The board discussed updating municipal pond-fishing regulations at its July 14 meeting and directed Park Superintendent Chris Fowler to consult the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) for guidance tailored to local ponds, including Liberty Field pond and Hawthorne Pond.

Fowler said the MDC’s statewide rules allow a wide variety of methods but the city may want to restrict certain techniques in small park ponds. “A lot of that stuff, we don't want — we don't want jug lines in the ponds. We don't want bank lines, throw lines, cast net... so we probably want to limit it to probably just pole,” Fowler said. He recommended staff ask MDC to inspect the ponds and advise on permitted methods, bait rules, signage and whether the city should adopt catch-and-release only because of uncertain water quality after recent flooding.

Why it matters: changes would affect recreational anglers using city ponds and determine what signage and enforcement are needed. Fowler noted state law generally requires a fishing license for people 16 and older and that the state periodically designates free fishing weekends.

Details and concerns: Board members raised questions about hand-fishing/noodling and wading; Fowler said waders are not advisable in the existing ponds and that noodling was not appropriate for these sites. He also noted turtles are present in local ponds and said past flooding may have changed fish populations; Hawthorne Pond historically supported tournaments but recent years have seen few fish due to turtle predation.

Next step: Fowler will reach out to the Missouri Department of Conservation for a site visit and written recommendations, and the board will revisit pond fishing rules at a future meeting.