mojorig

These DO readings were taken on 7/11 at various spots around Norfork Lake by the Lake Norfork Striper Club. This will give you a good idea of where the thermocline is now on Norfork. Email before you come and I'll send the latest DO readings.

Kramr, The USACE is following this water management plan (Click here). I suspect generation will ramp back up now that the Newport Guage is finally below 12 feet. It finally fell below 12 yesterday (7/13). As of today (7/14 9 am), the level at Newport is 11.95 ft and 4 lake system is at 63% full. Excerpt from the plan under the Newport gauge: "8 May – 30 November: Regulate to 12 feet except, regulate to 14 feet from 15 May through 30 November if the 4-lake system flood storage exceeds 70% full."

All, Here is AGFC D-2 Fisheries 2017 first biannual newsletter (Click here). The newsletter highlights some of the activities that have occurred during the first half of 2017 in D-2. If you would like to be added to the newsletter email list, feel free to email me at Jeremy.Risley@agfc.ar.gov Thank you for taking the time to read our newsletter. Feel free to contact us with any questions. Thank you for fishing Norfork Lake!!! Thanks, Jeremy

All, Here is AGFC D-2 Fisheries 2017 first biannual newsletter (Click here). The newsletter highlights some of the activities that have occurred during the first half of 2017 in D-2. If you would like to be added to the newsletter email list, feel free to email me at Jeremy.Risley@agfc.ar.gov Thank you for taking the time to read our newsletter. Feel free to contact us with any questions. Thank you for fishing Bull Shoals Lake!!! Thanks, Jeremy

I agree I'm not a big fan of watching how many 1 pounder can someone catch on TV today.

Yes, this is statewide survey. Once the statewide is completed, there will be some species specific surveys conducted.

Yes, there has been research done on fizzing of bass. Texas has done some research on this. Here is a link the article ( http://tpwmagazine.com/archive/2011/aug/scout1_bassfizzing/ ). At the bottom is a youtube video that shows a dissected bass and where the needles goes. Like nomolites said and was also mentioned in the attached article, if the fish is released immediately, the fish could swim back. However sometimes that doesn't happen. When we work winter tournaments, we usually have to fizz over 20 or 30 fish. Most would not survive, if we didn't. Some will be eating by birds and other will die due to stress. We have had guys tell us their fish needed to be fizzed and were caught first thing in the morning. Also there are other methods to deflate the airbladder if the fish is released immediately. However, as you all know, we don't always have that luxury in tournaments.

Like always, we would agree with Ham!!

We have asked to post a copy of the survey once we receive a copy. I'll let you know. Of course, it will give everyone an opportunity to see the questions but not respond unless you actually receive the survey in the mail.

We were asked by our Fisheries Administration to post this article. Below is an excerpt announcing and explaining a state wide angler survey that will begin soon. If you are chosen to participate, please take the time to fill out the survey. Thanks! AGFC asking anglers for feedback LITTLE ROCK – Ask some anglers about their latest trip and you may hear stories of fish so large even the photos weighed five pounds, but the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission is asking for some honest feedback in a new survey being mailed next week. The survey will help identify trends in angling and areas where the resource can be managed more effectively for the benefit of all Arkansans. According to Jason Olive, assistant chief of the AGFC Fisheries Division, this is the first survey of this kind done in Arkansas since 2000. “We’re sending out 10,000 surveys to randomly selected Arkansas residents who purchased a license in 2016,” Olive said. “We sell around 375,000 licenses per year, so the odds of any individual getting one will be pretty small.” With only about one in every 40 anglers receiving a survey, some anglers may ask how the results could be correct, but Olive explains that when done in a scientific manner with randomly selected participants, the results from the sample size will reflect the overall population’s answers extremely well. “As always, we will have public comment periods later this year for suggestions and input from avid anglers,” Olive said. “This survey is meant for all anglers, no matter if they fished one day or 100. Everyone’s input is critical to paint the whole picture of what the public wants and how we can improve how we serve them.” Ben Batten, AGFC assistant chief, also pointed out that the survey is being conducted by an outside contractor to ensure that the process is handled as scientifically as possible, without any influence from AGFC staff. “It’s important on these sorts of surveys that we use an outside organization, so that we remain open-minded about any possible outcome,” Batten said. “And using an outside organization that has a good history with these sorts of surveys adds a much higher level of credibility to the results.” Batten says the bid went out earlier this year, and Mississippi State University was chosen to complete the survey work. No in-state agencies or organizations submitted a bid. “MSU has vast experience in this field, conducting these types of surveys for Mississippi, Texas, Florida, and Puerto Rico, and will do an excellent job,” Batten said. “But don’t be surprised when you see a Mississippi State logo on the envelope.” Batten says the survey is the first of three that will be conducted in the next few years to gauge trends in angling and better understand what anglers want when they visit a lake, river or stream in The Natural State. “This isn’t just about bass anglers, or trout anglers or crappie anglers,” Batten said. “This is about everyone who wets a line in Arkansas, so even if you only went bream fishing once with friends last year, taking 10 to 15 minutes to fill out this survey will help us learn how to make that experience better next time.”

