McKay Park was restocked for the winter Friday with 2,400 three-quarter-pound rainbow trout.
Hungry and unaware of fishing hooks, the trout should be easily caught by eager fishermen who have been awaiting today, the first day of catch and release in Missouri, said Phil Pitts, fisheries management biologist.
The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) has provided the trout stock for McKay Park since 2004, when members of the Capital City Fly Fishers made the request of the Jefferson City Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department.
The first year, the local fishing club covered the costs with MDC. And the city department has taken over since then.
Jerry Kemple, who was club president at the time, said they thought the community needed this.
And since then, many older fishermen, who used to fish for trout at Bennett Springs and Montauk, have been able to continue their enjoyment without the travel.
At the annual free fishing day at Binder Park in early June, the club raises funds to support the parks and recreation contributions to the winter trout stocking program.
By the time Feb. 1, rolls around, the trout will be hungry for real bait after three months of artificial bait, which is good for both the trout and the fishermen.
Trout do not survive above 70-degree water temperatures, so it's better when they've been caught and enjoyed before April, Pitts said.
For the next three months, fishermen may catch one of the 12 larger "retiring" trout, which had been used for spawning at the hatcheries. The "lunkers" will provide a "thrill of the catch," even though fishermen will have to throw them back, he said.
After Feb. 1, a fisherman can harvest up to four fish from McKay Lake. The state's four-trout parks do not allow catch and take until later in the year and are open only three days each week.
"We want people to enjoy our natural resources," Pitts said.
The trout stock average a cost of $2.10 each, he said. That cost is split between the state agency and city department.
The fish traveled from Bennett Spring on Friday. They joined other warm-water fish in the 6-acre McKay Park, including bass, bluegill and catfish.
Under a similar arrangement in early October, about 150 8- to 12-inch channel catfish were released into McKay Lake, as well as 175 in Hough Park and 3,000 at Binder Lake.
"We raise a lot of fish and put them in a lot of places," Pitts said.
Bass and bluegill maintain their own population in the small lake, though they're not popular winter fishing targets.
McKay Lake likely has other residents like crappie, goldfish and carp, Pitts suggested. Most small lakes do.
But the harvest is generally good from McKay, he said. The public park, nestled in a residential area, is easy get to.
Although the fish may not ever grow impressively large, the local lake provides a place for children and adults to enjoy the outdoors.
"It's good for clean fun, and it's healthy," Pitts said.