Kansas.com: Outdoors

Sailfish prove a step up the fly-fishing ladder

Sun, 20 Jul 2008 03:28 CDT

The action began as a pencil-sized tip of a bill swishing through the water behind a bait.

But we knew it was only the first 10 inches of a fish probably 10 feet in length.

More and more of the sailfish came into view as it chased the hookless baitfish being reeled toward the boat.

Soon the fish's yard-long bill was totally exposed and slashing wildly as its perceived meal continued to escape.

As the bait neared, so did the frustrated fish, lunging harder and higher, rolling its long, lithe body as it crashed down on the bait that skipped across the surface.

Outdoor schedules

Sun, 20 Jul 2008 03:28 CDT

Hunting

Below is the basic listing of hunting seasons. Please check regulations for boundary, limits and permit requirements at www.kdwp.state.ks.us.

Open year-round -- Rabbit/hare season.

Through Feb. 28 -- Squirrel season.

Sept. 13-21 -- Youth/Disabled deer season.

Brown thrasher

Sun, 20 Jul 2008 03:28 CDT

In the spring, it seemed brown thrashers were all over the Wichita area. Now that there are probably twice as many, they're hard to find.

During the mating season, brown thrashers sing loud and long from the highest branches. Once the breeding's done and the eggs are hatched, they return to their secretive selves.

Local birders report the young of the year are joining adults on the ground in dense brushy and woody areas, scratching for insects and berries.

Some people mistakenly refer to brown thrashers as thrushes. That's a different family of birds.

KDWP hoping to speed up bass spawn

MICHAEL PEARCE — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 01:44 CDT

Largemouth bass populations at El Dorado Reservoir may see some significant improvements, thanks to a facility being built in western Kansas.

Doug Nygren, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks fisheries chief, said construction is slated to begin any day on a new climate-controlled fish house at the department's hatchery near Meade.

Biologists hope they can trick bass within the building to spawn in early April rather than in May, as is done in the wild.

"Right now our bass spawn too late in the year to take advantage the young-of-the year gizzard shad," Nygren said. "The extra few weeks should give them a head start, allow them to put some body fat on and make it through that first winter."

He said studies show the earlier a bass is hatched, the higher its chances of surviving.

Ponds benefit from TLC

MICHAEL PEARCE — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 04:09 CDT

Ranging from desolate stock ponds to sculpted sand pits winding between seven-figure homes, Kansas' 100,000-plus private waters offer some good fishing.

But they could be giving us much more.

"I doubt we get 25 percent of the potential out of our ponds," said Leonard Jirak, a Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks fisheries biologist. "They can be managed and improved like anything else."

Though he manages some huge reservoirs, Jirak is best known for turning small public lakes into fisheries so good they draw anglers from surrounding states.

The same tactics work on ponds and pits.

Stumus vulgaris

Sun, 13 Jul 2008 01:39 CDT

Shakespeare blessed the world with some wonderful things. Getting European starlings imported to the United States was not one of them.

OK, it wasn't exactly his fault. In the 1890s a New Yorker released about 100 starlings in Central Park, out of his love for a line mentioning the birds in "Henry IV."

They've since spread coast to coast, often out-competing native species for food and nesting space and befouling everything from rural fence posts to downtown sidewalks.

KDWP's special hunts registration deadline is Tuesday

MICHAEL PEARCE — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 01:39 CDT

Looking for a prime hunting spot?

You have through Tuesday to register for the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks' special hunts for this fall.

A list of hunts and registration forms can be found at www.kdwp.state.ks.us.

Booklets with applications and listings of the hunts are available at most license vendors. They're also at the KDWP office at 6232 E. 29th North. Applications must be postmarked by July 15.

Wildlife and Parks began offering the hunts to the public in 2001.

