LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — This winter, anglers in the Natural State will get the opportunity to catch golden trout in areas stocked by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s Family and Community Fishing Program.
“It’s a continuation of our tagging promotion that we’ve done in the past, trying to encourage more trout fishing through our Family and Community Fishing locations,” said Clint Coleman, FCFP assistant coordinator. “We’ve (stocked) big catfish, with 50- and 60-pound blue catfish, but we’ve never done anything to promote trout fishing. We decided to try golden trout, which have been stocked in other states. We wanted to bring that opportunity to Arkansas.”
This special color variant of rainbow trout will be stocked at all FCFP locations statewide starting the week before Christmas.
“We’re going to tag 10 golden trout per location at 39 locations across the state,” Coleman said.
The golden rainbow trout will be purchased from Crystal Lake Fisheries Inc. in Missouri and distributed across Arkansas.
Once you catch a tagged fish, you can call the phone number on the tag and claim your prize. If you mail the tag in by February 28, you’ll be entered into a drawing to receive one of three free trout-fishing trips on the Little Red River from Leland’s Lures’ and Sore Lip ’Em All Guide Service.
“The prizes and the trips are great, but the opportunity to catch golden trout is even bigger,” Coleman said. “It may be once in a lifetime for some people. Only five states have golden trout and we’re lucky we’re close enough to the facility to get them.”
Visit AGFC's website for a full list of FCFP locations to see where you can catch some golden rainbow trout.
