Nearly 1,000 extra-large Florida bass fingerlings have been stocked at Lake Monticello, according to the Advance Monticellonian newspaper.
The paper reported that the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission stocked the lake with the bass to lay the foundation for trophy-sized bass potential for the lake, which has undergone extensive renovations in 2021 and 2022.
Game and Fish Regional Fisheries Supervisor Kris Nault said it took five years for the lake to reach its full pool during construction and boat ramps were useable within four years, adding that there were droughts during two of those years which slowed the rate at which the lake filled.
Last November, minnows, golden shiners, bluegill and sunfish were stocked in the lake to build the forage bass before the game fish were stocked.
The lake is scheduled to receive another stock of Florida largemouth bass fingerlings this summer, and in the fall, the lake is scheduled for an additional stock of bluegill, sunfish, fathead minnows, golden shiners, shad and black crappie.
