This year the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) is updating the Trout Management Plan, for the White and Norfork Rivers. The plan was last updated about ten years ago. The first public meeting was held a few weeks ago at the Sheid Center at Arkansas State University Mountain Home. I attended and we were asked what we disliked and liked. Based on those likes and dislikes the AGFC put together a number of proposals for regulation changes that affected our trout fisheries.
Last week the AGFC had another meeting where they presented these proposals and the public was able to vote for their favorites. I was there. The first thing that I noticed is that there were about half of the number of attendees that were there for the first meeting.
Second there was a question and answer period, for each proposed change, where the public was allowed, to ask questions and make comments. The format of the first meeting did not allow for this. I was intrigued by some of the comments and was amazed by others. Several attendees complained about Blue Herons and the number of trout that they ate. One attendee suggested a bounty on them. It was noted by an AGFC employee that blue herons are a federally protected species.
Most of the proposed regulations related to protecting rainbow, brook and cutthroat trout on the White and Norfork Rivers. At the first Trout Management Plan meeting it was noted the regulation limiting the harvest of brown to those trout twenty four inches or larger had been a great success and the public wanted similar regulations protecting other species particularly the rainbows. We are just not catching larger Rainbows, brook and cutthroats. There were several proposed regulations for each species and we were asked to vote on our favorite.
I was glad to see more restrictive regulations on these species but did not think they went far enough except for a proposed change to protect all cutthroats under twenty four inches. I think a similar regulation on brook trout is called for. My big disappointment was the proposed change on rainbows. The propose changes centered on allowing anglers keep one rainbow over fourteen inches and another proposal for one sixteen inch trout. There were also proposals allowing the angler to keep two such trout. I would rather see a regulation calling for rainbow trout between fourteen inches and twenty four inches to be released.
Other proposed regulations concerned Catch and Release Sections. The AGFC recommended closing the Monkey Island section because it is not working. I agree. The section in the State Park below the Bull Shoals Catch and release section is closed from November, 1 through January, 31, to accommodate the brown trout spawn. The section below that is seasonally Catch and Release during the same period. The AGFC wants to simplify the regulations and make both sections in the State Park seasonal Catch and Release. This sounds logical.
The AGFC had the University of Arkansas study the Catch and Release section at Rim Shoals. The study concluded that the section was too small and should be enlarged to make it more effective. They recommended a one mile extension upstream or a two mile extension downstream. I fish at Rim Shoals more than any other piece of water in the area. I totally support either of these proposals.
It will be interesting, to see how this all turns out.
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