arkansas game and fish stocking schedule 2021 arkansas game and fish stocking schedule 2021

23 Kentucky beats Arkansas 88-79, 2023 2A State Basketball Tournament: EPC boys fall to Marshall in Quarterfinals, 2023 2A State Basketball Tournament: Bay boys fall to Bigelow in Quarterfinals, Arkansas State womens basketball falls to Southern Miss in SBC Quarterfinals, Arkansas women's basketball falls to #1 South Carolina in SEC Tournament. Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. If you ever have any problems with our fish then please contact us immediately. 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. Fish Stocking Search ADF&G's Division of Sport Fish stocks a variety of fish species into lakes and streams throughout the state. 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. Call us at 1-870-578-9773 and one of our representatives will place your order for the next Fish Day in your area. The Bass / Bluegill / Redear option is the most popular option for most pond owners. Greers Ferry National Fish Hatchery is one of more than 80 facilities in the National Fish Hatchery System administered by the U.S. When the predators consume a stocked amount of shad, the lake will not produce enough to support the game fish without additional stocking. Copyright 2023, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. "Forage fish populations depend on a lake's carrying capacity," Olive said. The Greers Ferry National Fish Hatchery is located in the southern foothills of the Ozark Mountains in Cleburne County, Arkansas. Greers Ferry Lake was in sad shape 10 years ago because of overabundant predators coupled with a major dearth of forage fish. Home About AGFC Press Room RFP and Bid Notices Surveys Calendar 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. The hatcherywas establishedin 1965 and produces rainbow and brook trout. 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 AGFC's mission is to conserve and enhance Arkansas's fish and wildlife and their habitats while. If you have any questions or need a custom plan we would be happy to help! The U.S. Brown trout can reproduce successfully in Arkansas, but rainbow trout populations require annual stockings. Fish stocking is a valuable tool for managing and enhancing fishing opportunities in lakes and streams. You can use the search and filter functions to search the stocking schedule for specific locations and dates. 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 . 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. According to Brett Timmons Arkansas Game and Fish will start stocking the lake with fish on Monday March 22nd! While AZGFD places a high priority on meeting its stocking schedule found on the . The stocking of trout will begin the week of Sept. 26 and continue weekly through October. 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. Search for volunteer opportunities around the country, News about wonderful wild things and places, FWS is taking steps to mitigate climate impacts, Search employment opportunities with USFWS. Anglers 16 and older must have a trout permit in addition to their license to keep trout. 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 . Neither these AP materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and noncommercial use. Please click "Odd-Shaped" above for details. In 2021, it stocked 2.6 million threadfin shad in Arkansas waters. Arkansas Game and Fish Commission | Little Rock AR The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission's mission is to conserve and enhance Arkansas's fish and The hatchery partners with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission in restoration and recovery of the Ozark hellbender. The schedule is subject to change without notice; see individual waterbody listings in the . Freshwater mussels play very important roles in our rivers and lakes filtering the water and creating habitat for fish and aquatic insects fish like to eat. Over the next few months, various types of fish will be added. 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. Customized Stocking Rates, for now and for the future, On-site Delivery and Release for large orders. Water-Wastewater Consulting & Grounds Management LLC. Scheduled Trout Stocking Tailwater Management Plan Meeting Notes Revision Public Meeting, August 3, 2017 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. Click Here to Subscribe to our Weekly Newsletter E-mails. Some pools of the Arkansas River, for instance, have seen extreme siltation that has blocked off backwater habitat critical for spawning. Copyright 2021 KAIT. Note: these estimates will not be valid for egg-shaped ponds (ellipses). Randy Zellers is assistant chief of communications at the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. Agree Disagree They're just going to get hungry in short order and continue to be in poor physical condition. We can't guarantee fish that are released into ponds and lakes that don't meet these requirements. Most reservoirs in Arkansas actually produce thousands of times the largemouth on their own than what can be stocked each year, but some supplemental stockings have shown beneficial in improving populations where reproductive success is limited. All rights reserved. Proudly powered by WordPress 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. "I believe we sped up the rebound of that fishery by stocking shad," Olive said. It is the easiest to maintain and strikes a proper balance between predator and prey. "With so much of our work requiring many hands at once, they had to pivot and adapt to social-distancing protocols as well as handle any labor shortages from quarantines to get the job done for Arkansas anglers.". 