Lake Columbia the Place for Trophy Bass

lake-columbia-bass-2018

From the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission’s District 6 Fisheries Newsletter:

“Lake Columbia continues to be the hotspot in District 6 for anglers seeking trophy Largemouth Bass. Fish from the unusually large spawn in 2012 are growing well as a result of both the management drawdown in 2011 as well as the removal of the protected slot limit in 2014, while some fish have surpassed the famous 10-plus pound mark. ATIP data (catch data provided to the AGFC Black Bass Program by willing tournament participants on lakes statewide) showed that Lake Columbia broke the record for fewest angler-hours to catch a 5-lb or larger bass (53 hours) in 2018. The next closest lake in 2018 was 103 angler-hours. The 28-year statewide average is 406 angler-hours, while last year’s statewide average was 323 angler-hours. Additionally, creel survey results from the past two years are encouraging. In 2017, 60% of anglers reported catching a 5-lb or greater bass within the past year, and this number rose to 63% in 2018. If big bass are your game, Lake Columbia is your place.”