For more information, contact the GIS Division at gis@agfc.ar.gov. Small town news commentary from Imboden, Arkansas. Continue about one mile. Home About AGFC Press Room RFP and Bid Notices Surveys Calendar Area Trout Maps. Thats also the time that well be going back to all of the ponds with truckloads of channel catfish for our anglers to enjoy, Jackson said. Fact is, however, its a testament to what can happen when the right fish genetics and nature come together, even in a 28-acre lake. Read More "I believe we sped up the rebound of that fishery by stocking shad," Olive said. Stockings can take place any day throughout that stocking week. Vic DiCenzo, AGFC Black Bass Program coordinator, explained that Florida bass stockings are about much more than boosting numbers of fish to catch. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commissions Family and Community Fishing Program concluded its final trout stockings for the 2020-21 winter season in late February at ponds and urban lakes throughout Arkansas . The Hybrid Bluegill option is best suited for smaller ponds (two acres or less). Working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission's mission is to conserve and enhance Arkansas's fish and wildlife and their habitats while promoting sustainable use, public understanding and support. Theme: Newsup by Themeansar. As with game fish, there are reasons pro and con for stocking baitfish in public waters, said Jason Olive, assistant chief of fisheries for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. Attempting to balance the fish composition in your new pond or lake can be a daunting task if you don't know where to start. The hatchery produces rainbow and brook trout, to mitigate for fishery losses caused by the operations of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers water development projects (hydroelectric dams) located in the. Effective January 1, 2022, all game fish except bream and catfish must be released immediately, with a bream daily limit of 25. Nearly 613,000 black crappie were stocked in 2021, with most going toward a study to see if stocking larger size crappie will improve survival. Note: these estimates will not be valid for egg-shaped ponds (ellipses). Neither these AP materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and noncommercial use. "Like with game fish, you cannot stock your way out of bad habitat," Olive said. wildlife and their habitats while promoting sustainable use, public understanding and support. The AP will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing. Since 1871, National Fish Hatcheries have been responding to conservation challenges affecting Americas fish and other aquatic species. Improper release of your fish will likely result in a total loss, either because the fish weren't tempered correctly or the transport container is depleted of oxygen. Are you trying to balance a pond or lake that already contains fish? (Courtesy photo/Arkansas Game and Fish. | Buy Your Licenses Online. LITTLE ROCK The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission's Family and Community Fishing Program has begun trout stockings for the 2021-22 winter stocking season at ponds throughout Arkansas. These ponds are year-round destinations for family gatherings and picnics, and we want to do what we can to make those experiences even more enjoyable.. As typical of recent years, the largest numbers of fish produced revolved around forage species, such as threadfin shad, fathead minnows, and golden shiners. Conservation is at the heart of what we do, and we recognize that we do this work for the American peopleboth the present generation who benefit today and future generations who will inherit our legacy of conserving Americas aquatic resources. The mussel was listed February 1989 asendangeredunder the Endangered Species Act. These ponds are year-round destinations for family gatherings and picnics, and we want to do what we can to make those experiences even more enjoyable.. Officials said last year that renovations were nearly completed, with erosion near the shoreline repaired. According to Brett Timmons Arkansas Game and Fish will start stocking the lake with fish on Monday March 22nd! *Optional for this recommendation. Here is a list of resources that you may find useful: Here's a neat tool from Daft Logic. Natural State trout anglers have a lot to be happy for from 2021 as well. LITTLE ROCK The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission hatchery system and its partners stocked more than 14.6 million fish into Arkansas waters last year, even with a massive renovation project limiting the output of the Jim Hinkle Spring River Fish Hatchery in Mammoth Spring. Neither these AP materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and noncommercial use. The statewide stocking schedule link