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. 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. Most fish populations are very good at maintaining themselves, but sometimes they need a bit of assistance from managers to reach their potential. 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. Enter the acreage or square footage of your pond or use our pond size calculator to estimate the surface area of your pond. The fish are stocked into cold tailwaters below federally operated dams in Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma. Each year, rainbow trout raised at the Jim Hinkle Spring River State Fish Hatchery in Mammoth Springs . LAKE POINSETT, Ark. 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. | In doing so, we help provide recreation opportunities to Americas 34 million anglers who spend $36 billion annually in pursuit of their favored pastime. 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. "We're really proud of what the culture section at the AGFC has been able to accomplish in the last year," Tommy Laird, AGFC assistant chief of fisheries, said in the Arkansas Wildlife Weekly Newsletter. AGFC biologist Brett Timmons says this will start the prey base for fishing. Copyright 2023, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. the longest distance possible from one end of your pond to the other in a straight line. "Through research, we have identified the types of lakes and reservoirs where these stockings can be more successful.". Copyright 2023, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. The Arkansas Game & Fish Commission released 35,000 bluegills, 98,000 flathead minnows, and some golden shiners. Call us to see what's available in your area. The dates listed on the trout stocking schedule represent the Monday of the week the stocking will occur. Anglers wetting a line in the waters of The Natural State have a lot of fishing, and fish, to look forward to. 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. If you have any questions we are more than willing to help. 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. 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.. Fish and Wildlife Service trout hatcheries and other partners, delivered more than 12.5 million fish to Arkansas waters during 2021. Call for details.Fathead Minnows must be restocked at least once per year. Too many predator fish in a lake can deplete the forage fish population. Copyright 2023, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, along with the U.S. *Optional for this recommendation. The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain! wildlife and their habitats while promoting sustainable use, public understanding and support. 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. January 22, 2022 at 2:36 a.m. Largemouth bass fingerlings are shown in this photo. 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. Striper anglers will note more than 577,000 of these fish stocked in Beaver, Ouachita and Norfork lakes this year, thanks to the AGFC's collaboration with many partners, including Keo Fish Farms in England, which is owned by former commissioner Mike Freeze, and the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission's Inland Fisheries Division. Natural State trout anglers have a lot to be happy for from 2021 as well. Arkansas Pondstockers provides a free Fish Release Guide that will instruct you on the proper procedures for releasing your fish. "Like with game fish, you cannot stock your way out of bad habitat," Olive said. Arkansas Game anD Fish 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. A major reason to stock forage fish is to jump-start game fish populations in newly renovated lakes, Olive said. Continue about one mile. Comparatively clean water like that of the Ozark and Ouachita mountains are not as fertile and do not support as many forage fish. Two things can cause a forage fish population to crash or decline, Olive said. 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. 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. Candidate Conservation Agreements (CCA & CCAA), Coastal Barrier Resources Act Project Consultation, Coastal Barrier Resources System Property Documentation, Mussels Stocked in South Fork to Stabilize Little Red River Population. 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. Nov 22, 2021 Arkansas game and fish. "It does not matter how many shad you stock. by The Game and Fish Commission also stocks walleyes in Greers Ferry, and it formerly stocked a lot of white bass/striped bass hybrids. 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. 1. 