A Meta-Analysis of Shoreline Angling Metrics in Large Impoundment and Associated Tailwaters in Kansas with Implications for Angler Access

Abstract

Approximately 400,000 anglers participate in recreational fishing in Kansas annually. Of those, 89% identify as at least part-time shoreline anglers. Shoreline angling is often promoted and managed at small Kansas impoundments with landscaping, jetties, and vehicle access. However, shoreline angling in large impoundments (> 400 ha) is largely limited to maintained areas in federal and state parks due to ease of accessibility. Tailwater fisheries represent a shoreline angling opportunity often associated with large impoundments but are largely unregulated and unstudied by fisheries managers in Kansas. To assess shoreline angling in tailwater fisheries, data were consolidated from 23 paired impoundment/tailwater creel surveys that occurred between 1999 and 2018. Results suggest that shoreline angling effort and catch were greater in impoundments than tailwaters; however, when standardized by shoreline availability, these metrics were greater in tailwaters. Composition of fish taxa targeted and caught also differed between shoreline anglers in impoundments and tailwaters suggesting the coupled pair generally provided diverse angling opportunities. Anglers that participated in both types of fisheries were predominantly males between ages 16 and 64. Anglers were largely local (> 90% in-state) and out-of-state participation was dominated by anglers from border states. These findings demonstrate the role of shoreline angling and access in large Kansas impoundments and tailwaters. Findings will be valuable to inform future management plans and increase angling accessibility to a diverse constituent base.