CATFISH STOCKINGS

K.C. Star

5/22/03

Fisheries biologists with the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks may be bringing fish to your neighborhood this spring and summer.

From now through mid-September, biologists will be stocking 19 ponds -- 15 in Johnson County, four in Wyandotte County -- with channel catfish. Those fish average from three-quarters of a pound to a pound.

Hybrid bluegills and wipers also will be stocked in some of the waters.

"We want to make fishing more accessible for people in the urban area," said Craig Johnson, a fisheries biologist who is heading the program. "A lot of people don't have the resources to travel to go fishing.

"This is a way they can enjoy the sport not far from where they live."

The regularity of the stocking will vary according to the fishing pressure each site receives.

In Johnson County, the bodies of water that will be stocked are Cedar Lake, Frisco Lake, Mahaffie Farm Pond, Olathe East High School pond, Waterworks Lake, Leawood Middle Pond, Leawood South Pond, Regency Park Pond, Kingston Lake, South Lake Park, Prairie Center Pond, Bluestem Pond, Shawnee Mission Park Pond, Stoll Park Pond and Rose's Pond.

In Wyandotte County, Big Eleven Lake, WYCO New Pond, North Park Lake and Pierson Park Pond will receive fish.

A state fishing license is required to fish these waters. City or county fishing permits also may be required.

For more information, contact Johnson at the Kansas City area office of the Department of Wildlife and Parks at (913) 894-9113.