Catfish stockings ongoing at Fishing in Neighborhoods (FINs) lakes

April 24, 2014 Media Contact: Dane Balsman

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 1-800-858-1549, ext. 4480

FRANKFORT, Ky. – The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources is conducting catfish stockings at Fishing in Neighborhood (FINs) lakes across Kentucky.

Eighteen lakes in the FINs lakes received catfish April 17 while nine more were stocked today. The stocked channel catfish average about 1 pound each.

“This is an easy fishing opportunity,” said Dane Balsman, urban fisheries biologist for Kentucky Fish and Wildlife. “This is a great chance to fish for an hour or two after work with some productive fishing. There are plenty of fish and they should be biting.”

Camp Ernst Lake in Boone County received 1,250 channel catfish today while Alexandria Community Park Lake in Campbell County received 1,400 channel catfish.

Other lakes and catfish stocking numbers for today include:

· Kenton County: Middleton Mills Park’s Long Pond, 300; and Shelterhouse Pond, 300.

· Meade County: Fort Knox, Dickerson Lake, 400; and Carlson Lake, 1,400.

· Montgomery County: Easy Walker Park Pond, 400.

· Anderson County: Anderson County Community Park Lake, 200.

· Boyle County: Millennium Park Pond, 400.

Lakes and stocking numbers for April 17 include:

· Daviess County: Panther Creek Park Lake, 800; Waymond Morris Park Lake, 1,000; and Yellow Creek Park Lake 600.

· Franklin County: Upper Sportsman’s Lake, 1,200; Lower Sportsman’s Lake, 600.

· Jefferson County: Tom Wallace Park Lake, 1,000; Watterson Park Lake, 800; Waverly Park Lake, 900; and William F. Miles’ Angler Lake in The Parklands of Floyds Fork, 700.

· Fayette County: Jacobson Park Lake, 2,300.

· Grayson County: James D. Beville Park Lake, 600.

· Knox County: Brickyard Pond, 2,000.

· Scott County: Lusby Lake, 500; and Scott County Park Lake, 500.

· Hopkins County: Madisonville City Park Lake North, 1,100.

· Warren County: Three Springs Lake, 1,450.

· Madison County: Whitehall Park Lake, 1,200.

· Marshall County: Mike Miller Park Lake, 800.

In addition, approximately 30,000 hybrid sunfish measuring up to 7 inches will be distributed among FINs lakes in late May.

“There are still plenty of trout in these lakes as well,” Balsman added. “You’ll have until the end of May before the water gets too warm for trout.”

The FINs program, which began in 2006 with five lakes, now includes 39 lakes in 24 counties.

Daily limits for each angler fishing a FINs lake includes five rainbow trout, four catfish, one largemouth bass over 15 inches and 15 bluegill or other sunfish. A statewide fishing license is required for anglers who are 16 and older. Licensed anglers who want to keep their trout must have a valid trout permit. The trout permit is included in the $5 senior license for those anglers age 65 and older, as well as the sportsmen’s license.

The Kentucky Fish and Wildlife website has a place for you to submit pictures of your catch. Just go to fw.ky.gov and click on the “Fish” tab to post your pictures as well as get the latest information on exact stocking dates, a list of FINs lakes and directions to each lake.

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The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources manages, regulates, enforces and promotes responsible use of all fish and wildlife species, their habitats, public wildlife areas and waterways for the benefit of those resources and for public enjoyment. Kentucky Fish and Wildlife is an agency of the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet. For more information on the department, visit our Web site at fw.ky.gov.