. and Johnelle Hunt Family Ozark Highlands Nature Center will help with the May 4 event along with staff from the AGFC’s Fisheries, Wildlife Management and Enforcement divisions, Jackson said.</p> <p dir="ltr">A national grant through the George H.W. Bush Vamos A Pescar (“Let’s Go Fishing”) Education Fund, the nonprofit Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation’s state agency and local engagement initiative, has provided money to market the event, Jackson added. Trout Unlimited NWA was a partner with the AGFC in being awarded the grant and “dedicated time, volunteers and money to making the grant possible, as their chapter is focusing on outreach to underserved audiences as well,” JJ Gladden, AGFC assistant chief of education, said.</p> <p dir="ltr">Jackson said, “That grant program was created to reach out to the Hispanic community to get them out fishing and boating, and that’s helping with the marketing aspect of this event. We generally get about 1,500 people to come out for Family Fun Days, but for this we’re expecting around 2,000.”</p> <p dir="ltr">It marks the fourth Family Fun Day held in Springdale since the program began holding the flagship annual events — Shaw Family Park was the site of one and Murphy Park has played host to the others.</p> <p dir="ltr">The event is free, with the exception of requiring a fishing license for those 16 and older. Everyone who fishes will need to bring their own fishing gear, though. The target is catfish, with tablefare-size fish being stocked in Murphy Lake.</p> <p dir="ltr">Registration is required. Visit<a href="http://register-ed.com/events/view/211664" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://register-ed.com/events/view/211664&source=gmail&ust=1714079363891000&usg=AOvVaw0nUmKQYvgArHDlOo_sgeMx"> register-ed.com/events/view/<wbr />211664</a> to sign up for Springdale; to register for the Jonesboro Famly Fun Day, visit<a href="https://www.register-ed.com/events/view/208948" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.register-ed.com/events/view/208948&source=gmail&ust=1714079363891000&usg=AOvVaw2FpTJlR83gdQ9Bn0DpV3Aa"> https://www.register-ed.com/<wbr />events/view/208948</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr">As part of the Vamos A Pascar grant to the AGFC for northwest Arkansas, a fishing class for the Marshallese community in the area will be held on Saturday, June 15, in addition to a fishing derby scheduled for Benton County, according to Marisol Alcaraz, the community outreach manager at the Ozark Highlands Nature Center. More information is available by calling 833-356-0867.</p> <p dir="ltr">Along with the upcoming Jonesboro Family Fun Day event on May 18, the Family and Community Fishing Program will be dedicating two ponds in its program with derbies in coming weeks. The Weaver Family Community Pond in Vilonia will have an FCFP grand opening, also on May 18, and on June 15, one week after Free Fishing Weekend around Arkansas, the program will be in Greenbrier to welcome Matthews Park Pond to the program.</p> <p dir="ltr">Both Faulkner County ponds were built during the COVID pandemic around 2020-21 and the program was unable to officially “dedicate” the two participants in the FCFP roster of ponds until now, Jackson said.</p> <p dir="ltr">All of the FCFP ponds are stocked during spring with tablefare-size catfish, he added, noting that the Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation is a big supporter of the program in making the flagship events and other derbies happen, along with the AGFF’s Steve Smith Endowment.</p> <p dir="ltr">For a list of FCFP stocked ponds, visit<a href="https://www.agfc.com/fishing/where-to-fish/family-and-community-fishing-program-stocked-ponds/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.agfc.com/fishing/where-to-fish/family-and-community-fishing-program-stocked-ponds/&source=gmail&ust=1714079363891000&usg=AOvVaw3bQ3-GtCr8-tKKefxeUN-3"> https://www.agfc.com/fishing/<wbr />where-to-fish/family-and-<wbr />community-fishing-program-<wbr />stocked-ponds/</a></p> </div> </div> <p>The post <a href="https://www.agfc.com/news/family-and-community-program-says-hola-to-northwest-area-anglers/">Family and Community Program Says ‘Hola’ to Northwest Area Anglers</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.agfc.com">Arkansas Game & Fish Commission</a>.</p> ]]></content:encoded> </item> <item> <title>Habitat and fish added to Arkansas waters by the truckload in 2023</title> <link>https://www.agfc.com/news/habitat-and-fish-added-to-arkansas-waters-by-the-truckload-in-2023/</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Randy Zellers]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Wed, 10 Jan 2024 15:24:42 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Aquatic Habitat]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Aquatic Vegetation]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Arkansas River]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Beaver Lake]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Black Bass]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Bull Shoals Lake]]></category> <category><![CDATA[C. B. 