Fishing regulations set
In an unscheduled teleconference, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission voted Tuesday to approve five of six trout fishing regulations for the Bull Shoals and Norfork tailwaters.
Commissioners Steve Cook of Malvern and Joe Morgan of Little Rock attended the meeting in person in Little Rock. Attending by phone were commissioners Ken Reeves of Harrison, Bobby Martin of Bentonville and Stan Jones of Clover Bend.
The affected waters include the White River downstream from Bull Shoals Dam and the North Fork of the White River below Norfork Dam. The approved regulations will go into effect Jan. 1.
The new regulations will prescribe a daily limit of five trout on the waters, but only one trout may be 14 inches or longer. The daily limit for cutthroat trout was reduced to one, with a minimum length limit of 24 inches.
The daily limit for brown trout was reduced to one, with a minimum length limit of 24 inches.
The daily limit for brook trout was reduced to one, with a minimum length limit of 14 inches.
The daily limit for rainbow trout is five, but only one may be longer than 14 inches.
The Monkey Island Catchand-Release Area was eliminated. The physical area is still there, of course, but catchand-release regulations will no longer apply.
When using natural bait such as corn, sculpins or worms, or scented baits such as Powerbait, anglers may use hooks with only one hooking point.
The commission unanimously rejected a proposal to add 2 additional miles to the Rim Shoals Catch-and-Release Area.
Introduced in mid-October, the regulations are intended to increase the average size of trout in the rivers and increase the number of exceptional size trout. They received considerable input during a required 30-day comment period, but the Rim Shoals expansion was the most controversial.
Reeves said that since the commission’s regular November meeting last Wednesday, he received a petition from Debbie Gambill, owner of Cotter Trout Dock, that was signed by 133 people opposing the Rim Shoals expansion.
Reeves said the proposal troubled him because it effectively limits access to a large segment of the trout fishing community.
“I’m hesitant to do anything that restricts the public’s right to enjoy public resources, and that restricts the rights of adjacent landowners to where they can’t walk to the river with a child or grandchild and catch some fish to eat,” Reeves said. “We spend a lot of money to stock trout, and it’s for everyone.”
Reeves noted that the availability of trout fishing influences property values along the riverfronts, and that it would be inappropriate to pass a regulation that might negatively influence property values.
Reeves said the Game and Fish Commission has increased the size of the trout it stocks in the rivers, and that 71 percent of trout fishermen release the trout they catch. Angler behavior is a self-regulating factor that negates the need to expand the catch-andrelease area, he said.
“In a sense, the entire tailwater already is 71 percent catch-and-release,” Reeves said. “More importantly, our regulation to limit fishermen to one rainbow [trout] over 14 inches will probably do more to get big trout in the river than expanding Rim Shoals.”
Rim Shoals is a haven for big trout because it contains excellent habitat, as does the 2-mile stretch below the catch-and-release area. Reeves advised Christy Graham, the commission’s trout program coordinator, to seek ways to improve habitat in more sections of the White River.
“I know it would cost some money, but that’s something we should look into,” Reeves said.
DUCK CALLING CHAMPIONSHIP
The world’s best duck callers will compete in the 82nd World’s Championship Duck Calling Contest this weekend in Stuttgart during the annual Wings Over the Prairie Festival.
Festivities run throughout the weekend and include the World Championship Duck Gumbo Cook-Off and an expo where you can buy all manner of duck calls and other hunting accessories.
There’s also a midway on Main Street with rides, carnival games, food and drinks. It opens today at 3 p.m.
State, Intermediate and Last Chance Regional duck calling contests will be held Friday beginning at noon on the Main Street Stage. The Women’s World’s Championship Duck Calling Contest starts at 10 a.m. Saturday on the Main Street Stage. The 82nd World’s Championship Duck Calling Contest will begin at 2 p.m. at the same location.