DANVILLE - The Iowa Department of Natural Resources will relax fishing regulations at Geode State Park in Henry County starting June 6, to allow anglers to more freely harvest game fish before the lake is renovated this summer.
Anglers with a valid fishing license will be allowed to harvest fish of all species by hook and line only. Any number of fishing poles or jug fishing will be allowed. Anglers must remain in sight of these lines at all times, and follow all other fishing regulations and area rules.
Liberalized fishing regulations for Lake Geode will be in effect from June 6 through December 31, 2017. Specific regulation changes include:
• Removal of bag and length limit restrictions on largemouth bass.
• Removal of bag limit on channel catfish.
• Removal of bag limit on crappie and bluegill.
Nets, dynamite, trotlines, poison, electric shocking devices, or any stupefying substances will not be allowed. It is illegal to sell fish or stock captured fish into public waters.
Lake Geode is one of the lakes in the state selected for lake restoration work designed to improve water quality because of the potential economic return for the investment. Poor water quality has impacted the fish population and affected all water based recreation at the lake. Implementation of water quality improvement practices in the watershed are currently underway.
Largemouth bass, bluegill, black crappie, redear sunfish, and channel catfish will be restocked after the renovation.
It is very important that anglers never transport and release any fish species into any water system. All lake water from boats, live wells and bait buckets must be drained before you leave the boat ramp.