Just days after learning that signs for the new Fishing in Neighborhoods, or FINS, program are on their way to James D. Beville Park Lake, Leitchfield has gotten word new fish will be stocked there this week.

The lake will receive its first stocking of 500 rainbow trout on Thursday, Oct. 11, according to the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. The fish will average 9 to 12 inches long.

An additional 500 rainbow trout will be stocked in both February and March, since trout prefer cool water.

A total of 2,400 channel catfish will be stocked annually in the 3.1-acre lake beginning in March 2013, a KDFWR spokesman said. Catfish will be 12-16 inches long and average 1 pound each.

Leitchfield is the 36th community in the FINS program, which is designed to promote fishing in urban areas. FINS started in 2006 to create “quality fishing opportunities near cities of all sizes throughout the state,” especially targeting families and young anglers to give them places to fish “without the need to travel long distances.”

Under its agreement with the state, Leitchfield will be responsible for 25 percent of the program’s cost, which can include mowing around the lake, trash cleanup and installing and maintaining restrooms — most of which the city is already doing.

KDFWR will be responsible for stocking the pond with “keeper size” channel catfish and rainbow trout. More than 3,000 fish will be added to the lake throughout the year.

Fishing regulations at FINS lakes and ponds are a little more restrictive than the statewide regulations, in part to spread out the fishing harvest over a longer period of time to give more people the chance to fish. For example, anglers would be limited to four catfish, 15 bluegill or other sunfish, five trout and one bass daily at a FINS pond. A statewide fishing license is required for anglers who are 16 and older, and anglers who want to keep their trout must have an additional trout permit. The trout permit is included in the $5 senior license for those anglers age 65 and older, as well as the sportsmen’s license.