Trout Season Kicks off November 1

More than 200,000 trout will be stocked in select waters throughout the state this season

Outside temperatures may be cooling down, but for trout anglers, fishing season is about to heat up. From Nov. 1, 2013-April 15, 2014, anglers can enjoy some of the best fishing opportunities in the state as nearly 30 public fishing areas will be stocked periodically with this special species. Throughout a five-month period beginning Nov. 1 and ending March 31, over 202,000 trout will be stocked in select waters.

In Kansas, there are two types of trout waters: On Type 1 waters all anglers age 16 and older fishing during the trout season are required to have a trout permit, and on Type 2 waters anglers 16 and older who are fishing for or in possession of trout are required to have a trout permit. Anglers 15 and younger can fish for trout without a trout permit, but they may only keep two trout per day. The daily creel limit for anglers with a trout permit is five per day unless posted otherwise. All anglers age 16-74 must also have a Kansas fishing license. New for 2014, anglers fishing for trout in Meade State Fishing Lake will be required to purchase a trout permit.

Anglers fishing in ponds and lakes after April 15 may catch trout without a trout permit, but the limit of 5 trout a day and 15 in possession is still enforced. This does not include the waters that are stocked year-round, such as the Mined Land Wildlife Area Unit #30 (Cherokee County), which requires a trout permit year-round.

Some local governments in areas such as Topeka and Kansas City have their own trout stocking programs, which may require a fee, but the state permit is not required. Local city and county recreation departments should have details.

Trout waters and the total number of trout stocked at each throughout the season are listed below. To view a complete stocking schedule for a specific location, visit www.ksoutdoors.com and click “Fishing/Special Fishing Programs for You/Trout Fishing Program.”

Region 1

Webster Reservoir Stilling Basin: 10,500

Bellville City Lake (Rocky Pond): 7,500

Glen Elder State Park Pond: 3,300

Kanopolis Seep Stream: 8,500

Cedar Bluff Stilling Basin: 4,250

Salina - Lakewood Lake: 6,000

*At this time Smoky Gardens (Sherman County) has water and will be stocked as water quality improves.

*At this time the Solomon River above Webster is dry and will not be stocked.

Region 2

Ft. Riley - Moon Lake: 9,000

Ft. Riley - Cameron Springs: 12,000

Topeka - Auburndale Park Stream: 1,505

Tuttle Creek - Willow Lake: 12,900

Clinton State Park - Lake Henry: 5,075

Holton - Elkhorn Lake: 3,000

Atchison City Lake #1: 3,000

Shawnee Co. - Lake Shawnee: 14,000

Region 3

Scott State Fishing Lake: 8,860

Cimarron Grassland Pits: 5,800

Pratt - Centennial Pond: 4,000

Great Bend - Stone Lake: 6,650

Dodge City - Lake Charles: 5,080

Syracuse - Sam's Pond: 2,500

*At this time Sandsage Bison Range and Wildlife Area is dry and will not be stocked.

Region 4

El Dorado State Park - River Area: 6,350

Sedgwick Co. - Vic's Lake: 14,076

Sedgwick Co. - Slough Creek: 10,944

Hutchinson - Dillon Nature Center: 5,785

Wichita - KDOT East Lake: 8,172

Region 5

Mined Land Wildlife Area - Unit #30: 15,895

Ft. Scott - Gunn Park East Lake: 4,725

Garnett - Crystal Lake: 3,000