APPLICATIONS BEING ACCEPTED FOR OUTDOORS-WOMAN WORKSHOP

 If you’ve ever wondered what baits catch what fish, how to start a fire with your bare hands, May 16-18,the workshop will offerparticipants courses on everything from wood-carving and GPS basics, to rifle marksmanship and fly fishing.

or even have thought about coasting a creek in a canoe, youshouldsign up for the 2014 Spring Becoming An Outdoors-Woman (BOW) workshop thisMay. Held at Rock Springs 4-H Center

Offered through the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism, BOW is a non-profit, non-membership program designed for teaching women outdoor skills. The workshop will offer over 25 different classes thanks to a core of volunteer instructors, including KDWPT employees, law enforcement officials, and even past participants, all of whom are considered to be experts in their field.

Cost for the three-day workshop is $250, which includes lodging, meals and class supplies. Three $100 scholarships are available to first-time participants based on financial need.

Early registration will be open to first-time participants through March 15. If spots still remain, past participants may register beginning March 16. Applicants are encouraged to apply early as the spring workshop is limited to 48 participants and the application period will close May 2. To register, visit www.ksoutdoors.com, click “Services/Education/Becoming an Outdoors Woman,” and download a registration form.

For questions, call or email Jami McCabe at (785) 845-5052 or kansasbow@sbcglobal.net. To learn more, and view pictures of past workshops, visit the BOW Facebook page found under “Becoming an Outdoors Woman KANSAS.”

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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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KANOPOLIS SEEP STREAM OPEN FOR FISHING

Image via Wikipedia

Trout stocking delayed until early November
PRATT — On Oct. 12, the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism announced the Oct. 15 opening of trout season with a news release outlining the rules, regulations, and areas that will be stocked with trout, including those waters where stocking will be delayed.

However, there was information indicating that the Kanopolis Seep Stream was closed to all fishing due to water-quality problems. This was in error. The Kanopolis Seep Stream is open to fishing although it won’t be stocked with trout until early November.

Anyone planning to fish Kanopolis Seep Stream for species other than trout before trout are stocked are free to do so with the proper licenses and permits. Kanopolis Seep Stream is a Type 1 water, so a trout permit is required of anglers 16 and older whether fishing for trout or not.

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GLEN ELDER YOUTH FISHING TOURNAMENT SCHEDULED FOR JULY 23

Image via Wikipedia Postponed earlier because of high water, event now good to go
GLEN ELDER — Due to high water levels at Glen Elder Reservoir, the 7th Annual Glen Elder Youth Fishing Tournament, originally scheduled for June 4, was postponed until July 23. While the Marina boat ramp will be closed, the Osage, Granite Creek, Walnut Creek, Schoen’s Cove, and North Fork boat ramps will be open. The marina boat slips should also be reinstalled by then with all of the boats back in place.
The schedule of events will remain the same for July 23, with registration at the park office between 8:30 a.m. and 9 a.m. and fishing until 3 p.m. Anyone who had originally signed up for the fishing tournament will still be on the list for July 23. Those who cannot make that date (kids or drivers) are asked to notify staff by phoning the park office at 785-545-3345.

RAINBOW TROUT RECORD BROKEN TWICE IN APRIL

Tecumseh man breaks record less than three weeks old
PRATT — Lake Shawnee has yielded a rainbow trout bonanza this spring. On April 2, Bob Lorson caught an 11.02-pound rainbow that was confirmed by the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) as a new state record. But it wouldn’t stand long.

On April 20, Ed Ames of Tecumseh was fishing the same lake with a Kastmaster lure when he landed a monster 13.65-pound rainbow, more than 2.5 pounds larger than Lorson’s catch. Realizing he had something special in his creel, Ames took the fish to The Bait Hut in Topeka where it was officially weighed and witnessed. KDWP Region 2 Fisheries Section supervisor Chuck Bever confirmed the species of the fish, which measured 31 7/8 inches with a girth of 17 ¼ inches. All that remained for Ames’ catch to supplant Lorson’s in the record books was a 30-day waiting period, which has passed, and KDWP has officially entered Ames’ rainbow as the new state record.

State record fish are listed in the Kansas Fishing Regulations Summary, available wherever licenses are sold, and on the KDWP website, www.kdwp.state.ks.us. If you think you have caught a state record, take the fish to a grocery store or other business with certified scales as soon as possible. Do not freeze the fish before it is weighed. The weighing must be witnessed, and the species must be confirmed by a KDWP fisheries biologist or a Fisheries Division regional supervisor. (A tissue sample may be required.) A color photograph of the fish must accompany the application. All applications for state records require a 30-day waiting period before certification.

For more information on Kansas state record fish and KDWP's Master Angler Program, pick up a copy of the 2011 Kansas Fishing Regulations Summary, available wherever licenses are sold, or visit the KDWP website, www.kdwp.state.ks.us.

SPRING OUTDOORS-WOMAN WORKSHOP MAY 13-15

Popular Becoming an Outdoors-Woman program now offered twice a year; applications for spring workshop now being accepted
PRATT — The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks' (KDWP) Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) program has become so popular that KDWP is offering a second, spring workshop to complement the traditional fall workshop that has been offered each year since 1994. This year’s spring workshop will be held May 13, 14, and 15 at Rock Springs 4-H Center, near Junction City, the same location as the fall workshop.

The program is designed to provide women a chance to learn about hunting, fishing, and other outdoor recreation in a friendly, supportive environment. During the three-day workshop, volunteer instructors teach participants a variety of skills, including fishing, wingshooting, camping, orienteering, rifle marksmanship, botany, dog handling, archery, and more.

“The fact that we have been filled to capacity three months before the fall workshop for the past two years demonstrates how much this fun and educational program connects women with the outdoors," says Ross Robins, KDWP's Education Section chief. "It also reflects well on long-time program coordinator Jami McCabe and on the skill and experience of our volunteer instructors.”

Studies have shown that many women do not participate in outdoor recreation because they have not had an opportunity to learn the skills that make outdoor activities enjoyable. The popularity of BOW proves that when given the opportunity, many women take advantage of it with enthusiasm. Women who participate in this program learn the outdoor skills that allow them to fully enjoy the natural environment while building self-confidence.

Registration for the May 2011 workshop is now open. The deadline for registration is April 15. Women wishing to ensure themselves a spot should mark their calendars and register early. For more information, go online tokdwp.state.ks.us/news/Other-Services/Education/Becoming-an-Outdoors-Woman or phone 620-672-5911.

Basic Gear You Need for Fly Fishing

2011 FISHING REGULATIONS NOW AVAILABLE

Where to fish, how to fish legally, what’s new for 2011 included
PRATT — Printed copies of the 2011 Kansas Fishing Regulations Summarybooklet are now available at offices of the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) or wherever licenses are sold, the agency has announced. Copies may also be downloaded from the KDWP website, www.kdwp.state.ks.us. Click the “Fishing” icon at the top of the page, then “Fishing Regulations” in the left-hand column.

Among other things, the publication lists new regulations that took effect Jan. 1, 2011. From new regulations expanding handfishing for flathead catfish to weigh-in regulations for black bass tournaments, the booklet has everything the angler needs to know during the 2011 fishing year.

The booklet also provides the latest information about aquatic nuisance species (ANS) in Kansas waters. Two pages are dedicated to this subject, complete with detailed illustrations and tips on how to prevent the spread of ANS plants, mollusks, and fish.

Anglers who want to contact a district fisheries biologist will find a listing of names and phone numbers of the nearest biologist, as well as regional supervisors. A listing of natural resource officer contacts is also included.