Family & Community Fishing

The Family & Community Fisheries Program works to enhance or create destinations in urban areas, so that excellent fishing is available within a stone’s throw of all Arkansans.  The Family & Community Fisheries Program is a team effort that involves a staff of two fisheries biologists, Clifton Jackson and Chris Racey, and Assistant Family and Fishing Coordinator, Clinton Coleman.  Additionally, we receive support for our program from the Aquatic Resource Education Program and the Warm Water and Cold Water Production Section staff of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.  We often partner with city parks and recreation departments to enhance park facilities that are conveniently located near inner-city residents.  Our efforts include sampling fish populations, aquatic habitat improvements, setting harvest restrictions, and stocking thousands of pounds of fish each year.

 We have adopted an aggressive stocking schedule that involves stocking various Community Fishing Program Destinations with channel catfish in the warmer months, and rainbow trout in the winter months.  At the onset of the stocking seasons, we hold kick-off events at select urban locations.  Agency staff and other supporting groups come out to help everyone have an exciting day of fishing, and help folks out who’ve never fished before.  We also hold beginner fishing clinics in select cities prior to our kick-off events.  Hundreds of rods and reels are awarded annually to children that attend the fishing clinics, or are given away as door prizes at kick-off events.

To learn more about stocking information, call our toll-free hotline at 1-866-540-FISH(3474).

Rules and Regulations

Regulations (daily limits, age requirements and length limits) for Family and Community Fishing Program locations differ from other Arkansas lakes.  Click here to view the regulations for the specific location you intend to fish.

Regulations for Family and Community Fishing Locations

Before heading out for a day of fishing, make sure you are aware of the regulations for each area you may fish.  Download the 2008 Fishing Guidebook and familiarize yourself with the regulations pertaining to fishing in Arkansas. 

Trout Stockings

Over 65,000 catchable-sized rainbow trout are stocked each winter from November through March across the state in Family and Community Fishing Program destinations.  While most trout average just under a pound, a few 2-5 pounders will be stocked each year in random locations throughout the stocking season.  Most locations will be stocked on a bi-weekly or monthly basis at approximately 100 trout per surface acre of pond water per month. 

In addition to a fishing license, anglers 16 and older must have a trout permit to retain trout from any Arkansas waters. 

Rainbow trout daily limit is five (5 ). 

To view regulations pertaining to trout, download the 2008 Arkansas Trout Fishing Guidebook. 

Click on the link below to find out where and when trout have been stocked.      

Hybrid Striped Bass

Hybrid striped bass are a cross between a striped bass and a white bass.  This cross takes the best characteristics of both species and combines them into an aggressive, fast-growing eating machine.  Hybrid stripers are known for their vicious strikes and line-breaking runs.  These fish are the newest addition to the Family and Community Fishing Program’s stocking program, and will provide anglers with another opportunity to fish urban ponds during the lull between the catfish and trout stocking seasons.

Though Arkansas sports some of the best waters in the country for giant hybrid stripers weighing up to 20 pounds or more, the hybrids stocked into urban ponds will average approximately one pound.  While urban hybrids will be smaller in size, the ferocity of their strikes and drag-screaming runs will excite even the most hardcore angler when using light or ultralight fishing tackle and 4 to 6 pound test line.  Not only do hybrids put up an extraordinary fight when hooked, but they also are excellent tablefare.  These fish have a mild white fillet and are marketed commercially worldwide.

Fishing for urban hybrid stripers is relatively easy and can be extremely exciting.  Hybrids are very willing to take artificial baits resembling minnows or shad.  Lures such as roostertails, spoons, crankbaits, and white twistertail grubs on jigheads are excellent choices when targeting these fish.  Baits such as chicken livers, shrimp, small minnows, and nightcrawlers will also catch hybrids.  Hybrids tend to school up in ponds, so it’s always a good idea to work around the pond until you find the fish.  However, once you find them, an angler can often catch 5 or 10 fish in one spot.  These fish are very active in cooler water, and will aggressively bite and strike lures even when air temperatures are below freezing.

Hybrids ranging from 2-3 pounds were stocked into select urban ponds on Wednesday, November 21 at approximately 100 fish per surface acre of water.  The daily creel limit on hybrid striped bass in the urban ponds is 3, and there is no size limit.   

Hybrid Bass Stocking Report

Great Places to Fish in Arkansas

Have you ever wondered where to fish or how to catch fish in Arkansas?  Here is all the information you need to have a successful outing.

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission has partnered with several cities in Arkansas to provide convenient and exceptional fishing locations.  Friends and families can join together near their communities to get outdoors and enjoy a fun day of fishing.

Click on the hyperlink below to learn more about the fishing locations, to obtain maps of the areas and to learn about the fish we are stocking.

Community Fishing Locations in Arkansas

 

 

The  Channel Catfish is a warm water fish that likes to position itself near underwater stumps, rocks, and logs on or near the bottom of a lake.  Catfish are attracted to and can be caught on a variety of smelly baits as they have several thousands of taste buds on their barbels (whiskers) and body that they use to find food.  Some consistently good catfish baits are chicken liver, worms, and commercially prepared stink bait. 

Catfish may be caught from most of the Community Fishing Destinations using a 5’-6’ medium action fishing rod or a cane pole lined with 8-12 lbs. test fishing line, a small amount of lead weight (sinker), and a 1/0 – 2/0 sized hook. 

Thousands of pounds of 14-18-inch channel catfish from our Warm Water Production Section are stocked every two to four weeks at all Community Fishing Destinations from April through September.  Big blue catfish in the 15-75 pound range are also occasionally stocked in the summer months in order to add some trophy catfishing opportunities.  These giant blue catfish have been raiding the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission net pen operations at Lake Ouachita and Bull Shoals Lake, eating about $200 worth of fish food each day and putting holes in the nets.  Net pens are used to grow various species of fish for stocking in the state's lakes, and are extremely important production facilities for the AGFC’s hatchery system.  These are some pretty impressive catfish, but they’re getting a free lunch and being destructive.  

So, the AGFC has decided to capture the fish and stock them into Little Rock urban ponds to promote fishing. The big blue catfish are in limited supply and won’t be stocked regularly, but AGFC has stocked the following ponds in the past with the giant fish: BoylePark, MacArthurPark, KiwanisPark, OtterCreekPark, OttenheimerPark, HindmanPark and WarMemorial Park. Remember, the pond at WarMemorial park is limited to anglers 15 and younger or 65 and older.

Catfish Stocking Report

Rainbow Trout 

are the most common trout species found in Arkansas and are occur year round in the state’s popular tailwater streams like the Little Red, White, and NorforkRivers.  However, because trout need cold water (less than 70 F) to survive, seasonal trout fishing opportunities can also be provided during the winter months at several Community Fishing Program destinations throughout the state.  Catchable-size trout are regularly stocked at these destinations from mid-November through mid-March.  Fish average about a pound, but a few lunkers will exceed 5 pounds.  Trout often lurk near rock, logs, and drop-offs awaiting opportunities to capture prey items.  They rely heavily on their vision to locate food.  Therefore, light and ultra-light fishing line and tackle is a must.  A good 4-5½ foot light to ultra-light action spinning or spincast rod-and-reel combo outfitted with 2-6 lb. test line and a size 8 or 10 salmon egg hook will work great for trout.  Place a small sinker or splitshot approximately 6 to 18” above the hook, and fish with the weight on the bottom and the bait slightly off the bottom.

Helpful Fish Identification

Picture Gallery

To find out more about opportunities to fish in statewide urban areas, contact us at 501-978-7322.

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