Thread: Ask the Biologist

Love ta be there Craig but,,,, we gota raid sum Okie lake this weekend. <*)}}}><

1 was just wondering why there seem to be so many dinks in lake shawnee, any input will be appreciated thanks

Originally Posted by dlsloan

1 was just wondering why there seem to be so many dinks in lake shawnee, any input will be appreciated thanks

dlsloan,

I contacted Richard Sanders KDWP District Fisheries Biologist that manages Lake Shawnee to answer your question on Lake Shawnee. His response is below.
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Craig,
Crappie management has been a challenge at Lake Shawnee. When I started sampling this water in 1988, crappie were slow growing (you might even use the term "stunted"). Some anglers referred to crappie at this lake as potato chip crappie - others claimed that you could read the newspaper through them! Anyway, most were small, lots of 7 inch fish. A couple of things have transpired since to improve the fishery; 1) consistent stockings of walleye served to create a predator base that thinned out the crappie population so that growth rate and overall size could improve, 2) largemouth bass/smallmouth bass populations improved to provide additional predation. Now instead of vast numbers of 7 inch crappie, we have fewer numbers of crappie with a little better size 8-9 inch fish, with a few exceeding 10 inches in length. One of the problems at Shawnee has been inconsistent and/or low production of gizzard shad. So even though crappie numbers and competition for available food is lower, the food base is still not optimal, so growth is not as good as it could be.
Richard

thanks very much for the info Craig

Hard copies are out at most of the KDWP offices and will be getting to other KDWP vendors in the very near future.

2011 FISHING REGULATIONS AVAILABLE IN JANUARY

Latest rules; how, where, and what to fish for; much more included

PRATT — Printed copies of the 2011 Kansas Fishing Regulations Summary booklet will be available in early Jan., according to the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP). Among other things, the publication lists new regulations that take 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 begin the New Year right.

The following information details Kansas fishing regulation changes for 2011:
Fishing where Kansas and Missouri share a common Missouri River boundary

• five fish daily creel limit on blue catfish, and flathead catfish;
• 15-inch minimum length limit and 10 fish daily creel limit on channel catfish;
• 15-inch minimum length limit on sauger and walleye;
• 15 fish daily creel limit on yellow bass, striped bass, white bass, and their hybrids, single species or in combination;
• two fish daily creel limit on paddlefish; and
• six fish daily creel limit on black bass (largemouth, spotted, and smallmouth bass; single species or in combination).

Black bass tournaments
Anglers holding a Tournament Black Bass Pass (TBBP) during a weigh-in tournament are allowed to cull fish once they have reached their five-fish daily creel limit. In addition, they may possess two short bass over 15 inches on waters with special length limits above the statewide 15-inch minimum length limit (to be released after weigh-in) from Sept. 1 through June 15. Only five fish may be kept.

District fisheries newsletters
Anglers can sign-up to receive seasonal email newsletters produced by district fisheries biologists. Go to KDWP - KDWP, click on the “Fishing” link at the top of the page, then click on the “Newsletter Request Forms” in the Fishing Quick Links box on the right-hand side of the page.

Handfishing
Handfishing, for flathead catfish only, is legal from sunrise to sunset June 15 through Aug. 31 on the entire length of the Arkansas River in Kansas, all federal reservoirs from beyond 150 yards of the dam to the upper end of the federal property, and on the Kansas River from its origin downstream to its confluence with the Missouri River.

Resident youth multi-year license
A multi-year resident youth hunting and/or fishing license is valid from time of purchase through the year the holder turns 21. The new youth licenses will be valid for youth age 16 through 20 years of age and offers considerable savings. The one-time purchase, multi-year youth fishing or hunting license is $40. Combination license is $70.

Trout fishing
Four new Type 2 locations have been added: Holton-Elkhorn Lake, Atchison City Lake #1, Syracuse-Sam’s Pond, and Belleville City Lake (Rocky Pond). The Cimarron Grasslands Pits will change from a Type 1 Water to a Type 2 Water. (From Oct. 15-April 15, Type 1 waters stocked with trout require a $12.50 trout permit for fishing. Type 2 waters require a trout permit only for anglers fishing for or possessing trout.)

