Note: This item is more than seven years old. Please take the publication date into consideration for any date references.
Print – Plain Text – Permalink
News Release
General Media Contact: Business Hours, 512-389-4406
July 5, 2005
'TUF' Fishing in Texas
ATHENS, Texas — Urban fishing is due to improve during the next few years as Texas Parks and Wildlife Department ramps up its Texas Urban Fishing (TUF) program in small lakes located in urban areas throughout the state.
"We have had a community fishing lake program for many years, but we are interested in expanding it in major metropolitan areas," said Bob Betsill, a research biologist at TPWD's Heart of the Hills Fisheries Science Center near Kerrville. "The goal is to provide year-around, family-oriented fishing opportunities in each of the 25 metropolitan statistical areas in Texas. We now have eight small lakes in the program and are currently evaluating additional ones."
The outstanding feature of the program is frequent, repeated stocking of fish throughout the year. "We will be partnering with cities to set up programs to stock rainbow trout in winter and 12-inch channel catfish the rest of the year," Betsill said. "We'll stock fish every other week for about 10 months out of the year."
For a list of lakes in the program and the stocking schedule, go to http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fish/infish/news/urbcatfish05.phtml. TPWD is also working to expand loaner fishing tackle programs at the sites.
"Research shows that most people who fish in urban fishing lakes live within two miles of the lakes," Betsill said. "The key to success of the program will be involving local parks and recreation departments, civic organizations, fishing clubs and individuals in mentoring kids."
For more information or to get involved with the Texas Urban Fishing program, contact Betsill at (830) 866-3356 or bob.betsill@tpwd.state.tx.us.
| City | Lake | Information Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Amarillo | Medical Center South | (806) 655-4341 |
| Bryan-College Station | Central Park Pond #1 | (979) 822-5067 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth | Lakeside Park, Duncanville | (817) 732-0761 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth | Hurst Chisholm Park, Hurst | (817) 732-0761 |
| Houston | M. J. Peckham Park, Katy | (979) 822-5067 |
| San Angelo | Oakes Street Park | (325) 651-5556 |
| Waco | Buena Vista Park | (254) 666-5190 |
| Wichita Falls | Plum Lake | (940) 766-2383 |
LH 2005-07-05
Publication — Permission is granted to publish, in whole or in part, any news releases on this page.
Print — A print-friendly version of the news release shows only the release with font sizes set to the browser default.
E-mail — This link launches your e-mail client with the subject and message filled in. All you need to do is fill in the recipient.
Plain Text — Plain text versions of TPWD news releases are provided for copying and pasting into editing software.
To copy text into an editing software:
- Click a Plain Text link to display the plain text page in your browser.
- Select all.
- Copy.
- Paste in a document in your editing program.
Permalink — This is a direct link to the news release, omitting the navigation context from the URI.
English/Spanish — News releases posted in both English and Spanish have one of these links.
If you have any suggestions for improving these pages, send an e-mail to webtech@tpwd.state.tx.us and mention Plain Text Pages.