ATLAS COVER Pages FISH 2021.qxp_ATLAS COVER Pages FISH 2/17/21 10:42 AM Page 1 Kansas Fishing Atlas 2021 Public Fishing Access Includes Walk-in Fishing Access (WIFA) Get our mobile app HuntFish KS ATLAS COVER Pages FISH 2021.qxp_ATLAS COVER Pages FISH 2/17/21 10:42 AM Page 2 WIFA Area Rules Walk-in Fishing Access (WIFA), formerly F.I.S.H., sites 6. Avoid stretching fences when crossing them, and use are leased from private landowners and are typically open to fence stiles where available. public fishing from March 1 – Oct. 31, though some proper- ties are open year-round. The WIFA program provides 7. Do not attempt to contact cooperating landowners to ask anglers increased opportunities to enjoy fishing on the state’s about fishing other portions of their land. streams and small impoundments, all that is required is a state fishing license. Funding for the program is provided Regulations governing WIFA area use: through fishing license revenues and Sport Fish Restoration Funds. Please observe all rules and regulations, and remem- • Impounded WIFA waters have a creel limit of two channel ber that common sense and ethical behavior will influence catfish, a creel limit of two largemouth bass, and an 18-inch the future of the program. minimum length limit on largemouth bass. Otherwise, all Kansas fishing regulations and statewide creel limits apply. It’s The following guidelines help maintain a good relation- especially important for anglers using the sites to respect and fol- ship between landowners and anglers: low the rules that apply on WIFA properties. You do not need to contact the landowner for permission on WIFA waters. 1. Look for the WIFA signs (pictured below) before entering the property. Sites may have been withdrawn from the pro- • Seining is prohibited on all WIFA waters, and trotlines and gram. If you do not see signs, do not enter. setlines are prohibited on impoundments under 1,201 acres in size (KAR 115-8-6); No swimming (KAR 115-8-8); Camping 2. Obey lease boundaries. Stay within 50 feet of the stream by posted notice only (KAR 115-8-9); No pets, except on a or impoundment shoreline. If the WIFA property is a stream, leash (KAR 115-8-10); No horseback riding (KAR 115-8-11); fish only on the side of the stream that is posted as an access No stocking or release of wildlife, including the dumping of site. Do not walk or fish on adjacent property. live bait (KAR 115-8-12); Vehicles shall be operated only as authorized (KAR 115-8-13); No fireworks (KAR 115-8-14); 3. Respect the rights of landowners, as well as others using No unauthorized fires (115-8-15); The discharge of firearms is the area. Treat the land as if it were your own. prohibited (KAR 115-8-5); No littering (KAR 115-8-18); No cereal malt beverages or alcoholic liquor (KAR 115-8-19); 4. Take all trash with you when you leave. If someone before Destructive acts such as digging or destroying signs or vege- you has irresponsibly left trash, please take a moment and tation is prohibited (KAR 115-8-20). pick it up, too. • All Kansas boating laws are in effect on WIFA waters. 5. Do not open gates or enter properties with vehicles unless authorized. Park along the road or in designated parking areas. Leave field-access, drives, and rural roads open so that landowners moving large implements may pass. Due to unforseen conditions and/or renovations, some properties may be dry, lower than normal or flooded. Water quality and vegetation may vary among properties. REGULATIONS WALK-IN FISHING ACCESS AREAS PRIVATE 1. No seining or dumping of live bait. 2. Channel catfish daily Creel Limit of two per person. 3. 4. The following activities are prohibited on WIFA waters. > Discharge of firearms > Horseback riding LAND > Unauthorized operation of vehicles > Camping > Littering > Fires or fireworks BEYOND THIS > Pets (except on a leash) > Swimming > Cereal malt beverages or alcoholic liquor NO TRESPASSING > Destructive acts such as digging or destruction POINT ANY OTHER TIME of signs or vegetation OPEN DATES OPEN DATES PLEASE TAKE YOUR PLEASE TAKE YOUR Above regulations are covered by March 1 TRASH WITH YOU YEAR TRASH WITH YOU No K.A.R. 115-8-1 through K.A.R.115-8-20 - To Report Wildlife Violations, Call 1-877-426-3843 October 31 ROUND Trespassing PROJECT OF THE KANSAS DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE, PARKS AND TOURISM PROJECT OF THE KANSAS DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE, PARKS AND TOURISM PROJECT OF THE KANSAS DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE, PARKS AND TOURISM PROJECT OF THE KANSAS DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE, PARKS AND TOURISM Look for these signs before accessing a WIFA area. ATLAS TEXT Pages FISH 2021.qxp_ATLAS TEXT Pages FISH 2/17/21 10:41 AM Page 1 Using the Fishing Atlas The maps in this atlas show a variety of owned by a city or county government. open year-round, see legend. Accessing public fishing areas, as well as public Community lakes that are managed for