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Donna Alexander is a regular at Kingfisher Lake in Travis County East Metro Park in Manor, Tx. She caught a handful of channel catfish recently stocked by the The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. “This is the spot, don’t tell anybody about it.” said Alexander. TPWD sponsored a free fishing day Saturday June 1, 2019 in local lakes that are stocked throughout the summer to promote their Neighborhood Fishin’ program and introduce urban families to the joy of the outdoors in their communities.
\n[RALPH BARRERA\/ FOR THE AMERICAN-STATESMAN]<\/p>\n
Austin American-Statesman<\/p>\n
Starting Friday, anglers in Austin will have the opportunity to fish for catfish<\/a> in one local park, thanks to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department\u2019s \u201cNeighborhood\u00a0Fishin<\/a>‘\u201d program.<\/p>\n The department will stock Kingfisher Lake and Bullfrog Pond \u2014 both in Travis County East Metro Park \u2014 with channel catfish every two weeks through the end of October, with a brief pause during August due to heat.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n The fish are big enough to catch and keep, the department says, promising \u201ca good supply\u201d anytime Texans want to cast their lines. According to state guidelines, freshwater anglers can keep up to five fish of any kind per day, including one black bass 14 inches or greater in length.\u00a0<\/p>\n The department will stock 18 lakes across Texas through the program. Hatcheries statewide raise approximately 800,000 channel catfish for stocking in public waters, according to TPWD.<\/p>\n Catfish aren\u2019t the only fish stocked through the Neighborhood Fishin’ program \u2014 in the winter months, rainbow trout are stocked across Texas.<\/p>\n Where to fish for catfish in Austin<\/p>\n In addition to Travis County East Metro Park, anglers can catch flathead, channel and blue catfish \u2014 the three species designated as game fish \u2014 in streams, reservoirs and lakes.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Local anglers across social media\u00a0pointed out locations like Turkey Bend Recreation Area, Lake Pflugerville, Lake Travis, Walter E. Long Park, Mills Pond, McKinney Falls State Park and Old Settlers Park.<\/p>\n Officials said channel catfish\u00a0prefer \u201cstrong-smelling baits\u201d like nightcrawlers, chicken livers, shrimp, stinkbait, cut hot dogs and cheese.<\/p>\n TPWD shared the following catch-and-keep guidelines <\/a>for catfish:<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n \u201cFlathead catfish are subject to a minimum length limit of 18 inches and a five-fish daily\u00a0bag limit. For channel and blue catfish, the\u00a0statewide minimum length is 12 inches with a\u00a0combined daily bag limit of 25 fish. On Community Fishing Lakes, channel and blue cats are\u00a0limited to five per day with no minimum length.\u201d<\/p>\n Those guidelines may vary by location.<\/p>\n A catfish can barely move on the edge of a pond in that has dwindled to just a few inches deep on July 14, 2011, in Old Dime Box.<\/p>\n Jay Janner<\/p>\n Is noodling legal in Texas?<\/p>\n Noodling\u00a0\u2014 catching catfish with your bare hands\u00a0\u2014 is legal in Texas but can only be used to catch channel, blue and flathead catfish in freshwater.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n TPWD refers\u00a0to the technique as \u201chandfishing,\u201d and anyone using the method can only use their hands\u00a0\u2014 no fishing devices or traps allowed.<\/p>\n Catfish can also be caught with a pole and line, trotline, jugline or throwline.<\/p>\n How to get a fishing license<\/p>\n Licenses are required for Texas residents fishing in public water unless they are under 17 years old or born before Jan. 1, 1931. Certain exceptions are also made for people with disabilities, and separate rules apply for nonresidents.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Residents and non-residents can buy freshwater, saltwater and all-water fishing licenses on the TPWD website <\/a>or at select retailers<\/a>, such as Academy or\u00a0Walmart.<\/p>\n Prices range from $12 to $68, with discounts for Texas\u00a0residents 65 years and older.<\/p>\n Texans intending to reside in the state for life can buy lifetime resident licenses<\/a>, including combination hunting-and-fishing packages. Those range from $800 to $1,800.<\/p>\n Texas hunting, fishing license rules change Aug. 1<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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