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. Randy Zellers Special to The Commercial Must not already contain a significant fish population, Maintains sustainable dissolved oxygen levels, Maintains at least four feet of water over the vast majority of the surface area, Pond or lake water isn't harmful to fish (significantly bad pH levels, disease or parasite infestations, dangerous levels of toxic chemicals, etc. You can read or print the guide here on this website or obtain a printed copy from your delivery driver. One of the easiest ways that anyone can support bird habitat conservation is by buying duck stamps. Arkansas Game anD Fish Search for an address close to your pond and draw points to find the approximate acreage. Greers Ferry National Fish Hatchery is just one of the many field stations of the U.S. 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. According to Brett Timmons Arkansas Game and Fish will start stocking the lake with . : January - 14,500 February - 13,180 March - 15,000 April - 1,980 May - 1,000 October - 1,520 November - 5,520 December - 5,480. A lake will only hold as many forage fish as its nutrients and plankton will support.". 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. Producing fish continues to be an irreplaceable tool in managing or restoring fisheries along with habitat conservation. 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. The ponds are great for beginners as well as advanced anglers who just want to make a quick trip to the water.. Game and Fish has stocked around 61,000 walleye fingerlings at Lake Fort Smith since 2013, Stein noted. (Courtesy photo/Arkansas Game and Fish. Arkansas Pondstockers is not affiliated with Daft Logic. Neither these AP materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and noncommercial use. Trout Guide. 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. 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 hatchery produces rainbow and brook troutto mitigate for fishery losses caused by the operations of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers water development projects (hydroelectric dams) located in the White and Ouachita river basins of Arkansas, and the Illinois and Red river basins of eastern Oklahoma. We take pride in giving our customers the most satisfactory experience possible when it comes to helping maintain their ponds. In cooperation with state game and fish agencies of Arkansas and Oklahoma, trout are stocked for recreational fishing purposes into the cold tailwaters below these federally operated dams. wildlife and their habitats while promoting sustainable use, public understanding and support. If you're just starting out and need some advice or even if you're trying to improve an existing pond, then this is the place to start. Here is a list of resources that you may find useful: Here's a neat tool from Daft Logic. 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. Each year, ODFW stocks millions of trout in dozens of reservoirs, lakes and ponds throughout the state. Fish and Wildlife Service trout hatcheries and other partners, delivered more than 12.5 million fish to Arkansas waters during 2021. We are always more than willing to help, so please feel free to contact us if you have any questions. . July 28, 2021. Daily Trout Stocking Schedule. 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. Trout daily limit is five. The species was listed asendangered September 2011 under the Endangered Species Act. Ask any one of our thousands of repeat customers and they will tell you the same. They eat plankton, which thrive in the nutrient-rich waters of the Mississippi River Delta, Arkansas River Valley and Gulf Coastal Plain. Officials said last year that renovations were nearly completed, with erosion near the shoreline repaired. 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. The hatchery partners with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission in restoration and recovery of the speckled pocketbook mussel. Since 1871, National Fish Hatcheries have been responding to conservation challenges affecting Americas fish and other aquatic species. Community fishing event kicks off 2022 catfish stockings Date: 03.30.22 LITTLE ROCK The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission's Family and Community Fishing Program will kick off the 2022 catfish stocking season with a special fishing event from 9 a.m to 1 p.m. Saturday, April 2. at MacArthur Park in Little Rock. Little Mo' 2022 Stocking Schedule. 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. ), Doesn't have other factors that would otherwise inhibit the health or growth rate of fish (for example: an overabundance of snakes, turtles, fish-eating birds, etc. Print Headline: 12.5 million fish stocked during '21. The hatchery participates in conservationefforts to increase numbers of the species by constructing artificial nesting boxes. Notice: Grass carp are not available in Louisiana, Michigan, and Texas. by Arkansas Game and Fish | December 1, 2020 at 7:00 a.m. Rainbow trout have been stocked in the region's community lakes for winter fishing. Work has also been done to repair campsites and bridges at the state park, just outside Harrisburg. In those situations, stocking forage fish is little more than feeding fish. We would love to have the chance to exceed your expectations. Theme: Newsup by Themeansar. 