Press Release

Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) biologists in north-central Arkansas teamed up with other agencies to improve fishing opportunities on Norfork and Table Rock lakes.

As part of a $275,000 grant from the National Fish Habitat Partnership using funds donated by Bass Pro Shops, AGFC teamed up with the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers (USACE) to add fish structure around the Cranfield Access on Norfork Lake. The goals of the project were to remove cedar trees to restore glade habitat and provide fish structure for bank anglers to target. During this project, 108 large cedar trees were cut by the USACE and sunk by AGFC staff at 24 new sites around the Cranfield Public Use Area. The majority of the new sites are within casting distance from the bank and should provide great shoreline fishing for crappie, bass, and sunfish this spring and summer.  This project is a great example of agencies working together to restore both terrestrial and aquatic habitats.

A second habitat project took place on the Long Creek/Cricket Creek arm of Table Rock Lake in Arkansas. AGFC and Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) biologists began a project to replenish the existing fish attractors and create new brush piles. So far, nine of the existing eighteen piles have been refreshed, and another four new piles have been established. The project should be completed this month. This area of Table Rock Lake is known for great crappie and bass fishing. With the addition of new fish structure, fishing should be great for many years to come.

These projects are just another example of how partnerships to improve habitat can benefit anglers. Through partnering with other agencies we were able to add more fish structure than we could have on our own. We would also like to thank the National Fish Habitat Partnership and Bass Pro Shops for providing funding that purchased the new habitat barge and skid-steer that were used on the Norfork project and will be used on many future habitat projects.

Brush pile coordinates for both projects will be available soon for download on the AGFC Fish Attractors page or for viewing on the AGFC online interactive map.