Latest news with #KDWP
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
‘This is a true giant': Man breaks Kansas blue catfish record with 121-pound Missouri River monster
TOPEKA (KSNT) – A Missouri angler has broken a more than decade-old catfish record in Kansas by nearly 20 pounds. The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) reports on its website the record for blue catfish was broken on May 15 this year by a man from Agency, Missouri. He caught the big catfish using a rod and reel with common carp used for bait. The new state record, caught on the Missouri River, weighs in at 121.1 pounds and measures in at 59.75 inches. The previous record, caught by an Olathe man using a rod and reel with cut bait on the Missouri River in 2012, weighed in at 102.8 pounds and measured in at 56.75 inches. Why are so many strange catfish coming out of this Kansas lake? 27 News got in touch with the angler, Daniel Mayer, who shared details on how he landed the big fish and how he feels about setting a new state fishing record. Mayer described his catch as 'truly just a fish of a lifetime' that he caught while fishing with a Big Cat Fever rod on the Missouri River late at night before an upcoming tournament. 'I really struggled to get her into the boat myself,' Mayer said. 'It was all still setting in like 'oh my gosh, this is a true giant.'' Mayer said he was wrapping up fishing on the river that night when he hooked the blue catfish. He was shocked by the size and weight of his catch as he reeled it in. 'I didn't realize until I tried to lift her up and into the boat just how big she was,' Mayer said. 'At first I thought my net was stuck on the side of the boat. Then I realized it's just a really, really big fish. I got her into the boat finally like 'holy cow, she takes up half of the bottom of my boat!'' What are the rarest fish you can catch in Kansas and where can you find them? Mayer said he started making phone calls to try and find out how to get the catfish weighed on a certified scale and determine which side of the state line his catch was made on. He eventually got his catch weighed at a business in Kansas City and verified by staff with the KDWP's fisheries division. 'It was just a lot,' Mayer said. 'Everything started hitting, the process of getting it weighed and everything.' The KDWP told Mayer his fish was around 23-years-old after he brought it in. He said he tried to keep it alive as best he could but thinks the process of reeling it in put too much stress on the fish. 'What I didn't understand was a fish that big and that old just doesn't have the reserve capacity,' Mayer said. 'The fight just wore her out so much she didn't recover.' Exotic pet fish are turning up in Kansas lakes, where do they come from? Mayer said he wants to try and get a replica made to commemorate his record catch. He shared some advice for other anglers looking to land a potential trophy catch. 'One of the biggest pieces of advice that was given to me and took to heart is you've gotta put the time in,' Mayer said. 'You take that advice and mold it to what you believe. You can ask all the advice in the world but you have to get out there and put it to use. It's just time on the water.' The last state fishing record to be broken in Kansas was a Redear sunfish caught in 2023. You can learn more about what it takes to set a new state fishing record by clicking here. Biologists find, study what's left of the world record flathead catfish caught in Kansas For more Kansas Outdoors, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Yahoo
Body of 12-Year-Old Boy Killed While Running on Train Tracks Discovered in River
The body of a 12-year-old boy killed by an oncoming train in Kansas was discovered on Sunday, June 22 The body was identified as Kollin Showalter Showalter and 16-year-old Arthur Pollreis were killed in the accident togetherThe body of a 12-year-old killed after being hit by a train on Wednesday, June 18, was discovered in the Neosho River in Labette County, Kan., on Sunday, June 22. Neosho County Sheriff Greg Taylor confirmed he was notified by the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) about a sighting of the body in the river, per local news outlet Fox 4. KDWP, the Labette County Sheriff's Office and several first responders arrived on the scene near the KGE Dam, a couple of miles south of Highway 400, just after 12 p.m. local time on Sunday, the outlet reported. Labette County Sheriff Darren Eichinger said a fisherman found the boy's remains, per Fox 4. 'This has been a very hard week for everyone involved. I want to express my gratitude to every first responder and our community who contributed to our recovery efforts,' Taylor told the news station. The body has been transported to the Neosho County Coroner, per KWCH. The victim has been identified as Kollin Showalter. Showalter and Arthur Pollreis, who was 16, were walking on a railroad bridge over the Neosho River near Erie, Kan., when they were hit and killed by an oncoming train. Authorities recovered Pollreis' body shortly after the accident, but were unable to locate Showalter's body for several days. Water rescue and recovery teams searched the Neosho River with boats equipped with sonar. On Friday, June 20, additional resources, including cadaver dogs, were brought in to assist. Search and rescue was suspended on Saturday, June 21, amid dangerous water conditions, before ultimately resuming and discovering the body on Sunday. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. A memorial fund for the families of the two boys has been set up at Commercial Bank in Erie. Donations can be made at any Kansas Commercial Bank location. Funeral arrangements for Showalter and Pollreis are to be announced, per a Facebook post from local business Parsons Livestock Auction. Counselors will be available to the community on Monday, June 23, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Erie High School, per Fox 4. PEOPLE contacted the Labette County Sheriff's Office and the Neosho County Sheriff's Office but did not immediately hear back. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
18-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Why are so many strange catfish coming out of this Kansas lake?
