DNR Stocks Catfish In Area Lakes

There are plenty of fish in the sea, or in Glenwood’s case, plenty of fish in the lake.

Fishing was already on the upswing at Glenwood Lake Park over the past few years, but now there’s an additional 270 catfish in the two lakes at the park thanks to an Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) program.
The catfish, 8-10 inches in length, were placed in the lake recently by Brian Hayes, a DNR fisheries biologist.

“They need another summer’s growth,” Hayes said. “By this time next year, the fish will be 13-14 inches in length and people will start catching them.”
The DNR’s fish stocking program is financially-supported by the sale of fishing licenses. Fish are raised at a hatchery in southeast Iowa and later placed in lakes across the state.

“Typically, we rotate between the eastern and western sides of the state. This year, lakes in western Iowa are getting catfish,” Hayes said. “Last year, we stocked lakes on the eastern side of the state.
“Glenwood isn’t a state lake, but it’s a public lake. As long it’s a public lake, we’ll stock some fish in it.”

Glenwood Park Board member Lyle Mayberry said Glenwood has been a beneficiary of the fish-stocking program several times.

“It’s been a good program for us,” Mayberry said. “The DNR knows it’s a public lake and kids can fish in it, so they’re glad to help us out.”

In addition to Glenwood Lake Park, Hayes said the DNR was also stocking catfish this year in Mile Hill Lake and Folsom Lake in western Mills County and Lake Manawa in Council Bluffs.