the WIFA properties prior to or after the lands across Kansas. WIFA areas are pri- public fishing through the department’s indicated access period is prohibited. vately-owned ponds or streams the Kansas Community Fisheries Assistance Program Maps are at a scale of 1:277,500 (1 inch Department of Wildlife, Parks and (CFAP) and state fishing lakes are labeled represents 4.38 miles) and were compiled Tourism (KDWPT) has leased and opened with the impoundment name and marked according to conventional cartographic to public fishing. Each map also shows all by the blue fish symbol. There are no addi- standards using the most reliable informa- federal reservoirs, state fishing lakes, river tional fees to fish at state fishing lakes or tion available. KDWPT does not guaran- access sites, and community lakes. To find community lakes in the CFAP program. tee freedom from errors or inaccuracies fishing areas near you, consult the legend Community lakes not in the CFAP pro- and disclaims any legal responsibility or below and then locate the corresponding gram are also labeled with the impound- liability for interpretations made from access locations indicated on the maps. ment name and are marked by a red octa- these maps, or decisions based thereon. The maps on the following page show gon symbol as local governments manag- This atlas is a continual work in which counties have federal, state, or com- ing these lakes may require a permit progress and any comments, suggestions, munity fishing opportunities, as well as and/or additional fees for fishing access. or corrections are welcomed. Any such those with WIFA sites. Most WIFA areas are open to fishing comments may be submitted to Community lakes are impoundments from March 1 to Oct. 31, but some are [email protected]. FISHING ATLAS LEGEND Interstate Route State Boundary Reservoirs, State Fishing Lakes Community Lakes (No Additional Fees Required) US Route County Boundary River/Stream Access Points State Route Federal or State Land Community Lakes (Local Permit Required) Street or Road Military Reservation WIFA Tract Labeling Access Period Size/Length Boating Restrictions MO = March 1-Oct. 31 # Total Acres(ac) A = All Boats Allowed JD = Jan. 1-Dec. 31 # Total Miles(mi) C = Carry-In Boats Only Urban Area WIFA Tracts P = Paddlesports Allowed NB = No Boats Allowed Counties With Public Fishing Counties with Opportunities WIFA Areas CHEYENNE DONIPHAN CHEYENNE DONIPHAN RAWLINS DECATUR RAWLINS DECATUR NORTON PHILLIPS SMITH JEWELL REPUBLIC WASHINGTON MARSHALL NEMAHA BROWN NORTON PHILLIPS SMITH JEWELL REPUBLIC WASHINGTON MARSHALL NEMAHA BROWN CLOUD ATCHISON CLOUD ATCHISON SHERMAN SHERMAN THOMAS SHERIDAN GRAHAM JACKSON THOMAS SHERIDAN GRAHAM JACKSON ROOKS OSBORNE MITCHELL CLAY RILEY POTTAWATOMIE ROOKS OSBORNE MITCHELL CLAY RILEY POTTAWATOMIE JEFFERSON JEFFERSON REGION 1 OTTAWA OTTAWA WYANDOTTE LINCOLN REGION 2 OFFICE LINCOLN SHAWNEE WALLACE WALLACE LOGAN GOVE LOGAN GOVE OFFICE DICKINSON LEAVEN- TREGO ELLIS RUSSELL DICKINSON LEAVEN- GEARY Topeka WORTH GEARY WORTH SHAWNEE JOHNSON JOHNSON Hays SALINE SALINE WABAUNSEE WABAUNSEE ELLSWORTH MORRIS OSAGE DOUGLAS ELLSWORTH MORRIS OSAGE DOUGLAS TREGO ELLIS RUSSELL GREELEY WICHITA LYON FRANKLIN MIAMI GREELEY WICHITA LYON FRANKLIN MIAMI SCOTT LANE NESS RUSH BARTON SCOTT LANE NESS RUSH BARTON McPHERSON MARION McPHERSON MARION RICE CHASE RICE CHASE COFFEY COFFEY ANDERSON LINN ANDERSON LINN PAWNEE HAMILTON KEARNY FINNEY HAMILTON KEARNY FINNEY STAFFORD HODGEMAN STAFFORD RENO HARVEY RENO HARVEY PAWNEE GREENWOOD WOODSON ALLEN BOURBON BUTLER GREENWOOD WOODSON ALLEN BOURBON HODGEMAN EDWARDS REGION 3 GRAY EDWARDS FORD SEDGWICK PRATT OFFICE PRATT STANTON GRANT STANTON GRANT HASKELL KIOWA WILSON NEOSHO HASKELL KIOWA WILSON NEOSHO KINGMAN Wichita CRAWFORD KINGMAN CRAWFORD GRAY ELK ELK FORD OPERATIONS SEDGWICK BUTLER MEADE MEADE MORTON CLARK SUMNER COWLEY MORTON CLARK BARBER SUMNER COWLEY STEVENS SEWARD STEVENS SEWARD OFFICE HARPER COMANCHE HARPER MONT- LABETTE CHEROKEE Pratt CHAUTAUQUA GOMERY MONT- CHEROKEE COMANCHE BARBER CHAUTAUQUA GOMERY LABETTE ATLAS TEXT Pages FISH 2021.qxp_ATLAS TEXT Pages FISH 2/17/21 10:41 AM Page 2 Fishing Reports and Newsletters Fishing Reports Fishing reports are available on ksoutdoors.com and provide information regarding seasonal fishing trends on your favorite lakes and reservoirs. On ksoutdoors.com, anglers can also access Google Earth files showing the locations of fish attractors, like the “Fish Cubes” shown here at Wilson Reservoir. View at: ksoutdoors.com/Fishing/Fishing-Reports District Fisheries Newsletters Get the inside scoop on sampling efforts, lake management and updates about your favorite fishing hole by reading newsletters from district fisheries biologists. You can even sign-up to receive area-specific newsletters via email. Use the link below to navigate to the “Newsletter Sign- up Forms.” Sign up at: ksoutdoors.com/KDWPT-Info/News Fishing Forecast K E The 2021 Kansas Fishing Forecast highlights Kansas’ top fishing spots.