Fishing regs relaxed at Starve Hollow Lake starting May 23

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Plan to drain lake after Labor Day provides angling opportunity now



Selected fishing regulations at 145-acre Starve Hollow Lake in Jackson County will be relaxed to encourage fishing and enhance sport-fishing opportunities during the summer, starting May 23.

All size limits for fish in the lake, which is located in Starve Hollow State Recreation Area, will be waived and bag limits will be doubled.

The changes will help prepare the lake for draining after Labor Day weekend to restore the fishery and repair and improve the spillway and water control structure.

After the lake is drained, work is scheduled to start in late September or early October and is expected to be completed within two months. Refilling should begin in November, after the repairs are completed. Use of the two boat-launching ramps will likely be affected during the draining. Boaters should take necessary precautions to avoid launching problems or new navigation problems that may not have existed when the lake was full.

The lake will be restocked with fingerling fish once the water reaches an adequate level for their survival. With sufficient rainfall, stocking would occur in late November. Provided that conditions allow the project to stay on schedule, bluegills of a size fit for catching should be available by 2009. Some small bass should be available the next year. A 14-inch minimum size limit and a five-fish daily bag limit for bass will be take effect after the lake is restocked.

A May 1 informational open house was held at the Starve Hollow Lake Nature Center, where attendees expressed unanimous support for the project.