The Missouri Department of Conservation filled Veterans Park Lake with 800 rainbow trout this past weekend to kick off the winter fishing season, according to a press release from the City of Fulton.
The non-native rainbow trout range from 10 to 13 inches long, with most weighing about three-quarters of a pound, but some may weigh as much as 6 pounds.
MDC regulates specific restrictions when catching trout at Veterans Park Lake from Nov. 1 to Jan. 3. The department said anglers may only use flies, artificial lures and unscented soft plastic baits during that time frame. All trout must be released back in the lake unharmed immediately after being caught.
Trout may be kept starting on Feb. 1, 2016, but MDC reminds anglers that there is a limit of four trout per day.
All anglers ages 16 to 64 must possess a valid Missouri Fishing Permit, and those wanting to keep their prized fish must purchase a separate trout permit when the catch and release restriction for the lake is lifted Feb. 1. Trout permits cost $7 for those over age 15, and $3.50 for youth ages 6 to 15. Regular fishing permits cost $12 for all Missouri residents. All permits can be purchased on the department's website.
The conservation department split the costs of purchasing the trout with the City of Fulton 50-50, with each fish costing $2.24, according to the department's worksheet listed on its website. With 400 fish per acre swimming in the 2-acre Fulton lake, the city will be paying $896 for all 800 fish, with the cost of staff coordination and labor costing $224.06.
Veterans Park Lake is the only site in Callaway County with rainbow trout, with the closest winter trout areas being Cosmo-Bethel Lake in Columbia and Kiwanis Lake in Mexico, Mo., according to the conservation department's website.
In a previous version of this story, the cost of 800 trout for the City of Fulton was incorrectly posted on the MDC's website as $448. The Sun has since verified the correct total with MDC ($896), which is reflected in the story.