After the recent Fishing Forecast results came in for the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism, several spots stood out as quality places to catch channel catfish in 2012 - some more than others.

The highest density rating of channel catfish was in Garnett's Crystal Lake, followed by Bourbon State Fishing Lake and Nebo State Fishing Lake. The largest channel cats sampled were located in Bourbon (18.52 pounds), Osage State Fishing Lake (18.33 pounds), Lyon State Fishing Lake (16.53 pounds) Holton's Banner Creek (16.42 pounds), Madison City Lake (14.99 pounds) and Sedan's South City Lake. As for reservoirs, Kanapolis, Sebelius and Perry had the densest population of channel cat, and the largest fish sampled was 18.29 pounds in Sebelius, followed by 16.31 in Perry and 16.18 in Elder.

The report lists 12 lakes as having an Excellent biologist's rating for their channel catfish stock: Crystal Lake, Bourbon State Fishing Lake, Pleasanton - West Lake, Pleasanton - East Lake, Critzer Lake, Wilson State Fishing Lake, Woodson State Fishing Lake, Yates Center City Lake, Sedgwick County - Lake Afton, McPherson State Fishing Lake, Harvest County Lake - East and Montgomery State Fishing Lake. There were also two reservoirs given Excellent ratings - LaCygne and Pomona. The Excellent rating is the biologist's opinion on the lake's stock of channel catfish.

Click here to read the full Fishing Forecast for channel catfish in the state of Kansas.

PRATT — The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism’s (KDWPT) Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) program now offers a spring workshop to complement the traditional fall workshop that has been offered each year since 1993. This year’s spring workshop will be held May 18, 19, and 20 at Rock Springs 4-H Center, near Junction City, the same location as the fall workshop. During the three-day workshop, volunteer instructors teach participants a variety of skills, including fishing, wingshooting, camping, orienteering, rifle marksmanship, botany, dog handling, archery, and other outdoor recreation in a friendly, supportive environment. Twenty-eight concurrent sessions will be offered, from hunting and fishing skills to camping, outdoor cooking, bird watching, orienteering, and wilderness survival. Mini-sessions will cover such topics as “Kansas critters,” outdoor first aid, campfire songs, and star gazing.

The $250 workshop fee includes seven meals, two nights lodging, instruction, supplies, and use of equipment. Based on financial need, three $100 scholarships are available for first-time participants. Email kansasbow@sbcglobal.net for scholarship details.