CRAWFORD COUNTY, Kan. — The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks’ (KDWP) Free Fishing Days are scheduled for Saturday, June 3 and Sunday, June 4. During Free Fishing Days, anyone may fish in the Sunflower State without having to buy a fishing permit.
While there is no fishing permit required, all participants must abide by all other regulations such as length and creel limits and equipment requirements. Held annually, the weekend event helps promote outdoor activity and provides an opportunity to introduce someone to the outdoors as well as the joys of angling.
Fish species in Kansas are black crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, drum, flathead catfish, green sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, paddlefish, rainbow trout, redear sunfish, sauger, smallmouth bass, spotted bass, striped bass, walleye, white bass, white crappie and wiper.
Fishing locations in Crawford County include Crawford State Park (1 W. Lake Rd., Farlington), Wilderness Park (907 W. McKay St., Frontenac), Greenbush Community Lake (947 W. 47 Highway, 1/4 mile south of Greenbush Service Center), Arma City Lake (800 E. Maple St., Arma), Lincoln Park pond (710 W. 9th, Pittsburg), Lakeside Park pond (402 W. Washington St., Pittsburg), Pittsburg State University Lake (100 yards east of Carnie Smith Stadium), Mined Land Fishing & Wildlife Area Unit 1 (U.S. 69 and N. County Road) and Bone Creek Reservoir (County Road 190 N. and County Road, Arma).
As for the weather during the weekend, according to The Weather Channel (TWC), the Crawford County area is expected to see mostly sunny skies on Saturday with a 24 percent chance of precipitation and a high of 87 degrees. Sunday features mostly sunny skies as well with a six percent chance of precipitation and a high of 90 degrees.
Aside from Free Fishing Weekend, in Kansas, anyone age 16-74 must have a fishing license to fish.
Fishing licenses or permits/fees include lifetime senior resident hunt/fish combination ($42.50), senior resident fish ($15), senior resident combination hunt/fish ($25), resident one-day fish license ($6), resident fishing ($27.50), resident combination hunt/fish ($47.50), five-year resident fish license ($102.50), lifetime fishing ($502.50), combo lifetime fishing/hunting ($962.50), nonresident fishing ($52.50), nonresident combination fish & hunt ($137.50), nonresident five-day fishing ($27.50) and nonresident one-day fishing ($10).
Resident and nonresident additional permits include trout ($14.50 adult/$7 youth), paddlefish ($12.50), youth paddlefish ($7.50), hand fishing ($27.50), bass pass ($14.50), three-pole permit ($8.50) and duplicates ($2.50).
In addition, with state funding available, hunting and fishing licenses are available free to resident disabled veterans with at least 30 percent disability.
For more information, visit ksoutdoors.com or call 620-672-5911.
