A lake at a state park near the southwest Iowa town of Creston is about to become one of the most popular fishing spots in the state — at least until July. That’s when the Iowa Department of Natural Resources plans to drain Green Valley Lake. In the meantime, D.N.R. conservation officer Marc Roberg says it’s time to go fishin’.
Roberg says: "Because we’re going to be draining it anyway and the fish are going to be killed, liberalized fishing regulations will be taking effect at Green Valley and they’ll start as we speak." He says they’ll start draining the lake on July 5th and it should take about a month. For the next three months though, Roberg says the fishing policies are being greatly relaxed.
There will be -no- numerical limit on fish. Roberg says, "You can catch as many bass and keep them as you want, as many catfish as you want to keep. Also, no size limits. Size limits have been taken off Green Valley. We want you to utilize these fish so any bass you catch, any catfish you catch, I’d urge you to keep."
Roberg says all other species of fish are fair game, too, with a valid fishing license. He says they’ve also liberalized the fishing methods. Any number of fishing poles or jug fishing will be allowed. Throw lines will be allowed, too, though a person’s name and address must be attached. Nets, dynamite, poison, electric shocking devices and stupefying substances all remain banned.
Major renovations are planned at Green Valley Lake State Park, just north of Creston. The campground will be reconfigured with a new shower building. Other plans include: stabilizing shoreline erosion problems, construction of an in-lake fish habitat, jetty repair and boat ramp maintenance. The lake won’t be back to normal until 2009.