TOPEKA, KAN. – The annual fall trout stocking at Lake Shawnee is set for Nov. 22 as 7,000 pounds of rainbow trout are released into the lake. The public may watch the trout being released at 10 a.m. at the main boat ramp on Beach Drive off of SE 29th Street.
Lake Shawnee will be closed to fishing until 6 a.m. Dec. 1 to give the trout time to acclimate to the lake. A $14.50 trout permit is required during trout season which runs from Dec. 1 through March 31. Anglers age 15 and under need a $7 permit.
The tradition of stocking trout in the lake began in 1979 under then parks director Ted Ensley. The lake is stocked each October and February to give fishermen a different experience as trout are not native to the lake.
The trout come from Crystal Lakes Fisheries in Ava, Mo. The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks reimburses Shawnee County Parks + Recreation for the trout under the Community Fisheries Assistance Program.
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Shawnee County Parks + Recreation includes 60 miles of trails, 2,696 acres of parks and 320 annual days of sporting activities. In addition, the department offers recreation programs, educational programs and golf. A combination of tax dollars, user fees and private donations enables Shawnee County Parks and Recreation to offer parks, sporting and aquatic facilities with state-of-the art features and beautiful, nationally recognized gardens.