below includes all waters receiving catchable-sized trout from Arizona Game and Fish hatcheries. If you have any questions or need a custom plan we would be happy to help! (Special to The Commercial/Arkansas Game & Fish Commission). "Although we have a schedule, Nebraska's weather may have its own mind that alters our plans. Also, threadfin shad die in water colder than 45 degrees. Live Fish For Ponds And Lakes Stocking Fish With Arkansas Pondstockers Our stocking plans include: Guaranteed Survival Rates Live Phone Support Transport Containers Detailed Release Instructions Customized Stocking Rates, for now and for the future On-site Delivery and Release for large orders The Arkansas Game and Fish Commissions Family and Community Fishing Program concluded its final trout stockings for the 2020-21 winter season in late February at ponds and urban lakes throughout Arkansas . Over the next few months, various types of fish will be added. LITTLE ROCK The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission's Family and Community Fishing Program has begun trout stockings for the 2021-22 winter stocking season at ponds throughout Arkansas. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commissions Family and Community Fishing Program is getting a head start on the holiday season by releasing hundreds of rainbow trout in program ponds throughout the state. Copyright 2023, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. LAKE POINSETT, Ark. While AZGFD places a high priority on meeting its stocking schedule found on the . All rights reserved. You can use the search and filter functions to search the stocking schedule for specific locations and dates. Proudly powered by WordPress AGFC is able to grow larger crappie than many states, and hatchery staff want to see if it could make a difference. According to Brett Timmons Arkansas Game and Fish will start stocking the lake with . The AP will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing. Fish Stocking Search ADF&G's Division of Sport Fish stocks a variety of fish species into lakes and streams throughout the state. Daily Trout Stocking Schedule. "We're always thankful to have former commissioner Freeze's help, and the effort to collect the stripers from Carolina was a point of pride in the fish culture section this year.". Neither these AP materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and noncommercial use. However, Greers Ferry's hydrology limits the effectiveness of stocking shad on a large scale. January 22, 2022 at 2:36 a.m. Largemouth bass fingerlings are shown in this photo. Some pools of the Arkansas River, for instance, have seen extreme siltation that has blocked off backwater habitat critical for spawning. Feeding forage fish in a nursery pond is inexpensive, and it's inexpensive to move and release them. Water temperatures in mountain lakes often fall below that threshold, Olive said, but some forage fish survive by finding pockets of warmer water. We want to give people the opportunity to see why fishing is such a great outdoor pursuit, Jackson said. Both of these organizations donated striped bass fingerlings to Arkansas to help recover from a shortfall of fish produced at the hatchery. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, along with the U.S. Man! If you have any questions we are more than willing to help. The Black Crappie option is the most difficult to maintain of the four options listed. Greers Ferry National Fish Hatchery is one of more than 80 facilities in the National Fish Hatchery System administered by the U.S. The Bass / Bluegill / Redear option is the most popular option for most pond owners. Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. Each year, ODFW stocks millions of trout in dozens of reservoirs, lakes and ponds throughout the state. In those situations, stocking forage fish is little more than feeding fish. Add to that more than 650,000 cubic feet of cover placed in fish attractors throughout the state last year and Arkansas anglers have plenty to cheer about. Call us to see what's available in your area. To respect property rights and avoid trespass, always consult AGFC's Code of Regulations in addition to official surveys and other recorded land instruments, and adhere to the boundary signs and other on-site indicators. The Outdoor Skills Network is your one-stop resource for events offered by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and a network of partners who conduct opportunities to engage your outdoor skills in hunting, fishing, trapping, safety, wildlife, marksmanship, and more! : January - 14,500 February - 13,180 March - 15,000 April - 1,980 May - 1,000 October - 1,520 November - 5,520 December - 5,480. Arkansas Game and Fish Commission | Little Rock AR ). We are the premier live fingerling fish supplier in the United States with