The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks has announced changes in the trout fishing season for 2023-24, based on ideas from licensed anglers across the state.

Fisheries Division staff will be taking several steps:

• Trout fishing waters will be stocked, and the season will begin, on December 1 (as opposed to November 1, so as not to compromise fish health in warmer water often experienced in November)
• Each trout fishing water will be stocked during the most fished months of the trout season (as opposed to season-wide stockings at indiscriminate times)
• The season will conclude at the end of March (as opposed to April 15), as only three percent of respondents indicated they fish for trout most in April
• KDWP will stock less often but with higher densities of trout – an indicated preference of anglers surveyed

KDWP plans to stock 30 waterbodies this fall with approximately 62,000 pounds of rainbow trout, providing anglers with plenty of wintertime fishing opportunities, while simultaneously not competing with other time-honored hunting and fishing traditions.

Fisheries program specialist Jeff Conley said in a press release that the changes will give the Department of Wildlife and Parks the ability to continue the program during its most popular months at higher stocking densities, while managing increasing costs for the fish.

Anglers 16 and older who wish to fish for trout must have a $14.50 Trout Permit and fishing license, unless they are exempt. Kansas youth 15 and younger must have a Youth Trout Permit, which can be purchased for just $7.   Children 15 and younger are not required to have a fishing license.  All anglers with a trout permit may keep up to five trout per day, unless posted otherwise.