The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission unanimously approved new fishing regulations for several of the state’s most popular trout tailwaters and for Lake Monticello during its monthly meeting Thursday at AGFC headquarters.
The new trout regulations apply to four tailwater fisheries and will take effect Feb. 1 until further notice.
On the White River from Bull Shoals Dam to the Norfork Access and on the North Fork River from Norfork Dam to the Norfork Access, anglers will be allowed to keep two rainbow trout under 14 inches. All other trout species in those sections must be released immediately.
On the White River from the Norfork Access downstream to the Arkansas Highway 58 bridge, the daily limit will be two trout of any species, with only one trout over 14 inches allowed.
On the Beaver and Greers Ferry tailwaters, anglers may keep two trout of any species per day, but all trout longer than 14 inches must be released immediately.
Commissioners adopted the changes to encourage trout fishing following a temporary emergency order enacted last year to reduce trout harvest on stocked waters. That order followed significant production losses at both the Norfork National Fish Hatchery and the AGFC’s Jim Hinkle Spring River State Fish Hatchery due to unforeseen die-offs and infrastructure failures caused by natural events. The temporary restrictions were implemented to protect stocked trout while the extent of the losses was assessed.
The Commission also unanimously approved new fishing limits for Lake Monticello in southeastern Arkansas, effective Feb. 1.
Lake Monticello recently underwent a drawdown and dam renovation by the city of Monticello and has since been restocked with Florida largemouth bass from AGFC hatcheries, along with a specialized line of Florida bass known as TITAN MAXX from Red Hills Fishery in Georgia. The lake has also received heavy stockings of forage species, resulting in increased productivity commonly referred to as a “new lake effect.”
Under the new regulations, anglers may keep up to five largemouth bass per day at Lake Monticello, with only one fish over 16 inches allowed. The Commission determined that limited harvest of smaller bass will help reduce pressure on forage species and support continued growth of larger fish.
Anglers will also be allowed to keep up to 15 crappie per day at Lake Monticello, with no more than seven crappie measuring 12 inches or longer. The regulation is intended to help balance a growing crappie population.
All other fish species at Lake Monticello may be harvested according to statewide daily limits.
For more information visit the AFGC website here.
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