Little Rock, Arkansas – Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders today unveiled the February installment of the Faces of Arkansas series, a monthly program that honors Arkansans whose contributions and personal stories exemplify the values and spirit of the state. Launched to keep public service grounded in the people of Arkansas, the series displays portraits, profiles, and short videos of residents at the entrance to the Governor’s office, reminding both the public and state officials of the communities they serve.
This month’s feature spotlights Eric Watts, a Little Rock native whose life and work are intricately tied to Arkansas’ outdoors. Through his guiding service, Natural State Fishing, Watts has introduced countless residents and visitors to the state’s lakes, rivers, and natural landscapes, illustrating the profound economic, recreational, and spiritual impact of outdoor life in what Governor Sanders calls “The Natural State.”
For many, the day begins long before sunrise. On Lake Maumelle, the water reflects the soft glow of early light as a crisp breeze brushes across its surface. Birds trill in the trees along the shoreline, and the first hints of human activity stir quietly among the nearby homes. Below the surface, schools of bass, crappie, and minnows follow rhythms older than clocks, moving in ways dictated by instinct and environment rather than alarms and schedules.
For Watts, these quiet mornings are the start of his workday. “This is my natural state of being,” he says, reflecting on the connection between humans and the outdoors. “And I think it’s most people’s natural state of being – when you’re one with nature, connected with the outdoors, connected with God. When you’re on the water, the hustle and bustle of everyday life is gone. You’re just right here in the moment.”
Watts’ work goes far beyond recreation. He owns and operates Natural State Fishing, a guiding service based in Little Rock that caters to everyone from children trying their hand at fishing for the first time to professional anglers seeking expert insight into the lake’s patterns. For him, the goal has never been about business titles or profit margins.
“My favorite part is seeing people light up,” Watts said. “A lot of my clients, it’s their first time ever fishing. Watching them catch a fish, but also watching all the cares of the world go away, that’s the experience. They leave with a memory and a skill.”
Teaching and stewardship are central to his approach. Watts emphasizes that his clients should leave with knowledge they can replicate independently. “It’s not about you catching a bunch of fish with me,” he said. “I want you to be able to go out and replicate the same things on your own.” Through this approach, Watts nurtures a culture of outdoor literacy, connecting people to Arkansas’ waterways in a meaningful and lasting way.
His love of fishing is deeply rooted in his childhood. Growing up near the water with his grandfather, father, and uncles, Watts spent countless hours on lakes and along the Gulf Coast. Some moments were unforgettable adventures, including an hours-long encounter with a shark near an offshore oil rig. Yet, the memories that remain most vivid are often the quiet ones: drifting across a lake with hands trailing in the water, feeling the cool spray and listening to the lake’s rhythm. “It wasn’t about fishing that day,” he recalled. “It was just being out there. That feeling stuck.”
That sense of immersion and connection repeats itself daily as he watches new generations step onto his boat for the first time. Hands instinctively brush the water’s surface, eyes wide with awe, discovering the same joy he felt decades ago. This intergenerational connection lies at the heart of the Natural State Initiative, a program launched by Governor Sanders and led by her husband, Bryan, to strengthen Arkansas’ outdoor economy, promote environmental stewardship, and expand access to natural spaces.
The Natural State Initiative is more than a vision; it’s a practical framework linking education, recreation, and economic opportunity. Outdoor recreation has become Arkansas’ second-largest industry, trailing only agriculture. In 2023, it contributed over $7 billion to the state’s economy and supported nearly 70,000 jobs. Fishing alone has driven significant growth, with the economic value of recreational fishing increasing more than 36 percent in recent years. Arkansas now ranks among the top states nationwide for fishing-related contributions to the economy, reinforcing the value of maintaining access to high-quality waterways.
Lake Maumelle exemplifies the goals of the initiative. Located just a few miles from downtown Little Rock, the lake supplies roughly 90 percent of the city’s drinking water while simultaneously serving as a hub for recreational activity, including fishing, paddling, and wildlife observation. It sits within the Maumelle Pinnacles Conservation Area, which encompasses Pinnacle Mountain State Park, Rattlesnake Ridge, and Blue Mountain. Together, these areas preserve nearly 55,000 acres of natural land, creating both a sanctuary for wildlife and a playground for residents and tourists alike.
Through careful planning and investment, the Natural State Initiative has connected these spaces, creating trails, bike paths, and paddling routes that link urban centers with parks and conservation areas. Recent enhancements near Pinnacle Mountain State Park, including a new visitor center and expanded access to the Arkansas Arboretum and Monument Trail System, serve as tangible examples of the initiative’s goals: education, accessibility, and economic growth while promoting responsible recreation.
Watts’ work is woven into this ecosystem. Before dedicating himself fully to guiding, he spent nearly eight years in furniture manufacturing after a brief stint at the University of Arkansas, realizing that traditional career paths didn’t align with his passion. Those years, however, honed his work ethic and entrepreneurial skills, which would later prove crucial when establishing Natural State Fishing. Nights and weekends were spent on the water, learning the intricacies of Lake Maumelle, guiding whoever he could, and preparing himself for the day he could pursue his dream full time.