'Charlie' Craig State Hatchery]]></category> <category><![CDATA[channel catfish]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Christmas Trees]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Coontail]]></category> <category><![CDATA[DeGray Lake]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Family and Community Fishing Program]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Fathead Minnows]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Fish Attractors]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Florida Largemouth Bass]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Free Fishing Weekend]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Greers Ferry Lake]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Greers Ferry National Fish Hatchery]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Norfork Lake]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Northern Largemouth Bass]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Rainbow Trout]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Redear Sunfish]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Spring River]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Spring River Hatchery]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Threadfin Shad]]></category> <category><![CDATA[U.S. Army Corps of Engineers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Walleye]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Arkansas Wildlife Weekly Newsletter]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.agfc.com/?p=12679</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://www.agfc.com/news/habitat-and-fish-added-to-arkansas-waters-by-the-truckload-in-2023/">Habitat and fish added to Arkansas waters by the truckload in 2023</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.agfc.com">Arkansas Game & Fish Commission</a>.</p> ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="mt-12 max-w-7xl mx-auto"> <div class="prose prose-lg max-w-none"> <p dir="ltr">LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas Game and Fish Commission biologists created nearly 200 semi-truckloads of fish attractors in 2023, and hatchery trucks kept up the pace, pumping more than 9.1 million gamefish and baitfish into Arkansas waters to enhance angling efforts.</p> <p dir="ltr">According to Matt Schroeder, fisheries district coordinator for the AGFC, habitat crews placed or enhanced more than 447 fish attractor sites last year with a variety of materials.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The type of attractor ranged from bunches of Christmas trees and artificial PVC structures to giant piles of cedars and commercially made mega reefs from Mossback Fish Habitat,” Schroeder said.</p> <p dir="ltr">With an average footprint of about 12 feet by 12 feet, standing about 12 feet tall, that totals roughly 772,416 cubic feet of fish attractors placed in Arkansas lakes, enough to fill nearly 200 semi-truck containers.</p> </div> </div> <div class="w-full mt-16"> <img class="mx-auto lazyload" data-src="https://www.agfc.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Beaver-brush.jpg" alt=""> </div> <div class="mt-12 max-w-7xl mx-auto"> <div class="prose prose-lg max-w-none"> <p dir="ltr">Brush wasn’t the only habitat that was added to Arkansas lakes last year, either. Biologists also spent a lot of effort bringing life to lakes through vegetation projects. DeGray Lake and Greers Ferry Lake saw the continued use of floating “Arkansas cubes” filled with coontail to promote this helpful aquatic vegetation. DeGray, in particular, has seen notable increases in aquatic vegetation in the last few years, and AGFC fisheries biologists hope to expand the program even further in 2024 in a new partnership with the U.S. Corps of Engineers.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We also planted water willow in two pools of the Arkansas River to continue adding this valuable aquatic cover in areas where current had scoured it away,” Schroeder said.</p> </div> </div> <div class="w-full mt-16"> <img class="mx-auto lazyload" data-src="https://www.agfc.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Florida-Bass-Project-24019.jpg" alt=""> </div> <div class="mt-12 max-w-7xl mx-auto"> <div class="prose prose-lg max-w-none"> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Basstankers deliver</strong><br /> Nearly 2.5 million black bass were stocked last year from AGFC hatcheries, with Florida largemouth bass taking the top position with 1.99 million produced. Although most lakes in Arkansas can produce more bass in any given year than the entire AGFC hatchery system, the goal of bass stockings isn’t necessarily to add extra fish to catch.</p> <p dir="ltr">“When we’re stocking Florida bass, we’re focused on changing the genetics of a lake’s population to increase trophy potential,” Vic DiCenzo, AGFC assistant chief of fisheries, said. “We have plenty of bass in most Arkansas lakes, and these Floridas will actually displace other bass that would have been there. We’re looking for those Floridas to grow and spawn with the population already in the lake and increase growth potential.”</p> <p dir="ltr">A handful of Arkansas fisheries still need an occasional boost in bass numbers, so hatcheries still raised 396,557 northern strain largemouth to stock in areas where biologists saw issues with reproduction.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The Arkansas River is a good example of a fishery that still can benefit from supplemental stockings of northern largemouth bass,” DiCenzo said. “Current in high flow years can really affect the spawn in some pools that don’t have sufficient backwaters. Previous research has shown that our stocked fish do make up a noticeable percentage of year-classes of fish when that occurs and help bring the river bass populations back a little quicker when conditions are favorable.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Northern largemouths also are stocked in lakes that have been renovated when the lake is not conducive to Florida bass stockings.