OUTDOORS

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 01:39 CDT

Lake Levels

Lake	Normal	Current	Rel.
Arbuckle	872.0	871.83	1
Big Hill	858.0	858.18	14
Cedar Bluff	2144.0	2128.52	0
Cheney	1421.6	1421.85	490
Clinton	875.50	875.64	252
Council Grove	1274.0	1274.83	24
El Dorado	1339.0	1339.43	990
Elk City	795.7	801.73	1968
Fall River	946.5	963.76	3874
Grand	745.0	747.87	13,346
Hillsdale	917.0	917.90	200
Hulah	733.0	742.15	3370
John Redmond	1040.8	1054.49	2414
Kanopolis	1463.0	1467.47	179
Kaw	1013.0	1022.85	20,392
Keystone	723.0	731.15	34,907
Kirwin	1729.3	1721.25	110
Lovewell	1582.6	1583.69	60
Marion	1350.5	1350.41	15
Melvern	1036.00	1036.64	500
Milford	1144.4	1145.07	1000
Norton	2304.3	2295.48	0
Perry	891.50	893.72	100
Pomona	974.0	975.59	500
Skiatook	714.0	716.27	1541
Stockton	867.0	880.92	6198
Table Rock	915.0	926.70	9730
Tenkiller	632.0	635.51	3539
Texoma	616.3	617.91	3148
Toronto	899.5	912.02	2119
Truman	706.0	724.61	48,321
Tuttle Creek	1075.0	1079.27	4000
Waconda	1455.6	1456.11	76
Webster	1892.5	1880.82	0
Wilson	1516.0	1515.34	15

Fishing Report

Local

Many urban lakes were stocked this week with catchable size channel catfish. These waters include in Wichita, Buffalo Park. Chisholm Island Pond, Cruiser Lake, Dillon Park, Emory Park, Harrison Lake, KDOT East, KDOT West, Sedgwick Co. Park, South Lake, and Watson Park. Andover Lake George, Benton Poling Lake, Clearwater Chisholm Ridge Lake, Derby Rainbow Valley and Stone Creek Park, Haysville Riggs Park, Kechi Lake, Mulvane Sports Complex, Park City Chisholm Pointe, Valley Center McLaughlin Park.. More information and exact locations are available from the KDWP Region 4 office, 316.683.8069, 6232 E. 29th St North.

Butler SFL: Bluegill good at 2-4 feet depths on worms or crickets under bobber. Channel catfish good with worms, prepared baits and cut bait lakewide, especially at feeders. Largemouth bass good in 2-4 feet of water, in vegetation with crankbaits and large plastics. Redear sunfish fair using crickets and small worms on the bottom in 3 to 5 feet of water.

Stream team spends time at Reno County creek

MICHAEL PEARCE — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 04:02 CDT

Rarely knee-deep and easily stepped across in most places, people pass Big Slough Creek with hardly a second look.

Thursday morning, six biologists gave it several dozen looks.

They found a lot, including about 500 fish in one 150-meter stretch.

"It's crazy how many fish you find in some of these little places," said Lucas Hind, a Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks stream team member. "It's almost always a surprise."

Team biologists say they're looking for any signs of great health or overall sickness within each stream.

Area lakes soothing for widow, cancer survivor

MICHAEL PEARCE — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 03:46 CDT

To nourish her body, Dorothy Jacobs fished as a child in southern Arkansas. To nourish her soul, she fishes as an adult in Wichita. "When I'm on that water, I'm at peace," said Jacobs, 68. "It ain't the idea of me catching fish to eat."

The mother of 11 and grandmother of many --"It would take me quite awhile to count them all up," she explains -- has had reasons to seek tranquillity.

The cancer survivor has broken her back and buried two husbands.

Nine family members have died within the past year, including a daughter and grandson.

She helps care for a chronically ill granddaughter.

Chairman's letter sends wrong message to many

Sun, 06 Jul 2008 04:03 CDT

That Wildlife and Parks commissioners went against the wishes of the agency and the public in setting the 2009 prairie chicken season isn't a big deal.

The June 26 vote means the season will mirror those since 2006. It's only 14 days off the traditional framework in place for decades before then.

A letter commission chairman Kelly Johnston used to influence the vote, however, was disrespectful of sportsmen and biologists.

The letter, made available to commissioners and the public at the North Newton meeting, openly questioned biological findings, ignored some key issues and insinuated Kansas hunters can't be trusted afield.

Most of us at the meeting expected smooth going for setting upland bird seasons. An April straw poll showed commissioners favored undoing actions from a June 2005 meeting.

Cliff swallow

Sun, 06 Jul 2008 04:02 CDT

CLIFF SWALLOW

Hirundo pyrrhonota

Drive over a central or western Kansas bridge at the right time of morning or evening and you may find the air around it swarming with twisting and turning cliff swallows.

