TR PHOTO BY LOGAN METZGER – Green Castle is just one of many fishing spots around Marshalltown where families can enjoy a hot summer afternoon catching fish. Some of the fish that can be caught here include walleye, bluegill, largemouth bass and channel catfish.

Summer is here and kids are out of school, so what can parents do to keep them busy? Fishing is one activity that is fun for all ages and gets the kids outdoors. There are plenty of places around Marshalltown to fish, you just have to look.

Residents and non-residents of the state of Iowa under 16 can fish without a license, as well as military personnel on authorized leave as long as they have their leave papers on hand.

For those above the age of 16, require a fishing license which can be purchased at Walmart, Thiesen’s or online at https://license.gooutdoorsiowa.com/Licensing/CustomerLookup.aspx.

Timber Creek Park

Timber Creek Park is located in Marshalltown at 609 E. Southridge Road and allows fishing.

Some of the amenities of the park include a trail around the pond, open air shelters, playground and bathroom facilities.

Geoff Hubbard, Marshalltown Parks and Recreation director, said that the pond located at Timber Creek Park as well as the Glenwood Pond and Goldfinch Pond were stocked with fish in 2000 and restocked in 2012.

Glenwood Pond and Goldfinch Pond

Glenwood Pond is located in Marshalltown next to Glenwood Place Assisted Living & Memory Care and allows fishing.

Goldfinch Pond is located directly across South Sixth Street from Glenwood Pond and allows fishing.

Both ponds have trails with benches as well as fishing jetties. There are no bathroom facilities located at either of the ponds.

Green Castle

Green castle is located 1/2 mile south of Ferguson, Iowa and allows fishing, ice fishing, kayaking and canoeing.

Amenities include trails, open air shelters, a playground, bathroom facilities and a rentable shelter.

Green Castle was purchased by the Marshall County Conservation Board in 1977. The lake was renovated in 2014, accumulated silt was removed, the shoreline armored with rip rap and numerous additional fish habitat structures were created. The lake was restocked with bluegill, large-mouth bass, channel catfish and black crappie. Several new fishing jetties were also constructed as well as a boat ramp installed near the south end of the lake for easy access for canoes and kayaks.

Green Castle Lake is the site of the current state record crappie which weighed in at 4 lbs. 9 oz. and was 21 1/4 inches long.

Sand Lake

Sand Lake is located on the northeast edge of Marshalltown and allows fishing, ice fishing and boating as long as the boats have electric motors.

Amenities include bathroom facilities, fishing jetties and boat ramp access.

Sand Lake was purchased by the Marshall County Conservation Board in 1999 with the help of 220 individuals, businesses and organizations who donated $46,000.

“The body of water is still considered an active sand and gravel mine, so there are boundaries that people cannot cross on both land and water,” said Mike Stegmann, Marshall County Conservation director.

Stegmann said the DNR stocks trout twice a year at Sand Lake.

What to catch

In town: Bass, bluegill and crappie, though carp may also be found there.

Green Castle: Largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, bullhead, channel catfish, red-eared sunfish and walleye.

Sand Lake: Bass, bluegill, crappie and walleye pike exist in the ponds. Other river species include white bass, yellow bass, green sunfish, carp, big mouth buffalo, yellow perch and quillback carpsucker.

Eating

Most of Iowa’s streams, rivers and lakes offer safe fish that pose little or no threat to human health if eaten with over 4.5 million meals of Iowa fish were consumed in 2007, according to the Iowa DNR website.

People who are pregnant, planning to become pregnant or are under the age of 12 should limit their consumption of predator fish such as walleye and bass to one meal per week.

For those adventurous enough to cook what they catch, here is a recipe fun enough that the kids will want to help.

Fish Sticks from the Field and Stream website.

Ingredients:

– 1⁄2 cup mayonnaise

– 1⁄4 cup finely chopped bread-and-butter pickles, plus some pickle juice

– 2 Tbsp. finely chopped parsley

– 1 1⁄2 lb. fish fillets (walleye, catfish, bass; any fish with firm, flaky, white flesh)

– 1 cup all-purpose flour

– 3 large egg whites, beaten

– 1 cup finely ground cornmeal

– Salt and freshly ground black pepper

– Vegetable oil, for frying

Directions:

1. Make the tartar sauce. In a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise with the pickles and parsley. Sprinkle in some pickle juice to get a saucy consistency. Add salt and pepper to taste. Refrigerate until ready to use.

2. Cut the fillets into long, finger-like strips. Prepare an assembly line for breading the fish by setting out three bowls: Put the flour in one, and season generously with salt and pepper; the egg whites in the second; and the cornmeal in the third, also seasoning it with salt and pepper. One at a time, coat each strip of fish with the flour, shaking off any excess. Then dip it into the egg whites, and allow the excess to drip off. Lastly, dip the fish into the cornmeal, coating thoroughly and shaking off any excess. Keep the fish on a plate until you’re ready to fry.

3. Heat a large sauté pan over medium-high heat and add about 1⁄4 inch of oil. When the oil is hot, add as many strips of fish as you can fit without crowding the pan. Cook until golden on the bottom, about 3 minutes, then turn and cook the other side for an additional 3-4 minutes, or until the flesh is opaque. Serve immediately, with lemon wedges and the tartar sauce. Serves 4-6.

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Contact Logan Metzger at

641-753-6611 or

lmetzger@timesrepublican.com