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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UNDERAGE DRINKERS TARGETED ON PUBLIC LANDS

KDOT grant to help keep public land users safe

PRATT — Through a grant from the Kansas Department of Transportation, natural resource officers with the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism are targeting underage drinkers at Osage and Lyon state fishing lakes and Melvern and Pomona reservoirs this spring. The issue is especially problematic in late spring, when minors gather after prom and graduation festivities for parties on their own.

Similar operations in the past have netted arrests for minors possessing or consuming alcohol, as well as drugs and drug paraphernalia. Numerous cases of beer and other alcoholic beverages were seized and citations were issued. Parents or guardians were notified and required to come to the lakes to pick up their sons and daughters. Additionally, officers arrested and charged several adults with furnishing intoxicants to minors.

Natural resource officers are conducting similar efforts in other parts of the state to keep natural areas safe and clean and to help prevent tragedies that too often occur as a result of alcohol and drug abuse.

For more information, phone the KDWPT Pratt Operations Office, Law Enforcement Division, at 620-672-5911.

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TURKEY FEDERATION SUPPORTS KANSAS QUAIL INITIATIVE

Image via Wikipedia

Effort will concentrate on two” focal areas” in eastern Kansas
PRATT — The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) is introducing a new five-year initiative — the Kansas Quail Initiative — aimed at improving habitat conditions for bobwhite quail, an upland species that has declined throughout much of its range. The National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) Kansas State Chapter was the first conservation group to provide financial support for this important conservation effort, committing $12,500. The NWTF also will help deliver and promote the program by helping locate interested landowners and assisting with habitat improvements.
The NWTF has 33 chapters in Kansas with more 2,800 members. More than $885,715 has been raised and spent by Kansas chapters on projects within the state.
"It was a no-brainer for the Kansas State Chapter to step up and become the first conservation organization to support the Quail Initiative," said Todd Adolph, NWTF Kansas State Chapter president. "We have a positive working relationship with KDWPT, and I expect this initiative will be a big success."
The Kansas Quail Initiative aims to increase quail populations by 50 percent in five years within “focal areas.” A northern focal area includes portions of Lyon, Osage, and Wabaunsee counties, and a southern focal area includes parts of Neosho and Labette counties.
KDWPT biologists identified these regions as areas with high restoration potential, and they both contain sizable amounts of public land that can be used for core habitat improvements.
"The fact that the NWTF has committed to this initiative shows that we’re not just about turkeys, and that our volunteers understand the urgency to conserve habitat for quail" said Jared McJunkin, NWTF conservation field western region supervisor.
For private landowners in the focal areas, this initiative will increase available cost-share assistance to 100 percent of the estimated costs of implementing quail-friendly practices on their property. KDWPT is committed to spending as much as $100,000 per year on private land habitat improvements in the focal areas for each of the five years of this initiative.
KDWPT also will emphasize the voluntary public access and habitat improvement program in these focal areas to promote enrollment in continuous Conservation Reserve Program practices.
To become an NWTF member, or for more information about the NWTF, go online to www.nwtf.org or phone (800) THE-NWTF.

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