El Dorado Wildlife Area News Area News - Spring 2014 Want Current Lake Condition Information? It’s Just a Click Away! It can be argued that technology is not always a good thing. But for outdoor recreationists wanting to know current information about El Dorado Lake, technology can be good because the information is available and can be accessed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, by visiting the internet on your computer or smart phone. For those interested in learning more about current or historic lake levels, precipitation amounts, lake inflow, or lake releases, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers operates a convenient web site providing this information. Whether you are an angler interested in lake conditions to determine if it might be right for pursuing your favorite species of fish, or are a boater or camper wondering how lake conditions have been impacted by recent drought or rains, the website can be a valuable trip planning tool. To access this information simply visit: http://www. swt-wc.usace.army.mil/ELDR.lakepage.html What’s Being Done to Improve Fishing in Kansas? Ever wonder how the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks & Tourism works to develop or improve fishing in the sunflower state? The KDWPT Fisheries Division video committee recently re-released the 24-minute video titled Fisheries Management in Kansas. Originally released in 2002, the video details techniques used by agency fisheries management and hatchery personnel to create and maintain quality fishing opportunities across the state. The video is well done and is a must see for anyone with an interest in fishing in Kansas. The video was made available on the KDWPT YouTube channel and can be viewed at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J31chIla9Tk Fishing at sunset. A welcome scene for anglers, following the cold Kansas winter that we experienced. El Dorado Lake - 2014 Fishing Outlook District Fisheries Biologist, Craig Johnson, has provided the following information to assist anglers when planning upcoming fishing trips. Information is provided based upon his annual population sampling. White crappie- Good Crappie density obtained during trap netting in October 2013 was the second highest of the last five years. Overall size will also be up during 2014. Approximately 30% of the crappie sampled exceeded 10- inches compared to 7% during the previous year. Crappie had good body condition values during October which equates to nice, plump fish. Anglers should be happy with the crappie fishing at the lake during 2014. Walleye- Good Walleye numbers decreased during the October 2013 sample while overall size continued to increase. Forty-three percent (43%) of the walleye sampled during fall test netting exceeded the 21-inch minimum length limit. Anglers should again expect good walleye fishing during 2014 with high percentages of keeper sized fish. Walleye fingerlings are annually stocked but despite the addition of these 200,000 fingerlings each spring the numbers of young walleye within this population has remained low. A good year class is needed in the near future to ensure good walleye fishing in coming years. White bass- Fair White bass densities are down to the lowest level seen in quite some time. Drought conditions during 2011 through 2013 have provided less than ideal spawning conditions for the white bass. Density has decreased with a population comprised mainly of larger, older individuals with few younger individuals available to replace those fish leaving the population. Anglers reported catching fewer white bass throughout the 2013 fishing season. Although density will be down during 2014, anglers should be pleased with the size of the white bass that they do catch. Wiper- Good While white bass numbers have dropped in recent years, wiper numbers have increased. The 80,000 wiper fingerlings stocked each year have done well in recruiting to the adult population which has created good wiper fishing opportunities. Wiper are protected with a 21-inch minimum length limit and 2/day creel limit. Anglers experienced very good wiper fishing with increasing catches of fish larger than 26-inches during 2013 and this should continue in 2014. Channel catfish- Fair Channel catfish numbers are down heading in to 2014. This population has received a rating of fair this year. Anglers will still find good catfish action in the old Bluestem Lake area and in the feeder creeks during times of inflows. Blue catfish-Fair This population received a fair rating mainly due to the low percentage of fish available for harvest with the 35-inch minimum length limit in place. KDWPT personnel verified several angler caught blue catfish during 2013 that exceeded the 35-inch limit. Legal length fish numbers continue to increase each year. Overall density of this population continues to increase and angler catch rates are also increasing. Catch and release opportunities would be rated Good as there are plenty of fish for catching. This population should continue to improve in the years