Questions for Kansas Anglers

**Craig Johnson** · 09-09-2011, 11:19 AM

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?

**crappiecaster** · 09-09-2011, 09:27 PM

Craig, I subscribed to the news letter in February when I got home from the "fish night" we had in Lawrence, but I have never recieved an e-mailed news letter.

**Craig Johnson** · 09-09-2011, 10:00 PM

Originally Posted by crappiecaster

Craig, I subscribed to the news letter in February when I got home from the "fish night" we had in Lawrence, but I have never recieved an e-mailed news letter.

crappiecaster,

Which district newsletter did you subscribe to? It may take a while for you to receive the newsletter depending on the date that you signed up and when the most recent edition of the newsletter was released. You can find copies of past newsletters HERE and the Spring 2011 Lawrence District Newsletter can be found HERE.

Thanks for letting me know that you didn't get a newsletter. Once I know what newsletter you subscribed to we can look in to distribution problems we may have.

**Fishslime** · 09-11-2011, 06:25 AM

I appreciate all the reports and forecasts. I have never made it to a "fish night" but plan to in the future. I think the new news letters are a great source of information to advise us of events and status of the local waters in each area. You probably have more outdoorsmen reading all these sources than you think. A lot of us just don't post on forums very often. Thanks to all you and your fellow bios do. Keep up the good work and communication.

**Kansasoutdoorsman** · 09-11-2011, 09:37 AM

Craig,

Thanks for all your efforts. I can say you guys do an amazing job of trying to get info out and balance populations of fish with your management practices. It's amazing how many different challenges you guys have. I can say I am extremely dissapointed in how the state of KS is handling hunting in KS and whoreing out of our limited resourse but that is for a different page. I just get so upset when I realize that my kids won't be able to hunt in the state I grew up hunting it.

With regards to your question, the biggest thing most fisherman hate is other fisherman knowing about what they are doing!!! It's their water and their fish and we are all guilty of that in some ways so you have built in wall your trying to break through. One thing I think you guys could open more doors with is the small waters in the state of KS. There are some great resources that don't get fished very often.

One thing that would help you get info out is the change your fishing info night completely. I would suggest if you have a day where you where actually at the ramp of a lake (or a shelter house) for you fisherman info "morning" with the map of the lake on a sat morning vs in a room in a city I think you would have a few more people stop bye. People want specific info about lakes, not general info. I would say you should be some where right by the ramp with a sign that says Fishing Info and I bet you would have a of people stop bye. If you wanted to try and reach more non fisher do it on the free park day or do on the day no license is needed. Again, this going to spread you out more but if your there on the ground you will get a lot more results.

Also, I have found the lunker rating to be way off. I pull a lot of really nice crappie out of lakes with very low ratings and low pressure so I wonder if that doesn't almost push people to and from a lake for no reason. Like slime said I think more people read those reading than you think.

Anyway I am sure I will have more. Thanks for you efforts.

**Fish Taxi** · 09-11-2011, 11:36 PM

Thank you for all your efforts in getting information out to the public. I think your annual sampling data and newsletters are the most helpful to me. I have never attended one of your Fishing Info Nights, but I have heard you guys do a great job there too.

If I had any suggestion, it would be to agree with Nick that I think a lot of people would benefit from having better weekly fishing reports about the smaller bodies of water. I have personally found that the online reports and biologist ratings of the smaller lakes don't really reflect my personal experience there. But I'm just nit-picking there. You guys are doing a great job of getting info out overall. Even the most novice anglers can look at your sampling data and fishing reports and use that information to get them going in the right direction.

Keep up the good work!

**wheels70** · 09-12-2011, 05:34 PM

Maybe this information is already available and I just have not found it but I would like to see information on how many and what species are being stocked in area reservoirs and possibly information regarding the status ( approximate population and year class) of each species in area reservoirs. I have noticed some reservoirs receive much more press and attention than others. One example is Pomona was not even listed in this years fishing forecast that I found.

As has been said, you guys are doing a great job and it really helps keep us informed on how things are going.

Keith

**Craig Johnson** · 09-15-2011, 10:22 AM

Thanks for the input so far guys! If anyone else has any comments, suggestions, or questions on this topic then post away!

**Craig Johnson** · 09-15-2011, 10:30 AM

Originally Posted by wheels70

Maybe this information is already available and I just have not found it but I would like to see information on how many and what species are being stocked in area reservoirs and possibly information regarding the status ( approximate population and year class) of each species in area reservoirs. I have noticed some reservoirs receive much more press and attention than others. One example is Pomona was not even listed in this years fishing forecast that I found.

As has been said, you guys are doing a great job and it really helps keep us informed on how things are going.

Keith

Keith,

You can find stocking records for Kansas waters HERE.

More detailed data than what the Fishing Forecast supplies can be obtained from the District Fisheries Biologist that manages that water. Just give them a shout and they can set you up with current and historical population information.

Pomona wasn't included in the Fishing Forecast this year because it was not sampled during the fall standard test netting. Not all water bodies are sampled every year as there just isn't enough time to get to them all. Other times factors such as weather conditions or equipment/mechanical problems may result in a water not being sampled.

Thanks for taking the time to provide your input, it is appreciated!

**wheels70** · 09-15-2011, 02:26 PM

Originally Posted by Craig Johnson

Keith,

You can find stocking records for Kansas waters HERE.

Craig,
Thank you for the link. I had not found this before. I do have one question though, can you please explain to me what a "trained" fingerling is? Trained to do what? Rofl

Thank you,
Keith

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