I attended a meeting earlier this week where one of the topics discussed was what information anglers would like to see from the Fisheries Division of KDWPT and how would they like it delivered. Below are some of the current methods that KDWPT uses to get info to our angling constituency.


  • The Fisheries Division has conducted Fish Information Nights (FINs) across the state the last number of years and success has been varied. The FINs consist of a public type meeting where anglers show up to hear presentations by local fish bios on area water bodies. Presentations are followed with a Q&A session so anglers can ask their questions. Guest speakers have been on hand to give insight to productive tactics and techniques for catching Kansas fishes.
  • As a follow up to the FINs biologist presentations, biologists would prepare narrated versions of the PowerPoint presentations and post them on the KDWPT website. Anglers can view the presentations as a video on the computer.
  • Recently, the Fisheries Division began a District Fisheries Newsletter where fish bios compose newsletters detailing fisheries projects, population status, local news, productive fishing techniques, and so on. Anglers can subscribe to the newsletters and be emailed the newsletter when it is distributed. Previous editions of the newsletters can be viewed online.
  • Fish bios are also responsible for providing weekly online fishing reports for their assigned waters during the fishing season (March through November) with more general info provided December through February. Hot bites that occur during the winter months are posted as well.
  • Each spring, the statewide Fishing Forecast is compiled from the biologist's fish sampling data. The forecast organizes all the data and ranks lakes from high to low for good fishing for individual species. Anglers can use the Forecast to seek out the 'hot' lake for the year or use it to find the lakes that contain the higher densities of 'lunker' sized fish.
  • KDWPT offers public fishing blogs where anglers can ask questions and share fishing reports.
  • Fish bios write columns and articles for the KDWPT magazine which is a bi-monthly publication.
  • Some fish bios monitor angling websites and answer angler questions online.
  • All fish bios have offices with phones and anglers can call in with any questions that they may have. Fish bio phone office phone numbers can be found in the annual Kansas Fishing Regulations Summary.

Any comments on the value of the current methods would be appreciated. What 'fishy' information would you like to have and what is the best way to get that information to you?