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Lake Poinsett is too far north for Florida bass to thrive, so northern bass were stocked there to help jump-start the population after that renovation was complete,” DiCenzo said.</p> </div> </div> <div class="w-full mt-16"> <img class="mx-auto lazyload" data-src="https://www.agfc.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Bream-Stocking-Lake-Maumelle-17531.jpg" alt=""> </div> <div class="mt-12 max-w-7xl mx-auto"> <div class="prose prose-lg max-w-none"> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Setting the table</strong><br /> AGFC hatcheries continue to crank out the fish food for those budding bass, too. According to Jason Miller, AGFC assistant chief over the agency’s fish culture section, they produced 1 million threadfin shad, 2.05 million fathead minnows and 114,000 golden shiners to boost the forage base of lakes around the state. An additional 933,095 bluegill and 219,623 redear sunfish were stocked. These two species not only serve as forage for bass and other gamefish, but also offer excellent angling targets for people looking to dip a cricket in their local lake.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Combined, you’re looking at 4 million or so forage fish for bass, crappie and other gamefish to chase,” Miller said. “And most of these species are prolific spawners, so the impact to the food chain is much greater than the original numbers we stock.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Trout-tastic numbers</strong><br /> Even with the Jim Hinkle State Fish Hatchery undergoing major construction last year, AGFC staff were still able to stock 571,712 catchable-size rainbow trout. Miller says good things are on the horizon now that the hatchery is back up to full speed.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I talked to the hatchery manager just the other day and he said they have more than 700,000 trout on site right now,” Miller said. “Before the renovation, they were only able to hold 450,000 or so. They also were able to use their own hatch house at the facility for the first time in a few years, so they’re really getting up to speed quickly to get more trout out there for Arkansas anglers.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Catchable-size trout from the AGFC’s only cold-water hatchery are stocked at 43 locations in Arkansas, including the Family and Community Fishing Program locations, the White, Norfork and Spring rivers. Federal hatcheries add to that number tremendously, stocking the Norfork, White, Greers Ferry and many seasonal tailwater fisheries in the state.</p> <p dir="ltr">“If you add in the numbers from the Federal hatcheries, we’re talking 1.9 million rainbow trout in the state that were ready to fight from the day they hit the water,” Miller said. “And don’t forget all the naturally reproducing brown trout for anglers to pursue.”</p> </div> </div> <div class="w-full mt-16"> <img class="mx-auto lazyload" data-src="https://www.agfc.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Jim-Hinkle-Hatchery183693.jpg" alt=""> </div> <div class="mt-12 max-w-7xl mx-auto"> <div class="prose prose-lg max-w-none"> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Growing memories</strong><br /> Anyone who’s had a chance to visit one of the AGFC’s four warmwater hatcheries during Free Fishing Weekend knows how much work and dedication staff have in growing catchable-size channel catfish. Each year the hatcheries open their doors for one day so people can chase catfish during a special fishing derby to celebrate the event. But that’s just a tiny sample of the catfish angling opportunities provided by the hatcheries. Last year, the AGFC stocked 418,301 channel catfish throughout the state. Roughly half of those fish were grown out to catchable size to be used in fishing derbies, special events and to support dozens of Family and Community Fishing Program locations throughout spring and fall.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Just like the rainbow trout, those catfish are ready to catch the minute we put them in a lake or pond,” Miller said. “Our process is just the same as many commercial catfish farms, so the fish you catch are great for the supper table, too.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><b>Walleye roundup<br /> </b>The annual walleye project at C.B. “Charlie” Craig Fish Hatchery in Centerton boasted a great year for production of these river-loving members of the perch family. Fish borrowed from the Kings River produced an impressive 799,235 walleye that were stocked in Lake Fort Smith, Beaver, Norfork and Bull Shoals lakes.</p> </div> </div> <div class="w-full mt-16"> <img class="mx-auto lazyload" data-src="https://www.agfc.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/walleye-frombull-shoals-nursery-pond.jpg" alt=""> </div> <div class="mt-12 max-w-7xl mx-auto"> <div class="prose prose-lg max-w-none"> <p dir="ltr">“A lot of those fish went to the Bull Shoals nursery pond last year,” Miller said. “We alternate where the focus of our walleye project is every year, and south Arkansas lakes should see a boost in walleye stockings in 2024.”</p> <p> </p> <p dir="ltr">####</p> <p> </p> <p dir="ltr">CUTLINES:</p> <p dir="ltr">ARTIFICIAL COVER ON BARGE<br /> Dierks Lake was one of dozens of Arkansas fisheries that AGFC biologists enhanced with artificial cover in 2023.</p> <p dir="ltr">BRUSH ON BARGE<br /> A new habitat barge on Beaver Lake was put to good use sinking dozens of giant brush piles to add habitat and fish attractors in Northwest Arkansas lakes last year.