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KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Rainbow trout are once again swimming in some Kansas City area lakes. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) recently stocked the lakes with more than 8,200 trout to give anglers a close-to-home opportunity to catch a cold-water sport fish. Cooler water temperatures and higher oxygen levels during winter support trout.
Anglers with proper permits can catch and keep trout, thanks to an annual partnership between MDC and local community park departments. MDC is also partnering this year with students from Raymore-Peculiar High School. The students are developing a proposal for better access at Johnston Lake for the hatchery truck that delivers trout.
Lakes stocked on Nov. 9 include:
A few lunker trout from the hatchery brood stock were also released in some of the lakes. Anglers may keep trout up to a limit of four if they have a Missouri trout permit. Missouri residents over age 15 and under 65 need a valid fishing permit. Non-residents over 15 need a state fishing permit.
Students from an enterprise and design class at Raymore-Peculiar High School are helping MDC improve stocking at Johnston Lake in Raymore. The class uses projects-based learning to help students understand problems and solutions. MDC stocks the trout at the lake using wheelbarrows that must quickly move trout from the hatchery truck into water beyond the moss and vegetation near shore. That method works by utilizing a fishing dock. But a quicker approach would reduce stress on the fish. Students will develop a proposal for MDC to consider.
“This gets them out and be hands on and see the problem they’re trying to solve,” said Keegan Garner, their teacher.
Students watched MDC stock the trout and took notes and video. When an occasional trout flopped out of the wheelbarrow, students grabbed them off the ground or dock and moved them to the water.
“I think this gives us a good perspective,” said junior Brynn Elkins. “We can figure out how we’re going to fix it.”
People enjoy winter trout fishing at Johnston Lake and the popularity increases every year, said Steve Rulo, Raymore parks operation superintendent. Anglers come from the local community to fish and from through the metro area.
Some Kansas City area lakes in the trout program will get additional fish stocked during the winter. The most up-to-date information on MDC’s winter trout stockings in the KC Metro Area is available by calling the trout hotline at 816-525-0300, press 2 at the recorded prompt.
For more information on urban winter trout fishing throughout Missouri, visit https://short.mdc.mo.gov/ZoH.
