March 7, 2018
Randy Zellers Assistant Chief of Communications
WYNNE - On Tuesday, March 20, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission will host a public input meeting regarding fisheries management for largemouth bass on Lake Dunn and Lake Austell. The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. at the visitor center of Village Creek State Park at 201 County Road 754 in Wynne.
These lakes have a history of producing the occasional trophy fish. Lake Dunn made headlines in 2012, when a Forrest City angler caught a 16 pound, 5 ounce largemouth that would have broken the long-standing state record. Unfortunately, the angler did not have a valid fishing license at the time of the catch, making it an illegal catch and not eligible to set the record. Lake Austell has been the recipient of many Florida-strain largemouth stockings over the years, and has been under a restriction where anglers were required to immediately release any bass caught between 13 and 16 inches.
“We are looking to simplify the regulations to put both lakes under a standard 10 bass daily limit with only one fish over 20 inches being allowed,” said Justin Homan, AGFC fisheries supervisor at the Brinkley regional office. “This should protect large fish from overharvest, let anglers keep more fish to eat and reduce the amount of small- to mid-size fish competing for the same food as the larger bass.”
Anyone interested in management of these lakes is encouraged to attend the meeting. If you have any questions, please call the Brinkley regional office at 1-877-734-4581.