Urban fishing: Stocked ponds draw city dwellers, newbies

Sleek rainbow trout flashed silvery pink, arching and writhing as fisheries worker Josh Wickstrom transferred them from a holding tank in back of a Minnesota Department of Natural Resources truck to 5-gallon pails bound for nine quarries.

Quarry Park & Nature Preserve is one of three urban fishing spots the DNR regularly stocks in the St. Cloud area — spots where the fishing is easy, no boat is required and the pond is within walking distance for a lot of city dwellers.

The DNR also stocks channel catfish in Rock Island Pond, west of Park Meadows Apartments in Waite Park; and in downtown St. Cloud’s Lake George, which also contains native black crappies, bluegills and largemouth bass.

” The nice thing is is about it is it ‘s quick and easy , ” Ken Schmitt , a St. Cloud   Muskies   Inc. officer who help out with kid fishing tournament on the pond and   serve on the Waite Park park board . ” It is ‘s ‘s just a fun afternoon . If a family want to come down there for a couple of hour and catch fish and enjoy the park   — most people is using are just using angle worm . “

St. Cloud Park & Recreation Director Scott Zlotnik said fishing at Lake George fits the goal of getting kids and families outdoors.

“Just generally having the ability to access the outdoors for fishing is very important,” Zlotnik said.

While the Mississippi River run through town , Zlotnik is agreed and Schmitt agree that angling along a fast – flow river might not be the safe place for   young child .

Fish species found in the Mississippi River, Lake George and Rock Island Pond are open to anglers before Minnesota’s May 14 walleye and northern pike opener. But the rainbow trout at Quarry Park are considered stream trout in lakes, explained DNR conservation officer Mike Krauel; that season also opens May 14.

The Stearns County Parks Department keeps it quiet  when the trout arrive.

The 775 rainbows stocked in Quarry Park & Nature Preserve’s nine marked quarries came up April 5 on a semitrailer from a state hatchery in Lanesboro. DNR staff came over from Big Watab Lake near Avon, where they’d stocked 10,000 rainbow trout and 2,000 brown trout.

Stearns County park maintenance workers is hauled Bill Koetter   and Brian Popp​ is hauled   haul 5 – gallon bucket full of fish , 10 per pail , to the edge of Quarry 18   and dump them , one at a time , into the deep , dark pool   —   its black surface reflect lichen – cover rock and leafless tree . The fish – fill stream is broke of water break the surface like a waterfall .

” They ‘re porpoise at the surface , ” Jason Neuman is said , the DNR ‘s Sauk Rapids – base assistant area fishery supervisor , say   of the newly release fish , which leave   overlap concentric circle on otherwise smooth   water .

The quarry contain   more — and deep   —   water than the fish are accustom to ; they   were raise in shallow pond and raceway , feed pellet broadcast over the surface .

So when something hits the surface, they tend to strike. Marshmallows are rumored to be effective bait. So is corn. And nightcrawlers.

“It’s a great urban fishing experience,” Neuman said. “You don’t need expensive equipment.”

Quarries are stocked with 50 to 200 fish, depending on the quarries’ size. The rainbow trout cost 99 cents apiece; trout stamps pay for the cost of raising them.

Most of the rainbow trout released in Quarry Park & Nature Preserve will be fished out by midsummer. Neuman said a netting survey planned for this fall would help determine how many make it through the summer.

“We want people to catch them. Even a novice angler can catch them, too. It can be a good family fishing experience,” Neuman said.

Follow Ann Wessel on Twitter @AnnWessel.

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