Wild Acres Park — Attraction in Overland

I will say I only gave three stars to Wild acres Park. Just because at this time of year did rainbow Trout catch and release rule is a very stupid and wasteful rule. I have been going up there for the last 3 afternoons now after work and everyone that I run into and talk to about the catch-and-release rule says the same thing. It's wasteful because there are so many dead trout in a lake right now it's unbelievable. Why would the conservation departmentand want fish that are being caught to go to waste.. the thing is the conservation department should already understand a rainbow trout is not a fish that can withstand the stress of being caught and then released they normally do die so why would you have it as a catch and release time and not just a No fishing or fish and take home. Wasting the fish that are put into the lake is not something. That should be done.Either stop the fishing at this time of the year. Or let people take the fish home to eat..Not just throw back and waist. The dead fish are just a waste. The conservation department should understand as a fisherman I and other fishermen do not like seeing beautiful fish like that wasted..I love the park. Love the wildlife and the fishing there. But I do not like seeing beautiful fish waisted over a rule that the conservation already nose will kill...

This lake used to be a great place to fish. They had catfish, bluegill, bass and in the winter time they stock this lake with trout. For 2 years this lake has had a leak and it is STILL not fixed. They were supposed to have been waiting for bids to fix it and that was talked about last year. The grass is not maintained and the edges of the lake are over grown with grass and weeds. There is NOT a playground for the kids and the Canadian geese have grown in big numbers over the past two years. There is a public restroom and a great paved walking path that goes around the lake. This lake does have a range but only from the beginning of spring to October. There is A LOT of illegal fishing going on especially when the trout are dropped in. I have called many times to the city of Overland and Mo. conservation to report these activities and I have only seen them out a couple times to check fishing permits and to catch illegal fishing. The ranger does not EVER leave his truck! With the lack of police and ranger presence the parking lot had been used for other illegal activities and has become a place for the teenagers to hang out and create problems for those that are there to fish...

Last winter when we actually had cold weather the lake froze over, best trout fishing year there ever! We took our auger down drilled through the ice, almost 10 inches thick. We caught somewhere between 45-50 trout using a colored jig with a little minnow and red roseys!! No trout under 10 inches. Workers seen us and told us we shouldn't be on the ice, showed them it was every bit over 10 inches thick. 20 min later overland police where there. They watched us for about 10 min catch about 6-7 nice trout, laughing saying "that's amazing" we showed them how thick the ice was but they say sorry guys it's not us. Then then looked at each other and told us, " try to wrap it up in an hour or so guys. Thanks overland police, they were pretty awesome that day with us. Anyone who likes catching them in the ice you can go to bush wildlife and other places. It is a sport wildacres. People just have to be safe, smart, just like in the spring, summer, and...