Yes, this has been a learning lesson for our office. This is a federal regulation that has been on the books for a long time but it wasn't adhered to in AR. We have received a bunch of questions about it. We found out about this change while on a fishing forum, lol. You would be amazed at the stories we have heard about people's VIN numbers for their boats. We had one person come in our office that had his cell phone number as his boat VIN, lol!!

We were asked by our Fisheries Administration to post this article. Below is an excerpt announcing and explaining a state wide angler survey that will begin soon. If you are chosen to participate, please take the time to fill out the survey. Thanks! AGFC asking anglers for feedback LITTLE ROCK – Ask some anglers about their latest trip and you may hear stories of fish so large even the photos weighed five pounds, but the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission is asking for some honest feedback in a new survey being mailed next week. The survey will help identify trends in angling and areas where the resource can be managed more effectively for the benefit of all Arkansans. According to Jason Olive, assistant chief of the AGFC Fisheries Division, this is the first survey of this kind done in Arkansas since 2000. “We’re sending out 10,000 surveys to randomly selected Arkansas residents who purchased a license in 2016,” Olive said. “We sell around 375,000 licenses per year, so the odds of any individual getting one will be pretty small.” With only about one in every 40 anglers receiving a survey, some anglers may ask how the results could be correct, but Olive explains that when done in a scientific manner with randomly selected participants, the results from the sample size will reflect the overall population’s answers extremely well. “As always, we will have public comment periods later this year for suggestions and input from avid anglers,” Olive said. “This survey is meant for all anglers, no matter if they fished one day or 100. Everyone’s input is critical to paint the whole picture of what the public wants and how we can improve how we serve them.” Ben Batten, AGFC assistant chief, also pointed out that the survey is being conducted by an outside contractor to ensure that the process is handled as scientifically as possible, without any influence from AGFC staff. “It’s important on these sorts of surveys that we use an outside organization, so that we remain open-minded about any possible outcome,” Batten said. “And using an outside organization that has a good history with these sorts of surveys adds a much higher level of credibility to the results.” Batten says the bid went out earlier this year, and Mississippi State University was chosen to complete the survey work. No in-state agencies or organizations submitted a bid. “MSU has vast experience in this field, conducting these types of surveys for Mississippi, Texas, Florida, and Puerto Rico, and will do an excellent job,” Batten said. “But don’t be surprised when you see a Mississippi State logo on the envelope.” Batten says the survey is the first of three that will be conducted in the next few years to gauge trends in angling and better understand what anglers want when they visit a lake, river or stream in The Natural State. “This isn’t just about bass anglers, or trout anglers or crappie anglers,” Batten said. “This is about everyone who wets a line in Arkansas, so even if you only went bream fishing once with friends last year, taking 10 to 15 minutes to fill out this survey will help us learn how to make that experience better next time.”

