Fishing Guide - Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks

Fishing ForecastThe Kansas Fishing Forecast predicts fishingprospects in public waters throughout the state.The Fishing Forecast helps anglers select lakesthat will most likely provide the best opportunityto catch the kind and size of fish they prefer. Theinformation is formulated from data collected byfisheries biologists through annual lake monitoring.Table categories for the most popular speciesinclude a Density Rating, Preferred Rating,Lunker Rating, Biggest Fish (the largest fishtaken in sampling), and Biologist’s Rating. Notevery lake is sampled each year, so a separate category,Three-Year Density Average, is included.Each year, a new Kansas Fishing Forecast is available atthe KDWPT website by late February. Click "Fishing" at thetop of the home page, then "Fishing Forecast" in the lefthandcolumn. Printed copies of the forecast are available atKDWPT offices.Weekly Fishing ReportsOne of the most popular and useful tools provided byKDWPT is the weekly lake-by-lake fishing reports posted onthe agency's website.Updated weekly by KDWPT fisheries biologists,these reports provide the latest ratingson fishing conditions at many departmentmanagedlakes. Information includes a generalrating of what the fishing is like — from poorto excellent — as well as the size range of fishbeing caught, and an description of successfulbaits, methods, and locations where anglers arehaving the most success. Water temperaturesand lake elevations are also included, along with tips each biologistthinks might help anglers catch fish.District Fisheries NewslettersYou can learn even more about fishing opportunities byreading the district fisheries newsletters. Fisheries biologistspublish seasonal newsletters about the lakes they manage,providing information about sampling results, new projects,stocking data and more. Go to www.kdwpt.state.ks.us, clickon the “Fishing” link at the top of the page, then click on the“Newsletter Request Forms” in the Fishing Quick Links boxon the right-hand side of the page. Each newsletter you signup for will be emailed to you.Essential ResourcesPublic Fishing ReportsIn addition to the Fishing Forecast and the WeeklyFishing Reports, a web blog entitled "Public Fishing Reports"enables anglers to provide timely reports and tipslocal biologists may not have heard about. Combined withthe fishing forecast and the biologists' weekly fishing reports,the public fishing reports provide the most completepicture of angling conditions short ofbeing on the lake.Fishing AtlasThe Kansas Fishing Atlas pinpointsa variety of public fishing areas, includingFishing Impoundment andStream Habitats (F.I.S.H.) waters.F.I.S.H. waters are privately-ownedponds or streams KDWPT has leasedand opened to public fishing. F.I.S.H.sites are numbered in red on each map.Each map also shows all federal reservoirs,state fishing lakes, river access,and community lakes. With this atlas, anglers can locate justabout any type of fishing desired.Available for viewing and downloadfrom the KDWPT website or inprinted form from most KDWPT officesand license vendors, the KansasFishing Atlas is an invaluable tool forKansas anglers.Fishing RegulationsThe Kansas Fishing RegulationsSummary booklet contains new regulations as well other essentiallaws and regulations the angler needs to know. Thebooklet also features state park information and detailed regulationsfor each body of water managed by KDWPT.Anglers who want to contact a district fisheries biologist willfind a listing of names and phonenumbers of the nearest biologist, aswell as regional supervisors. A listingof natural resource officer contactsis also included.Available wherever licenses aresold. Copies may also be downloadedfrom the KDWPT website.4