Printed copies available by mid-January

PRATT -- The 2009 Kansas Fishing Regulations Summary booklet is now available online at the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) website and should be available at most license vendors and KDWP offices the week of Jan. 12. The booklet outlines several new regulations that took effect Jan. 1, as well as information on where to fish, length and creel limits, and much more.

The following information details Kansas fishing regulation changes for 2009:

Floatline fishing

• floatline fishing will be allowed during daylight hours from July 15 through Sept. 15 at Hillsdale, Council Grove, Tuttle Creek, Kanopolis, John Redmond, Toronto, Wilson, and Pomona reservoirs. Anglers will be allowed no more than eight floatlines or eight setlines (with no more than two hooks attached to each line) or one trotline with no more than 25 hooks attached. All floatlines must be under immediate supervision of the angler and must be removed from the water when fishing ceases. Material used for floats are restricted to “closed cell” devices made of plastic, wood, or foam; metal or glass floats are not allowed. Closed-cell floats do not hold water. A floatline permit (available for $2.50) will be required. This is three-year pilot program.

Length and creel limits

• a five-fish daily wiper creel limit has been established at Coldwater City Lake, Douglas County-Lonestar Lake, John Redmond Reservoir, Leavenworth State Fishing Lake, Marion Reservoir, Paola-Lake Miola, and Lake Shawnee;
• an 18-inch length limit on walleye as been established at Glen Elder Reservoir; and
• other length and creel limit changes are detailed for each KDWP-managed water body.

Aquatic nuisance species (ANS)

• hydrilla has been found in Olathe Black Bob Park Pond. Zebra mussels have been found in Lake Afton and Marion Reservoir, with expectations that they may be discovered in the Cottonwood and Neosho rivers, John Redmond Reservoir, and Coffey County Lake in the future.

Veterans permits

• legal Kansas residents who have been separated from the armed services under honorable conditions and have a disability certified by the Kansas Commission On Veterans Affairs as being service-connected and such disability is equal to or greater than 30 percent may apply through the Pratt Operations Office for free hunting and fishing licenses (not applicable for park permits). Applications are also available on the KDWP website, www.kdwp.state.ks.us.

The 2009 Kansas Fishing Regulations Summary booklet also features state park information. 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, pallid and shovelnose sturgeon, and others.

The booklet also provides the latest information about invasive species in Kansas waters. Two pages are dedicated to this subject, complete with detailed illustrations and tips on how to prevent the spread of exotic species of 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 2009 Kansas Fishing Regulations Summary wherever licenses are sold, or download a copy from the KDWP website, www,kdwp.state.ks.us. Type "2009 fishing regulations summary" in the search box on the home page.

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