FYI 1-26-14

Trout may be harvested from Rotary Lake in Jackson beginning Saturday. According to Mike Reed, fisheries management biologist at 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," Reed said, adding that more than 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 said anglers must release trout caught now through Friday. Additionally, Reed said anglers age 16 through 64 must have a valid Missouri fishing permit to fish for trout; anyone harvesting trout must have a trout permit. The limit is four trout, and any lure or bait is allowed.

"Last year's opening weekend of trout fishing was simply awesome," Reed said. He said many anglers reported catching limits of trout using lightweight or ultralight fishing tackle or fly tackle.

For more information, call 573-290-5730.