Wednesday, January 14, 1998

Trout fishing bonanza

The rainbow trout are really biting in Abilene! Sound absurd? Hardly -- not since the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department stocked the lake in Nelson Park with 1,000 of the hungry critters Friday and put 800 more in Buffalo Wallow at Abilene State Park.

The game fish, usually associated with more exotic locales such as mountain streams in New Mexico and Colorado, are just a little present from the Wildlife Department for local sport fishermen -- and for anyone who appreciates the taste of succulent fresh trout on the dinner table.

To catch them, you need a special $7 trout stamp in addition to your Texas fishing license, and there's a daily limit of five trout. Stamps and licenses may be purchased at many retail outlets or at the Wildlife Department office, 281 N. Willis.

The number of trout stamps sold this year will determine how many trout we get next year. So let's get those rods and reels in action.