over 20 years of pond and lake stocking experience. Two things can cause a forage fish population to crash or decline, Olive said. AGFC officials also said they wanted the lake to be restored within one year and were hopeful that the lake would have enough water by spring to start stocking fish. Water-Wastewater Consulting & Grounds Management LLC. Fish stocking is a valuable tool for managing and enhancing fishing opportunities in lakes and streams. The vast majority of those (1.31 million) were rainbow trout, while the rest were made up of brown trout, brook trout and tiger trout, a cross between the two. July 28, 2021. Fish and Wildlife Service. Daily Limits: 3-catfish, 5-trout, 25-bream Largemouth bass may not be retained and must be released immediately into the water. Call for details.Fathead Minnows must be restocked at least once per year. Not only are you getting fresh air and fun, but youre able to bring home some of the best-tasting fish to enjoy once youre done. The species was listed asendangered September 2011 under the Endangered Species Act. FORT SMITH The Fort Smith Boys & Girls Club and Arkansas Game and Fish Commission will be sponsoring a free Family Fishing Derby at Wells Lakes, adjacent to the AGFCs Janet Huckabee Arkansas River Valley Nature Center, on Saturday, Nov. 6. Visitors are welcome to a self-guided tour of the outdoor fish rearing area. Click Here to Subscribe to our Weekly Newsletter E-mails. Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. March 16, 2021 at 1:00 a.m. Arkansas Game and Fish Commission stocks ponds with rainbow trout for winter, SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT IN CIVIL ACTION AGAINST STATE POLICE * Video, Cave City Mayor Announces Future Projects, 3rd Judicial District : Arkansas Prosecutor, Sheriff Bell Announces Arrest And Closing Of Drug House. Each year, rainbow trout raised at the Jim Hinkle Spring River State Fish Hatchery in Mammoth Springs are delivered to community ponds in Arkansas once the water temperatures have cooled enough to accommodate the cold-water fish. More than 2.2 million Florida largemouth bass and more than 616,000 northern largemouth bass were stocked by AGFC personnel in 2021. We want to give people the opportunity to see why fishing is such a great outdoor pursuit, Jackson said. That situation existed on Greers Ferry Lake about a decade ago. You can read or print the guide here on this website or obtain a printed copy from your delivery driver. Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. Game and Fish has stocked around 61,000 walleye fingerlings at Lake Fort Smith since 2013, Stein noted. "When we renovate a lake, we want the newly stocked bass and crappie to have more food than they can eat to fulfill their rapid growth potential," Olive said. Mike Huckabee Delta Rivers Nature Center, Forrest L. Wood Crowley's Ridge Nature Center, Janet Huckabee Arkansas River Valley Nature Center, Witt Stephens Jr. Central Arkansas Nature Center, J.B. and Johnelle Hunt Family Ozark Highlands Nature Center, Rick Evans Grandview Prairie Nature Center, Recruitment, Retention and Reactivation Action Plan | 2020-2025, Disability, Mobility-impaired, 65-Plus, Military Retiree, Lifetime Licenses, Habitat barges and hatcheries produce banner year for Arkansas anglers, Sunset Lake surrenders a 10-pound largemouth bass, AGFC, partners stock more than 12.5 million fish in 2021, AGFC tags special stocking stuffers for the holidays, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission stocks ponds with rainbow trout for winter, Family Fishing Derby Set for Fort Smiths Wells Lake Nov. 6. Monitoring will help us adjust stock rates of forage fish and sport fish to prevent a crash like we experienced at Greers Ferry.". We can't guarantee fish that are released into ponds and lakes that don't meet these requirements. The hatchery also partners with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission in cooperativeefforts to conserve other aquatic species of mutual concern such as imperiled fish, mussels, and amphibians. Fish produced from the hatchery not only enhance recreational fishing opportunities in waters that have been modified by the cold releases of the dams, but also provide an enormous economic value to the local economies. