PHOTOGRAPHS BY JOSH ROUSE
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON CJONLINE
A crowd of onlookers gathered at mid-day Saturday at Lake Shawnee’s east boat ramp as the frigid waters became filled with about half of the more than 7,000 pounds of rainbow trout that were scheduled to be stocked that day. The remainder of the fish were released on the other side of the lake.
A crowd of onlookers gathered at mid-day Saturday at Lake Shawnee’s east boat ramp as the frigid waters became filled with about half of the more than 7,000 pounds of rainbow trout that were scheduled to be stocked that day. The remainder of the fish were released on the other side of the lake.
Several in the crowd commented on the good size of the trout being released this year, with an average weight of about 21/4 pounds at the east ramp and some fishing weighing up to 8 pounds. The current state record trout weighed 15.72 pounds and was caught by Spring Hill’s Josh McCullough in February 2014 on Kill Creek Park Lake. The lake record is a 15.43-pounder caught in March 2012 by Nicole Wilson.
The lake will be closed to all anglers until 6 a.m. Nov. 4 to allow the rainbow trout — which came to Topeka from Crystal Lake Fisheries in Ava, Mo. — time to disperse throughout the lake.
The lake will be closed to all anglers until 6 a.m. Nov. 4 to allow the rainbow trout — which came to Topeka from Crystal Lake Fisheries in Ava, Mo. — time to disperse throughout the lake.
With the temperature floating around 40 degrees during the noon release, the weather was ideal for the trout, which thrive in cold waters. They could be spotted swimming in the shallows, getting used to their new environment.
Trout can be caught on a variety of baits and lures, including dough bait, salmon eggs, Vibric Rooster Tails, Little Cleos, spinners and dry or wet flies.
Trout can be caught on a variety of baits and lures, including dough bait, salmon eggs, Vibric Rooster Tails, Little Cleos, spinners and dry or wet flies.
STATE TO STOCK MORE TROUT, MORE OFTEN: The KDWPT announced earlier this week that it will stock agency-managed waters with 22 percent more trout this year, as well as stocking more frequently.
In years past, the state’s Fisheries Division would stock state-managed trout waters four times over the course of the season, which runs Nov. 1 through April 15, 2018. This year, state-managed waters will be stocked two additional times to reduce the amount of time between each stocking. Community-managed lakes, such as Lake Shawnee, will not see an increase.
In years past, the state’s Fisheries Division would stock state-managed trout waters four times over the course of the season, which runs Nov. 1 through April 15, 2018. This year, state-managed waters will be stocked two additional times to reduce the amount of time between each stocking. Community-managed lakes, such as Lake Shawnee, will not see an increase.
Among the waters in northeast Kansas that will see the two extra stockings will be Topeka’s Auburndale Park, Tuttle Creek’s Willow Lake, Clinton State Park’s Lake Henry, all of which require trout permits for all anglers, as well as Fort Riley’s Moon Lake and Cameron Springs, which like Lake Shawnee only require trout permits for trout anglers.
Trout permits can be purchased for $14.50 at any license vendor location and online at ksoutdoors.com.
Trout permits can be purchased for $14.50 at any license vendor location and online at ksoutdoors.com.
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