Rainbow Trout Return to Searcy County
On 30 October 2024, Kelly Winningham of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) gave approval for stocking rainbow trout at the Raccoon Springs City Park Lake in Marshall! Stocking is paid for by the Buffalo River Community Development Corporation (BRCDC) of Searcy County. In 2016, the City of Marshall landed a grant of up to $77,271.54 from the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism Outdoor Recreation Grants Program to build a city park and small public fishing lake in Marshall on land donated by Dr. Ron Hubbard! The City of Marshall and the chamber of commerce hoped to obtain fish from the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission to stock this public fishing lake, to include rainbow trout in the colder months of the year. Eventually, it was the BRCDC, with AGFC approval, who stocked the lake with rainbow trout for the first time in Marshall in 2024. Other fish were stocked early on after the lake was filled with water. Apart from the occassional trout that comes up the Buffalo National River from the White River into Searcy County during the colder months, this year's trout stocking is the first time trout has returned since the long-departed Scott's Springs Trout Farm northeast of Marshall. Scott's Springs is named after William James Scott who homesteaded the area north of Marshall that would later host a trout farm. Today Trout Farm Road bears the name from that long gone enterprise. The pamphlet photos are from an old Rotary Club publication.
The Rainbow Trout were stocked on Friday, 15 Nov 2024 and fishing was opened to the public the following Monday at Raccoon Springs City Park in Marshall! The Buffalo River Community Development Corporation stocked the small lake for public fishing. Adults must have a fishing license but no trout stamp is required. There is a three fish catch limit posted for Raccoon Springs City Park. Three fish may be taken home per family.
Thanks to Marshall Mayor Kevin Elliot, the Buffalo River Community Development Corporation, and the approval from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission!
