Boating

NOTE: Any person under age 21 must complete an approved boater safety education course before operating a motorboat or sailboat on public waters in Kansas without being under direct and audible supervision. The law applies equally to residents and nonresidents. Get the Kansas Boating Regulations Summary wherever licenses are sold and at ksoutdoors.com.

REGULATION CHANGES: PFDs(LIFE-JACKETS)

The U.S. Coast Guard has initiated changes to the rules involving labeling of personal floatation devices, also known as life jackets. The following should help explain these changes coming in Kansas regulations. The traditional life jacket “types categories” have gone away. This includes the Type I, II, III and IV wearable life jackets and the Type IV, throwable. Older labeled life jacket using the Type classification will still be legal only if U.S. Coast Guard approved, in good serviceable condition, of the proper size/fit and worn in compliance with the label of the jacket. The new labeling requirement falls into one of two categories, “wearable” and “throwable”. Wearable life jackets will be divided into five buoyancy categories: 50, 70, 100, 150, and 275 Newtons (metric to harmonize with Canadian standards). Choose the level of buoyancy for the type of activity. A higher number equals to greater buoyancy. Make sure the label states the jacket is U.S. Coast Guard approved. Although a level 50 life jacket may be an available life jacket on the market, it will most likely not be a U.S. Coast Guard approved floatation device, so be vigilant in reading labels. The curved arrow indicates that the jacket is likely to turn an unconscious wearer face up in the water. A slash through the curve means the jacket will not perform this function. For comparisons, the Type I jacket would carry either a rating of 100 or 150 Newtons and would upright an unconscious victim. The type II jacket would carry a rating of 70 newtons and would upright an unconscious victim. The type III jacket would also carry a rating of 70 newtons but would not be able to turn an unconscious victim with the face out of the water. A type IV throwable is labeled as a throwable device. The type V jacket, also known as a special purpose vest may meet either a Type I, II, or III standard, but would now be either a 70, 100, 150 Newton rating with special icons to support the activity it is designed for. Any vessel propelled by sail or machinery of any kind (including trolling motors) used on Kansas public waters must be registered. Boat registration fees are $42.50 for a three-year registration for all motor- or sail-propelled boats. Any boat required to be registered must have a Certificate of Registration on board and properly displayed registration numbers. All boats, including kayaks and canoes, must be equipped with at least one wearable, Coast Guard-approved personal flotation device (PFD) – serviceable and readily accessible –for each person on board or being towed. Persons 12 years and younger are required to wear PFDs when on board or being towed by any vessel. In addition, boats 16 feet and longer, except kayaks and canoes, must be equipped with at least one throwable PFD on board. This applies to all vessels, and such devices must be readily accessible. Motorboats may be used on state fishing lakes for fishing and hunting only, unless

otherwise posted.

SIZE AND FIT

Check label for user weight and chest size. Different body types float differently. A good fit is secure, comfortable, and adjustable.

PERFORMANCE

Lower number offers greater mobility, comfort, and style with good floatation for most people. Higher number offers greater floatation, turning, and stability in the water.

RISK MANAGEMENT

In over 80 percent of boating fatalities, the person was not wearing floatation. Most of these are sudden falls overboard or capsize of a smaller boat. The first moments in the water are critical, even for experienced swimmers. Cold water shock causes gasping, loss of muscle control and swim failure. Long term immersion in cold water requires thermal protection and floatation position to conserve energy.

Higher Number increases time to rescue.

Near Shore (Calm Waves)

Offshore (Large Waves)

Questions about upcoming changes (316) 683-8069 (620) 672-0770 No Turn Turns Most

785-821-0403 visitgoodland.com

Below is a preview of the 2021 Kansas Fishing Forecast, highlighting the top 10 locations for some of Kansas’ most popular sportfish species –Channel catfish, largemouth bass, walleye, crappie, wiper and saugeye. Included in this preview are the top locations for each species, density rating, preferred rating, lunker rating and biggest fish caught during sampling. Density Rating is the number of fish that were high-quality size or larger sampled per unit of sampling effort. Preferred Rating identifies how many above-average-sized fish a water contains. And Lunker Rating, similar to the Density Rating, tells you the relative density of lunker-sized fish in the lake. To view a complete version of the 2021 Kansas Fishing Forecast, visit ksoutdoors.com/Fishing/Fishing-Forecast or grab a copy of the 2021 March/April issue of Kansas Wildlife & Parks Magazine by calling (620) 672-0756.

