HOT SPRINGS – The first draft of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission's Lake Ouachita Fisheries Management Plan has been released by the agency. The draft plan is the result of the AGFC's effort to better understand and address the overall desires of the Lake Ouachita fishing public.
The 40,000-acre U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lake is located near Hot Springs in western Arkansas. The reservoir’s sport fisheries includes black bass, crappie, striped bass, walleye, catfish and bream.
AGFC chief of fisheries Mike Armstrong said that the plan was developed with the help of anglers and boaters input from two previous meetings along with involvement from the Lake Ouachita Citizen Advisory Group. "We plan on having another public meeting next month to ask the public if we have adequately addressed their concerns on how the lake should be managed," Armstrong said. "We want to know if we got it right," he added.
The public meeting will be held on Nov. 9 at the Lake Hamilton High School cafeteria beginning at 6:30 p.m. The draft management plan is available on the AGFC website at http://www.agfc.com/ouachita/ or by calling (501) 223-6371. "We want as much public input as possible on this plan. It's the public's opportunity to participate in the development of a fisheries management plan for Lake Ouachita," Armstrong said.
Comments on the draft plan may be emailed to information@agfc.com or sent to AGFC Fisheries Division, Attn. Lake Ouachita Management Plan, 2 Natural Resources Dr., Little Rock, AR 72205 or by phone at (501) 223-6371.
