Arkansas Fishing Report
Lake Monticello Sponsored by
| Date | 17-Feb-23 | |
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: Lake Monticello: After a two-year project of rebuilding the lake habitat by the AGFC while the city of Monticello rebuild the lakes dam, Lake Monticello is reopened for fishing though the water is still well below what will be full pool when it refills. Lake Monticellos is mostly dependant on rainwater for refilling all of its 1,520 acres, and in late fall it had reached a coverage of almost 500 acres.
All fish that are caught are catch-and-release at this time and the AGFC Fisheries staff rebuilds the predator population and the forage base.
Late in 2022 the AGFC hatchery staff stocked about 180,000 fathead minnows, 111,902 golden shiners, 78,840 bluegill and 82,056 redear sunfish. Florida largemouth bass will be stocked during the summer of 2025. The aforementioned forage and bream species will be stocked again in the fall of 2025, along with black crappie. Reported by: Arkansas F & G |
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| About: -
Located off Ark. 35 about five miles northwest of Monticello.
Lake
Monticello is a 1,520-acre impoundment that opened for fishing in 1997. It is
owned by the city of Monticello and its fishery is overseen by the Arkansas Game
and Fish Commission, which is managing the lake to produce trophy largemouth
bass. A recent catch was documented as the fourth-biggest largemouth ever caught
in the state.
Fishing: Sportfish found in the lake include crappie, bream and catfish. Available facilities include two picnic areas with concrete boat ramps and courtesy docks. |
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Largemouth bass from 19 inches to 22 inches long must be released immediately. Largemouth bass daily limit is eight, only one of which may exceed 22 inches. No limit on white bass and hybrid striped bass. Because of mercury contamination, pregnant women, women who may become pregnant, women who are breast-feeding, and children under age seven should not eat flathead catfish, blue catfish or largemouth bass longer than 12 inches. Others should not eat flathead catfish or blue catfish longer than 15 inches, or largemouth bass longer than 16 inches, or more than two meals per month of largemouth bass shorter than 16 inches. Other fish may be eaten without restriction. Use of common carp as bait is prohibited. Crappie daily limit is 20. From March 1-Nov. 30, crappie must be 10-inches long to keep. From Dec. 1-Feb. 28, the minimum length on crappie is waived and anglers may take 20 crappie per day. No culling is allowed on crappie, and the first 20 caught must be kept. |
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