Johnson County Conservation Board Park News

Park News

Tuesday, August 7

If anyone wonders how hot it is, frying an egg on concrete isn’t a test we use at Kent Park. Boiling a map turtle in a marsh is more like it. Or even steamed frog legs with cattail stems can be done with the temps and humidity this week. Needless to say the beach is the place to be until the weather breaks. Our water quality is very good due to continued rains when needed.

Fishing for catfish remains also good with sunrise and dusk times prime for the best bite. Be prepared to sweat even after dark due to the high humidity. Catfish net surveys in Kent Lake show an over abundance of catchable fish and the fishing has mirrored this survey. Bass fishing also continues to be good mostly in the evening. Sunday’s thermometer read 80 degrees at 9:30 p.m. which is pretty hot in the dark. I tried my luck fishing for cats with my brother and his son. We did well and cleaned a nice stringer of fish, throwing back a couple fish we deemed to big to eat. But we could feel the mosquitoes surfing down our arms on beads of sweat until they wiped out and proceeded bite on the shoreline. Lots of bug spray in between waves of sweat so the fun was tempered by these buzzing needle-heads.

The good news is that during the day a picnic lunch held in the shade isn’t a bad idea especially up by the playground or hickory hill picnic area. A good tip is to come early before 10 a.m. or in the evening after 7 p.m. for picnics. Cool salads and chilled melon are great heat reducers, forget the grilling for now. Popsicles or flavored ice treats are big sellers with the kids and ward off dehydration. If hiking, bring lots of liquids and stay out of the sun during the midday.

The prairie flower bloom is still very good along with viewing butterfly movement. The color show between the two is great. Mother nature gives us these living rainbows and a short day picking though either an insect guide or prairie plant book identifying your field observations is a visit well spent. Take some time and break out of the rat race. See you there.

• Ranger Dan Campbell

Tuesday, July 17

The Rains have returned this week and were becoming long overdue. Between 3 and 5 inches in the last 24 hours has been a welcome relief, although some excess rain damage to campsite gravel pads and trail surfaces created extra work for staff already busy enough as it is. Lucky the wind did not add any damage to the conservation board areas from our assessment finished today.

Great weather this last weekend made visiting the park a smart choice. A lot of happy families are making fine memories this summer. For first time visitors or anyone who have never taken the time to read the Park Rules brochure you will find answers to any questions you have by taking a few extra minutes and go though this pamphlet or read it online at this web site. The staff realizes for new visitors these regulations can seem like a lot of information. But in order to protect these recreational areas from overuse and possible accidental harm to both visitors and public property alike the rules and regulations gives the necessary information to you so your visits can be more enjoyable with less negative interaction with Park staff. By understanding these rules you help both yourself and the people around you.

First time visitors will notice how clean the conservation board areas are, which is a statement to how much effort is given to picking up litter when it occurs and the publics help in keeping these areas clean. Also families find the beach and campgrounds much nicer than many places due to the extra effort provided by staff. I think all of us appreciate the many positive comments we receive during our daily contacts with visitors especially when they notice this effort. Feel free to say hello to staff we are here for you. Let us know what you like or dislike about conservation board areas and continue to work with us so you and your future visits can be enjoyable. Take time out for the family or yourself.
• Ranger Dan Campbell

Tuesday, July 3

July is now in session and it means the peak of the park use season. This is the greenest I’ve seen the park in many years. Heavy rains last week have left Kent Park in good shape but River Junction and Hills still have a swollen river, bank full since late May. Needless to say fishing on the Iowa River has been slow most of this summer. The good news is years after wet years usually produce a lot better fish reproduction and catches. The 17 year locust are now silent and have finish up their mating cycle. I can say from my point of view that I will not miss them. Their whirling cadence was like listening to 4 weeks of WAR-OF-THE-WORLDS sound track. If anyone missed the opportunity. Rent the movie, the old version, and then watch it for 8 hours a day for a month. The campers at Hills and Junction were not bothered by these insects due to lack of dry well drained upland timber along the river. It was a nice reprieve to check campers there and hear the silence. Wild raspberries are having a banner year so hurry and get in on the harvest. My wife makes the best mix berry jelly I have ever tasted using raspberries, mulberries, and strawberries from the garden. You can experiment with different amounts of each but I guaranty the taste will please you. Fishing continues to be good at Kent Lake. Bluegills and catfish respond well to weather fronts which we have been seeing quite a bit of. They feed up just before unstable weather patterns with catfish also feeding well after the front passes and rainy conditions set in. Try chicken liver or different prepared baits during these spells. Take time to visit the prairies at Kent Park the flowers are showing great color just in time for the fourth of July, remember not to pick any since they are protected. Bring the camera, summer pictures make great Christmas pictures and reminds us during the winter how summer colors means so much. Try making a summer album to look at this year and you will see it definitely shortens the cold months. This weekend was fairly busy at the campgrounds but plenty of spots are open today for electric and non-electric sites at Kent Park. Hills electric had only one site left last night I expect that to fill Tuesday due to fireworks in the town July 4. Fill up the camper and pack the picnic. It’s out there waiting to be seen.
• Ranger Dan Campbell

Wednesday, June 13

The last few days remind me of the dog days of summer, except its mid-June and summer is just starting. Lots of Park visitors in the last two weekends enjoying the best weather so far this year. Fishing is still good and the catfish are showing up in decent numbers, bluegills are finishing their spawn along with the last of the bass leaving their nests. Now catfish is king during the heat of the summer and they faithfully hit the bait during the day when many other species of fish lay up, waiting for evening or sunrise. I have always been impressed how tiny Kent Lake produces good fishing considering the amount of pressure this body of water gets especially on weekends. Some days the entire lake is ringed by people and in the middle several boats will be cruising its depths, all in search of that hungry fish or two. I think this represents how and why fishery management is so important in providing sustainable recreational fishing to so many people with such a limited amount of water. Catch limits and fish regulations are just a part of this process, but in truth good fishing is the end result of individual fishermen who put their own personal limits in place so that others can enjoy the resource. Bass anglers are noted for their conservation approach to catch and release fishing, Walleye enthusiasts also at times do the same especially in small lakes like Kent where this bonus fish resides. Without this additional effort many small lakes can have trouble providing a balance of good numbers of fish along with sizes that contain a good representation of individual species. Some fish like catfish, the Park staff raises each year in cages floating in the lake. This is the best way to provide catch-able numbers of this fish in order to satisfy the demand for one of Iowans most important game fish. With all of this in mind, catching and eating fish is a good idea as long as we remember our fellow anglers and share the wealth of the water. Practice your own personal R&R, which stands for respect the resource and fellow fishermen, restrict your catch and clean only enough for a meal. Also buy your fishing license, this provides funding for quality fish programs which include stocking, habitat structures, research, ect…

Camping has been busy this last week, Electric sites sold out Saturday night so you may want to call ahead on Fridays between 8-4 to get a report on availability. Father’s day weekend has become a very popular Holiday at Kent Park. Picnic tables are in high demand so visitors may want to come early to get a spot and a grill. Wear that sunscreen and hat when possible.
• Ranger Dan Campbell