A SUCCESSFUL FISHPOND MANAGEMENT TOUR

A busload of people from Fannin, Grayson, Lamar and Dallas counties made a fish management excursion to the Texas Fresh Water Fisheries Center in Athens, TX. on May 22. Gary Valentine, fisheries biologist, delivered a complete pond program aimed at small lakes to normal size ponds. Attendees learned that fishpond management is a real science.

Following the seminar, attendees went on a tour of the Texas Parks & Wildlife Fisheries Center. Free fishing caught the young ones attention. Over 30,000 students visit the center each year and fifteen to twenty thousand adults. There are great natural fish viewing areas and wetlands to examine. A very popular place with the tour was the wetlands observation walking tour.

The group had a fun day of fisheries education. The tour was sponsored by the Fannin Soil and Water Conservation District; made possible with a grant from the Martha, David and Bagby Lennox Foundation

 
Peggy Partridge from Whitewright is amazed at the large catfish viewing area.

 
The wetlands walking tour above was very interesting.

 
Checking out the Texas Parks & Wildlife Warden Memorial wall.

 
Touring the fish spawning tanks.