Post by Woody Williams on Jan 18, 2008 12:05:37 GMT -5
Fishing rules relaxed at Tri-County FWA pond
NORTH WEBSTER –The Indiana Department of Natural Resources is lifting size-limit fishing restrictions on fish caught at Tri-County Fish and Wildlife Area’s Goldeneye Pond.
The liberalized restrictions should help utilize the pond’s fish before an upcoming dam repair project. Daily catch limits at the 26-acre impoundment in Kosciusko County have also been doubled.
Steve Roth, property manager of the Tri-County FWA, said the control structure that regulates the water level at Goldeneye Pond will be replaced this summer.
Built in the early 1960s, the structure has corroded internally and can no longer be used to regulate the water level of the pond. Although not a safety hazard, some additional repairs to the levee will also be made to improve its stability.
"To do the work, Goldeneye Pond is being completely drained and will remain dry for several months," said Roth. "By relaxing the fishing rules now, we can give anglers the opportunity to take home fish that might otherwise be wasted."
In addition to relaxing the fishing rules, biologists will attempt to salvage adult largemouth bass from Goldeneye Pond, hold them throughout the summer in another pond, and restock them once the pond refills.
Bluegill and channel catfish will also be restocked once the project is complete.
Anglers at Goldeneye Pond can now take home up to four bass of any size. Previous rules allowed anglers to keep up to two bass as long as they were 18 inches or larger.
Anglers at Goldeneye Pond can also now keep up to 50 crappies and 50 redear sunfish per day. There is no daily catch limit on bluegills.
Regulations were also relaxed on other fish species, but Roth suspected that few, if any, of them are in the pond. Anglers lucky enough to catch a channel catfish, walleye or northern pike of any size in the pond may also now keep them.
Although size limits have been lifted and catch limits have been doubled, a fishing license is still required for anyone 17 years or older who fishes at Goldeneye Pond.
The liberalized regulations at Goldeneye Pond are effective until June 10, 2008.
Roth also warns anglers to be aware of fluctuating water levels. "We’ve already started the lake drawdown, so it could create unsafe ice conditions this winter," said Roth. "Anglers should always check the ice conditions before stepping onto the ice."
More Tri-County FWA information and map:
www.dnr.IN.gov/fishwild/publications/tri.htm
Ice fishing safety:
www.dnr.IN.gov/fishwild/fish/fishing/ice.htm
NORTH WEBSTER –The Indiana Department of Natural Resources is lifting size-limit fishing restrictions on fish caught at Tri-County Fish and Wildlife Area’s Goldeneye Pond.
The liberalized restrictions should help utilize the pond’s fish before an upcoming dam repair project. Daily catch limits at the 26-acre impoundment in Kosciusko County have also been doubled.
Steve Roth, property manager of the Tri-County FWA, said the control structure that regulates the water level at Goldeneye Pond will be replaced this summer.
Built in the early 1960s, the structure has corroded internally and can no longer be used to regulate the water level of the pond. Although not a safety hazard, some additional repairs to the levee will also be made to improve its stability.
"To do the work, Goldeneye Pond is being completely drained and will remain dry for several months," said Roth. "By relaxing the fishing rules now, we can give anglers the opportunity to take home fish that might otherwise be wasted."
In addition to relaxing the fishing rules, biologists will attempt to salvage adult largemouth bass from Goldeneye Pond, hold them throughout the summer in another pond, and restock them once the pond refills.
Bluegill and channel catfish will also be restocked once the project is complete.
Anglers at Goldeneye Pond can now take home up to four bass of any size. Previous rules allowed anglers to keep up to two bass as long as they were 18 inches or larger.
Anglers at Goldeneye Pond can also now keep up to 50 crappies and 50 redear sunfish per day. There is no daily catch limit on bluegills.
Regulations were also relaxed on other fish species, but Roth suspected that few, if any, of them are in the pond. Anglers lucky enough to catch a channel catfish, walleye or northern pike of any size in the pond may also now keep them.
Although size limits have been lifted and catch limits have been doubled, a fishing license is still required for anyone 17 years or older who fishes at Goldeneye Pond.
The liberalized regulations at Goldeneye Pond are effective until June 10, 2008.
Roth also warns anglers to be aware of fluctuating water levels. "We’ve already started the lake drawdown, so it could create unsafe ice conditions this winter," said Roth. "Anglers should always check the ice conditions before stepping onto the ice."
More Tri-County FWA information and map:
www.dnr.IN.gov/fishwild/publications/tri.htm
Ice fishing safety:
www.dnr.IN.gov/fishwild/fish/fishing/ice.htm