State Parks Dept. Plays Santa to Local Anglers; Delivers Thousands of Trout to Precinct 4 Parks

Holiday gift-giving continues in style for Harris County anglers later this week, with the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department delivering 7,500 rainbow trout to six Precinct 4 parks to keep local fishing amply supplied during the otherwise slow winter season.

State parks officials have scheduled the following drop-offs for Friday, Jan. 17, although exact times are not yet available.

• Bane Park, 9600 W. Little York Road in Houston – 1,071 trout.


• Burroughs Park, 9738 Hufsmith Road in Tomball – 1,431 trout.


• Dennis Johnston Park, 709 Riley Fuzzel Road in Spring – 1,428 trout.


• Meyer Park, 7700 Cypresswood Drive in Spring – 1,071 trout.


• Pundt Park, 4129 Spring Creek Drive in Spring – 1,428 trout.


• Kickerillo-Mischer Preserve, 20215 Chasewood Park Drive in Houston – 1,071 trout.

Delivery times will vary, depending on the parks department’s schedule. Anglers are encouraged to take advantage of rainbow trout fishing opportunities while they last, as rainbow trout are only available during the winter. Parks officials recommend using cheese, kernel corn, nightcrawlers, red wigglers, and meal worms to catch trout. Suggested lures include a small inline spinnerbait or a spoon.

Rainbow trout are delivered to Precinct 4 parks annually to provide ample fishing opportunities during the winter, when other fish species are less active. Late winter and early spring are also successful times for catching white bass and crappie. Catfish may be caught year-round.

There is a daily bag limit of five trout per angler and no minimum length limits. All Texas Parks and Wildlife rules, regulations, and licensing requirements apply to the public waterways within Precinct 4.

Anglers 17 and older must have a valid Texas fishing license with a freshwater stamp endorsement. The freshwater stamp endorsement has replaced the trout stamp. A freshwater fishing license may be purchased at most sporting goods stores, and a valid Texas driver’s license is required. Anglers may purchase a license by phone by calling the Texas Parks & Wildlife credit card license sales line at 1 (800) TX LIC 4 U [1 (800) 895-4248] or online at www.tpwd.state.tx.us.

To view the rules and regulations about fishing in Precinct 4, please visit www.hcp4.net/community/parks/fishing.