10/15/20: Area Happenings & Accomplishments

COVID-19 positivity rates still high

O'Brien County's COVID-19 positivity rate decreased over the past week from 18.4 percent to 16.5 percent.

According to Iowa's coronavirus update page Tuesday night, the number of positive tests returned in O'Brien County over the last 14 days ranked No. 13 in Iowa. Clay County was No. 24 with a 13.1 positivity rate.

The total number of deaths associated with COVID-19 remained the same over the past week in O'Brien County (9) and Clay County (4). Overall, O'Brien County has had 526 total confirmed coronavirus cases since March and 275 recoveries, while Clay County has had 441 cases and 268 recoveries.

The COVID-19 outbreak at Prairie View Campus in Sanborn remained completely unchanged during the past week. According to state data, the facility has had 29 confirmed cases and 19 recoveries.

Statewide, there have been 100,917 positive cases, 78,171 recoveries and 1,486 deaths. Iowa's positivity rate was 9.4 percent as of Tuesday night, and increase of 0.8 percent from last week.

Relaxed fishing regulations at Spring Lake in Cherokee County

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has extended the relaxed fishing regulations at Spring Lake at Koser Spring Lake Park until Oct. 26.

Anglers with a valid sport fishing license may harvest all sizes and unlimited quantities of any species of fish from Spring Lake. Any number of fishing poles or jug fishing is allowed. Anglers must remain in sight of these lines at all times, and follow all other fishing regulations and area rules. Trotlines will be allowed (name and address must be attached); however, lines may not be set across the entire water body.

Liberalized fishing regulations for Spring Lake will be in effect until Oct. 26. Specific regulation changes include:

• Removal of bag and length limit restrictions on largemouth bass.

• Removal of bag limit on channel catfish.

• Removal of bag limit on crappie and bluegill.

Dynamite, poison, electric shocking devices or any stupefying substances are not allowed. The DNR will restock the lake next spring.

6 community Iowa stocking locations ready for anglers to catch trout

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources recently released between 1,000-2,000 rainbow trout at six of the 18 community trout stocking locations across Iowa as part of its cool weather trout program that brings trout to areas that cannot support them during the summer.

The following locations are ready for anglers to catch trout: Banner Lake (Indianola), Big Lake, (Council Bluffs), Sand Lake (Marshalltown), Moorland Pond (Fort Dodge), North Prairie Lake (Cedar Falls) and Heritage Pond (Dubuque).

All fall community trout stockings this year will be unannounced. There will not be any family fishing events to help reduce the crowd size at stocking locations and minimize the spread of COVID-19. Typically, Scharnberg Pond near Everly receives a stocking in the fall and winter.

Check the DNR website at http://www.iowadnr.gov/trout and watch for future press releases to find out when the remaining community trout locations have been stocked. All community trout stocking locations should be stocked by Nov. 4

The fall community trout stockings are a great place to take kids to catch their first fish. A small hook with a nightcrawler or corn under a small bobber or small simple spinners such as a panther martin or mepps are all you need to get in on the fun.

Bringing trout to cities and towns offers a "close to home" option for Iowans who might not travel to the coldwater streams in northeast Iowa to discover trout fishing.

The popular program is supported by the sales of the trout fee. Anglers need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout. The daily limit is five trout per licensed angler with a possession limit of 10.

Children age 15 or younger can fish for trout with a properly licensed adult, but they must limit their catch to one daily limit. The child can purchase a trout fee which will allow them to catch their own limit.