GEARY COUNTY (KSNT) – Oddly-colored catfish that are considered rare in other parts of the nation are being caught much more frequently in a Kansas lake and a team of biologists are trying to figure out why. 27 News got in touch with Ben Neely, a fisheries biologist with the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP), this week to learn more about why there are so many leucistic and piebald blue catfish in Milford Lake. Biologists are trying to crack this mystery by studying the resident populations of the not-so-blue blue catfish in the water. Milford Lake is Kansas' largest body of water with 163 miles of shoreline, according to the Kansas City District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). Its waters hold many varieties of native and sports fish, including a strong population of blue catfish. Neely said the KDWP first started stocking blue catfish into Milford Lake back in 1990. Biologists introduced more than 165,000 of these catfish to the lake in the following decade until a successful breeding population was established. What fish are bad for your health in Kansas? Anglers who are familiar with the lake may know that it's home to an unusually large population of blue catfish that appear completely white (leucistic) or black and white (piebald). While these fish are considered very rare outside of Milford Lake, often catching national attention whenever they are caught, they are not so uncommon for Kansas' biggest lake. Alex Bumgardner, an angler from Eureka in Greenwood County, was out fishing on Milford Lake on June 9 when he hooked a piebald blue catfish. He compared his catch to the appearance of a killer whale due to its black and white colors. 'I started yelling to everybody, 'come check this out!'' Bumgardner said. 'I was tickled to death.' Exotic pet fish are turning up in Kansas lakes, where do they come from? Bumgardner said this was his first time catching one of these weird-looking catfish. He released the catfish after snapping a photo to remember the special occasion, but thought it was still strange that so many anglers are catching piebald and leucistic blue catfish at Milford Lake. 'It's definitely weird to have that kind of population in that lake,' Bumgardner said. Neely and other biologists with the KDWP conducted an electrofishing study in 2024 to begin putting the pieces of the catfish mystery together and find out why there are so many blue catfish in the lake that have skin pigment mutations. The study not only included a survey of blue catfish in the water, but interviews with anglers as well. Neely said he was pleasantly surprised by the positive feedback he and others received while participating in the research. 'We've had some good positive reception on this,' Neely said. 'We're working with Emporia State University (ESU) to try to look at it a little deeper and the cause of it.' Will this legendary Kansas catfish world record ever be beat? Neely and his team members gathered some shocking results following the conclusion of the 2024 study. Of the 2,611 blue catfish pulled from the water, a total of 359 or 13.7% of them were either leucistic or piebald. Neely said these kinds of numbers haven't been seen anywhere else. 'Milford seems to be an anomaly,' Neely said. '13.7% of the fish we captured showed this, and that is high, very high.' The biologists hope that an answer might lie in studying the genetics of the blue catfish and the environmental factors present in the lake. Neely said it is possible that inbreeding in the lake's population of blue catfish might be the answer and that a larger-than-usual number of catfish were stocked in the lake initially that carried the genes which cause leucism or piebald colors to appear. He also said that many anglers, like Bumgardner, will release blue catfish that appear out of the ordinary while keeping normal-looking blue catfish. 'We've always noticed these fish in the population, but it seemed rare,' Neely said. 'One here, one there. To see that number, that over 13% are exhibiting these characteristics, is eye-opening.' What are the rarest fish you can catch in Kansas and where can you find them? Neely said the environment may be to blame with some unknown factor playing a part in the coloration changes, but that this shouldn't worry people who fish on or jump into the lake. He said that KDWP biologists will return to the lake later in June to begin a new round of research to tackle the secret behind Milford Lake's odd-colored blue catfish. For anglers like Bumgardner, the lake remains a popular fishing destination. Bumgardner said he plans to return to the lake again to try his luck with catching another piebald or leucistic blue catfish. 'Once someone hooks into something like that you get hooked on that spot,' Bumgardner said. Neely said KDWP biologists and geneticists with ESU will work together to try and solve the mystery in the days ahead. You can download a copy of the study conducted by the KDWP in 2024 by clicking here. Near-record fish caught, released in a northeast Kansas lake For more Kansas Outdoors, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Rare bird spotted at Kansas state park results in partial beach shutdown
ROOKS COUNTY (KSNT) – Wildlife officials are giving a rare bird space after it decided to make a nest at a Kansas state park. The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) has closed part of the swimming beach area at Webster State Park this week in Rooks County after spotting a nesting piping plover. Wildlife officials have closed off part of the beach with yellow tape to give the bird space to rear its young. Piping plover birds are protected under the federal Endangered Species Act and the Kansas Nongame and Endangered Species Conservation Act, according to the KDWP. The migratory birds are recognized as rare visitors to Kansas that are found nesting on beaches and sandbars. Exotic pet fish are turning up in Kansas lakes, where do they come from? Ten counties are listed as containing critical habitat for piping plover in Kansas but they may generally be spotted anywhere where suitable conditions exist. You can spot a piping plover by some of its more noticeable features, such as yellow legs, a narrow black band above the forehead from eye to eye and a dark ring around the neck. People visiting Webster State Park are asked to give the bird space and watch it from outside the areas marked with yellow tape. You can learn more about Kansas' state parks by heading to the KDWP's website. Check camping options on USACE lands with this new website For more Kansas Outdoors, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Exotic pet fish are turning up in Kansas lakes, where do they come from?
