Kingman State Fishing Lake

[DroptineJoe]

Does anyone know how the drought is effecting Kingman SFL? I'm wanting to give it a try for pike with my fly rod and any information would be useful!

Thank you in advance,
Joe

[fishingtim]

Haven't been there this year, but it usually is not as affected from lack of rain as other lakes are. There is a spring in the northeast corner of the lake, which keeps a little water flowing into the lake, plus the water is a little cooler there, which equals out to where the better fishing can be. Good luck!

[kansasbuckeye]

this is somewhere I've been wanting to try out for a long time really

[Craig Johnson]

Does anyone know how the drought is effecting Kingman SFL? I'm wanting to give it a try for pike with my fly rod and any information would be useful!

Thank you in advance,
Joe

Joe,

The lake is scheduled for renovation for this fall so you'd better get down there while you can! See the news release below for more info.

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KINGMAN STATE FISHING LAKE TO BE DRAINED FOR REHAB

Aug. 9, 2012

Shoreline and fishery improvements scheduled; no fish salvage allowed

KINGMAN — In an effort to improve fishing and eliminate an expanding white perch population — an aquatic nuisance species (ANS) — Kingman State Fishing Lake (SFL) is scheduled to be drained and renovated this fall. Periodic renovations are standard practice in small lakes when fish populations became unbalanced due to expansion of undesirable fish species. Kingman SFL has been drained and rehabilitated six times since 1947. Currently, the majority of the fish biomass in the lake is composed of common carp, gizzard shad, and white perch. The quality and quantity of sport fish has decreased in the lake, and the fishery is not currently meeting the needs of anglers. Angler use in 2011 was approximately one-third of that seen during the last angler survey at Kingman in 1999.

Biologist believe hot, dry weather has created the best conditions for renovating this fish population because the drought has dried up many upstream pools that may have harbored undesirable fish species. After the lake is drained, the existing water in the lake basin will be treated with rotenone, a fish toxicant. Because Kingman is an ANS-designated water due to white perch, fish salvage will not be allowed, reducing the risk of white perch transfer into non-infested waters.

Dewatering of the lake will begin in mid-August. During renovation, a number of lake improvement projects will take place, including fish habitat placement, boat ramp extension, and chemical treatment of problematic shoreline vegetation. Upon refilling of the lake, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, and channel catfish will be restocked.

“Hopefully, fall rains and increased spring flow will fill the lake by spring of 2013,” says Sean T. Lynott, Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism’s regional fisheries supervisor for southern Kansas. “After the renovation, the lake will not be closed to fishing because some adult fish will be stocked immediately to prey on any undesirable fish not eliminated by the chemical treatment. Additionally, the newly-stocked fish should grow quickly without competition from rough fish, so fishing should quickly improve in the years to come.”

[Craig Johnson]

Here's the link for the news release above. Kingman SFL

[fishingtim]

That's good news. Late 90's the lake was pretty hot, caught a ton of bass and pike out of there, but since then I agree it's gone down hill some. I've heard it's also been kind of a sleeper crappie lake, spring time it would get hit pretty hard since all the brush piles are close to shore and visible. But sounds like crappie won't be restocked.
I'll need to make a road trip down there this late fall \ winter just to check out the lake before it fills back up.

Craig - Why don't they remove length\creel limits on the lake for the rest of the year for the conventional fishing methods so more of the sport fish can be harvested? For example keep pike under 35". (Pike can be a pretty tasty )

[DroptineJoe]

Good info! Looks like i might be in Kingman one day this weekend!! Thanks Craig-your the man!

[CaptainT16]

I saw this yesterday as well. I was curious what they would do with the larger pike in there. I know there are some pretty large ones in there. I just hate to see them go to waste, but sounds like that is what may happen with them? I have heard good things about it in years past, but heard it's gone down hill pretty quick. Should be interesting to see how it turns out.

[DroptineJoe]

Does anyone know if it still has enough water to use my 17' Lund or should I bring my kayak?

[Craig Johnson]

That's good news. Late 90's the lake was pretty hot, caught a ton of bass and pike out of there, but since then I agree it's gone down hill some. I've heard it's also been kind of a sleeper crappie lake, spring time it would get hit pretty hard since all the brush piles are close to shore and visible. But sounds like crappie won't be restocked.
I'll need to make a road trip down there this late fall \ winter just to check out the lake before it fills back up.

Craig - Why don't they remove length\creel limits on the lake for the rest of the year for the conventional fishing methods so more of the sport fish can be harvested? For example keep pike under 35". (Pike can be a pretty tasty )

Tim,

A public fish salvage is not planned so no harvest regulation exemptions will be imposed. They are hoping to save back some pike for restocking in to the lake after removing the white perch and rough fish populations.