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission's mission is to conserve and enhance Arkansas's fish and You can use these rates to get a general idea of what your pond needs, but it's recommended that you give us a call at 1-870-578-9773 and let one of our representatives help you decide what's right for your pond. Arkansas Pondstockers is not affiliated with Daft Logic. All rights reserved. "What we did there was essentially plant seed for the recovery of more shad.". The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain! BENTON It almost seems like one of those great upsets that occasionally occurs in sports: Small Sunset Lake recently produced a whopping 10-pound black bass. "In addition to covid-19 protocols hindering our broodstock collection efforts, we needed to add some different striped bass genetics to these lakes to keep the populations healthy and prevent issues caused from line breeding," Laird said. Rainbow trout, Arctic char, and landlocked coho and Chinook salmon, raised in the state's two fish hatcheries, are stocked in many southcentral and interior lakes. the total distance traveled when walking around your entire pond once, i.e. Trout daily limit is five. Olive was peeved at Internet websites and YouTube channels criticizing the commission for not stocking ailing lakes with game fish and forage fish. 496 were here. "AGFC utilizes Florida bass stockings to try to enhance quality fishing by changing the genetics in certain locations," DiCenzo said. Additional Listings: Download our new free mobile app now and display stockings close to you! The facility is just north of the historic city of Heber Springs and minutes from thebeautiful Greers Ferry Lake and scenic Little Red River below Greers Ferry Dam. Lake Monticello - Game fish creel limit is 0; all game fish caught must be immediately returned to the water. Whether you are a beginning angler wondering about walleye or teaching your kids to fish for crappie, heres a roundup of some of our favorite fishing tips from the experts who raise them. The business quickly gained traction over the next couple of years and soon the whole Denton family was involved. | Let us take the stress and guesswork out of stocking your pond or lake so that you can concentrate on what's most important: enjoying it and making memories. The schedule is subject to change without notice; see individual waterbody listings in the . Arkansas Pondstockers provides a free Fish Release Guide that will instruct you on the proper procedures for releasing your fish. Ask any one of our thousands of repeat customers and they will tell you the same. Stocking was delayed because of the winter weather that iced most roads and small waterways. PHOENIX Stocking live, healthy fish for anglers to enjoy can be challenging, but the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) is up to the task, even in this time of widespread drought. Open to fishing with handheld rod or pole only. In 2021, it stocked 2.6 million threadfin shad in Arkansas waters. Call us at 1-870-578-9773 and one of our representatives will place your order for the next Fish Day in your area. Find additional information on DWR's State Fish Hatcheries and stocking program here. Absolutely nothing has changed as far as scheduled stocking for '22! Jackson said this last round of trout will survive until the water temperature climbs out of the 60s, but anglers typically catch all but a few of the fish by then. The stocking of trout will begin the week of Sept. 26 and continue weekly through October. Arkansas Game and Fish Commission 2 Natural Resources Drive Little Rock, Arkansas 72205 833-345-0325 . This is the chance to hook into a specially tagged, prize-winning rainbow trout before the water warms too much to support these cold-water fish. Scheduled Trout Stocking Tailwater Management Plan Meeting Notes Revision Public Meeting, August 3, 2017 The fish are stocked into cold tailwaters below federally operated dams in Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma. They eat plankton, which thrive in the nutrient-rich waters of the Mississippi River Delta, Arkansas River Valley and Gulf Coastal Plain. All rights reserved. In doing so, we help provide recreation opportunities to Americas 34 million anglers who spend $36 billion annually in pursuit of their favored pastime. Ironically, Greers Ferry Lake is a prominent example. According to Maurice Jackson, AGFC Family and Community Fishing Program Coordinator, the fish will be delivered beginning this week, and all program ponds scheduled for trout should have fish swimming in them in time for the Thanksgiving holiday.Well follow up in December with additional stockings, and those fish will have tags for prizes as well, Jackson said. Randy Zellers Special to The Commercial An additional 56,000 smallmouth bass were stocked by the AGFC last year, bringing the total black bass stockings to within a stone's throw of the 3-million mark. Mourning, White-Winged and Eurasian Collared-Dove, Arkansas Waterfowl Rice Incentive Conservation Enhancement (WRICE), Natural State Landowner Conservation Awards, Endangered Species and Other Threats to Wildlife, Gov. Each spring the hatchery provides mussel rearing cages placed in Greers Ferry Lake to captively grow mussels to increase numbers and provide research opportunities for the species . Mercer Bayou (Sulphur River WMA) - All game fish must be released immediately. Copyright 2023, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. Not only are you getting fresh air and fun, but youre able to bring home some of the best-tasting fish to enjoy once youre done. