Two big fishing events set for Lake Valencia

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.

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.

“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.”

To register or for more information, call 501-851-4344 or email seniorservices@maumelle.org.

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.

“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.”

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.

“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.”

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.”

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, www.c1a.life.

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.

For a list and map of community fishing locations among the Family and Community Fishing Program’s stocked ponds, visit www.agfc.com/fishing/where-to-fish/family-and-community-fishing-program-stocked-ponds.

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CUTLINES:

SENIOR WITH CATFISH
This senior angler enjoyed plenty of fishing fun during the 2017 senior’s fishing derby. 

TWO KIDS FISHING
The Big Catch is the largest community fishing event of the year. 

TWO KIDS WITH FISH
Freshly stocked catfish will be ready to catch at Lake Valencia on Sept. 21.