SPRINGDALE, Ark. — The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission has stocked community ponds around the state towards the end of their catfish season.
The City of Springdale's Parks and Recreation department shared that Lake Springdale, Murphy Park, and Shaw Family Park had been stocked with catfish. The waterways are part of AGFC's 49 community fishing ponds that are located all around the state.
Spokesperson Trey Reid explained that the commission stocks catfish in their Family and Community Fishing Program in the spring, late summer, and early fall. For the wintertime, he explained the ponds will be stocked with trout. The Arkansas Game & Fish Commission explains on their website that the cold-tolerant trout are not native to the state but that the fisheries, "are the result of cold-water discharge downstream from many U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dams."
"It's time to get out there fish some of these family and community ponds because there are quite a few fish out there," Reid said. "We want folks to catch them, and we want them to make a good, healthy, organic meal out of it."
Reid explains that the stocking of fish in community ponds and other Arkansas waterways are possible thanks to the state's fish hatcheries. Northwest Arkansas is home to one, the Charlie Craig State Fish Hatchery in Centerton.
"We have one of the largest hatchery systems of any state agency that produces their own fish. So we do grow a lot of fish from, again, catfish, bass, bluegills, bait fish, trout, you name it," Reid said.
According to their website, "roughly 80,000 catchable-sized catfish are stocked in Family and Community Fishing Program Ponds in Spring and Fall, while another 100,000 or so are devoted to up to 300 fishing derbies throughout the year in Arkansas."
With a better chance to find mudcats in local ponds, Reid said there are many ways to bait your catch.
"Chicken liver is a huge catfish bait, shrimp, hot dog soaked in Kool-Aid and garlic powder. I mean, there's, there's all kinds of, you know, homemade potions and what have you to try to trick a catfish," he said. "I'll remind people that. The one-time world record blue catfish caught in the Mississippi River over around West Memphis was caught on spam, believe it or not. So you know, you got a lot of options when it comes to catfish bait."
Reid reminded that anyone 16 and older would need an Arkansas fishing license. Arkansas Game & Fish also asks you to please stick to the daily limits. There are signs posted around the community fishing ponds to remind locals. AGFC lists its limits as follows:
Daily Limits: 3-catfish, 5-trout, 25-bream
- Largemouth bass may not be retained and must be released immediately into the water.
- Open to fishing with handheld rod or pole only.
- Individuals 16 and older must have a fishing license.
- Trout permits are required if any trout are retained.
- Lakes open to electric trolling motors only
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