Beaver Lake in Northwest Arkansas has a strong reputation for clear water and excellent bass, crappie and striper fishing, but a string of state records for paddlefish is beginning to put Beaver on the big fish map in regard to another species. Garfield resident and striped bass angler Mike Schleeper inked his name in the record books Saturday morning with a 127-pound, 6-ounce behemoth, squashing the previous state record of 118 pounds, caught by James Johnson in 2020.

Schleeper was trolling brooder minnows around 30 feet deep near Point 6 with his good friend and fishing partner Tom Mayberry when the catch occurred.

“I’ve been fishing for stripers up here for about 13 years, and I’ve had the chance to catch some stripers over 30 pounds, but this was different,” Schleeper said. “It didn’t strip line and stop in surges like big stripers do, he just sort of pulled the rod down and kept going. I couldn’t turn him so we had to follow him with the trolling motor for about the first 20 minutes.”

Once Schleeper did manage to sway the fish in his direction, the fight ensued for nearly another half-hour.

“It was a 45-minute fight altogether,” Schleeper said. “I’d thought maybe it was a really big striper, but then we could finally see it a little bit. It looked like a giant catfish at first, but as we got it closer to the boat we realized what it was.” Read more

Leader in premium hunting and sportsman clothing and gear, Ball and Buck proudly announces the limited edition Abel Fly Reel and Scott Centric fly rod collaborations.

The Abel X Ball and Buck Special Edition Rove Deep Green and Rove Slate Grey Fly Reel, is crafted for the extreme angler. The Rove reel is precision-engineered by Abel, and boasts a caged frame, and large quick-change arbor spool, with aerospace-grade durability to withstand the toughest battles. The Ball and Buck collaboration design offers the option of Deep Green or Slate Grey stealth camo engraving with blaze-orange accents, reflecting an adventurous spirit. Featuring double pawn engagement for universal fit and the reliable rove system with a cork drag, this proven design enhances the fishing experience in a package that will last a lifetime.

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FWP asking anglers to report catches or observations of pike in Clark Fork tributary

GW: Some of the best trout fishing in the world has gotten better.

Blue Ribbon Fisheries are waterbodies that provide some of Utah’s most exceptional, high-quality fishing experiences. The program that designates and helps fund these fisheries recently allocated over $440,000 toward 11 projects aimed at enhancing these waterbodies so they retain their elite status.

There are currently 43 waterbodies in addition to two mountain areas in Utah — streams, rivers and lakes on the Uinta mountains and on Boulder Mountain — that hold this Blue Ribbon status. The Blue Ribbon Fisheries program was created in 2001 by then-Gov. Mike Leavitt, and was formally established in 2005 through an executive order by then-Gov. Jon Huntsman.

“The program was created because Utah’s leaders recognized that fishing is one of the state’s most popular and economically valuable recreational activities,” Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Sportfish Coordinator Trina Hedrick said. “There was a need to recognize the best angling opportunities in the state and to provide additional funding for further improvements to keep them at that level. This program helps fulfill those needs.”

In order to be named a Blue Ribbon Fishery, a waterbody has to meet several requirements and provide highly satisfying fishing and recreational experiences for diverse groups of anglers and outdoor enthusiasts. The waterbodies are selected and reviewed by the Blue Ribbon Fisheries Advisory Council, which is a representative committee of 13 anglers appointed by the governor. Read more

Connect-Ease® 2.0 PRO 24, Pro 36 Trolling Connection Kits provides anglers with quick, easy, and reliable rigging systems (w/onboard charging) for today’s newest 12-, 24-, and 36-volt trolling motors and lithium or AGM batteries

For anglers or recreational boaters running today’s newest brushed or brushless, direct-drive, and more powerful 12-, 24-, and 36-volt bow-mount trolling motors, Connect-Ease is proud to introduce the Connect-Ease 2.0 PRO Trolling Motor Connection systems w/and w/o Onboard Charging, which features heavier-duty 6-gauge wire (a power requirement change over previous 8 gauge) and many other engineering advances.

For 36-volt trolling motors like the new Minn Kota QUEST Series, Garmin Force Kraken, Lowrance GHOST, Power-Pole MOVE, Rhodan HD GPS, Newport Vessels NV and MotorGuide Tour Pro, the Connect-Ease 2.0 36V Series PRO Trolling Motor Connection Kit W/Onboard Charging is incredibly easy-to-install, protects your investment, and offers peace of mind while fishing mission-critical, tournament or big-water situations. Read more

Angler Mitch Holland couldn’t believe his luck.

Almost a week to the day since he caught a brown trout measuring roughly 29 inches, he was back in the same spot at the exact same moment — 7:31 a.m. — of the Little Red River with a nearly identical big brown trout suddenly at the end of his line. He secured the fish, took a photo and released it back to the Greers Ferry Lake tailwater, just as he had eight days earlier.

And Holland wondered, considering the fish seemed the same size as his previous catch, and he was in the same vicinity and at the same time of morning: Could this have been the same trout?

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s Communications Division forwarded that query on to Christy Graham, the AGFC’s Trout Management Program coordinator, who had an answer. Read more