We were asked by our Fisheries Administration to post this article. Below is an excerpt announcing and explaining a state wide angler survey that will begin soon. If you are chosen to participate, please take the time to fill out the survey. Thanks! AGFC asking anglers for feedback LITTLE ROCK – Ask some anglers about their latest trip and you may hear stories of fish so large even the photos weighed five pounds, but the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission is asking for some honest feedback in a new survey being mailed next week. The survey will help identify trends in angling and areas where the resource can be managed more effectively for the benefit of all Arkansans. According to Jason Olive, assistant chief of the AGFC Fisheries Division, this is the first survey of this kind done in Arkansas since 2000. “We’re sending out 10,000 surveys to randomly selected Arkansas residents who purchased a license in 2016,” Olive said. “We sell around 375,000 licenses per year, so the odds of any individual getting one will be pretty small.” With only about one in every 40 anglers receiving a survey, some anglers may ask how the results could be correct, but Olive explains that when done in a scientific manner with randomly selected participants, the results from the sample size will reflect the overall population’s answers extremely well. “As always, we will have public comment periods later this year for suggestions and input from avid anglers,” Olive said. “This survey is meant for all anglers, no matter if they fished one day or 100. Everyone’s input is critical to paint the whole picture of what the public wants and how we can improve how we serve them.” Ben Batten, AGFC assistant chief, also pointed out that the survey is being conducted by an outside contractor to ensure that the process is handled as scientifically as possible, without any influence from AGFC staff. “It’s important on these sorts of surveys that we use an outside organization, so that we remain open-minded about any possible outcome,” Batten said. “And using an outside organization that has a good history with these sorts of surveys adds a much higher level of credibility to the results.” Batten says the bid went out earlier this year, and Mississippi State University was chosen to complete the survey work. No in-state agencies or organizations submitted a bid. “MSU has vast experience in this field, conducting these types of surveys for Mississippi, Texas, Florida, and Puerto Rico, and will do an excellent job,” Batten said. “But don’t be surprised when you see a Mississippi State logo on the envelope.” Batten says the survey is the first of three that will be conducted in the next few years to gauge trends in angling and better understand what anglers want when they visit a lake, river or stream in The Natural State. “This isn’t just about bass anglers, or trout anglers or crappie anglers,” Batten said. “This is about everyone who wets a line in Arkansas, so even if you only went bream fishing once with friends last year, taking 10 to 15 minutes to fill out this survey will help us learn how to make that experience better next time.”

Typically, it occurs around 30ft (one change in atmosphere) but we have seen it happen to fish caught at 20 ft that were reeled in really fast.

Yes, we can email you the waypoints for the natural and artificial structures so you can load them onto your graph. Email me at Jeremy.Risley@agfc.ar.gov

If the fish is swimming belly up or unable to swim down from the surface are typical signs of barotrauma.

The same general principle should work on them. We will have to make videos showing them as well.

Here is a short fizzing video we made while working the last Winter Bass-o-Thon on Norfork Lake. We hope this shows how to easily fizz a bass, when needed. http://https://www.facebook.com/708087842686746/videos/736437786518418/

Here is a short fizzing video we made while working the last Winter Bass-o-Thon on Norfork Lake. We hope this shows how to easily fizz a bass, when needed. http://https://www.facebook.com/708087842686746/videos/736437786518418/

Here is a short fizzing video we made while working the last Winter Bass-o-Thon on Norfork Lake. We hope this shows how to easily fizz a bass, when needed. http://https://www.facebook.com/708087842686746/videos/736437786518418/

I agree

One of the biologist in the office caught 18 crappie on Friday. Most of them were keeper sized crappie. They were suspended under docks. It was an afternoon bite for them. With the calm winds most of the weekend, the bass fishing sounded tough.

This year it is on Guntersville so I wont be fishing it. Unfortunately, I don't get to fish them when they are back in Arkansas anymore because I'm busy helping with fish care during the tournament.

This is a timely discussion. We are finishing up our Bull Shoals and Norfork Lake Annual Reports. We don't hold anything back. If there is an issue, we document it. For this post, that link isn't the actual TR annual report. I'm guessing it is some sort of general "annual" fishing report. I could be very wrong on that. I do know their actual annual reports are usually very detailed. I found the 2014 annual report on here to give an idea of what the annual reports look like

Yes the large spotted bass being caught in California are Alabama Bass, once known as Alabama Spotted Bass. They are a cousin of the Spotted Bass found in the White River lakes. The Alabama Bass is now recognized as its own species. This is similar to Largemouth Bass vs Florida Largemouth Bass.