Trout to be stocked in Springfield’s Southwind Park

Springfield trout anglers can look forward to a new fishing spot at Southwind Park next month.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources stocks trout in ponds around the state twice a year, in the spring and in the fall. In Springfield, trout have been stocked for years at the upper pond in Washington Park and at the Illinois Department of Transportation pond behind the agency headquarters building on Dirksen Parkway.

However, no fish will be stocked at the IDOT pond this spring.

“This year, in cooperation with the Springfield Park District, I am moving the trout program from the IDOT lake to the new Southwind Park pond at 4965 S. Second St.,” said Dan Stephenson, regional fisheries biologist with the Illinois.

Trout still will be stocked at Washington Park.

Stephenson said he hopes fishing success will improve at Southwind.

“I will put roughly the same number of fish in the smaller Southwind pond so angler catch rates should improve,” he said. “The IDOT lake allows too many to go underutilized.

“Stocking 1,200 trout in a 3.5-acre pond should make fishing better than the same number of fish in the 17-acre IDOT lake,” Stephenson said. “Southwind Park also has nicer amenities, including restroom access, disabled access, parking and no long hills to climb to get to the water.”

Trout are coldwater fish and will not survive hot summer temperatures in central Illinois.

Trout also will be stocked as usual at Manners Park in Taylorville and Gurney Pond at the Jim Edgar Panther Creek Fish and Wildlife Area.

Trout fishing begins at 5:30 a.m. April 7. Anglers must have an inland trout stamp as well as a fishing license. The daily limit is five.

Chris Young can be reached at 788-1528.

Hunting and fishing licenses

Illinois hunting and fishing licenses expire March 31. The new license year begins April 1.

Hunting, fishing and sportsmen’s combination licenses for 2012 are available at DNR Direct license and permit vendors, online, or by calling 1-888-6PERMIT (888) 673-7648).

For trout fishing, a resident fishing license is $15 ($7.75 for those 65 and over, half-price for certain veterans); an inland trout stamp is $6.50.