Whitewater course improves fishing

Charles City officials expected Cedar River fishing to improve with the completion of a million-dollar kayak and canoe course. But the improvement has greatly exceeded expectations, according to Bob Kloberdanz, chairman of the city's Parks and Recreation Board.

“They're catching everything down there. It's unbelievable,” Kloberdanz said.

At any given time, he said, from 10 to 15 anglers are fishing the quarter-mile stretch of re-engineered river that features three major riffles and 40 strategically placed red granite boulders, some as big as Volkswagen Beetles.

Walleyes, northern pike, smallmouth bass, channel catfish and crappies are all showing up in the catch.

“We're talking nice fish and lots of them,” Kloberdanz said.

Officials have been pleasantly surprised by the number and variety of fish, as well as the speed with which they occupied the newly created habitat.

Kloberdanz said the stretch of river between the main dam and a smaller downstream dam had been a dead zone because fish could not get above the lower dam. “No one even fished there,” he said.

Now, with the establishment of a dependable fish passageway, “anglers are catching fish all through the whitewater park,” Kloberdanz said.

Department of Natural Resources fisheries biologist Bill Kalishek said there is no way to document the anecdotal reports of improved fishing. “But if the anglers are happy, I am happy. They are the people I am trying to serve,” he said.

Kalishek, who provided input during consideration of a required DNR flood plain modification permit, said the fisheries bureau insisted upon establishment of fish passage, and the project engineers incorporated that recommendation in their design.

Citing the removal of a concrete retaining wall on the east side of the river and the placement of boulders to reduce the velocity of back-eddy currents, Kalishek said he's not surprised that the project has improved fish habitat and angler access.

Gary Lacy of Recreational Engineering and Planning of Boulder, Colo., said the Charles City site compares favorably with those of almost all the approximately 80 white-water courses his company has designed since 1983.

The gradient and flow are almost ideal, he said.

The project -- which entailed installation of 10,200 tons of limestone, much of it in large blocks -- has been paid for entirely with grants and donations, City Administrator Tom Brownlow said.

Kloberdanz said a grand opening will be held July 29 and 30 to showcase the recently completed project. For more information, consult www.ccwhitewater.com