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, along with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service trout hatcheries and other partners, delivered more than 12.5 million fish to Arkansas waters during 2021. A lake will only hold as many forage fish as its nutrients and plankton will support.". Again, hydrology determines the robustness of the food chain. Take the numbers generated above and place your order with one of our representatives. Little Missouri Fly Fishing. The AP will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing. In certain situations, the Game and Fish Commission stocks threadfin shad, golden shiners and fathead minnows. Timmons says the lake is half full, and they have about another 17 feet to go, and fishing will start to come back over the next two years. Stocking with us is easy. Copyright 2023, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. Infertile water equals a low plankton base, which equals a weak forage fish component, which equals a weak game fish population. Arkansas Pondstockers was founded in 1996 by Don and Mike Denton, a father and son team who started out with one fish truck making deliveries of fingerling fish to area feed stores. This is the chance to hook into a specially tagged, prize-winning rainbow trout before the water warms too much to support these cold-water fish. Trout Guide. the longest distance possible from one end of your pond to the other in a straight line. Weekly trout stocking schedule. "Hatchery crews work tirelessly throughout the year and drive thousands of miles ensuring trout arrive safe and healthy to their destinations," Anderson said. The fish are stocked into cold tailwaters below federally operated dams in Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission's Family and Community Fishing Program concluded its final trout stockings for the 2020-21 winter season in late February at ponds and urban lakes . Since 1871, National Fish Hatcheries have been applying science-based approaches to conservation challenges. The next time you go fishing, you might just catch a fish that was raised at Greers Ferry National Fish Hatchery. by It will start to bring people here to fish and bring back the livelihood that Harrisburg, the Harrisburg community have and has had for years, said Timmons. Print Headline: Stocking forage fish won't cure infertile fisheries. Arkansas Pondstockers provides a free Fish Release Guide that will instruct you on the proper procedures for releasing your fish. Olive defines baitfish, or forage fish, as "a species of fish of interest chiefly as prey of more valuable game fish.". by Fish and Wildlife Service and the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) stocked 288 endangered speckled pocketbook mussels (Lampsilis streckeri) in the upper South Fork tributary of Little Red River, Arkansas, May 12 and 13. Disclaimer: The numbers generated below are tailored to ponds or lakes that meet the following requirements: If your pond or lake doesn't meet these requirements, please give us a call instead of using the Stocking Rate Calculator and we will give you advice or guide you to resources that will help you obtain a healthy pond. This document may not be reprinted without the express written permission of Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. Material from the Associated Press is Copyright 2023, Associated Press and may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. States. Fish and Wildlife Service trout hatcheries and other partners, delivered more than 12.5 million fish to Arkansas waters during 2021. "If there's a scuba shop near a lake, it's probably not a good lake for shad," Olive said. The hatchery partners with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission in restoration and recovery of the speckled pocketbook mussel. We cannot guarantee fish that are improperly released. It's very important to know how to release your fish once we deliver them to you. Trout Production & Stocking. Tour routes of great scenic drives on National Wildlife Refuges. Its great to know you are never more than a short drive to be able to cast a line in The Natural State. Visit www.agfc.com/familyfishing to learn more about the Family and Community Fishing Program and to find a pond near you participating in the winter trout stocking schedule. You can read or print the guide here on this website or obtain a printed copy from your delivery driver. The hatchery primarily produces rainbow trout and brook trout. Fish and Wildlife Service whose mission is working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. March 