</p> <p dir="ltr">DIP NET FULL OF FISH<br /> AGFC Hatcheries stocked more than 1.9 million Florida largemouth bass last year in lakes to improve growth rate in Arkansas’s no. one sportfish.</p> <p dir="ltr">PIPE RELEASING BREAM<br /> Bream stockings not only serve as a boost to the food chain of a lake, but they add opportunities for panfish anglers.</p> <p dir="ltr">PIPE RELEASING TROUT<br /> With the help of Federal Hatcheries and the completion of the Spring River State Fish Hatchery, Arkansas’s famous trout-fishing destinations received 1.9 million trout.</p> <p dir="ltr">FISH ON MEASURING BOARD<br /> Walleye released from the nursery pond on Bull Shoals contributed to nearly 800,000 of this species stocked statewide in 2023.</p> </div> </div> <p>The post <a href="https://www.agfc.com/news/habitat-and-fish-added-to-arkansas-waters-by-the-truckload-in-2023/">Habitat and fish added to Arkansas waters by the truckload in 2023</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.agfc.com">Arkansas Game & Fish Commission</a>.</p> ]]></content:encoded> </item> <item> <title>Celebrate ‘Troutsgiving’ with the AGFC</title> <link>https://www.agfc.com/news/celebrate-troutsgiving-with-the-agfc-2/</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Randy Zellers]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Wed, 15 Nov 2023 18:13:27 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Family and Community Fishing Program]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Jim Hinkle Spring River Fish Hatchery]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Jim Hinkle Spring River State Fish Hatchery]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Trout]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Trout Angler]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Trout Fishing]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Trout Stocking]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Arkansas Wildlife Weekly Newsletter]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.agfc.com/?p=12048</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://www.agfc.com/news/celebrate-troutsgiving-with-the-agfc-2/">Celebrate ‘Troutsgiving’ with the AGFC</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.agfc.com">Arkansas Game & Fish Commission</a>.</p> ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="mt-12 max-w-7xl mx-auto"> <div class="prose prose-lg max-w-none"> <p dir="ltr">LITTLE ROCK — Skip the shopping and online sales this holiday season and celebrate the bounty of the outdoors with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s annual trout stocking program at Family and Community Fishing Program locations around the state. AGFC hatchery trucks have been hard at work in the last week delivering loads of rainbow trout to program ponds.</p> <p dir="ltr">The trout are all raised to catchable size at the AGFC’s Jim Hinkle Spring River State Fish Hatchery in Mammoth Spring, and are delivered to community ponds in Arkansas once the water temperature has cooled enough to accommodate these cold-water fish. This normally occurs during the third week in November. According to Maurice Jackson, AGFC Family and Community Fishing Program coordinator.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The cooler water lets us bring trout to some of our anglers who don’t get to visit the White River, Little Red River or any other of our famous trout tailwater fisheries,” Jackson said. “And most of these ponds will still have a healthy supply of channel catfish from our spring and late summer stocking efforts.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Anglers 16 and older must have a fishing license to fish in FCFP locations, and if trout are kept, a trout stamp also is required. The limit for trout in these ponds is three fish per angler per day. Licenses are available at sporting goods stores or online at <a href="http://www.agfc.com/license" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.agfc.com/license&source=gmail&ust=1700158026800000&usg=AOvVaw1jch9RVQ5zSZfcy9JlVnGf">www.agfc.com/license</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr">Visit <a href="https://www.agfc.com/en/fishing/where-fish/family-and-community/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.agfc.com/en/fishing/where-fish/family-and-community/&source=gmail&ust=1700158026800000&usg=AOvVaw2PGmDDAA-ytoJo8IhzbTE2">www.agfc.com/familyfishing</a> to learn more about the Family and Community Fishing Program and to find a pond near you participating in the winter trout stocking schedule.</p> </div> </div> <div class="w-full mt-16"> <img class="mx-auto lazyload" data-src="https://www.agfc.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Trout-Derby-MacArthur-Park-6952.jpg" alt=""> </div> <div class="mt-12 max-w-7xl mx-auto"> <div class="prose prose-lg max-w-none"> <p><strong>Trout Day</strong><br /> If you can’t celebrate “Troutsgiving” with the AGFC, the FCFP hopes you’ll join in the fun of its 2023 Trout Day family fishing event from 9 a.m.-noon Dec. 2 at Pleasantview Park Pond in Russellville. In addition to some fantastic fishing for stocked rainbow trout, the AGFC will hold fish cleaning and cooking demonstrations to show anglers how to get the most out of their catch. Prizes and live music will be rolling for the 3-hour event, and lunch will even be provided for the first 300 anglers who register at <a href="http://www.register-ed.com/events/view/205390" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.register-ed.com/events/view/205390&source=gmail&ust=1700158026800000&usg=AOvVaw2SrJ3kho1KetWZL9PNy2tj">www.register-ed.com/events/<wbr />view/205390</a>. The event is sponsored by the AGFC, the Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation, CADDIS Fly Fishing Club and the Russellville Recreation and Parks Department.