SPRINGDALE, Ark — Local families attended Trout Day hosted by Arkansas Game and Fish despite a cold rain on Saturday morning.
The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) hosted the statewide event Jan. 27 to encourage families to fish.
AGFC stocked waterways with Rainbow Trout for Trout Day 2024.
"The purpose is just to encourage families and people to fish," AGFC Community Outreach Marisol Alcaraz said. "It's free to the community so there's nothing behind it. We want people to enjoy fishing all times of the year. It doesn't have to be just in the summer or spring it can be done anytime."
Families continued to show up despite the cold temperatures and rainy weather. Many had brought tents and a source of heat to keep warm while fishing.
"I'm surprised to see this many but also one of the great things about trout fishing is that it's best to fish during this time of the year," Alcaraz said.
Tanner Sjo brought his son, Grayson, out for trout day and kept warm with a camping canopy and a propane heater.
"We're not sure what, what's going on? The rain has made it difficult. But we're trying to we're having fun. And we're just trying to make the best of it," Sjo said.
The event ran from 9 a.m. until 12 p.m. with other demonstrations available. Families had the chance to attend cooking, fishing, and fish-cleaning demonstrations. People were allowed a maximum of three trout to take home with chances to win raffle prizes. Anyone 16 and older did need a valid Arkansas fishing license and a trout permit.
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