Lake: Fishermen venture out
By TOOTSIE SNELLING
Marion County Park & Lake Reporter
What a beautiful Easter Sunday! Everyone was out enjoying the day. Easter seems to bring people out for their first fishing excursions.
We were busy in the office with new fishing licenses and permits for the new year.
Had several fishermen out and around the lake over the weekend and a camper too, but fishing was slow due to cold water temperatures. Water temperature is 53 degrees today (Monday) and the warm temperatures of this week and windy days should warm it up considerably more.
The bass fishermen in boats did catch a few smaller bass and a few wipers and walleye. Heated dock fishing is kind of up and down — one day is good, the next is slow. Depends on the weather. The warmer ones being the best days.
We even had the first swimmers out on Saturday, but they didn't stay in very long. Brrr! I'm sure the warm sunshine alluded them into thinking the water was warm, too.
Around 8,000 channel cat were dumped into the lake last week. The first load went in Wednesday evening and the driver turned around and headed back to Arkansas and returned with the other half Friday evening. They averaged 12" to 20" and all were fat and healthy. Remember the limit is five channel cat per person, per calendar day, and they have to be 12" long.
Over spring break last week (Wednesday — the one nice day) we traveled to the Rolling Hills Wildlife Refuge at Salina. Those going were Mark, Leann, Kiana, and Levi Lewman, Sherry, Kristy, Jayde, Karly, Molly, and Emmy Hess, Asia Waner, and Dale and I. It could have been a little warmer, but still it was nice to see the animals out and about. It is about a mile walk on paved paths and easy to push strollers. If you take kids remember to take enough quarters for food to feed the animals. The kiddy farm has lots of goats and sheep to feed!
Upon returning home one came down with the flu and one with chicken pox so, needless to say, we had an eventful week.
Easter Sunday dinner guests at our house were Dan, Tammy, Tristen, and Seth Snelling, Dean Snelling, and Mark, Leann, Kiana, and Levi Lewman. Sherry and family, the one with chicken pox, stayed home to watch for more spots. Along with Easter baskets and eggs, we tried to fly kites but, wouldn't you know it, there wasn't enough wind!! Any other day in Kansas, like today, the wind is blowing 50 mph.
Chat and Dine will start the season again this Saturday night All lakeside residents, cabin owners, and trailer house owners are invited to attend.
