7,000 pounds of trout released Saturday at Lake Shawnee

As a child growing up on the east side of Topeka, Ashley Rodgers remembers watching trout being released into Lake Shawnee. On Saturday, she wanted her three children to experience the annual event for themselves.

“It was something I enjoyed,” she said, “and they said they want to go fishing.”

Under sunny skies and with temperatures in the low 40s, about 75 people gathered at the boat ramp on the east side of the lake just before noon to watch as workers from Crystal Lake Fisheries, of Ava, Mo., released about 7,000 pounds of trout into the chilly water.

Mike McLaughlin, spokesman for the Shawnee County Parks and Recreation Department, said the annual event was started by former parks director and Shawnee County commissioner Ted Ensley. He said the fish are released when the weather is colder so they will stay closer to shore rather than going into the deeper, colder water, as they would have this past fall.

“Back in October, the weather was so warm, and trout is a cool-water fish,” he said. “The fish are raised at 54 degrees. They’ll stay a little closer to shore this time for little bit better fishing.”

The annual releasing of trout happened on the east side of Lake Shawnee on Saturday @CJOnline @SnCoParksRec pic.twitter.com/Co7V2IsjoH

— Angela Deines (@AngelaDeines) February 25, 2017

McLaughlin said fishing at Lake Shawnee will resume at 6 a.m. Saturday, March 4, to give the trout a chance to acclimate to the water and disperse through the lake.

Jake Jernigan said he brought his daughter, Oliva, 5, to see the trout released Saturday. It was a first for both of them.

“I knew they were doing it and had never been (here),” he said. “My daughter’s enjoying it.”

Jernigan, an employee of Bettis Asphalt, said he hopes to fish a little more often this year at Lake Shawnee.

Henry Hollie, 96, who has been fishing at the lake nearly every day since 1950, said he is expecting this season of fishing will be even better than last year.

“It should be pretty good. I hope so,” said the San Francisco native. “Channel cat is my favorite. I fish for crappie and bass too.”

7,000 pounds of trout about to be released into Lake Shawnee Saturday morning @CJOnline pic.twitter.com/xYUdUoUqR4

— Angela Deines (@AngelaDeines) February 25, 2017

William McChristian, 80, said he fishes with Hollie every once in a while. He said he wanted to see what size trout were being put into the lake Saturday.

“I’m usually out here every time they release them,” he said. “We’re both usually out here. We both like to fish, and we both like to see what they’re putting in there.”

Contact reporter Angela Deines at (785) 295-1143 or @AngelaDeines on Twitter.