Trout Season Opens at Rotary Lake February 1st

Jackson Middle School Fishing Club member shows off trout caught and released in November.

MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION

2302 County Park Drive

Cape Girardeau, MO 63701

For more information contact:

Mike Reed

Fisheries Management Biologist

January21,2014 573-290-5730

Mike.Reed@mdc.mo.gov

Trout harvest begins February 1st at Rotary Lake

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO. -- Anglers get ready! Trout may be harvested from Rotary Lake in Jackson beginning February 1st.

According to Fisheries Management Biologist, Mike Reed, of the Missouri Department of Conservation, fishing has been good this winter when weather conditions have allowed. "If warmer weather prevails we should have an excellent opening weekend of trout fishing," said Reed.

Reed stated that over 1,900 trout are stocked each November at the start of the catch-and-release season. These fish provide a tremendous amount of fishing opportunity through the fall and winter months when warm water fishing is at a lull.

Reed reminds anglers that they must release trout caught now through January 31.

Additionally, Reed said anglers age 16-64 must have a valid MO fishing permit to fish for trout. In addition, anyone harvesting trout must have a trout permit. The limit is four trout and any lure or bait is allowed.

Popular baits include almost any type of small spinner, small crank baits, natural baits such as worms and cheese and commercially produced dough baits.

"Last year's opening weekend of trout fishing was simply awesome," explained Reed. He said that many anglers reported catching limits of trout using lite weight or ultra-lite fishing tackle or fly tackle.

Questions may be directed to the MDC's Southeast Regional Office, 573-290-5730.