Mexico Parks and Recreation Department and the Missouri Department of Conservation have teamed up to bring back Mexico’s popular winter trout program. Kiwanis Lake in Plunkett Park has been stocked with more than 1,000 pounds of live trout from one to six pounds in size.
“The people of our community can enjoy catch and release fishing for these fish through the winter months,” said Chad Shoemaker, parks and recreation director for the city of Mexico. He added, “Please use barbless hooks or hooks with mashed barbs so the fish will endure less stress during this time period.”
Trout are cold water fish that need a lot of oxygen to survive, so central Missouri winter provides conditions that are perfect for them to thrive in our lakes, Shoemaker said.
However summer water temperatures get too warm for them to survive so the second phase of the program is a catch and keep season that starts Feb. 1 and lasts until the fish are all caught.
Shoemaker said, “Please help us keep the fish in the lake until Feb. 1. If you see individuals keeping fish illegally or fishing with bait previous to February 1, call Joint Communications at 473-5800 and ask them to relay your message to the local conservation agent.”
The rules, which are posted throughout the lake require catch and release only, from Nov. 1 through Jan. 31. During the catch and release season only artificial baits can be used. No bait of any kind is allowed during this period. Regulations require a valid Missouri fishing license for people ages 16-64.
Catch and keep opens Feb. 1. All legal fishing methods are allowed, including the use of bait. Daily limit is four and trout possession limit is four. A valid Missouri fishing license for people ages 16-64 and a trout stamp are required.