Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s rainbow trout stocking program began last month and will continue into March for lakes in the Neighborhood Fishin’ program.
Channel catfish are stocked from April through October, and rainbow trout are stocked in winter months, which brings fishing much closer to the masses.
“The reason for stocking some lakes on a monthly basis is to reduce losses of fish to resident cormorants,” said Dave Terre, TPWD’s chief of management and research, in a news release. “We hope the less-frequent stockings will keep the birds from patterning our stocking activities and make more fish available for anglers. We will stock the same total number of fish, just less often.”
A second change to the program is the addition of Missouri City Community Park Lake in the Houston area. This lake replaces Tom Bass I, which was not being used by many anglers based on recent TPWD surveys.
“We are always looking for ways to maximize participation, user satisfaction and cost efficiencies in this program that involves public and private funding. We are very excited to bring a new lake and new city partner into the Neighborhood Fishin’ program,” said Terre, in the release.
A 2012 survey indicated that more than 80,000 people take part in the Neighborhood Fishin’ program. Fish for the program are purchased partly with funds from the Texas Bass Classic Foundation (which is supported by the Toyota Texas Bass Classic) and from local partners.
A new local partner this year is Valero, which is sponsoring Miller’s Pond in San Antonio.
“Regular stocking is a key component of the Neighborhood Fishin’ program, which helps increase fish-catching opportunities in small city park lakes close to where people live,” Terre said. “Providing this opportunity is especially important to our youth and families, who may be new to fishing or just want to have some fun together outdoors. Our surveys show that nearly 50 percent of participants are kids or adults who are new to fishing.”
Anyone 17 years or older needs a fishing license to fish at the Neighborhood Fishin’ locations, and anglers can use no more than two poles while fishing. The bag limit for trout and channel catfish is five fish per day with no minimum length limit.
Below are the names and locations of lakes in the Neighborhood Fishin’ program with the dates they are scheduled to be stocked with trout. Keep in mind that weather or other problems could cause the dates to vary slightly. However, such frequent stocking means the fishing should be good any time you go.
Click here for stocking updates.
- Medical Center South, Amarillo: 11/29, 12/13, 12/27, 1/10, 1/24, 2/7, 2/21, 3/7
- Oakes Street, San Angelo: 11/29, 12/27, 1/24, 2/21
- Southside Lions Park, San Antonio: 11/27, 12/27, 1/24, 2/21
- Miller’s Pond, San Antonio: 11/27, 12/27, 1/24, 2/21
- Buena Vista Park, Waco: 11/27, 12/13, 12/27, 1/10, 1/24, 2/7, 2/21, 3/7
- Bullfrog Pond, Austin: 11/27, 12/13, 12/27, 1/10, 1/24, 2/7, 2/21, 3/7
- Greenbriar Park, Fort Worth: 11/29, 12/13, 12/27, 1/10, 1/24, 2/7, 2/21, 3/7
- Hurst Chisholm Park, Hurst: 11/29, 12/27, 1/24, 2/21
- Lakeside Park, Duncanville: 11/29, 12/13, 12/27, 1/10, 1/24, 2/7, 2/21, 3/7
- Mesquite City Lake, Mesquite: 11/29, 12/27, 1/24, 2/21
- South Lakes Park Pond, Denton: 11/29, 12/13, 12/27, 1/10, 1/24, 2/7, 2/21, 3/7
- South Weeks, Wichita Falls: 11/29, 12/13, 12/27, 1/10, 1/24, 2/7, 2/21, 3/7
- Central Park Pond #1, College Station: 11/27, 12/13, 12/27, 1/10, 1/24, 2/7, 2/21, 3/7
- Mary Jo Peckham Park, Katy: 11/29, 12/27, 1/24, 2/21
- Missouri City C.P.L., Missouri City: 11/29, 12/13, 12/27, 1/10, 1/24, 2/7, 2/21, 3/7
