After being cancelled in 2024, and being postponed because of too-warm weather in October, the West Lake Park Tagged Trout Event finally took place on November 14, 2025. This was a bit different because of it being on a Friday, and not a Saturday as it normally is.

The Iowa DNR stocked 2,000 trout, with 200 being tagged, in Scott County Conservation’s West Lake Park’s Lake of the Hills in Davenport, Iowa.

Weather was a concern since it was moved back, but it could not have been better. The water was cool enough for a good release, and the air temperature was in the 70s. Wind didn’t pick up until toward the end of the four hours allowed to catch a tag that would win a prize.

Prizes were donated by Mercury Marine, Work Sharp, Bill Lewis Fishing (Rat-L-Trap, Yamamoto Baits, Big Bite Baits, and Dobyn’s Rods), TTI-Blakemore (Road Runner Lures, ProX Hooks, Daiichi Hooks, Tru Turn Hooks and XPoint Hooks), QC Lure Worx, Vexilar, Custom Jigs & Spins, Plano, Frabill and Jiffy Ice Drills. There were also handout bags for the first 50 people who registered with a valid Iowa fishing license and trout permit. Kids were also given handout bags.

A representative of the Iowa Fisheries Department said that the largest number of tags ever turned in at such an event was 63. This year’s West Lake Park event had 58, which claimed all of the prizes set out.

One couple that took part in the event was Doug Peiffer and Karen Ammons of “Doug and Karen – At it Again,” which was an ongoing fishing report in the former Adventure Sports Outdoors. Karen, who was introduced to fishing a few years ago, has become somewhat of a “beginner woman angler” celebrity. Both caught tagged fish, with Doug claiming one of the prized Dobyn rod/reel combos.

Also, on hand to talk to the public were members of the Iowa DNR Fisheries Department; Nathan Unsworth (Scott County Conservation Deputy Director); Brad Taylor, Park Manager; park rangers (Josh Sabin and Tom Biscontine); Dylan Lawson, Professional Catfish Tournament Angler/park employee; and Dan Galusha, Author of Dan’s Fish ‘n’ Tales/Shoot ‘n’ Plink/park employee.

All in all, even with the delays, the event was a success with lots of tags and limits being caught, and product sponsors saying they want to be involved with the next tagged trout release event.

Check the Iowa DNR’s website for upcoming trout release events throughout the state, and the Scott County Conservation site for the announcement of the next West Lake Park trout event.