The donor enjoyed seeing people fishing at the lagoons, Castillo said, particularly children.
“They wanted more people to have the opportunity to do that,” she said.
National Trail recently added two fountains to the lagoons at Snyder Park, including one that was donated, to allow for more oxygen to enter the water for aquatic life. The cost of the fountains were about $2,500 each, she said.
The catfish will bite the most during the first 24 hours after being stocked, Castillo said.
“We think it’s a great opportunity for everyone,” she said. “It’s a great time for kids who may not have been fishing before to have a good experience. The chances are they’ll be able to catch a fish pretty easily.”
The district hosts a Passport to Fishing program each year at Reid Park.
Fishermen don’t need a fishing license to cast at the park, Castillo said. The lagoons are open from dawn until dusk and there is no overnight fishing.
Springfield resident Chris Dennison was waiting for the pond to be stocked on Friday afternoon. He fishes at the lagoons nearly every weekend and said they’re full of carp and shovelheads.
“It’s pretty cool,” he said.
Springfield resident Matt Anthony has fished at Snyder Park since he was a child. Now he brings his grandchildren.
Anthony fishes “every chance I get.” He fishes across Ohio but said it’s nice not to have to leave the city.
He heard about the fish being stocked from a friend who saw it on Facebook and was waiting for them to be placed in the lagoons.
“I’m happy to see them putting them in one time for us,” Anthony said. “It’s good for the kids. A lot of kids don’t have the opportunity to do this. They don’t know that it’s fun until they catch a fish. Then they get hooked on it.”
About the Author
