Of the 98,000 rainbow trout allocated for release this spring at 63 Ohio locations, a pond in Lake County and a natural lake in Geauga County didn’t fare too badly.
The Ohio Division of Wildlife will stock Granger’s Pond, found within Lake Metroparks Veterans Park in Mentor, with 2,000 trout. This stocking is set for March 15.
Punderson Lake in Geauga County’s Newbury Township will be the recipient of 2,500 trout. This seasonal seeding of fish at the popular Punderson State Park is scheduled for April 13.
All of the trout releases will take place between March 1 and May 3, and the Ohio Division of Wildlife says the stocking of these public lakes and ponds “are excellent opportunities for families to fish together.”
That may even be something of an understatement. Once the stocking truck pulls through Veterans Park or up top Punderson Lake, anglers figuratively come out of the woodwork to catch the fish.
In the case of Punderson, trout are often available through the entire spring while some knowing anglers catching them even throughout the summer and into fall.
All of the stocked fish are presently enjoying the good life at various Wildlife Division fish hatcheries.
When they are released each of the fish will measure between 10 and 13 inches, Wildlife Division officials say.
It is important to remember, of course, the daily limit on trout for inland lakes, which is five fish.
Some locations will feature special angler events, including youth-only fishing, on the day of the scheduled trout release. That stipulation in the past has included the stocking at the 100-acre Punderson Lake.
Contact the nearest wildlife district office for specific information. Additional information about trout releases is available at wildohio.com or by calling 800-WILDLIFE.
Anglers age 16 and older must have an Ohio fishing license to fish state public waters, which includes both Granger’s Pond as well as Punderson Lake.
The 2013-2014 fishing license is available now and is valid through Feb. 28, 2014.
An annual resident fishing license costs $19. A one–day fishing license costs $11 for residents and non-residents. The one-day license may also be redeemed for credit toward the purchase of an annual fishing license.
Ohio residents born on or before Dec. 31, 1937, may obtain a free fishing license where licenses are sold.
Persons age 66 and older who were born on or after Jan. 1, 1938, and have resided in Ohio for the past six months are eligible to purchase the reduced-cost resident senior license for $10.
For a complete list of lakes and ponds to be stocked and when, visit the following Wildlife Division web site: http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/Home/FishingSubhomePage/FishingProspectsandReports/troutsprtrout/tabid/6974/Default.aspx.
- Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
JFrischkorn@News-Herald.com
Twitter: @Fieldkorn
Can you find out when they will be released in 2014?
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