AGFC work enhances Arkansans’ outdoors opportunities

Projects across the state aim to improve hiking, boating fishing experiences for Natural State families, visitors

By Randy Zellers

AGFC Communications

Work by AGFC technicians and biologists around the state continues on this spring with the goal of making fishing excellent in The Natural State.

Quite a bit of news has come by the Fishing Report editor's desk lately concerning efforts by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission's Fisheries Division, including work that will enhance the fishing in various spots around the state:

• The fisheries staff sprayed herbicide at Lake June in southwest Arkansas this week to combat alligatorweed and other aquatic vegetation crowding the shoreline. This will open up more bank fishing opportunities in the coming weeks, especially around the boat launch and Dr. Maya Angelou Memorial Park.

• We hope you read here last week that, following the AGFC's advice, the Rural Development Authority of Columbia County was set to begin spraying for giant salvinia in Lake Columbia.

That effort, which took two days last week, will not be a problem for the fishing and, in fact, fishing is reportedly going great at Lake Columbia. South-central fisheries staff spent the last few days of March sampling at Lake Columbia. Recent electrofishing catch rates were slightly above the 10-year average.

Over 5 percent of the bass collected were longer than 20 inches and one out of every three fish was over 16 inches long (photo upper right). Fish were very scattered, which was similar to what AGFC biologists saw on Lower White Oak Lake. Staff also noted several large redear (photo lower left) had moved up into shallower water, which is earlier than normal. Reports from local anglers suggest the fish are biting well at Columbia right now.

• Speaking of Lower White Oak Lake, early last week AGFC biologists were able to conduct an electrofishing sample there. Catch rates were lower than average since the renovation, but over 10 percent of the fish collected were over 20 inches long.

This lower catch rate likely can be attributed to the constantly changing weather conditions of this spring, leading the AGFC staff to see slightly fewer fish than in a normal spring. Fish were extremely scattered, with some appearing to have spawned weeks ago while others were just starting to pair up on beds.

Don't worry though, Lower White Oak is still offering

See AGFC, page A9

Photo courtesy of AGFC AGFC

From page A8

White Oak is still offering plenty of big fish like these two (photo bottom right).

• AGFC Fisheries District 1 in Northwest Arkansas reports that white bass fishing is on fire in tributaries of Beaver Lake. White bass can be found in good numbers in the upper White River (above Arkansas Highway 45 or Twin Bridges Access), and on War Eagle Creek by War Eagle Mill on Beaver Lake. Don’t forget that the smaller tributaries can have a white bass run as well (Prairie and Indian creeks).

Did you know that white bass spawn on larger rip-rap by the dam? Biologists have observed white bass actively spawning in this area of the lake. The white bass population in Beaver Lake continues to provide great fishing opportunities, and there is no creel or length limit on white bass in the lake.

•Contractors with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission will refurbish the public fishing pier on Lake Saracen in Pine Bluff beginning April 15 (photo above). The project is expected to last two to three weeks, and access to the fishing pier will be closed during that time.

For more than 30 years, the ADAcompliant fishing pier has provided anglers in Pine Bluff with the increased opportunity to access fish that are further from shore without the need for long casts. It includes a 200foot boardwalk, safety railings and interior fishing stations to allow mobility-impaired individuals and younger anglers the opportunity to fish as well. The cost of the project is estimated at $30,000.