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. We cannot guarantee fish that are improperly released. The statewide stocking schedule link below includes all waters receiving catchable-sized trout from Arizona Game and Fish hatcheries. Stocking was delayed because of the winter weather that iced most roads and small waterways. 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. Feeding forage fish in a nursery pond is inexpensive, and it's inexpensive to move and release them. So emphatic is Olive on this point that he said he wants it engraved on his headstone. Click Below to Access The Guide Coming Soon! The hatchery primarily produces rainbow trout and brook trout. Visitors are welcome to a self-guided tour of the outdoor fish rearing area. All rights reserved. We want to give people the opportunity to see why fishing is such a great outdoor pursuit, Jackson said. Read More The mussel was listed February 1989 asendangeredunder the Endangered Species Act. In certain situations, the Game and Fish Commission stocks threadfin shad, golden shiners and fathead minnows. In these extreme cases, stocking can play a role in bolstering bass populations. All credit goes to Daft Logic for the above link. 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. March 16, 2021 at 1:00 a.m. It's very important to know how to release your fish once we deliver them to you. Water temperatures in mountain lakes often fall below that threshold, Olive said, but some forage fish survive by finding pockets of warmer water. in 1965 and produces rainbow and brook trout. (KAIT) - An important part of a three-year plan to renovate Lake Poinsett happened Monday as crews restocked the lake with fish. 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. Channel Catfish are our most popular game fish, especially in the Southern U.S. Weekly trout stocking schedule. More than 2.2 million Florida largemouth bass and more than 616,000 northern largemouth bass were stocked by Arkansas Game and Fish Commission personnel in 2021. You can read or print the guide here on this website or obtain a printed copy from your delivery driver. The fish are stocked into cold tailwaters below federally operated dams in Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma. 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. Sections 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! Desirable traits include fast growth, ease of feed training, and ease of management. The Black Crappie option is the most difficult to maintain of the four options listed. Stockings can take place any day throughout that stocking week. In 2016, the Game and Fish Commission did not stock any shad in Arkansas Waters, Olive said. However, Greers Ferry's hydrology limits the effectiveness of stocking shad on a large scale. Man! 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. Olive defines baitfish, or forage fish, as "a species of fish of interest chiefly as prey of more valuable game fish.". Print Headline: Stocking forage fish won't cure infertile fisheries. Winter 2022/2023 Arizona Trout Stocking Schedule. Enter your email address to subscribe to Imboden Live News and receive notifications of new posts by email. We are the premier live fingerling fish supplier in the United States with over 20 years of pond and lake stocking experience. Neither these AP materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and noncommercial use. 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. 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. Take the numbers generated above and place your order with one of our representatives. Check out the 2022-2023 winter trout stocking schedule below, then plan a trip to take advantage of awesome Arizona trout fishing! 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. They can't be kept in. Daily Limits: 3-catfish, 5-trout, 25-bream Largemouth bass may not be retained and must be released immediately into the water. "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.". LITTLE ROCK The Arkansas Game and Fish Commissions Family and Community Fishing Program has begun trout stockings for the 2021-22 winter stocking season at ponds throughout Arkansas. Anglers 16 and older must have a valid license to fish. Fingerlings average 1.5 inches long when they're put into the lake. 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. 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. i.e. 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. Area Trout Maps. "If there's a scuba shop near a lake, it's probably not a good lake for shad," Olive said. Since 1871, National Fish Hatcheries have been applying science-based approaches to conservation challenges. (Special to The Commercial/Arkansas Game & Fish Commission). Find additional information on DWR's State Fish Hatcheries and stocking program here. 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. Scheduled to get about 1,400 Browns in November '22 Looking for the best way to catch a catfish, land a lake trout, or snag a smallmouth? States. 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. AGFC is able to grow larger crappie than many states, and hatchery staff want to see if it could make a difference. 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 next time you go fishing, you might just catch a fish that was raised at Greers Ferry National Fish Hatchery. 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.