CHANNEL CATFISH

RESERVOIRS

MARION HILLSDALE TORONTO KANOPOLIS BIG HILL LOVEWELL ELK CITY CLINTON WILSON PERRY

LAKES

PLAINVILLE LAKE GARNETT-CEDAR CREEK LAKE PLEASANTON-WEST LAKE NEOSHO SFL PARSONS CITY LAKE WOODSON SFL MOUND CITY LAKE SABETHA CITY LAKE EUREKA CITY LAKE ANTHONY CITY LAKE

Density Rating (>16”) Preferred Rating (>24”) Lunker Rating (>28”) Biggest Fish

6.73 0.13 0.00 4.72 6.67 0.08 0.08 10.63 6.08 3.08 0.50 12.79 4.76 0.67 0.00 6.39 4.60 0.50 0.10 8.52 4.25 0.90 0.15 13.84 3.83 0.83 0.08 8.43 3.56 0.00 0.00 4.89 2.83 0.57 0.00 7.25 2.70 0.57 0.04 8.42

12.75 2.25 0.00 6.59 10.25 0.38 0.00 5.75 9.33 0.00 0.00 3.94 9.25 0.25 0.00 3.88 9.13 0.75 0.13 13.10 7.00 0.00 0.00 3.21 6.83 1.67 0.00 6.68 6.67 0.17 0.00 4.99 6.50 1.67 0.17 8.42 6.00 0.00 0.00 5.24

LARGEMOUTH BASS

RESERVOIRS

SEBELIUS WEBSTER WILSON LACYGNE BIG HILL

Density Rating (>12”) Preferred Rating (>15”) Lunker Rating (>20”) Biggest Fish

91.18 32.35 0.00 4.32 73.53 21.18 0.00 3.99 72.76 42.88 1.24 5.78 55.42 33.13 6.02 6.49 50.42 23.53 2.52 5.44

KIRWIN TORONTO GLEN ELDER EL DORADO KANOPOLIS

LAKES

FORD SFL COWLEY SFL BUTLER SFL 42.35 34.71 0.00 2.92 9.80 5.23 0.00 3.53 9.00 5.19 0.17 5.38 6.47 2.94 0.00 3.04 6.34 1.46 0.00 3.78

260.00 42.86 0.00 4.63 189.41 56.47 1.18 4.32 172.63 106.32 8.42 7.03 GARNETT CITY LAKES-SOUTH 151.61 70.97 1.61 4.82 FORT SCOTT GUNN PARK W POND #2 146.15 42.31 0.00 3.62 GARNETT CITY LAKE-NORTH 118.10 41.90 0.00 3.86 LYON SFL 111.76 17.65 0.00 3.86 MONTGOMERY SFL 104.71 22.35 2.94 5.88 JEWELL SFL 102.35 74.12 1.76 5.42 WILSON SFL 101.76 48.24 1.76 6.16

WALLEYE

RESERVOIRS

WILSON CEDAR BLUFF KIRWIN MILFORD EL DORADO MARION GLEN ELDER WEBSTER CHENEY LOVEWELL

Density Rating (>15”) Preferred Rating (>20”) Lunker Rating (>25”) Biggest Fish

8.70 3.97 0.70 8.53 4.04 0.54 0.00 4.37 2.92 0.67 0.25 7.47 2.60 0.45 0.05 6.18 2.53 1.40 0.13 6.89 2.40 0.07 0.00 3.33 2.04 0.42 0.00 5.04 1.83 0.58 0.17 6.60 1.70 1.19 0.11 6.74 1.15 0.30 0.05 8.17