The 2011 booklet also features state park and cabin information and detailed regulations for each body of water managed by KDWP.

In addition, a full-color fish identification guide lists all the state's sportfish, complete with text descriptions and detailed illustrations by renowned fish illustrator Joseph Tomelleri. Look-alike species are grouped together with complementary text to help the angler discern the difference between such closely-related species as white bass and wipers; blue catfish and channel catfish; the state's three black basses; black and white crappie; and pallid, shovelnose, and lake sturgeon.

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.

For more information, contact the nearest KDWP office, pick up a copy of the 2011 Kansas Fishing Regulations Summary wherever licenses are sold in early Jan. Copies may also be downloaded from the KDWP website, KDWP - KDWP, in early Jan.. Click the “Fishing” icon at the top of the page, then “Fishing Regulations” in the left-hand column.

Some of our lakes have a closed portion to protect the waterfowl during hunting season. Why don't we have closed areas where the crappie spawn in the spring??? This practice seems to be working at Kirwin where the west half is closed to boats all year. I think it would be very easy to close off a couple of the prime spawning coves during the month of May. Why not??

Originally Posted by duramax

Some of our lakes have a closed portion to protect the waterfowl during hunting season. Why don't we have closed areas where the crappie spawn in the spring??? This practice seems to be working at Kirwin where the west half is closed to boats all year. I think it would be very easy to close off a couple of the prime spawning coves during the month of May. Why not??

duramax,

This idea of closing areas at certain times has been around for a long time. It has been suggested for a couple of different species, mainly crappie and walleye and usually during the spawn. The idea of certain areas being off limits during prime fishing seasons is not well received by all anglers, especially the shore anglers. The walleye and crappie spawns are some of the better times for the shore bound angler to be able to catch some fish as the fish come shallow close to shore to spawn. Limiting fishing opportunities during prime seasons would not be good for the angler, especially without any biological justification. By restricting access to one portion of the lake, pressure in other areas will increase. Higher pressure usually equates to higher harvest so even with fish being 'protected' in the closed area, overall fish harvest for that particular lake would likely remain the same resulting in a net gain of zero.

Some anglers fishing shortly before the spawn will release a fish that is heavy with eggs so that it can spawn. But, these same anglers don't have a problem filling the livewell a month or two before or after the spawn. It doesn't matter WHEN the fish is removed from the population, the end result is the same--it is still GONE from the population and obviously won't be contributing to the upcoming spawn!

Many other factors, besides number of spawning individuals, impact the success of the crappie spawn. Floods, flood releases, cold fronts, wind storms, and droughts are just a few things that affect the spawn and few of these can be controlled. Some years even the best populations cannot get a good spawn by Mother Nature. Is it worth restricting access to "prime spawning coves" during the peak angling times to have little impact on the overall success of the spawn? I would have to answer no.

Fish Night 2011

Getting cabin fever? Want to see how your favorite lake compares to others in northeast Kansas? Do you want to know where the big ones are? Have a question about the way a lake or species is managed or maybe you have a question about a fishing regulation that doesn’t make sense. Well the place for you to be is the “Fifth Annual Region 2 Fish Night” at Southwest Junior High Auditorium, 2511 Inverness Drive, Lawrence, KS 66046; Friday February 18, 2011 from 7:00 to 9:30 pm. Local Fisheries Biologists: Leonard Jirak (Melvern), Richard Sanders (Clinton), Ely Sprenkle (Tuttle Creek), Andy Jansen (Hillsdale), and Kirk Tjelmeland (Perry) will be presenting an overview of area Reservoir fisheries and local smaller lakes of interest. Chuck Bever (Region 2 Supervisor) will discuss Aquatic Nuisance Species.

Remember to bring those fish questions! For more information please contact the Regional Office 785-273-6740.

Equal opportunity to participate in and benefit from programs described herein is available to all individuals without regard to their race, color, national origin or ancestry, religion, sex age or disability. Complaints of discrimination should be sent to the Office of the Secretary, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, 1020 S Kansas Ave., Suite 200, Topeka, KS 66612.