Billy Bland Fishery started a little over 50 years ago in the small southern community of Walker Creek, near Taylor, Arkansas.  A new lake was being built, Lake Earling by International Paper Company. Billy knew fisherman would be coming to the lake on a regular basis and would need bait.  He saw this as an opportunity to start a business he had always dreamed of, owning and operating a fish farm. With little education and even less money, he started going to the Red River and seining minnows and brought them back and sold them, a penny each.  Soon a route was started delivering minnows to other bait stands around other lakes and he saw the desire people had of wanting ornamental goldfish. He bought a couple of acres and through trial and error a few fish were raised. Then a few years later, a couple more ponds were built, and a few more fish were raised.  The rest, as they say is history. Today Billy’s son Jim and his son Jeremy continue to strive to produce quality, healthy fish for customers across the country.

With over 400 acres of land and ponds, Billy Bland Fishery, Inc. produces quality Goldfish, Koi, Rosie Red Minnows, Catfish and a few strands of Tropical Fish.

We have also began to produce the very popular “sport fish.” With the growing demand for individuals wanting to have a variety of fish in their own ponds, we have included these fish in our growing facilities.  They include the Large Mouth Bass, Blue Gill, Coppernose and Red Ear Bream, along with Black Crappie . These fish are all very easy to keep in your ponds and are just as exciting to catch.

On August 31, 2012, Billy Bland passed away.  To say it has been difficult to continue his legacy would be an understatement.  We miss him each day, but will continue to keep his memory and his family business going strong.