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Fisheries chief outlines proposed 2026 proclamation changes including trout and lake rules
Summary
Fisheries Chief Jason Henninger presented proposed 2026 changes: remove a Piney River catch‑and‑release restriction, adjust Big Saw Creek stocking season, close Catoosa WMA waters during certain hunts, make Woodhaven and Travis McNatt lakes catch‑and‑release during renovation, and update naming to Herb Parsons Refuge; public comment open through Jan. 5 with potential effective date Aug. 1, 2026.
Jason Henninger, fisheries chief, summarized proposed changes to the sport fishing proclamation for 2026 and the public‑comment and adoption timeline. The proposals include removing a delayed‑harvest catch‑and‑release restriction on the Piney River (Region 3), adjusting the Big Saw Creek stocking window to match observed suitable stocking conditions, temporarily making Woodhaven Lake and Travis McNatt Lake catch‑and‑release only during state park renovations, and clarifying season closures on streams and ponds within the Catoosa Wildlife Management Area during deer and wild hog control seasons.
Henninger also noted a prior proclamation renaming Herb Parsons Lake to Herb Parsons Refuge and creating Bill Dance Lake at Herb Parsons Refuge; the fisheries team will update the proclamation text accordingly. The formal comment period opens now and runs through Jan. 5; staff will bring recommended changes back to the commission in January, and, if adopted, the changes would take effect Aug. 1, 2026.
Commission and staff exchange produced no substantive objections during the committee presentation; members were invited to submit public comments during the posted comment period.
