CAPE COUNTY TO RESTOCK TWO PARK LAKES WITH 2,000 CATFISH

JACKSON -- Fishing promises to improve at the two large lakes in the Cape Girardeau County parks.

On Monday the County Commission approved the restocking of the lakes with 2,000 channel catfish.

Bruce Watkins, park superintendent, said 1,000 of the catfish will be stocked in each lake. In addition, 75 pounds of minnows will be added to the lakes to serve as food for the catfish and bass.

Watkins said the catfish will be 8 to 11 inches long and will be purchased from Ward's Fish Farm in Ste. Genevieve.

Cape Girardeau County has stocked the lakes since their construction. In the past, the lakes were restocked every year.

In 1996, the Missouri Department of Conservation worked with the county to evaluate the fish population. The conservation agents recommended restocking the lakes every two years instead of every year.

"Not only has this lowered the cost to the county, it has improved the fish population and health immensely," said Watkins. "All reports from the fishing public show that the fish are larger, and fishing is better."

Details for delivery and stocking of the lakes haven't been finalized. Watkins hopes to have the fish in the lakes by early April, but delivery will depend on the weather.