|
 LITTLE
ROCK - Two dozen changes in Arkansas’ fishing regulations have been
proposed by the fisheries staff of the Arkansas Game and Fish
Commission.
The proposals are being discussed at a series of public meetings around
the state and will be brought before the AGFC’s commissioners at their
June meeting. Most of the proposed changes are local in nature, with
some just clarifications of existing rules. Changes approved will go
into effect Jan. 1, 2007
A synopsis of the proposals:
1. Mallard Lake, one bass over 21 inches long may be kept per day.
2. Craighead Forest Park Lake, fishing limited to persons under 16 and
65 or older.
3. Mississippi River, clarification of river levee boundary in Desha
County. Includes all bordering counties including Chicot, Desha and
Arkansas counties.
4. Middle Ouachita River Management Plan, length and creel limit
restrictions on smallmouth bass and flathead catfish, seasonal closing
of commercial fishing. Prohibit hogging and noodling.
5. Narrows Tailwater/Little Missouri River Management Plan, length and
creel limit restrictions on smallmouth bass and brown trout.
6. Lake Ouachita, 13-inch minimum length limit on spotted bass.
7. Lake Cargile, remove protected slot limit on largemouth bass.
8. Little Red River Management Plan, protected 16- to 24-inch slot limit
(one fish over 24 inches may be kept) on all trout; artificial lures
only in JFK and Mossy Shoals catch and release areas.
9. Lake Maumelle, removed protected slot limit on largemouth bass.
10. SWEPCO Lake, create daily limit of 10 largemouth bass, only one of
which can be over 21 inches long.
11. Lake Winona, create 16-inch maximum length limit for black bass.
Over 16 inches, the fish must be release immediately.
12. Prohibit the use of common carp as bait in 31 Arkansas lakes: Bob
Kidd, Devil’s Den, Elmdale, Fayetteville, Wilson, Crystal, Leatherwood,
Hindsville, Cargile, Barnett, Tom’s, Atkins, Sugarloaf, Truman Baker,
Hinkle, Wilhelmina, Irons Fork, Gurdon, Cox Creek, Gillham, Dierks, De
Queen, Dr. Lester Sitzes III Bois d’Arc, Rick Evans Grandview Prairie
WMA 1 and 2, Huckabee, Columbia, White Oak, Tri-County, Monticello and
Cane Creek..
13. Clarification of rules for trotlines, setlines and limblines.
14. Clarification of scientific collection permit rules.
15. Delete “scaled” from definition of rough fish.
16. Add “sportfish” to AGFC code book language.
17. Add bullheads to lists of rough fish.
18. Grand Lake, prohibit hoop nets for commercial fishing and turtling.
19. Harris Brake Lake, close seasonal commercial fishing.
20. Lake Atkins, close seasonal commercial fishing.
21. Lake Chicot, close seasonal commercial fishing.
22. Delete bullheads from list of bait fish.
23. Waters under family and community fishing regulations will be
required to use electric trolling motors.
24. Clarify boundary waters with Louisiana where taking of paddlefish
and sturgeon is closed.
The public may send written comments to the Arkansas Game and Fish
Commission, c/o 2007 Fishing Regulations, #2 Natural Resources Drive,
Little Rock, AR 72205. Comments can also be sent by email to:
information@agfc.state.ar.us. "The written comments should get to us by
May 25," Armstrong said.
Public meetings still to come, all starting at 7 p.m., are:
May 11 - Rogers City Administration Building, 300 W. Poplar, Rogers,
(877) 631-6005.
May 11 - REA Building, 110 Crosstrails Road, De Queen, (877) 777-5580.
May 11 - Hot Springs Convention Center-Room 205, 134 Convention Blvd.,
Hot Springs, (877) 525-8606.
May 16 - AGFC Jonesboro Regional Office, 2920 McClellan Dr., Jonesboro,
(877) 972-5438.
May 16 -Russellville AGFC Regional Office, 1266 Lock and Dam Road,
Russellville, (877) 967-7577.
May 18 - Greers Ferry Visitor Center, 700 Heber Springs Rd. North, Heber
Springs, (877) 470-3309.
May 25 - AGFC Maurice Lewis Building, 2 Natural Resources Dr., Little
Rock, (800) 364-4263. |
