Game and Fish leaders dedicate $16 million renovated hatchery, launch new trophy bass program

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission on Wednesday (July 16) dedicated its $16 million renovation of the nearly 100-year old Joe Hogan State Fish Hatchery in Lonoke. It is the largest public warm water fish hatchery of its kind in the U.S.

AG&FC officials joined state and local dignitaries at the fish hatchery for a formal dedication on Wednesday and announced the launch of a new sport fishing program – the Arkansas Legacy Lunker – that aims to draw more anglers from outside of Arkansas to the Natural State.

The program incentivizes fishermen to bring over 10-pound bass to the hatchery for breeding purposes. After spawning larger fish, they will eventually be restocked in lakes across Arkansas to attract more big fish trophy anglers. The program, which will also include an annual banquet and major prizes, will start Jan. 1, 2026.

AG&FC Chair Anne Marie Doramus said she’s excited for what the new Arkansas Legacy Lunker program will do for fishing tourism in the state.

“Have you ever reeled in a 10 pound bass?” she asked. “I’ve reeled in a six pound bass, and that’s about as big as it’s gotten. But I want to reel in a 10 pound bass because if that six pound bass was fun, I know that 10 pounder is going to be incredible.”

Fishing in Arkansas has a $2.1 billion economic impact on the state, according to AG&FC. It contributes 18,000 jobs and over $66 million in state and local taxes. Programs like the Legacy Lunker hope to increase those numbers.

The Joe Hogan State Fish Hatchery renovation is a big puzzle piece to the program and other fishing attractions for Arkansas. The completed $16 million renovation in Lonoke was aided by $5 million in federal funds helped by Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., and another $5 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. The state legislature, governor, and AG&FC allocated the additional money.

“Finding funding can be hard at times and trying to allocate it to a project of this size we thought was going to be impossible,” said Doramus. “But our friends in Washington came to help and our friends here in Arkansas from the governor’s office and on the legislative level came to help as well. So it finally came to fruition and they knew along with us how important this was, not only for the Game and Fish Commission, but for the entire state. This touches literally every single county in the state of Arkansas and benefits them and benefits anglers for many years to come.”

The Hogan hatchery began in 1928 when 266 acres of converted rice farmland was purchased and transformed into hatcheries. The ponds were originally dug by hand and Joe Hogan, who was raised locally, ran the hatchery from 1928-1956.

The facility breeds bass, minnows, bream, and catfish. Every catfish that AG&FC stocks comes from the hatchery. The renovation allows for increased production, new fish, and reduces reliance on the local water aquifer by hundreds of millions of gallons annually. There are also 20 new ponds and some larger ponds have been resized for better fish management.

The hatchery can also spawn bass outside of their natural season, which will allow for larger fish in ponds and lakes during peak season.