A pivotal conversation with his wife helped solidify the leap to full-time guiding. “I never would’ve had this experience for myself if I hadn’t taken that leap,” Watts said. “Now I get to be out here every day.” That decision reflects a broader theme of resilience and adaptability that resonates across the state: finding opportunities in alignment with personal passion, even when it requires taking risks and challenging conventional expectations.
Watts also emphasizes community within the outdoor recreation world. Anglers in Arkansas support one another, sharing knowledge, offering assistance, and maintaining safety on the water. “If someone’s in trouble on the water, you’re there. That’s just how we operate,” he said. Beyond supporting people, Watts and his peers teach respect for the environment, emphasizing conservation, seasonal patterns, and sustainable fishing practices.
For Eric, the Natural State is a daily reality. Each morning, the lake offers lessons in patience, observation, and connection. Each client represents a bridge between generations, a chance to instill knowledge, respect, and love for Arkansas’ outdoors. “When you’re on the water, you’re just right here in the moment,” Watts said. The phrase captures not only his personal philosophy but also the broader ethos of the Natural State Initiative, which links environmental stewardship with education, entrepreneurship, and community engagement.
Governor Sanders’ Faces of Arkansas series aims to highlight stories like Watts’, reinforcing the idea that the state’s identity is defined by the people who live, work, and contribute to it every day. From entrepreneurs and educators to healthcare workers and conservationists, the initiative celebrates those who form the heartbeat of the communities they serve. Watts’ selection is particularly meaningful because it ties together Arkansas’ culture, economy, and outdoor identity, demonstrating how one individual’s work can reflect broader statewide priorities.
Through the Natural State Initiative, Arkansas is cultivating a new understanding of what it means to live and work in The Natural State. It’s about blending economic opportunity with environmental awareness, education with experience, and individual passion with community contribution. For residents and visitors alike, lakes, parks, and conservation areas are not merely recreational spaces—they are essential elements of Arkansas’ social, cultural, and economic fabric.
Watts’ story illustrates this principle in action. Whether guiding a first-time angler, navigating a hidden channel, or sharing stories of past fishing trips, he embodies a philosophy that values patience, learning, and respect. Each cast of the line, each conversation on the water, and each memory created for his clients reflects a life lived in harmony with the outdoors—a model that Governor Sanders hopes will inspire others.
As the day winds down on Lake Maumelle, the morning stir fades. Boats return to shore, lines are reeled in, and the water calms once more. For Watts, the end of a day is less about closing a business and more about completing a cycle: teaching, connecting, conserving, and enjoying the Natural State in a tangible, daily way. The same hands that trailed the water decades ago now guide others, creating experiences and memories that will last a lifetime.
The February Faces of Arkansas installment serves as a reminder that the state is not just a collection of landscapes or statistics—it is defined by people like Eric Watts, whose passion, dedication, and stewardship exemplify the best of Arkansas. By highlighting residents who live in harmony with their communities and environment, the program reinforces the principle that public service, entrepreneurship, and civic engagement are interconnected with the state’s natural beauty and resources.
For Watts, the Natural State is more than a slogan—it’s a way of being. It is a philosophy that underscores the economic, educational, and spiritual benefits of connecting people to nature. Through guiding, teaching, and community engagement, he shows that Arkansas’ outdoors are not merely scenic backdrops but essential threads in the state’s identity and future.
Governor Sanders’ recognition of Eric Watts for February’s Face of Arkansas underscores the power of individual stories to highlight larger statewide initiatives. From Lake Maumelle to Pinnacle Mountain, the lakes, trails, and waterways of Arkansas are brought to life through the eyes of those who work and play there daily. Eric Watts’ portrait and story, displayed at the entrance to the Governor’s office, will serve as a lasting reminder of the interconnectedness of community, economy, and environment in The Natural State.
Through Watts and others featured in the Faces of Arkansas program, residents and visitors alike can see how personal passion aligns with public purpose. The initiative encourages Arkansans to reflect on their contributions and the ways in which their work, lifestyle, and stewardship can shape communities, support industries, and preserve the state’s natural heritage for generations to come.
As Lake Maumelle settles into the evening, the ripples fade, but the impact of Watts’ work resonates far beyond its waters. From first-time anglers to seasoned professionals, from tourists to local families, the lessons of patience, respect, and connection flow outward, reinforcing the Natural State Initiative’s commitment to opportunity, education, and community.
In highlighting Eric Watts as the February Face of Arkansas, Governor Sanders celebrates not just an individual, but a way of life, a commitment to community, and the enduring importance of Arkansas’ outdoors. It is a story of personal dedication, economic growth, and cultural identity intertwined—an inspiring reflection of the state’s natural and human assets that will continue to shape Arkansas for years to come.