Historically nesters along cliffs, the small birds have adapted well to building their mud nests under roadways.

Often numbering more than 100, simply seeing the nests, which look like upside-down igloos, is impressive.

SCHEDULES

Sun, 06 Jul 2008 01:41 CDT

Hunting

Below is the basic listing of hunting seasons. Please check regulations for boundary, limits and permit requirements at www.kdwp.state.ks.us.

Open year-round -- Rabbit/hare season.

Through Feb. 28 -- Squirrel season.

Sept. 13-21 -- Youth/Disabled deer season.

OUTDOORS

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 01:41 CDT

Lake Levels

Lake	Normal	Current	Rel.
Arbuckle	872.0	871.90	1
Big Hill	858.0	858.44	43
Cedar Bluff	2144.0	2128.66	0
Cheney	1421.6	1422.59	493
Clinton	875.50	877.06	1442
Council Grove	1274.0	1274.86	24
El Dorado	1339.0	1342.36	3678
Elk City	795.7	805.95	2037
Fall River	946.5	972.34	4178
Grand	745.0	749.15	26,200
Hillsdale	917.0	918.62	900
Hulah	733.0	748.83	3613
John Redmond	1040.8	1055.80	4983
Kanopolis	1463.0	1468.21	732
Kaw	1013.0	1029.30	18,597
Keystone	723.0	739.51	39,919
Kirwin	1729.3	1721.20	0
Lovewell	1582.6	1583.40	110
Marion	1350.5	1350.68	93
Melvern	1036.00	1037.90	750
Milford	1144.4	1146.34	2000
Norton	2304.3	2295.57	0
Perry	891.50	893.72	500
Pomona	974.0	977.72	750
Skiatook	714.0	718.48	2289
Stockton	867.0	881.94	6147
Table Rock	915.0	927.42	11,059
Tenkiller	632.0	636.71	3553
Texoma	616.3	618.31	3079
Toronto	899.5	920.99	6059
Truman	706.0	727.26	37,976
Tuttle Creek	1075.0	1079.95	15,708
Waconda	1455.6	1456.28	150
Webster	1892.5	1880.71	0
Wilson	1516.0	1515.31	16

Fishing Report

Local

Butler SFL: Bluegill good on worms or crickets under bobber at 2-4 feet depths. Channel catfish good lakewide, especially at feeders, with worms, prepared baits and cut bait. Largemouth bass good with crankbaits and large plastics in 2-4 feet of water, in vegetation. Redear sunfish fair in 3 to 5 feet of water using crickets and small worms on the bottom.

Chase SFL: Channel catfish very good on cut shad or nightcrawlers during inflows and with spongebaits at feeders. Largemouth bass fair using crankbaits or large plastics near shoreline vegetation. Saugeye fair along the dam and piers using jigs and drifting with jig and crawler. Spotted bass good along the dam and rocky points with crankbaits. White bass fair using sassy shad and roadrunners.

Kansas is eagle country

MICHAEL PEARCE — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 03:15 CDT

Kansas' newest generation of bald eagles is taking to the sky on wobbly wings -- days from the nest and years from their parents' striking plumage,.

It's the 20th consecutive year bald eagles have been hatched in Kansas. In February 1989, a pair of eagles was seen building the first Kansas nest in modern times at Clinton Reservoir.

This year, like in 2007, biologists think bald eagles have about 30 active nests in Kansas. Those nests have been producing lots of chicks, too.

"Between '89 and 2007, we've fledged 330 eagles in Kansas," said Mike Watkins, a Kansas City-based biologist with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. "I guess when you think about it, that's really impressive."

Lots of things about the nationwide comeback of bald eagles have been impressive.

Bald Eagle

Sun, 29 Jun 2008 03:05 CDT

BALD EAGLE

Haliaeetus leucocephalus

As well as our national symbol, the bald eagle is also one of America's largest birds.

Some adult females have wing spans to eight feet. Their talons have claws that would rival those of black bears.

But as big and mighty as they are, bald eagles often need little strength or powerful talons to feed.

SOLUNAR TABLES

Sun, 29 Jun 2008 01:43 CDT

This table lists top fishing times and days for the coming week. For best results, begin fishing one hour before and continue one hour after the times given. Times apply to all time zones (bold indicates best days).

