The answer is the distance from the net Iowa Department of Natural Resources Fish Biologist Gary Siegwarth was holding the wiggly fish in to the surface of Moorland Pond, where they were destined to meet a bunch of baited hooks and other tempting lures.

So about 20 feet.

While the majority of the 1,500 fish would make their entrance through a flexible pipe, the flying fish demonstration let those watching from shore see the fish.

Trout are stocked in the pond twice a year.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
Chip Hildebrand, of Webster City, uses a traditional fly fishing rod and his own trout flies Thursday at Moorland Pond shortly after the Iowa DNR stocked it with 1,500 fish.

For the anglers on hand, the day becomes a social event.

Gary Huisman, of Fort Dodge, is one of them.

“You meet a lot of new people,” he said. “You swap stories, show pictures of your fish, see what everybody is using for bait. It’s kind of boring if you’re out here by yourself.”

He met his friend, George Mack of Jolley, during a stocking day.

Mack was enjoying his first fishing excursion after returning from his honeymoon the day before.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
Iowa DNR fish biologist Ben Wallace holds onto the pipe as dozens of the 1,500 rainbow trout that were stocked at Moorland Pond are released from the Trout Taxi.

“I got married last Saturday,” he said. “She didn’t come because she didn’t have a trout stamp.”

His wife, Julie, sent him out the door with explicit instructions.

“You just go and catch them so we have something to eat tonight,” he said.

Chip Hildebrand, of Webster City, showed up for the fish release in a vest bulging with trout flies, line, extra this and that, and a set of surgical forceps.

The flies are his.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
George Mack, of Jolley, casts his line into Moorland Pond Thursday afternoon after one of the 1,500 rainbow trout stocked there by the Iowa DNR.

“I tie most of them,” he said.

He warned that tying trout flies can easily become a hobby all on its own. The flies, he said, are designed to simulate various insect larvae found on the surface of the water. Trout apparently find them delicious.

“You’re after the bug imitation,” he said.

He fly fishes all over Iowa and for a variety of fish species.

“You can fly fish for bluegill, bass, crappie,” he said. “It’s not just for trout.”

Once the fish are caught, it’s time to take them home where they will be the guest of honor for dinner.

Mack has, like most anglers, his own preferred way to prepare the fish.

“I generally deep-fry them,” he said.

Huisman, if he’s successful at filling his limit, will be enjoying the fish over charcoal.

“I do mine on the grill,” he said.

That success was not occurring right away.

“I still have high anticipation,” he said as several other anglers were putting their second and third fish in the take-home bucket.

Joni Hefley, Webster County Conservation office manager, was on hand to watch the trout stocking, too. She was happy to see the two dozen anglers trying their luck.

“We always get a crowd with this,” she said. “I’m glad.”

To catch and keep trout in Iowa, a trout stamp is required in addition to a fishing license. Detailed regulations are available wherever licenses are sold and online at www.iowadnr.gov.