Donated custom barge helps improve fish habitat

KIRBY – A new tool is now available to Arkansas Game and Fish Commission fisheries biologists. A new habitat barge was recently unveiled on Lake Greeson. The barge will help biologists with their efforts to improve fishing in southwest Arkansas.

The specially designed barge will help with fish habitat placement – specifically the placement of trees in area lakes. Replacing the woody habitat that was left from the original lake construction process is important since what was once there has mostly decomposed.

The 30-foot pontoon boat is equipped with several features for habitat placement, according to AGFC district fisheries biologist Drew Wilson. “It has a hydraulic dump bed capable of lifting materials weighing over four tons, a heavy-duty winch and dual 60 hp four-stroke outboard motors. With their tri-axle trailers, this boat weighs over 10,500 pounds,” Wilson explained.  “Black bass and other shoreline dwelling sportfish, depend on the presence of woody and vegetative structure to maintain healthy populations,” he added. “In addition, as most anglers know, the introduced habitat attracts bass, crappie and bream and produces excellent fishing opportunities,” Wilson noted.

New materials, such as large rootwads left over from construction projects and large artificial structures can now be used due to the barge, explained AGFC assistant district fisheries biologist Les Claybrook. “There are plans to experiment with sinking large hay bales as a source of organic fertilizer that may produce zooplankton for young bass and forage species,” Claybrook said. 

“The barge, valued at over $50,000 is a great fishery management tools that will be used for many years to improve the quality of bass and other fisheries in the southwest Arkansas," Claybrook stated.