TOPEKA (KSNT) – Anglers are hooking some strange fish in Kansas that look like they belong in a personal aquarium rather than the local lake. 27 News got in touch with experts at the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) this week to find out how often its fisheries staff are finding exotic fish swimming in the state's lakes and waterways. Whether they came from somebody's fish tank or were being used as bait, odd specimens are finding their way into the state's waters, causing problems for wildlife staff and the natural ecosystem. 'It's hard to quantify, but staff come across these species several times a year,' said Jeff Koch, assistant director of Fisheries Research with the KDWP. 'Koi, goldfish, and other species that might have originated from an aquarium release are observed by biologists and anglers quite often.' What are the rarest fish you can catch in Kansas and where can you find them? Koch said the KDWP has received confirmed reports of armored catfish, a South American fish, appearing in Kansas that are popular in the aquarium trade. Oscar fish have also been found and collected from the state's waters. But the list of exotic fish doesn't stop there. KDWP Aquatic Invasive Species Coordinator Chris Steffen said the agency has also found arawana, pacu, plecostomus, ornate bichir and other fish that don't belong in Kansas. Restricted camping, recreation options take effect across Kansas The fish can come from a variety of sources such as being released intentionally by their owners after becoming too difficult to maintain. Some, such as goldfish, are sold in Kansas as bait fish and may escape into the water. Michael Parr, a KDWP aquatic invasive species biologist, said goldfish are sold in Kansas regularly. Goldfish are checked for viruses and diseases before they are cleared for use in the state's waters. 'When anglers purchase goldfish from a certified bait dealer, the goldfish have most likely been tested and are certified disease-free,' Parr said. 'The majority of live bait sold commercially sold Kansas is purchased and imported from an out-of-state source to be resold in the state.' KHP trooper warns of 'tire gator' danger on Kansas highways Koch said KDWP fisheries staff remove any exotic fish they find that pose a threat to the environment and other native wildlife. Some, like koi fish, pose a larger challenge for biologists to tackle. 'The largest koi or goldfish in our database is approximately 26 inches long,' Koch said. 'It is important to note that Koi are domesticated common carp, selectively bred for their coloration. As such, koi likely have the potential to get as large as common carp, which are generally regarded as a fisheries management challenge. They can reproduce prolifically and have negative impacts on native species and water quality.' Several varieties of carp are considered especially invasive and a pose a big threat to the state's native fish due to their ability to grow fast and reproduce in great numbers. Koch said the KDWP works with store and pet owners by sharing resources online to educate them about the potential harm that comes with releasing exotic fish into Kansas' waters. Rattlesnakes slither out as temperatures warm in Kansas 'Releasing an aquatic pet is not kind to the pet,' Koch said. 'These fish are not adapted to our climate or aquatic systems and will generally not fare well. However, in the event that they do survive, their impacts on native species can be very negative.' Fish that do survive and reproduce in Kansas may be designated as an invasive species. The KDWP reports these species can hurt the natural environment by: Diminishing food supplies and degrading habitat for native species. Reducing numbers and variety of desirable fish. Reducing fishing and other recreational opportunities. Lowering property values and decreasing quality of municipal water sources. Fouling water lines, clogging intakes, burning out pumps and causing other forms of damage. Increasing the risk of flooding due to overcrowding and clogging of lake outlets. You can learn more about invasive species and how they're damaging the natural environment of Kansas by heading to the KDWP's website. Koch also recommends checking out the Don't Let It Loose website to learn more about responsible pet ownership, rehoming and pet regulations by state. Kansas Forest Service at risk of 80% funding loss, layoffs with proposed federal cuts For more Kansas Outdoors, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