</p> </div> </div> <p>The post <a href="https://www.agfc.com/news/celebrate-troutsgiving-with-the-agfc-2/">Celebrate ‘Troutsgiving’ with the AGFC</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.agfc.com">Arkansas Game & Fish Commission</a>.</p> ]]></content:encoded> </item> <item> <title>AGFC opens up fall fishing derbies with the ‘Big Catch’ at Lake Valencia Sept. 16</title> <link>https://www.agfc.com/news/agfc-holds-big-catch-sept-16/</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Randy Zellers]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Wed, 13 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Big Catch]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Family and Community Fishing Program]]></category> <category><![CDATA[FCFP]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Fishing Derby]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Arkansas Wildlife Weekly Newsletter]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://agfc.wpengine.com/agfc-holds-big-catch-sept-16/</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p>Sept. 13, 2023 Randy Zellers Assistant Chief of Communications LITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and Community First Alliance, Inc. will host Arkansas’s largest community fishing event from 8 a.m.-noon this Saturday at Lake Valencia in Maumelle. “The Big Catch has sort of become our unofficial opening to fall catfish stockings in […]</p> <p>The post <a href="https://www.agfc.com/news/agfc-holds-big-catch-sept-16/">AGFC opens up fall fishing derbies with the ‘Big Catch’ at Lake Valencia Sept. 16</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.agfc.com">Arkansas Game & Fish Commission</a>.</p> ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<h2>Sept. 13, 2023</h2> <p> <a href="/en/news/author/randy-zellers/"></p> <p> Randy Zellers<br /> </a></p> <p> <small>Assistant Chief of Communications</small></p> <p style="margin-top: 0in;"><big>LITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and Community First Alliance, Inc. will host Arkansas’s largest community fishing event from 8 a.m.-noon this Saturday at Lake Valencia in Maumelle.</big></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;"><big>“The Big Catch has sort of become our unofficial opening to fall <u><span style="color: #1155cc;"><a href="https://www.agfc.com/en/fishing/where-fish/family-and-community/stocking/"><span style="color: #1155cc;">catfish stockings in community ponds</span></a></span></u>,” Maurice Jackson, AGFC Family and Community Fishing Program coordinator, said. “We’ll have fishing, prizes, music, and thanks to some generous sponsors, we’ll even provide lunch to the first 300 registered anglers. It’s going to be a big time.”</big></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;"><big>The fishing derby isn’t just for kids, so the whole family can join in the fun. Anglers ages 16 and older must have a valid fishing license. All attendees also should bring their own tackle, chairs, coolers and favorite catfish bait. Worms, prepared catfish baits, chicken livers and even cut up chunks of hot dog will tempt catfish.</big></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;"><big>Visit <u><a href="https://c1a.ticketleap.com/big-catch-big-10-fall-event/t/TheBigCatchTenYearEvent/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.c1a.life</a></u> to register for The Big Catch and be a part of the largest community fishing event in Arkansas.</big></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;"><img decoding="async" class="filer_image " alt="Anglers at last year's Big Catch." src="https://www.agfc.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/big_catch_2022__1000x562_q85_subsampling-2.jpg" width="1000"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;"><big><b>Derby Days and Fall Stockings</b></big></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;"><big>If you can’t make it to the Big Catch, don’t worry. Fall fishing is upon us and the AGFC has dozens of fishing derbies planned in the next few weeks. Visit <u><span style="color: #1155cc;"><a href="https://www.agfc.com/en/education/onthewater/fe/fishing-derbies/"><span style="color: #1155cc;">https://www.agfc.com/en/education/onthewater/fe/fishing-derbies/</span></a></span></u> for a list of scheduled derbies.</big></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;"><big>Even if you can’t find a derby to fit your schedule, be sure to check out the FCFP location page. Nearly 50 fishing locations across the state are being stocked with catchable-size catfish this week and next. A list of program ponds and stocking updates is available at <u><span style="color: #1155cc;"><a href="https://www.agfc.com/en/fishing/where-fish/family-and-community/stocking"><span style="color: #1155cc;">https://www.agfc.com/en/fishing/where-fish/family-and-community/stocking</span></a></span></u>.</big></p> <p>The post <a href="https://www.agfc.com/news/agfc-holds-big-catch-sept-16/">AGFC opens up fall fishing derbies with the ‘Big Catch’ at Lake Valencia Sept. 16</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.agfc.com">Arkansas Game & Fish Commission</a>.