Fishing season officially starts March 15th, 2010 here in Kansas with the paddlefish season! Get your fishing licenses now!
Yearly fishing licenses in Kansas expire on December 31st.
You can get your fishing license at most lakes and ponds that allow public fishing as well as hunting and sporting good stores and even Walmart.
This year a yearly Kansas fishing license for Kansas residents is only $20.50 per person. You can also purchase a lifetime Kansas fishing license for $442.16, or $61.50 if paid quarterly. All persons over the age of 16 will need a Kansas fishing license to fish in the state of Kansas.
Non Kansas residents can also purchase a yearly Kansas fishing license for $42.50.
If you do not want to buy a yearly fishing license you can purchase a 24 hour license for $5.50, and non Kansas residents can buy a 5 day license for $22.50.
In Kansas, if you are going to be fishing for trout, paddlefish, bass or if you are going to be hand fishing or using more than one pole you will need to obtain permits to do so.
A trout permit is an additional $12.50.
Paddlefish permit for adults (16 years old and older) are an additional $12.50. Youth (15 years and younger) paddlefish permits are $7.50.
Bass permit is an additional $12.50.
Hand fishing permits, which is only good for flathead catfish along the Kansas River and the Arkansas River in Wichita at the John Mack Bridge, are an additional $27.15. Hand fishing is legal from sunrise to sunset from June 15th until August 31st.
If you are hand fishing you can NOT use any hooks, snorkeling or scuba gear, or any other man-made device OR possess any fishing gear besides a stringer.
Stringers can only be used AFTER the catfish has been caught by hand and are at or above the water line.
No man-made object can be used to attract the fish.
When you obtain your fishing licenses there should also be a copy of the Kansas Fishing Regulations Summary for 2010. This guide is free. You can also find the guide online at http://www.kdwp.state.ks.us/news/Fishing/Fishing-Regulations .
Kansas also has FREE fishing days, which allows you to fish without a fishing license. The free fishing days are generally the first full weekend in June. Even though you do not need a fishing license on this weekend, you still must abide by all creel limits and other regulations and laws. Also, while most state owned lakes and ponds participate in the free fishing days some local and private lakes and ponds might not, so be sure and ask first.
For a list of places to fish in Kansas visit http://www.kdwp.state.ks.us/news/Fishing/Where-to-Fish-in-Kansas . On this website you will also find tips on what bait to use, which lakes/ponds/rivers are best for which type of fish and places that allow camping.
