Des Moines River Fishing Ban?

Hey @Mossydan What’s up?

DES MOINES, Iowa —New restrictions may be introduced on where people can fish along the Des Moines River downtown.

Under a proposal by the Downtown Community Alliance, Principal Riverwalk Development Authority and the Des Moines Parks and Recreation Department, fishing anywhere along the banks of the river within the Riverwalk would be prohibited.

The proposal would allow fishing downtown only on the fishing pier on the west side of the center street dam, and on the four bridges at Grand Avenue, Locust Street, Walnut Street, and Court Avenue.

Fishing would also be prohibited on the Union Pacific Bridge and the new MLK Jr. Bridge near Principal Park.

Fishing would also not be allowed anywhere along the banks of the river north of the Riverwalk up to University Avenue and south to the MLK Jr. Bridge.

“We are trying to protect people who are using the Riverwalk: Pedestrians and bikers, walkers, things like that,” said Jen Fletcher from the Des Moines Parks and Recreation Department. “It’s just a safety reason. Also, it’s also a sanitation reason because people who are fishing are leaving fish remnants and garbage and it’s getting kind of messy.”

The Parks and Recreation board will vote on the plan at their next meeting March 25. If they approve, the proposal would go on to the City Council for consideration.

http://www.kcci.com/news/new-proposal-would-set-fishing-restrictions-on-des-moines-river-downtown/24987034

That was last spring BK
Let me see if I can pick up the real finish.
Your post was before the fight and all the fisherman showed support at the first hearing.

Principal Financial Group spent a lot of money on a river walk that goes through downtown Des Moines. The river walk hooks up with other trails and as the population continues to increase downtown more people use it. The issue with fishing downtown is the perceived safety for those on the trail and the inevitable garbage/dead fish that is left behind by those “fisherman” that feel it’s not their responsibility to police themselves. Downtown Des Moines has come a long way in the last 10-15 years with re-devolpment. I can only imagine they don’t want the resurgence diminished by the smell of dead carp and garbage. IMHO.

Hay Brian whats up? Just a comment on the bridges and dam here in town. The fishermen in all take pretty good care of the fishing areas here in town. Ya theres the few who leave scrapes of paper etc. laying around but there isn’t the mess some areas have. Very few dead fish laying around to smell things up but maybe that’s because of the coons eating them frequently. All in all the bridges and dams plus the immediate shorelines are pretty clean, not a big mess by any standard.

I’m waiting for the spring spawning run and with the amount of snow, not a lot but some and I’m looking forward to a normal spring thaw. Whats it look like for spring water levels where you at Brian and have you got the itch, stupid question Hey?

Just had to ask a lady from Iowa about that. She laughed and said nobody in their right mind would want to fish it anyway. It’s so poluted that all the fish have three eyes and taste like a feedlot…. jerr

Bk, Here is the map I was looking for and needed help from an other club friend.

Here is Dave’s comment to my question.
“See the map link below. Its not on this map but they also banned fishing at Gray’s Lake bridge (which isn’t new) and the swim beach and boating docks. I know a lot of guys crappie fish on the Grays Lake boat docks.. no more…”

https://www.dmgov.org/Departments/Parks/PDF/No%20Fishing%20Areas%20Map_May.pdf

I’m sure this is what you were looking for Ceserning the Downtown Des Moines area of the Des Moines River

i went down there once to check the place out when the water was low. A guy got stabbed down there the next weekend. It isn’t that good a place for me, aside from the getting stabbed thing.

People like to fish down on the walkway

They this park in there because they don’t know what irony is.

That is irony in it’s worst!

Denny, that map was pretty confusing for this old boy. Did the green line inside the red line indicate fishing was allow from a boat?

Here’s what a acquaintance had to say and peaked my interest.

The ban in Des Moines is trying to get pushed through by some uppity folks who are afraid of the people fishing along the Des Moines River in downtown Des Moines.

Des Moines parks and rec wants it because they don’t want to have to empty garbage cans placed along the river for fisherman.

The city council is on the fence–they know they can’t enforce a ban and that anglers will give them hell.

Crime would be rampant through there if all the anglers weren’t armed.

If they banned fishing and nobody with a gun was around, muggings would skyrocket.

The map is a fishing from shore reg.
Shore fishing is completely what this tussle was all about. I’m quite sure of the fact that it has nothing to do with boating and fishing from a boat.

Brian Klawitter wrote:

That is irony in it’s worst!

Denny, that map was pretty confusing for this old boy. Did the green line inside the red line indicate fishing was allow from a boat?

Brian,

The green line is where shore fishing IS allowed. The red line is the river walk/trail. If you look closely along the left bank of the river where the red line gets real close to shore, you will NOT see a green line in those areas. You can’t fish in those areas. Every where else is fair game.
Basically they don’t want you fishing in areas where you are setting up or almost setting up right on the trail. They want a buffer between fishermen and other trail users.

Makes sense to me, if I were biking along the trail, I wouldn’t want to be speeding by a bunch of bystanders. I’d be worried someone might take a step into my path no knowing I was coming along the trail.

Thanks Dave, that explains it.

Doesn’t look like that big of deal. Are they trying to close more off?

I’m just trying to understand why my buddy is so…passionate.

Brian any new regulation to shore fishing is a big deal. It is tough to get good water. Now restrict you to smaller areas and there will be more crowding. I would be fighting this tooth and nail too. I worry that areas of Stillwater are heading in this direction due to the amount of trash left by slobs.

I’m not poo pooing your thoughts on this Aaron…just that 3.5 blocks on one side of the river and a bridge, doesn’t get me wound up.

Certainly will not make a difference on crime in the area as my acquaintance stated.

Of course no fisherman is for limiting access.

BK, Originally they wanted to Block nearly ALL Fishing from Shore in the most of the downtown river area!

The other part that your friend was eluding to about mugging and killings that may be a concern but is blown way out of proportion.

Denny O wrote:

Originally they wanted to Block nearly ALL Fishing from Shore in the most of the downtown river area!

Now that would get my attention and is a game changer!

That’s why our and many other clubs from the area along with individuals filled the room and they decided to back peddle when they thought their original plan was a slam dunk vote! WRONG!!