Arkansas Game and Fish Commission biologists recently sampled the channel catfish population in Beaver Lake and have  been conducting a stock contribution study.

The AGFC annually stocks 60,000 channel catfish (average size of 9 inches) in Beaver Lake to supplement the natural spawn and provide better fishing opportunities.

To evaluate stock contribution, AGFC staff from the Charlie Craig Hatchery and district biologists have marked the stocked channel catfish for the past three years. A total of 180,000 channel cats have been marked.

Staff can determine how these fish contribute to the fishery by sampling the lake with baited hoop nets and plan to conduct an angler survey starting in March on Beaver Lake to get more information on these stocked fish.

Visit AGFC.com for periodic updates.