THREE MUST-HAVE TOOLS FOR ANGLERS THIS SEASON

Fishing is one part luck, two parts preparation

PRATT – Fishing is an art, and although it requires a little bit of luck, most great fishing experiences are a result of prior planning and research. The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) has three must-have angling tools this season that will help you determine what fish are out there, where to catch them, and how to do so lawfully.

Enhance your fishing experiences this season by investing your time with these publications:

2015 Fishing Forecast

If you want to know what fish are out there for catching, consult the 2015 Fishing Forecast. Compiled with data gathered through fisheries biologists’ sampling efforts, the free forecast provides anglers with up-to-date information on what lies beneath the water’s surface. Brochures are available at KDWPT offices, as well as online atksoutdoors.com/fishing. In addition to what species of fish can be caught at any given body of water, the forecast also includes tables with Density Ratings, Preferred Ratings, and Lunker Ratings, as well as information on the Biggest Fish sampled, Biologist’s Ratings, and a Three-Year Average of popular species. Anglers can use the forecast to find lakes that provide the fishing opportunities they desire. For example, if you enjoy catching and eating channel catfish, you can select a lake with a high Density Rating, which is the number of channel catfish at least 16 inches long caught per sampling effort. If you’re only after trophy-sized catfish, you can select a lake with a high Preferred Rating, which is fish longer than 24 inches or a high Lunker Rating, which is fish longer than 28 inches.

A copy of the 2015 Fishing Forecast can also be seen in the March/April issue of Kansas Wildlife & Parks magazine. To become a subscriber, call toll-free (866) 672-2145, or visit ksoutdoors.com/Services/Publications/Magazine.

2015 Kansas Fishing Atlas

Knowing where to drop a line can be tricky, but the 2015 Kansas Fishing Atlas removes the guesswork. The free, 84-page atlas provides anglers with maps pinpointing public fishing areas, as well as public lands across Kansas. These maps also include Fishing Impoundment and Stream Habitats (F.I.S.H.) areas, or privately-owned ponds or streams KDWPT has leased and opened to public fishing. F.I.S.H. sites are labeled by an abbreviated access period, size, and boating restriction for each location, so refer to the atlas prior to fishing. Each map also shows all federal reservoirs, state fishing lakes, river access areas, and community lakes, making the question of “where to fish” just that much easier to answer.

The atlas is currently available online at ksoutdoors.com. Printed copies will be available shortly wherever licenses are sold.

2015 Kansas Fishing Regulations Summary

After you’ve decided what species to fish for and where to find them, refer to 2015 Kansas Fishing Regulations Summary for information on regulations changes for the new season, creel and length limits, permit requirements, and more. Copies can be obtained at no cost online at ksoutdoors.com/fishing, and at any license vendor.

For more on Kansas fishing, visit ksoutdoors.com/fishing.

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HOW TO FIND A FISHING HOLE THIS SUMMER

Finding a fishing hot spot in Kansas this summer is easier than you think

PRATT ­– If you’ve ever been fishing, you know there are a multitude of questions that can

flutter through an angler’s mind – why were the fish biting yesterday and not today? Did I put the right line on? Should I use a chartreuse or white spinner bait? All of these are valid questions, but where to fish shouldn’t be one of them. The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) has several tools available to help make your day on the water as successful as possible.

By visiting ksoutdoors.com, and clicking “Fishing,” anglers can access four invaluable resources that will give any angler an edge this summer, including: the 2014 Fishing Forecast, 2014 Fishing Atlas, up-to-date fishing reports, and stocking records.

2014 FISHING FORECAST

The 2014 Fishing Forecast uses data gathered from sampling efforts of public waters during annual lake monitoring, and because of this, anglers can rest assured they are receiving the best possible information on where to fish and what to fish for. In addition to what species of fish can be caught at any given body of water, the forecast also includes tables with Density Ratings, Preferred Ratings, and Lunker Ratings, as well as information on the Biggest Fish sampled, Biologist’s Ratings, and a Three-Year Average of popular species.

2014 FISHING ATLAS

The 2014 Fishing Atlas is a 60-page compilation of detailed, easy-to-read maps, making it a must-have for any angler. In addition to maps of public waters, anglers can also find maps of Fishing Impoundment and Stream Habitats (F.I.S.H.) waters, Community Fisheries Assistance Program (CFAP) leased properties, and lakes deemed as Family Friendly Facilities (FFF).