</p> ]]></content:encoded> </item> <item> <title>AGFC planning angling increases for central Arkansas fishing holes</title> <link>https://www.agfc.com/news/agfc-planning-angling-increases-for-central-arkansas-fishing-holes/</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Randy Zellers]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Wed, 19 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Bank Angling]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Catfish]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Family and Community Fishing Program]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Fishing]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Infrastructure]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Renovation]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Stocking]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Arkansas Wildlife Weekly Newsletter]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://agfc.wpengine.com/agfc-planning-angling-increases-for-central-arkansas-fishing-holes/</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p>July 19, 2023 Randy Zellers Assistant Chief of Communications CONWAY — Arkansas Game and Fish Commission hatchery managers and other key members of the AGFC’s Fisheries team have been planning nonstop on ways to help anglers find some fish during the upcoming renovation of Lake Conway, which is scheduled to begin Sept. 1. In addition […]</p> <p>The post <a href="https://www.agfc.com/news/agfc-planning-angling-increases-for-central-arkansas-fishing-holes/">AGFC planning angling increases for central Arkansas fishing holes</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.agfc.com">Arkansas Game & Fish Commission</a>.</p> ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<h2>July 19, 2023</h2> <p> <a href="/en/news/author/randy-zellers/"></p> <p> Randy Zellers<br /> </a></p> <p> <small>Assistant Chief of Communications</small></p> <p><big><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif;">CONWAY — Arkansas Game and Fish Commission hatchery managers and other key members of the AGFC’s Fisheries team have been planning nonstop on ways to help anglers find some fish during the upcoming <u><span style="color: #1155cc;"><a href="https://www.agfc.com/en/news/2023/06/15/agfc-announces-plans-to-renovate-lake-conway/"><span style="color: #1155cc;">renovation of Lake Conway</span></a></span></u>, which is scheduled to begin Sept. 1. In addition to all the work that will be done on Lake Conway, fisheries staff will be adding even more catchable-sized catfish to many nearby fishing locations to keep people busy during the project.</span></span></span></big></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;"><big><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif;">Tommy Laird, AGFC Chief of Fisheries, said he expects to double and, in some cases, triple the amount of catchable channel catfish being stocked in the Conway area beginning next year. </span></span></span></big></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;"><big><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif;">“We know we can’t replace all the opportunities Lake Conway offers, but we want to do everything we can to help anglers out while we’re working to improve it,” Laird said. “There are a lot of smaller lakes nearby that can handle additional anglers, but we want to make sure we account for that pressure.”</span></span></span></big></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;"><img decoding="async" class="filer_image left" alt="Father and son fishing" src="https://www.agfc.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/kids_fishing56369__450x675_q85_subsampling-2.jpg" width="450"><br /> <big><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif;">Laird says the hatcheries are planning additional stockings of catfish to Conway Station Park in Conway and Matthews Park Pond in Greenbrier, both part of the <u><span style="color: #1155cc;"><a href="https://www.agfc.com/en/fishing/where-fish/family-and-community/"><span style="color: #1155cc;">AGFC’s Family and Community Fishing Program</span></a></span></u>, to help anglers in these two cities who may have normally driven to Lake Conway. </span></span></span></big></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;"><big><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif;">“We have other local ponds in the Conway and Mayflower area like the pond at the Mayflower shooting range that we’ll also add catchable catfish to, with most of our stockings going up to 200 percent of their current rate,” Laird said. “And nearby lakes like Brewer Lake, Harris Brake Lake and Lake Overcup will see increases in catchable catfish stockings as well.”</span></span></span></big></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;"><big><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif;">The stockings will focus on catchable-size catfish.</span></span></span></big></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;"><big><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif;">“We will continue to stock other species at fingerling size according to recommendations from our fisheries management biologists,” Laird said. “Catfish are one of two species (trout being the other) that we can grow to catchable size in our facilities to give anglers more of that instant reward. Bass, crappie and other gamefish require much more resources and space to reach catchable size than we can accommodate in a hatchery setting. Mother Nature does the heavy lifting on those.”</span></span></span></big></p> <p>The post <a href="https://www.agfc.com/news/agfc-planning-angling-increases-for-central-arkansas-fishing-holes/">AGFC planning angling increases for central Arkansas fishing holes</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.agfc.com">Arkansas Game & Fish Commission</a>.