Briefly

Briefly

The section of the Razorback Greenway that runs under North Walton Boulevard and Interstate 49 in north Bentonville is closed because of construction on the Bella Vista bypass.

The section is expected to reopen in the fall of 2021.

Nonresidents add

revenue

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission partnered with Mississippi State University researchers to conduct a study in 2017-2018 that surveyed resident and nonresident fishing license holders in Arkansas. what’s new here? Was it just released?

The goal was to better understand the behaviors, preferences and contributions of anglers to help Game and Fish meet their needs. Here are some findings from the survey regarding nonresident anglers.

Trout and black bass are the two species out-of-state anglers fish for the most, according to the survey. Sixty-five percent of nonresident anglers come from states that border Arkansas.

Each spent an average of $222 per day fishing in Arkansas, the survey says. Nonresident anglers contributed $12.9 million in state and local sales taxes in 2017-2018, it says.

Trail section needs

crew

The trails at Hobbs State Park-Conservation Area are mostly maintained by volunteers who adopt a section of trail. Park staff is looking for one or more volunteers to adopt a three-mile stretch of Little Clifty Loop, which is part of the Hidden Diversity multiuse trail.

Work may include cutting back vegetation, erosion prevention and other duties. For details contact Carla Berg, volunteer coordinator, carla.berg@arkansas.gov, 479-789-5009.

Study targets river bass

Arkansas Game and Fish Commission biologists are electrofishing on the Illinois River in Benton County over the next two weeks doing a study of the river’s black bass population.

The bass population was last studied in 2014, said Jon Stein, district fisheries supervisor with Game and Fish. That research showed the stream had a good population of the three black bass species: largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass. Spotted bass numbers were particularly impressive, Stein said.

The study turned up about 20 black bass per hour of electro-fishing, including fish up to three pounds. Some 15% of the fish were 14 inches or longer, Stein said.

Lakes get Florida bass

Around 2 million Florida largemouth bass fingerlings were stocked by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission in lakes and rivers in central and south Arkansas so far this year.

The Florida strain of largemouth bass is known for fast growth and large size. The strain requires warmer water than the northern strain largemouths found in most north Arkansas lakes. Both strains spawn naturally in Arkansas lakes.

Lake Conway received 105 adult Florida bass. Waterways stocked with Florida fingerlings include Arkansas River Pool 2 and lakes Chicot, Columbia, Er-ling, Millwood and Horseshoe.

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