Forest Service Announces Dates for Spring Youth Fishing Derbies
RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. — May 8, 2023 – The USDA Forest Service, along with State and local partners, are sponsoring free fishing derbies throughout the Ouachita and Ozark-St. Francis National Forests in June. The following is a list of scheduled fishing derbies along with dates, times, and other information.
OUACHITA NATIONAL FOREST
Caddo-Womble Ranger District
Location: Womble Pond
Date of Derby: June 10th
Time Registration Starts: 8:00 AM
Time Fishing Starts: 8:30 AM
Time Event Ends: 11:00 AM
Age Group: 12 and under
Restroom Availability: Port-a potty
Contact: David Probasco
Contact Phone Number: 870-867-2101
Partners: Arkansas Game and Fish, Magic Bait, Trader Bills, True Value of Mount Ida, and Chris Elder Auto
Other Information: All hooks out of the water at 11:00 AM. Participation awards and contest prizes will be presented at 11:00 AM
Jessieville-Winona-Fourche Ranger District
Location: Jessieville Work Center Pond
Date of Derby: June 10
Time Registration Starts: 7:30 AM
Time Fishing Starts: 8:00 AM
Time Event Ends: 10:30 AM
Age Group: 2-14 years old
Restroom Availability: Port-a-potty
Contact: Rhonda Huston
Contact Phone Number: 501-964-1253
Partners: Arkansas Game and Fish, Magic Bait
Other Information: All hooks out of the water by 10:30 AM. Participation awards and contest prizes will be presented throughout the derby.
Mena-Oden Ranger District
Location: Oden Rifle Range Pond
Date of Derby: June 10
Time Registration Starts: 7:00 AM
Time Fishing Starts: 8:00 AM
Time Event Ends: 10:30 AM
Age Group: 2-15 years old
Restroom Availability: Yes
Contact: Justin Mitchell, B.J. Stephens
Contact Phone Number: 479-394-2382
Partners: Arkansas Game and Fish, Oden Woods & Water Club
OZARK-ST. FRANCIS NATIONAL FORESTS
Mt. Magazine Ranger District
Location: Cove Lake
Date of Derby: June 10th
Time Registration Starts: May 10
Time Fishing Starts: 8:00 AM
Time Event Ends: 11:00 AM
Age Group: 4-9 years old
Restroom Availability: Yes
Contact: Jeremy Everitts, Carla Pfeiffer
Contact Phone Number: 479-963-3076
Partners: Arkansas Game and Fish, Paris Rotary Club
Other Information: All hooks out of the water at 11:00 AM. Participation awards and contest prizes will be presented at 11:00 AM.
Pleasant Hill Ranger District
Location: Gillian Pond, 14.5 miles NE of Clarksville
Date of Derby: June 3
Time Registration Starts: 8:00 AM
Time Fishing Starts: 9:00 AM
Time Event Ends: 11:00 AM
Age Group: 12 and under
Restroom Availability: Yes
Contact: Greg Taylor
Contact Phone Number: 479-754-2869
Partners: Arkansas Game and Fish, Kiwanis Club
Other Information: All hooks out of the water by 11:00 AM. Participation awards and contest prizes will be presented throughout the derby.
The complete list provided for all of the state can be downloaded via the link below.
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