</p> ]]></content:encoded> </item> <item> <title>Last chance to submit tagged fish for awards</title> <link>https://www.agfc.com/news/last-chance-to-submit-tagged-fish-for-awards/</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[agfc]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Wed, 28 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Family and Community Fishing Program]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Prize]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Tagged Fish]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Arkansas Wildlife Weekly Newsletter]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://agfc.wpengine.com/last-chance-to-submit-tagged-fish-for-awards/</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p>June 28, 2023 LITTLE ROCK — Lucky anglers have until the end of this month to claim their prizes. If you caught one of the tagged catfish in the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s Family and Community Fishing Program’s ponds, send in the tag before June 30 to be entered into a drawing to receive […]</p> <p>The post <a href="https://www.agfc.com/news/last-chance-to-submit-tagged-fish-for-awards/">Last chance to submit tagged fish for awards</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.agfc.com">Arkansas Game & Fish Commission</a>.</p> ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<h2>June 28, 2023</h2> <p><big><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif;">LITTLE ROCK — Lucky anglers have until the end of this month to claim their prizes.</span></span></span></big></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;"><big><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif;">If you caught one of the tagged catfish in the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s Family and Community Fishing Program’s ponds, send in the tag before June 30 to be entered into a drawing to receive a prize, which could be a half day of fishing on Beaver Lake. </span></span></span></big></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;"><big><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif;">Other prizes include Walmart gift cards ranging from $200 to $800.</span></span></span></big></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;"><big><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif;">The winners of the Beaver Lake fishing trip – courtesy of the Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation’s Steve Smith Endowment – will be announced on the AGFC’s Facebook page at 10 a.m., July 13. </span></span></span></big></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;"><big>Send prize tags to Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, Family and Community Fishing Program, 2 Natural Resources Drive, Little Rock, AR 72205. They must be postmarked by June 30.</big></p> <p>The post <a href="https://www.agfc.com/news/last-chance-to-submit-tagged-fish-for-awards/">Last chance to submit tagged fish for awards</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.agfc.com">Arkansas Game & Fish Commission</a>.</p> ]]></content:encoded> </item> <item> <title>Remember to register for a free fishing derby this weekend</title> <link>https://www.agfc.com/news/remember-to-register-for-a-free-fishing-derby-this-weekend/</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Randy Zellers]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Wed, 07 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Catfish]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Family and Community Fishing Program]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Fishing]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Fishing Derby]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Free Fishing Weekend]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Hatchery]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Arkansas Wildlife Weekly Newsletter]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://agfc.wpengine.com/remember-to-register-for-a-free-fishing-derby-this-weekend/</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p>June 7, 2023 Randy Zellers Assistant Chief of Communications LITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission will be hosting its free annual fishing derbies this Saturday, but you have to let them know you’re coming to participate. These fishing derbies are part of the Free Fishing Weekend celebration that occurs each year through […]</p> <p>The post <a href="https://www.agfc.com/news/remember-to-register-for-a-free-fishing-derby-this-weekend/">Remember to register for a free fishing derby this weekend</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.agfc.com">Arkansas Game & Fish Commission</a>.</p> ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<h2>June 7, 2023</h2> <p> <a href="/en/news/author/randy-zellers/"></p> <p> Randy Zellers<br /> </a></p> <p> <small>Assistant Chief of Communications</small></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 10pt;"><big><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif;">LITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission will be hosting its free annual fishing derbies this Saturday, but you have to let them know you’re coming to participate. </span></span></span></big></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;"><big><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif;">These fishing derbies are part of the Free Fishing Weekend celebration that occurs each year through a proclamation by the governor. The derbies are for youth 18 and younger and their families who would like to fish alongside them. Each derby will begin at 8 a.m. and ends around noon. Families are encouraged to bring a comfortable chair, fishing tackle for catfish and a cooler to carry snacks and bring home the day’s catch. </span></span></span></big></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;"><big><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif;">“We have changed the focus of these derbies to include the family members in the last few years and the response has been incredible,” J.J. Gladden, assistant chief of education for the AGFC, said. “The best fishing trips are those where people can share the experience with family and friends, and we want to foster that tradition from the first cast of a young angler’s experience.”