Anglers for all seasons
Staff reporter
No sleet, snow, nor dark of night, keep true blue fishermen from setting their sights on catching the "big one."
Even though this has been a mild winter, the enclosed and heated fishing dock at Marion County Park & Lake serves as a refuge for those who want to fish during the winter months.
One of a just a few in the state, the heated dock attracts fishermen from the Marion area and south central Kansas. Fishing from the covered dock is allowed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, for those fishermen who can't bear to put away the pole for the winter.
Dean Schmidt of Potwin is one of those men. He's has been fishing for more than 50 years and has been coming to Marion County Lake at least once a week since 1965.
Schmidt was one of a dozen or so men of various ages and backgrounds who traveled Thursday to the lake to test their skills.
"The best time to fish is two days before or two days after a full moon," Schmidt said. He said the fish like the cover the dock provides.
The fishermen appreciated the enclosed, heated area to fish.
For a nominal fee of $3 per person for a 12-hour period, a person can certainly get his/her fill of angling.
Marvin Serviss of Canton has been fishing at the Marion dock since he was a boy, primarily in the winter.
"I grew up in Peabody," Serviss said, "and my grandpa would bring us over all of the time."
The biggest fish Serviss has caught from the dock was an eight and one-half pound wiper on a two-pound test line.
Arriving at 7 a.m., three men traveled from Newton to try the dock. For Andrew Jackson, he'd been to the dock a few times but this was Jerry Kaufman's first time.
The experienced fishermen wanted to take Arlen Kaufman, Jerry's brother, out fishing for the day. Arlen was visiting from Evansville, Ind.
"When I left home, we had 22 1/2 inches of snow," Arlen Kaufman said with a smile. The weather Thursday was in the 60s and windy.
"I don't fish much in Indiana," Arlen Kaufman said. "I fish more in Kansas on vacation." He said he wasn't aware of any heated docks in Indiana.
Individual wooden seats with arm rests are set along the rectangle-shaped water hole. Lights and heat provide the necessary accommodations for fishing.
The perimeter outside of the wooden structure also is available for fishing.
Marion resident June Jost was among the die-hard fishermen.
"I come out every day except Sundays," Jost said. He said he fishes two or three hours in the morning and a couple more in the afternoon.
David Unruh, his father Ken Unruh, and nephews Sam Nelson, Chris Nelson, all from Hutchinson, and Trevor Crystal from Kansas City, decided to try their luck.
The Nelson brothers, both 15 years old, have participated in junior bassmaster competitions — including one at Marion County Lake.
The largest bass they caught at the lake was 18 inches.
"This gets them outside and gives them something to do," said Ken Unruh, the boys' grandfather.
The men were fishing for crappie. Schmidt had caught a couple, but others said bites were few and far between.
"This time of year, they don't bite so good," Jost said.
That didn't seem to matter. Fishing seems to be more than catching fish. It's a way to spend time with friends, family, and nature.
Fishing report
According to Kansas Wildlife and Parks, fishing at Marion County Lake is good for channel catfish and crappie, especially around the heated dock. Saugeye, white bass, and wipers are fair, with largemouth bass being poor.
At Marion Reservoir, channel cat, crappie, walleye, white bass, and wiper fishing is good.
A fishing license is required for those 16 years of age and older. Licenses are available at area merchants and at Marion County Lake office.
