Huckleberry Park Lake to be stocked with trout Monday

HANNIBAL, Mo. — The Huckleberry Park Lake will be stocked with trout on Monday, Oct. 31, and regulations to fish in the lake have been updated.

The following rules pertain to trout fishing:

• Trout must be returned to the water unharmed immediately after being caught Oct. 31, 2022-Jan. 31, 2023.
• Only artificial lures and unscented soft plastics may be used from Oct. 31, 2022-Jan. 31, 2023.
• A trout permit is required for all regardless of age in addition to the prescribed fishing permit.

All other fish species may be harvested. The other fish available and daily limits are:

• Largemouth Bass (less than 12 inches or more than 15 inches): 6
• Channel Catfish: 4
• Trout: 4
• Crappie: 30
• All other fish combined: 20

Information on fishing licenses available on the Missouri Department of Conservation website:
https://huntfish.mdc.mo.gov/fishing.

Hannibal Parks and Recreation recently entered into a 25-year Community Assistant Program agreement with the Missouri Department of Conservation for the Huckleberry Park Lake. The Department of Conservation provides 50 percent of the cost the trout supply in the Huckleberry Pond and fishery biologists will monitor the fish stock in the pond.

The lake was renovated in 2019 with the help of a $184,000 Land and Water Conservation Fund grant.
The lake, in the 63-acre park at U.S. 61 and Huckleberry Drive, was leaking water, and it had bank erosion and accessibility issues. The pond was drained, excavated and lined with clay. It was widened at its north, and the shore was lined with stone rip-rap to control erosion. A sidewalk was constructed around the pond and a handicap-accessible dock installed for people with mobility issues.