CRAPPIE

RESERVOIRS

POMONA CEDAR BLUFF MARION LOVEWELL KIRWIN HILLSDALE TUTTLE CREEK SEBELIUS MELVERN EL DORADO

LAKES

ROOKS SFL PLAINVILLE LAKE KDOT E BORROW PIT (WICHITA) OLATHE-CEDAR LAKE KINGMAN SFL PARSONS CITY LAKE DOUGLAS SFL ALMA CITY LAKE GARNETT-CEDAR CREEK LAKE MCPHERSON SFL

WIPER

RESERVOIRS

WEBSTER SEBELIUS MILFORD KIRWIN EL DORADO CLINTON CHENEY MARION LOVEWELL GLEN ELDER

LAKES

HERINGTON CITY LAKE-NEW SHERIDAN SFL MARION CO. LAKE CENTRALIA CITY LAKE COLDWATER LAKE JEFFREY EC - MAKE UP LAKE JETMORE CITY LAKE GRIDLEY CITY LAKE GRAHAM CO. ANTELOPE LAKE YATES CENTER CITY LAKE-NEW

SAUGEYE

LAKES

GRAHAM CO. ANTELOPE LAKE SCOTT SFL BONE CREEK LAKE WELLINGTON CITY LAKE CENTRALIA CITY LAKE CARBONDALE CITY LAKE-EAST PARSONS CITY LAKE PAOLA CITY LAKE-LAKE MIOLA GEARY SFL OLATHE-LAKE OLATHE

Density Rating (>8”) Preferred Rating (>10”) Lunker Rating (>12”) Biggest Fish

23.83 6.83 1.89 19.80 20.22 2.17 0.00 9.11 17.13 4.13 1.50 12.84 14.00 2.50 0.36 33.17 13.88 12.00 3.88 18.81 12.56 7.88 1.31 20.98 11.81 10.25 1.25 11.81 11.60 6.20 0.40 14.87 9.94 6.75 0.63 11.60 9.88 8.63 3.63 7.51

59.50 2.50 0.00 29.67 55.50 0.50 0.50 34.17 50.33 10.33 0.67 50.33 33.00 3.50 0.50 47.33 31.80 27.20 7.40 25.58 31.38 10.88 2.50 31.38 30.00 15.33 0.00 20.92 29.75 15.75 0.50 19.88 29.25 14.88 2.25 32.96 28.83 19.33 2.33 27.56

Density Rating (>16”) Preferred Rating (>20”) Lunker Rating (>24”) Biggest Fish

12.00 1.00 0.08 9.17 7.80 0.80 0.10 15.19 3.80 0.90 0.05 7.86 3.17 0.33 0.00 7.36 3.00 2.13 0.00 5.92 2.94 0.44 0.00 6.48 2.85 2.00 0.07 9.27 2.73 0.93 0.00 5.38 1.10 0.40 0.00 5.84 1.08 1.00 0.33 8.76

6.80 0.60 0.00 4.87 4.88 0.00 0.00 2.85 4.75 0.00 0.00 2.85 2.75 1.13 0.00 5.82 2.20 2.20 0.00 8.05 2.00 0.33 0.00 4.01 1.67 0.00 0.00 2.95 1.33 1.33 0.00 4.73 1.00 1.00 0.00 6.15 0.83 0.50 0.00 3.58

Density Rating (>14”) Preferred Rating (>18”) Lunker Rating (>22”) Biggest Fish

22.25 3.00 0.50 5.15 17.63 7.00 0.75 6.42 8.75 4.00 0.13 4.39 5.50 4.67 0.83 7.14 5.38 2.13 0.63 7.37 5.17 0.00 0.00 1.78 4.75 2.38 0.00 3.91 3.50 0.50 0.00 3.71 2.50 1.00 0.25 4.61 2.17 1.50 0.33 5.00