</span></span></span></big></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;"><big><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif;">People interested in fishing at one of the derbies must register in advance. </span></span></span></big></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;"><img decoding="async" class="filer_image " alt="Channel catfish raised in AGFC hatcheries provide plenty of fun during fishing derbies" src="https://www.agfc.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/big_catch_2022-44609__1000x666_q85_subsampling-2.jpg" width="1000"><br /> <big><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif;">“We want to provide a great experience for the anglers who are registered, but the hatchery ponds can only have so many guests before they become crowded or cause possible safety issues,” Gladden said. “So we have to have a limit to the number of participants. The required registration will ensure all anglers arrive with the best chance at having a memory of a lifetime.” </span></span></span></big></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;"><big><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif;">Visit the links below to register for one of the AGFC’s hatchery derbies:</span></span></span></big></p> <ul> <li><big><span style="line-height: 160%;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="line-height: 160%;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3c78d8;"><a href="https://www.register-ed.com/events/view/197714"><span style="color: #3c78d8;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">Joe Hogan State Fish Hatchery (Lonoke) Fishing Derby</span></span></span></a></span></span></span></span></span></big></li> <li><big><span style="line-height: 160%;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="line-height: 160%;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3c78d8;"><a href="https://www.register-ed.com/events/view/197716"><span style="color: #3c78d8;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">Andrew Hulsey State Fish Hatchery (Hot Springs) Fishing Derby</span></span></span></a></span></span></span></span></span></big></li> <li><big><span style="line-height: 160%;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="line-height: 160%;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3c78d8;"><a href="https://www.register-ed.com/events/view/197717"><span style="color: #3c78d8;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">William H. Donham State Fish Hatchery (Corning) Fishing Derby</span></span></span></a></span></span></span></span></span></big></li> <li style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><big><span style="line-height: 160%;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="line-height: 160%;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3c78d8;"><a href="https://www.register-ed.com/events/view/197718"><span style="color: #3c78d8;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">Charlie Craig State Fish Hatchery (Centerton) Fishing Derby</span></span></span></a></span></span></span></span></span></big></li> </ul> <p style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;"><big><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif;">In addition to the hatchery derbies, the AGFC also has provided catchable-sized catfish in nearly 50 <u><span style="color: #1155cc;"><a href="https://www.agfc.com/en/fishing/where-fish/family-and-community/stocking/"><span style="color: #1155cc;">Family and Community Fishing Program locations</span></a></span></u> and an additional <u><span style="color: #1155cc;"><a href="https://www.agfc.com/en/fishing/where-fish/fishing-derbies/"><span style="color: #1155cc;">25 fishing derbies being supported by local communities</span></a></span></u> on June 10. Details for each of those derbies is available through <u><span style="color: #1155cc;"><a href="http://www.agfc.com/freefishing"><span style="color: #1155cc;">www.agfc.com/freefishing</span></a></span></u>.</span></span></span></big></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;"><big><i><u><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif;">CUTLINES:</span></span></span></u></i></big></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;"><big><i><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif;">Kids in Chairs<br /> The AGFC has fishing derbies across the state June 10 for Free Fishing Weekend. </span></span></span></i></big></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;"><big><i><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif;">Kids Sitting on Ground<br /> Channel catfish raised in AGFC hatcheries provide plenty of fun during fishing derbies. </span></span></span></i></big></p> <p>The post <a href="https://www.agfc.com/news/remember-to-register-for-a-free-fishing-derby-this-weekend/">Remember to register for a free fishing derby this weekend</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.agfc.com">Arkansas Game & Fish Commission</a>.</p> ]]></content:encoded> </item> </channel> </rss>