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Tasty, challenging walleye found in state's rivers |
 LITTLE
ROCK - Think of walleye in Arkansas, and most anglers bring to mind the
major lakes, especially Greers Ferry, Ouachita, Norfork and Bull Shoals.
Hamilton and Catherine also have good numbers of walleye.Several rivers in the state are lesser known as areas of good walleye fishing, but a small number of fishermen regularly work them for the prized table fare fish. Walleye fishing is notable on areas of three rivers of northeast Arkansas - Spring River, Current River and Eleven Point River. All are in the Pocahontas vicinity although the walleye areas extend well upstream from that Randolph County seat. The Middle Fork of the Saline River in the Benton area has several miles of good walleye country - good enough so it could classify as the state's hidden walleye gem. The "middle" Ouachita River from Remmel Dam that forms Lake Catherine downstream past Malvern to Arkadelphia is another walleye area. The Lower Kings River is walleye country too, meaning the last several miles of the river in Arkansas in Carroll County and stretching into Missouri to meet Table Rock Lake. Old-timers in Arkansas called them walleyed pike or jack salmon in addition to the proper name walleye. The toothy, tasty fish native to Arkansas have always had a comparatively small but intense following among Natural State anglers. They've been around for years, but their numbers have been modest in comparison to the native bass (largemouth, smallmouth and spotted), the crappie, bream and catfish. Trout and striped bass came on to the Arkansas scene a few decades back, and walleye dropped a couple of notches lower in renown. Walleye fishing has picked up some in Arkansas in recent times, with three factors are involved in this fresh recognition and appreciation: 1. Walleye are excellent table fare. Some Arkansans rate them "better than crappie," and that statement is close to sacrilegious in this state. 2. Retirees from the upper Midwest moving into Arkansas have brought a fondness for walleye fishing with them. This is slowly spreading. 3. The world record walleye was caught in Arkansas, a 22-pound, 11-ounce fish caught in 1982 by Al Nelson, who now lives near Quitman (Cleburne County). Young walleye are produced in hatcheries of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, with an annual early spring project the capturing of adult walleye for eggs and sperm. Adult walleye are netted, mostly on tributaries of Greers Ferry Lake. Egg-laden female walleye are stripped of eggs, male walleye are "milked" of their sperm then these are mixed with an addition of protective chemicals, and the eggs are hatched at Charlie Craig Fish Hatchery at Centerton, near Bentonville. The fish are stocked in waters all over the state, and a new focus this year will be on that middle Ouachita River below Remmel Dam. |
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