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FISHING FORECAST LOCATES LUNKER
LAKES FOR SPRING ANGLERS
2009 statewide summary helps
anglers find best spots to fish
Feb. 4, 2009 - PRATT -- Each year, the Kansas
Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) prepares a tool that
answers every angler's most pressing question: "Where can
I find the best fishing?" Called the Kansas Fishing Forecast,
this indispensable tool forecasts fishing prospects in public
waters throughout the state.
The 2009 Kansas Fishing Forecast assembles results
of biologists' sampling efforts into a format that can help anglers
select lakes that will most likely provide the best opportunity
to catch the kind and size of fish they prefer. The information
is formulated from data collected by fisheries management biologists
through annual lake monitoring, which includes test netting and
electroshocking.New for 2009 is separation of water bodies into
three categories -- reservoirs (waters larger than 1,200 acres),
lakes (waters from 20 to 1,200 acres), and ponds (waters smaller
than 20 acres). This helps anglers understand that while a water
body may have a high rating, if it is small, its overall opportunity
may be limited.
Table categories have been created for popular
species and include a Density Rating, Preferred Rating, Lunker
Rating, Biggest Fish (the largest fish taken in sampling), and
Biologist's Rating. Not every lake is sampled each year, so a
separate category -- Three-Year Density Average -- has been added
to the 2009 forecast.
The Density Rating is the number of fish that were
high-quality size or larger sampled per unit of sampling effort.
Quality size, listed in parentheses at the top of the Density
Rating column, is the length of fish considered acceptable to
most anglers and is different for each species. The higher the
Density Rating, the more high-quality or larger fish per surface
acre in the lake. Theoretically, a lake with a Density Rating
of 30 has twice as many high-quality fish per acre as a lake
with a Density Rating of 15.
The Preferred Rating identifies how many above-average-size
fish a water contains. For example, a lake may have a good density
of crappie, but few fish over 10 inches. The Preferred Rating
helps an angler find waters with more big fish.
The Lunker Rating is similar to the Density Rating,
but it shows the relative density of lunker-sized fish in the
lake. A lunker is a certain length of fish considered a trophy
by most anglers. It also differs with each species and is listed
in parentheses at the top of the Lunker Rating column. For example,
most anglers consider a channel catfish longer than 16 inches
a high-quality fish, a 24-incher "preferred," and a
28-incher a trophy. Many lakes may have a lunker rating of 0,
but this does not mean there are no big fish in that lake. It
just means that no lunker fish were caught during sampling, and
they may be less abundant than in lakes with positive Lunker
Ratings.
Anglers can use the Density Rating and Lunker Rating
together. For those who want numbers, go with the highest Density
Rating. For those who want only big fish, go with the Lunker
Rating. Somewhere in the middle might be a better choice. A lake
with a respectable rating in all three categories should provide
the best overall fishing opportunities.
The Biggest Fish column lists the weight of the
largest fish caught during sampling. A heavy fish listed here
can give the lunker angler confidence that truly big fish are
present.
The Biologist's Rating adds a human touch to the
forecast. Each district fisheries biologist reviews the data
from annual samplings of their assigned lakes. This review considers
environmental conditions that may have affected the samplings.
They also consider previous years' data. A rating of P (poor),
F (fair), G (good), and E (excellent) will be in the last column.
Sometimes the Density Rating may not agree with the Biologist's
Rating. This will happen occasionally and means the Density Rating
may not accurately reflect the biologist's opinion of the fishery.
The 2009 Kansas Fishing Forecast will be available
at the KDWP website, www.kdwp.state.ks.us, by Feb. 13. Click
"Fishing" at the top of the home page, then "Fishing
Forecast" in the left-hand column. Printed copies of the
forecast will be available at KDWP offices by the end of February,
and the March/April issue of Kansas Wildlife & Parks magazine
will present the forecast as a full-color article. (For subscriptions,
phone 1-800-288-8387.)
Whether the angler is after big fish or more fish,
the forecast should help find them.
STATE-FISH ART CONTEST FEATURES
CHANNEL CAT, DEADLINE MARCH 31
National and state prizes awarded
for students grades 4 through 12
Feb. 4, 2009 - BROOKLYN CENTER, Minn. -- Wildlife
Forever has announced that the deadline for entry in its 11th
Annual State-Fish Art Contest is March 31. Through the contest,
students across Kansas and the United States have the opportunity
to win national recognition and prizes while learning about their
local state fish and the conservation of aquatic habitats. The
contest is open to all students in grades 4 through 12.
To enter, young artists usually create an illustration
of their state fish, but artwork of any official state fish is
eligible. Kansas entrants usually portray the channel catfish.
A written composition on its behavior, habitat, and conservation
is also required.
State-Fish Art Contest entries are separated into
three grade categories: fourth-sixth, seventh-ninth, and 10-12.
Winning contestants from every state are honored in each category.
All contest winners receive a gift certificate for art supplies,
as well as other prizes. Winning designs will also be featured
on the official State-Fish Art website, www.statefishart.com.
A talented artist in grades 10-12 will be selected
as the national "Best of Show" winner and will receive
a $2,500 tuition scholarship to attend The Art Institutes International
Minnesota (Ai Minnesota). The first-runner up nationally in grades
10-12 will receive a $1,000 tuition scholarship to Ai Minnesota.
Winners who attend the Expo will receive a special rod and reel.
One "gallery-quality" winning entry will be used as
the design for the 2009 Art of Conservation Stamp, and a national
"Best of Show" award will be presented to one contestant
in each age group. Winning artwork will be on display at the
State Fish Art Expo at the Mall of America July 19-20 in Minneapolis,
Minn.
Parents and teachers should visit the State-Fish
Art website for complete details and to download a free lesson
plan. Entries must be postmarked by March 31. Winners will be
announced on May 1.
For more information, write Pat Conzemius at Wildlife
Forever, 2700 Freeway Blvd., #1000, Brooklyn Center, MN 55430,
email pconzemius@wildlifeforever.org, or phone 763-253-0222.
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