Today	9:35 a.m.	10:05 p.m.
Monday	10:35 a.m.	11:05 p.m.
Tuesday	11:40 a.m.	12:15 p.m. Wednesday	12:50 p.m.	1:20 a.m.
Thursday	1:55 p.m.	2:20 a.m.
Friday	2:50 p.m.	3:15 a.m.
Saturday	3:45 p.m.	4:10 a.m.
Sunday	4:35 p.m.	4:55 a.m.

Source: U.S. Naval Observatory

BALD EAGLE FACTS

Sun, 29 Jun 2008 01:43 CDT

• According to the Guinness Book of World Records, two Florida bald eagles made the world's biggest bird nest. It's 9 ½ feet across, 20 feet tall and weighs more than two tons.

• Adults begin laying eggs as early as February. Eggs are incubated about 35 days. It can take a young bald eagle 35 to 40 hours to break totally free from its shell.

• Bald eagles come from eggs not much larger than those from a chicken. They weigh about 3 ounces at birth. While still in the nest, young eagles eat their weight in fish daily.

• Young eagles can fly about 75 days after leaving the shell.

• The average cruising speed for a bald eagle is about 40 mph. When diving for food, it can reach speeds of more than 100 mph.

Lake Levels

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 01:40 CDT

Lake	Normal	Current	Rel.
Arbuckle	872.0	872.05	1
Big Hill	858.0	858.57	74
Cedar Bluff	2144.0	2128.77	0
Cheney	1421.6	1422.61	0
Clinton	875.50	880.07	1800
Council Grove	1274.0	1274.81	24
El Dorado	1339.0	1342.19	201
Elk City	795.7	811.12	4765
Fall River	946.5	969.73	4092
Grand	745.0	751.51	20,538
Hillsdale	917.0	921.23	1300
Hulah	733.0	753.40	3784
John Redmond	1040.8	1054.54	4857
Kanopolis	1463.0	1467.54	225
Kaw	1013.0	1034.75	14,509
Keystone	723.0	743.65	39,631
Kirwin	1729.3	1721.05	0
Lovewell	1582.6	1583.54	193
Marion	1350.5	1350.74	93
Melvern	1036.00	1038.68	750
Milford	1144.4	1146.9	367000
Norton	2304.3	2295.65	2
Perry	891.50	897.10	5000
Pomona	974.0	979.40	1000
Skiatook	714.0	721.04	1327
Stockton	867.0	881.18	6110
Table Rock	915.0	926.06	7630
Tenkiller	632.0	637.59	1125
Texoma	616.3	618.53	3123
Toronto	899.5	917.87	3430
Truman	706.0	726.34	10,188
Tuttle Creek	1075.0	1087.02	10,000
Waconda	1455.6	1456.19	400
Webster	1892.5	1880.72	0
Wilson	1516.0	1515.27	15

Fishing Report

Local

NOTE: Local lakes and ponds in parks in and around Wichita have been stocked with catfish this week. A complete list of stocking is available from the Regional office of Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, and includes Chisholm Park, Sedgwick County Park, and city parks in Park City, Bell Aire, Haysville, Derby, and many other locations.

Butler SFL: Bluegill good at 1-3 feet depths on worms or crickets under bobber. Channel catfish good with worms, prepared baits and cut bait lakewide, especially at feeders. Largemouth bass fair at 2-4 feet. depths, in vegetation with crankbaits. Redear sunfish still fair on crickets and small worms on the bottom in 3 to 5 feet of water.

Chase SFL: Channel catfish very good during inflows on cut shad or nightcrawlers and at feeders with spongebaits. Largemouth bass fair near shoreline vegetation on crankbaits or large plastics. Spotted bass good with crankbaits along the dam and rocky points. White bass fair using sassy shad and roadrunners.

Wild for walleye

MICHAEL PEARCE — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 01:42 CDT

One angler has spent years refining his approach

It only took a few dips of the rod tip and Mike Suitt knew what was in store.

"This feels like a walleye," he said as he pointed his rod at the water and lifted it slowly.

When the rod showed the weight of a slow-moving fish, he set the hook, smiled and said, "Yep, that's a walleye, but I don't think it's a keeper."

Within a minute he had the fish in his boat, unhooked, measured and released.