FISHING REPORTS

If you’re looking for the most up-to-date information on a specific body of water, fishing reports are the way to go. Compiled and entered in by KDWPT field staff, each week these fishing reports share everything from fishing success and water temperature, to lake levels and other pertinent information for that specific location. Anglers can even find out what baits and lures are catching the most fish.

STOCKING RECORDS

To improve fishing opportunities in urban areas where the demand for fish exceeds the supply, the Department created an urban fish stocking program. Seventy-seven lakes currently are stocked with 3/4- to 1 1/2-pound channel catfish, hybrid sunfish, and wipers as often as every two weeks from April through September. If you live in Atchison, Butler, Douglas, Finney, Johnson, Leavenworth, Lyon , Ottawa, Pottawatomie, Reno, Riley, Saline, Sedgwick, Shawnee, or Wyandotte county, you have an urban lake near you. These are great locations for a quick family fishing trip. Just throw the gear in the car and make the short drive to the nearest designated urban fishing lake. Click on the “Urban Fishing Program” link under “Special Fishing Programs For You” at ksoutdoors.com for stocking records and more information.

With a little time and research, anglers can experience truly one-of-a-kind public fishing on Kansas’ some 24 reservoirs, 40 state fishing lakes, 200 community lakes, and several streams and rivers – you just have to know where to look.

YOUTH FISHING CLINIC JUNE 6 AND 7

The Tuttle Creek Lake Association invites youth age 8-12 to participate

MANHATTAN – The Tuttle Creek Lake Association invites youth 8-12 to participate in its June 6-7, 2014 at Anneberg Park Lake. Open and free to youth who have not previously attended, the two-day clinic will begin with an educational session Friday evening covering topics such as casting, hook tying, and water safety. Activities will pick back upSaturday morning with fishing from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m., followed by an award ceremony, and free lunch. Each youth will be provided with a free rod and reel to take home, as well as hooks, bobbers, split shot, and bait.

20th Annual Youth Fishing Clinic

Opportunities to catch a fish will be plentiful as the Tuttle Creek Lake Association, in cooperation with Manhattan Parks and Recreation, will stock Anneberg Park Lake with 700 channel catfish ranging from 12-18 inches long and weighing up to 3 pounds.

Trophies will be awarded to girls and boys who catch the smallest fish, the largest fish, and the largest three fish.

Youth must be accompanied by an adult and must register to attend. Registration will be open the day of the event, however early registration is encouraged.

For more information, contact Paul Miller at (785) 341-0085.

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TUTTLE CREEK LAKE ASSOCIATION TO HOST 19TH ANNUAL YOUTH FISHING CLINIC

 The Tuttle Creek Lake Association is hosting the 19th Annual Youth Fishing Clinic June 7-8, 2013 at Anneberg Park Lake. The event is open to the first 200 youth, age 8-12, who register.

Young anglers will learn about and fish for
 channel catfish during this two-day event

In addition to casting their lines, participants can enjoy special lectures on general fishing know-how and water safety.

In cooperation with Manhattan Parks and Recreation, Anneberg Park Lake will be stocked with channel catfish averaging 12 inches long and ranging from 3/4 pound up to 3 pounds.

Trophies will be awarded to the girl and boy with the smallest fish caught, the girl and boy with the largest fish caught, and the girl and boy with the largest three fish caught.

Thanks to generous sponsors, participants will get to take home a new rod and reel, hooks, bobbers, sinkers, bait, and a hat! Lunch will also be provided at no additional cost.

Only youth who have not previously participated in this event are eligible to attend and must be accompanied by an adult. Participants can register the day of the event, however early registration is encouraged as the event is limited to the first 200 applicants.

For more information, contact Leo Schell at (785) 539-6540.

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FREE FULL-LENGTH VIDEO LURES URBAN ANGLERS

 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Program, free online video makes urban fishing a great escape
PRATT — Do you want to catch more fish? You can improve your angling success by watching the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) video, The Urban Fish Stocking Program. Watching the video is free through KDWPT’s website, ksoutdoors.com.

