Species Highlight – Catfish: Did you know more than 150,000 harvest-sized channel catfish are stocked around urban areas every year? These catfish are farm-raised through a local fish producer making them easier to catch and lighter on taste than wild catfish. Anglers can have a successful outing by using a basic split-shot and hook baited with a worm or piece of hotdog straight out of the package. The simplicity makes this an ideal opportunity for new anglers of any age to catch these fish for harvest or photos! Even experienced anglers enjoy the stress-free experience of urban catfish fishing.

The Program

To improve fishing opportunities in urban areas where the demand for fish exceeds the supply, we created an urban fish stocking program. More than 85 lakes statewide are stocked with 3/4- to 1 1/2-pound channel catfish, hybrid sunfish, and wipers as often as every two weeks from April through September. All metropolitan areas that have a human population over 40,000, with available public fishing waters, are served by this program. In addition, communities in western Kansas with high populations relative to county and adjacent counties, also receive stockings.

Where To Fish

If you live in the listed counties, you have an urban lake near you. These are great locations for a quick family fishing trip. Just throw the gear in the car and make the short drive to the nearest designated urban fishing lake. The counties served by the program are Atchison, Barton, Butler, Douglas, Ellis, Ford, Finney Johnson, Leavenworth, Lyon , Ottawa, Pottawatomie, Reno, Riley, Saline, Sedgwick, Shawnee, Thomas, and Wyandotte.

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Stocking Schedules

 Urban Stocking Schedule: April - July

 Urban Stocking Schedule: August - October