16, 2021 at 1:00 a.m. The hatcherywas establishedin 1965 and produces rainbow and brook trout. Search for an address close to your pond and draw points to find the approximate acreage. All rights reserved. The facility is just north of the historic city of Heber Springs and minutes from thebeautiful Greers Ferry Lake and scenic Little Red River below Greers Ferry Dam. It's that easy! Home States Arkansas Winter Trout Stocking Underway States November 18, 2021 0 LITTLE ROCK - The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission's Family and Community Fishing Program is getting a head start on the holiday season by releasing hundreds of rainbow trout in program ponds throughout the state. Sign up for Fisheries Project and Program Emails, Mourning, White-Winged and Eurasian Collared-Dove, Arkansas Waterfowl Rice Incentive Conservation Enhancement (WRICE), Natural State Landowner Conservation Awards, Endangered Species and Other Threats to Wildlife, Gov. Sections Winter 2022/2023 Arizona Trout Stocking Schedule. LITTLE ROCK Stores and shopping centers may try to coax everyone with low prices for Black Friday the day after Thanksgiving, but the AGFC has an even better opportunity to enjoy some fast action, and it will only cost you the price of a fishing license and trout stamp. One of the easiest ways that anyone can support bird habitat conservation is by buying duck stamps. Too many predator fish in a lake can deplete the forage fish population. "It does not matter how many shad you stock. Anglers 16 and older must have a valid license to fish. We are always more than willing to help, so please feel free to contact us if you have any questions. "A million shad would not make Greers Ferry into Lake Fork (a renowned trophy bass fishery in Texas). . Work has also been done to repair campsites and bridges at the state park, just outside Harrisburg. Greers Ferry supports largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, and also white bass and catfish. Maurice Jackson, community fishing coordinator Game and Fish, said the program keeps ponds in urban areas stocked with catfish during summer, but switches to rainbow trout when the water is cold enough to support the fish. With the low predation rates and high forage availability, fingerlings in these nursery ponds grow quickly to give a boost to populations in the lakes where they are released. We would love to have the chance to exceed your expectations. This document may not be reprinted without the express written permission of Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. Material from the Associated Press is Copyright 2023, Associated Press and may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. NWS: EF-2 tornado confirmed in Arkansas storms, Lawsuit filed against Summit Utilities over price gouging, Reeves stars as No. Print Headline: 12.5 million fish stocked during '21. Notice: Grass carp are not available in Louisiana, Michigan, and Texas. Game and Fish stocks rainbow trout each year from the Jim Hinkle Spring River Hatchery in ponds throughout Arkansas while the water temperature is low enough for trout to survive. Feb. 1, 2023 LITTLE ROCK The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission hatchery system and its partners stocked more than 14.6 million fish into Arkansas waters last year, even with a massive renovation project limiting the output of the Jim Hinkle Spring River Fish Hatchery in Mammoth Spring. Mike Huckabee Delta Rivers Nature Center, Forrest L. Wood Crowley's Ridge Nature Center, Janet Huckabee Arkansas River Valley Nature Center, Witt Stephens Jr. Central Arkansas Nature Center, J.B. and Johnelle Hunt Family Ozark Highlands Nature Center, Rick Evans Grandview Prairie Nature Center, Recruitment, Retention and Reactivation Action Plan | 2020-2025, Disability, Mobility-impaired, 65-Plus, Military Retiree, Lifetime Licenses. They're just going to get hungry in short order and continue to be in poor physical condition. So emphatic is Olive on this point that he said he wants it engraved on his headstone. Anglers wetting a line in the waters of The Natural State have a lot of fishing, and fish, to look forward to. They can't be kept in. LITTLE ROCK - The Arkansas Game and Fish Commissions Family and Community Fishing Program is getting a head start on the holiday season by releasing hundreds of rainbow trout in program ponds throughout the state. Copyright 2023, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. As with game fish, there are reasons pro and con for stocking baitfish in public waters, said Jason Olive, assistant chief of fisheries for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. Before nursery ponds are stocked with the sport fish they will raise, fisheries biologists fertilize the water and plant these forage species to offer food for the new residents.