There was nothing fishy about the announcement made at the Great Bend City Council meeting Tuesday night. Check that, yes there was.

Great Bend Rotary Club President Pat Stang presented Mayor Mike Allison with a check for $1,250 from the club. The money will be used to stock small-mouth bass in Veterans Memorial Lake this fall.

“We’ve been looking for projects,” Stang said. Since the service organization has helped with youth fishing programs in the past and Vets Lake is recovering nicely from its bout with toxic blue-green algae, this seemed like a logical move.

The funds will purchase 1,500 fingerling and slightly larger fish. A date for them to be released into the body of water has not been determined.

“This will help provide a more productive and enjoyable experience for area fishermen for months to come,” Stang said.

Stang said the Rotarians are reviving the Fishing and Wishing program through the Great Bend Recreation Commission where the club provides fishing poles and tackle boxes for use by young people. The idea is encourage kids to discover the sport of angling and this works hand-in-hand with the stocking.

“Something we’ve been striving to do is keep our lakes stocked,” said Public Lands Director Scott Keeler. He appreciated the donation, noting it will make a difference.

In keeping with this, Keeler said on Tuesday 550 one-pound channel cat were put into Stone Lake and another 315 into Vets. “Our efforts are going the way we want them to.”

A six-pound channel cat has been pulled out of Vets, Keeler said. Now, there may be even more lunkers lurking in the depths.