Trout scarcity reduces winter stockings at Household and Group places – Arkansas Recreation and Fish Fee

BY Randy Zellers
ON 11-14-2025
LITTLE ROCK — Winter trout stockings for Household and Group Fishing Places will see a shortened season this 12 months after latest losses in trout manufacturing at two of the three publicly owned coldwater fish hatcheries in Arkansas earlier this 12 months. Though the overall trout out there has been decreased, Arkansas Recreation and Fish Fee employees are dedicated to delivering trout for the Christmas vacation to all FCFP places that historically see the winter bonus fishing alternative.
Spring floods wreaked havoc on the Jim Hinkle Spring River State Fish Hatchery in Mammoth Spring, damaging gear and infrastructure and washing many trout out of the raceways earlier than they’d an opportunity to develop to catchable dimension. Throughout October, further setbacks at Norfork Nationwide Fish Hatchery induced it to lose as much as 80 p.c of its rainbow trout inventory, ensuing within the AGFC redistributing trout deliberate for different places across the state for use within the Beaver, Norfork and Bull Shoals tailwaters. Emergency regulations were also placed on many trout-fishing destinations to allow the stocked trout and high-quality fishing experiences they supply to last more.
“As an alternative of getting no trout out there for 3 of our hottest fishing locations within the north half of the state, we wanted to regulate stocking charges in any respect of our fishing places, however that additionally comes with the value tag of getting to share the burden throughout the state,” Christy Graham, AGFC Trout Program coordinator, stated. 
With lower than 1 / 4 of the everyday provide out there for the winter, FCFP employees determined the most effective plan of action was to inventory the entire program ponds that usually obtain winter trout one time in December as an alternative of stocking a number of instances at only some places. 
“We all know some places are extra fashionable than others, however the thought of the trout stockings is to provide individuals throughout the state the chance to catch a trout whereas the water temperature will let these fish stay,” Clint Coleman, FCFP assistant coordinator, stated. “With solely about 13,500 rainbow trout to distribute, we have to wait till the week earlier than Christmas to verify the fish are in ponds and hungry proper when persons are out of faculty or have taken off work for the vacations, so they’re extra apt to get pleasure from a visit or two this winter.” 
As soon as stocked in December, rainbow trout shall be out there for harvest at 38 of the 50 FCFP places, and anglers shall be allowed to maintain as much as 5 trout per day.
“We’ll nonetheless have the ability to inventory a whole bunch of trout per location, however it should simply be that one time throughout December this 12 months,” Coleman stated. “The water temperatures will permit them to stay till spring, and we’ll resume stocking with catchable channel catfish in April.”
The AGFC Household and Group Fishing Program was developed in 2002 after a three-year pilot research. This system’s purpose is to boost or create locations in extremely populated areas in order that wonderful fishing is obtainable to all Arkansans. This system has grown from stocking catchable-sized fish in 10 places in 2002 to 50 places in 2025. In 2007, this system expanded from stocking solely channel catfish to incorporate rainbow trout in winter when water temperature allowed these fish to outlive. This system has supplied a possibility for hundreds of Arkansans to fish with family and friends in handy places. Go to www.agfc.com/familyfishing for extra info and to see a listing of stocked places all through the state. 
 
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CUTLINES:
THREE KIDS AND A FISH
Household and Group Fishing Program Places will nonetheless have one stocking of rainbow trout this December. AGFC picture.
FATHER SON LIMIT
Rainbow trout limits on FCFP ponds stay at 5 fish per day whereas the trout final. AGFC picture. 
Nov. 13, 2025
Nov. 13, 2025
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Arkansas Recreation and Fish Fee
2 Pure Assets Drive
Little Rock, Arkansas 72205
833-345-0325

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