FISHING

With their motto of Reel Fun Close to Home, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department in conjunction with the San Antonio Parks and Recreation Department continues to offer the Neighborhood Fishin’ program at South Side Lions Park, 3100 Pecan Valley Dr. and at Miller’s Pond, 6175 Pearsall Rd.

The Neighborhood Fishin’ program allows for these two bodies of water to be stocked approximately every two weeks with rainbow trout (10-12-inch average size) in the winter (late November to early March) and with channel catfish (12-inch average size) every two weeks in the warmer months (May-July and September-October).

New Stocking Information: Texas Parks and Wildlife has announced that it will stock rainbow trout at Brackenridge Park on Jan. 8 and Feb. 13, 2013. South Side Lions and Millers Pond will be stocked on Nov. 30, 2012, and every two weeks until March of 2013. For more information, review the News Release.

Texas Parks and Wildlife also regularly stocks lakes and ponds located in San Antonio parks as part of their Community Fishing Lakes program. These include Woodlawn Lake Park, 1103 Cincinnati; Brackenridge Park, 3700 N. St. Mary’s; Elmendorf Lake Park, 3700 W. Commerce; Wheeler Park, 10239 Ingram Rd. and the Earl Scott Pond located on the Leon Creek Greenway near the Buddy Calk Trailhead, 12160 Babcock Rd.

Woodlawn, Brackenridge and Wheeler Parks and the Earl Scott Pond are stocked approximately once a year with channel catfish that average 9-inches in length. Additionally, Brackenridge is stocked twice each winter with trout that average approximately 8-10 inches.

A valid fishing license with a freshwater stamp endorsement is required to take fish or other aquatic life from the public waters of Texas. Recreational fishing licenses and stamp endorsements can be purchased at local sporting goods stores, gun shops, department stores, discount stores, bait and tackle shops, grocery stores or at the local Texas Parks and Wildlife Office, 858 W. Rhapsody.

For added convenience, recreational licenses may be purchased by phone at 348-7375 or online at www.tpwd.state.texas.us. The cost is $30 annually. For more information, call Texas Parks and Wildlife at 348-7375 or go to the Neighborhood Fishing Program web site. You may also check out their fishing video on YouTube.