This video features KDWPT’s Urban Fish Stocking Program, which was established to improve fishing opportunities in urban lakes. Through the program, lakes are currently stocked with 3/4- to 1 1/2-pound channel catfish, hybrid sunfish, and wipers as often as every two weeks from April through September. All metropolitan areas that have a population of more than 40,000 and available public fishing waters are served by this program. Counties served include Atchison, Butler, Douglas, Finney, Johnson, Leavenworth, Lyon, Ottawa, Pottawatomie, Reno, Riley, Saline, Sedgwick, Shawnee, and Wyandotte.
But there’s more to the video than fish stocking in urban lakes. After a brief overview of the urban program, the video shows young anglers how to rig a line, set drag, set a hook, bait a hook, reel in fish, net fish, and much more. Learn how to fish for catfish, sunfish, and crappie, just a few favorites of beginning anglers. Most importantly, the video shows kids and novice anglers how to start fishing with minimal expense and preparation time. To watch, go online to ksoutdoors.com and click the “Watch It” link on the right-hand side of the page. Enjoy — it’s time to go fishing.
If you live in the above listed counties, you have an urban lake near you. These are great locations for a quick family fishing trip. Just throw the gear in the car and make the short drive to the nearest designated urban fishing lake.
For a complete list of individual lakes and a stocking schedule, just click “Fishing/Special Fishing Programs for You” at ksoutdoors.com.

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THREE-POLE PERMIT GIVES ANGLERS AN EDGE

 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Increase your angling odds for only $6.50 per year
PRATT — If you had the opportunity to pay just $6.50 a year to increase your odds of catching fish on rod and reel — possibly by 30 percent or more — would you take it? Many anglers would, and the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) offers just that opportunity with the three-pole permit. The permit is especially attractive to those who fish from the bank for channel catfish and other species using live or prepared bait and a tight line or bobber — or both.

Kansas fishing regulations restrict anglers to two rods with no more than two baited hooks (single or treble) or artificial lures per line. However, all anglers, regardless of age, may use a third rod with the purchase of an annual $6.50 three-pole permit. Whether fishing a river, pond, or lake, the three-pole permit gives the angler the advantage of spreading out baits to more areas. Find the hot spot, and you may want to put two lines there, leaving the third in a promising site while waiting for the action to move on. Whatever the approach, having more bait in more areas is bound to increase the chances of bringing home a full stringer.

This year, try KDWPT’s three-pole permit, available wherever licenses are sold, and increase your angling odds.

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KDWPT BRINGS OUTDOORS TO STATE FAIR SEPT. 9-18

Image via Wikipedia

Aquaria, taxidermy, cabin, tourism information highlight exhibits this year

PRATT — The 2011 Kansas State Fair — Sept. 9-18 — offers a wide variety of sights, sounds, food, music, and other entertainment, but the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) brings a different kind of wild outdoor and travel experience to the fair. The KDWPT exhibit, located in the Eisenhower Building (north of the administration building and train station), gives fairgoers a chance to see replicas of state record fish and deer mounts, an aquatic nuisance species (ANS) display, aquaria teeming with dozens of fish species, and live snakes. Natural resource officers and staff from KDWPT education centers will be on hand to answer questions.

KDWPT’s mobile aquarium will set up next to Gate 9, on the southeast corner of the fairgrounds. The 40-foot long aquarium holds 3,200 gallons and displays many Kansas sportfish and nongame fish, including largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass, white bass, striped bass, hybrid striped bass (wiper), bluegill, green sunfish, longear sunfish, channel catfish, blue catfish, flathead catfish, buffalo, common carp, walleye, sauger, saugeye, redear sunfish, black crappie, white crappie, longnose gar, spotted gar, and freshwater drum.

Viewers have a special chance to see native live fish up close, and fisheries biologists are on hand to answer questions and demonstrate fishing techniques from the aquarium’s casting platform.

KDWPT also has a cabin on the fairgrounds, near Lake Talbot. This cabin is much like those available for rent at Kansas state parks and wildlife areas, and visitors may enter a drawing for free cabin weekends. Governor Sam Brownback will be on hand to draw the lucky winners for free weekend cabin stays on Thursday morning, Sept. 15. More than 90 cabins are now available at 20 state parks and five wildlife areas, offering visitors comfortable, convenient accommodations.

Kansas Tourism and KANSAS! magazine will share a booth in the Pride of Kansas Building (located west of the administration building). Visitors to the booth will have the chance to pick up a free copy of the 2011-12 Official Kansas Visitors Guide, sign up to win a basket of Kansas goodies, subscribe to KANSAS! and more. Most days a representative from a “Spotlight Community” will be present in the booth with information on what there is to see and do in their Kansas community. Fair attendees can learn more about products, places and things covered in KANSAS! from special guests who will be featured in the booth.

For more information on the KDWPT State Fair exhibit, phone 620-672-5911. For information about the Kansas Tourism exhibit, phone 785-296-2281.

Fishing, Hunting, and Camping Information

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