Pony Lake Fishing Spot

• Last Modified By: vinny60 on 09/16/09 12:20 PM
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4 1/2 miles Northeast of Sweet Springs. Blind Pony Lake remains closed for renovation. Blind Pony Lake was built over thirty-five years ago and over that time silt has collected in the lake, reducing the water available for the hatchery and reducing water quality. This factor limited the hatchery’s ability to grow sport fish for stocking statewide. It also limited the hatchery’s capacity to raise the federally endangered pallid sturgeon for restoration efforts in the Missouri and Mississippi rivers. This has prompted the federal government to help pay for deepening the lake, replacing hatchery water supply lines, and inspecting and refurbishing fishing docks, jetties, and other facilities. As of the fall of 2005, the hatchery water lines have been replaced and much of the excavation of the lake bed is complete. Plans are being developed for an additional hatchery building. The lake will reopen in approximately three years. Only the lake is closed. The rest of the area, including four small ponds, will be open as usual. The lake should be open in 2009.