to come. Black bass-Poor The lake contains three species of black bass: largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and spotted bass. Largemouth and spotted bass population densities are low whereas smallmouth bass densities can be quite good in areas with good smallmouth habitat. Skilled bass anglers continue to catch nice largemouth bass at El Dorado, but the casual angler would likely be quite disappointed in largemouth bass action at the lake. Smallmouth prefer the rockier areas of the reservoir while the largemouth prefer the vegetated coves, shallow timbered areas, and feeder creeks. The density of all three populations remains fairly stable from year to year. Recent attempts to increase the numbers of these fishes in the lake have not proved to be very successful. Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass Spotted Bass Anglers and Boaters Reminded to Take Precautions to Control Aquatic Nuisance Species! Unfortunately more Kansas waters were recently added to the growing list of those threatened by aquatic nuisance species (ANS). ANS waters are defined as those containing Asian carp, white perch, or zebra mussels. In 2013, zebra mussels were found in Clinton and Glen Elder Reservoirs, and in Wabaunsee Lake and Lake Shawnee. Asian Carp White Perch Zebra Mussel Why are these species a problem? ANS often become dominant within an area. They can out-compete native species for food or space and can reduce biological diversity or the assemblage of plants and animals within our native habitats. Ultimately, ANS species such as zebra mussels, asian carp, and white perch, threaten to alter aquatic habitats, of which our wildlife species depend, including those species sought by anglers in Kansas! Regulations have recently been enacted to prevent the spread of ANS. Boaters and anglers are reminded to follow these regulations while visiting Kansas waters. 1. Livewells and bilges must be drained and drain plugs removed from all vessels being removed from waters of the state before transport on a public highway. 2. No person may possess ANY live fish upon departure from any designated ANS body of water. 3. Live baitfish may be caught and used as live bait only within the common drainage where caught. However, bluegill and green sunfish collected from non-designated ANS waters may be possessed or used as live bait anywhere in the state. Live baitfish shall not be transported and used above any upstream dam or barrier that prohibits the normal passage of fish. For a list of ANS designated waters please refer to the 2014 Kansas Fishing Regulations Summary (page 30) or visit the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks & Tourism website at www.ksoutdoors.com and click on “Fishing”, then “Aquatic Nuisance Species”. Other ANS designated waters near El Dorado Reservoir include Cheney, Marion, and Council Grove Reservoirs, Coffey County Lake, Kingman and Chase State Fishing Lakes, Lake Afton, and Council Grove and Winfield City Lakes. Streams and rivers below these Kansas lakes are also designated ANS waters. To protect our aquatic habitats, follow these simple steps at every lake, wetland, and river, every time: CLEAN: Inspect all equipment for anything attached (plants, animals, and mud) and remove anything that is found. DRAIN: Empty all water from equipment (livewell, bilge, bait bucket, etc.) before using at a different location. DRY: Dry all equipment for a minimum of 5 days before using it again. If you need to use it sooner, wash with hot (140 degree) water. Water Level Planning at El Dorado Lake Why let out so much water? Why leave the lake so full? Why are they releasing water now? Questions such as these are often asked of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (COE) and Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks & Tourism (KDWPT) personnel working at El Dorado Lake. Answers to such questions are often more complex than many might think. Water level management planning utilizes the education and experience of many different natural resource professionals including water planners, engineers, park managers, fisheries biologists, and wildlife biologists. To add to the complexity, they are charged with trying to meet the needs of a tremendously diverse group of resource consumers including landowners, agricultural interests, industry, and municipalities, in addition to an equally diverse group of resource users including recreationists of all types. Scenic view of El Dorado Lake - an important resource for regional water supplies and recreation. The construction of El Dorado Lake was first authorized by the United States Congress in 1965. Completed in 1981, the project developed a lake comprised of approximately 98 miles of shoreline, and 8,000 surface acres of water. The lake was constructed to provide flood control, to enhance water supply, to improve water quality, to provide fish and wildlife habitat, and to provide public recreation. With all of those intended functions, it is a challenge to try to meet the needs of all lake users all of the time.