News From District Six

DES MOINES — The flood of 2008 was so bad that even fish had to be rescued.

More than 90 catfish, including many trophy-sized flathead catfish, were rescued from a tail-water area below the Saylorville spillway on Sunday. As the water receded, the fish were trapped in a pool.

“There’s no doubt we would have eventually lost all of these fish if we had not moved them,” said DNR Conservation Officer Brandon Bergquist.

The fish averaged between 30 and 40 pounds with some estimated at tipping the scales at close to 60 pounds, according to Bergquist.

The DNR was advised of the trapped fish by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers which was inspecting under spillway early Sunday morning when they came upon the pool.

Some less desirable species including carp, buffalo and fresh water drum, were left in the pool on Sunday and most of those fish were dead by Monday afternoon.

It took four DNR law enforcement personnel between five and six hours to move the catfish to the safety of the Des Moines River.

For more information, contact Kevin Baskins at (515) 281-8395.

2008 Catfish Rescue Photos (*.pdf file)