TIFFIN- The Iowa Department of Natural Resources will relax fishing regulations on the 27-acre main lake at Kent Park starting on March 1, to allow anglers to more freely harvest fish before and while the lake is being drained.
The lake is scheduled to be drained for restoration in mid to late April. This regulation change applies to Kent Park’s 27-acre main lake only and not the smaller ponds in the park.
Anglers with a valid fishing license will be allowed to harvest fish of all species by hook and line only. Any number of fishing poles or jug fishing will be allowed. Anglers must remain in sight of these lines at all times, and follow all other fishing regulations and area rules.
Liberalized fishing regulations for Kent Park Lake will be in effect from March 1 through July 1, 2017. Specific regulation changes include:
• Removal of bag and length limit restrictions on largemouth bass.
• Removal of bag limit on channel catfish.
• Removal of bag limit on crappie and bluegill.
Nets, dynamite, trotlines, poison, electric shocking devices, or any stupefying substances will not be allowed. It is illegal to sell fish or stock captured fish into public waters. The normal park hours of sunrise until 10:30 p.m. will remain in effect.
Kent Park Lake is one of the lakes in the state selected for lake restoration work designed to improve water quality because of the potential economic return for the investment. Poor water quality has impacted the fish population and affected all water based recreation at the lake. Implementation of water quality improvement practices in the watershed are currently underway. Public meetings during the past few years have explained various aspects of the project.
Largemouth bass, bluegill, black crappie, redear sunfish, and channel catfish will be restocked after the renovation.
It is very important that anglers never transport and release any fish species into any water system. All lake water from boats, live wells and bait buckets must be drained before you leave the boat ramp.
For more information contact, Iowa DNR Fisheries Biologist Paul Sleeper at 319-624-3615 or the Johnson County Conservation Board at 319-645-2315.