Hot Springs Village is home to eleven recreational lakes and water activities are a regular pastime for many Villagers. Fishing is very popular in the Village.
HSV Anglers Club
Taking the sport of fishing seriously, many Village fishermen are members of the Hot Springs Village Anglers Club. The Anglers Club has for many years helped the HSVPOA take care of our many lakes.
According to Dave Keith, Tournament Director of the HSV Anglers Club, “It is one of the oldest fishing clubs in the Village, being formed in the late 70s. We average 80 members and meet on the first Tuesday each month at the Coronado Center at 7:00 P.M., except for July and August.”
Keith continued, “The club hosts fourteen no-entry-fee bass tournaments each year starting in March. To participate, you do not need a boat as we have two divisions, Anglers, who have boats, and Co-Anglers who do not.”
“Additionally, each year the Anglers Club sponsors a military fishing day for the folks at the Little Rock Air Force base. In 2022, twenty-five airmen attended the Military Fishing Day event in late June. A lot of bass were caught, a great BBQ lunch was served, and each airman went back to the base with a gift card,” shared Keith.
4th of July Weekend Fishing Events
Hot Springs Village celebrates Independence Day in various ways, and this year was no exception. What better way to celebrate the 4th of July than with two fishing contests, one for the adults and another for the children. The Anglers manage both the annual Kids Fishing Derby and the July 4th Team Bass Tournament.
Fishing Derby for Kids
The free fishing derby for kids at Lake Cortez pavilion was stocked by Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and sponsored by HSV Parks and Recreation, HSV Lakes Ecology, HSV Anglers Club, and Balboa Baptist Church. The Kids Fishing Derby, held on Saturday, July 2, had a turnout of 58 kids this year.
“Two hundred channel catfish were stocked in a netted-off cove on Lake Cortez. This event provided an opportunity for some of the kids to catch their first fish. The Balboa Baptist Church served donuts and coffee. The Anglers Club furnished the prizes of fishing rods, bait, and tackle,” explained Keith.
Team Bass Tournament for Adults
The Anglers also sponsored the Team Bass Tournament on Sunday, July 3. The tournament was won by the team of Jordan Mungle and Ian Lacy with five bass for seven pounds, three ounces. Second place winners were Tim Brown and Frank Elliott with four bass totaling six pounds, six ounces.
This year marked the largest turnout ever with twenty-one boats, four of which were kayaks. Ninety-three bass were brought to the scales that weighed a total of 46 pounds. All-in-all, there were some pretty good catches.
Great article just have a few updates
1. Dave Keith is the tournament director not president of the Anglers club
2.200 catfish were stocked by AG&F
3. 58 kids registered for the event and 76 fish were caught.
4.I believe that the Anglers club provided the hot dogs