Wildlife and Parks staffers will conduct a series of public meetings around the state this spring to hear comments on proposed fishing regulation changes.

New recommendations fishing tournaments, trout permits, paddlefish snagging and bait fish.

Length limits over 15 inches on largemouth and smallmouth bass have made it difficult for tournament organizers to hold weigh-in tournaments. Consequently, tournament organizers often feel compelled to conduct their tournaments at lakes that have shorter length limits, placing excessive pressure on those lakes.

Among the propoals, tournament anglers could possess two bass over 15 inches on waters with length limits longer than 15 inches during a registered tournament. Also registered tourneys could occur only from Sept. 1 through June 15 to minimize fish mortality during the hot months.

Wildlife and Parks is also suggesting a change in trout fishing by designating two types of waters for that species.

Type One waters, which comprise the majority of trout fishing sites, would require anglers to have a trout permit in their possession whether they were fishing for trout or some other species. In Type Two waters, which contain significant winter fishing opportunities for species other than trout, anglers would need a permit to fish for trout.

Current regulations allow anglers to catch and release trout without purchasing a trout permit. Since 1999, when almost 11,000 trout permits were purchased, sales have declined to about 7,000.

In regards to paddlefish, recommendations include limiting the number of fish caught by requiring a $10 permit that includes five carcass tags. More specific designation of bait fish is also on the docket.

Eight meetings on these and other fishing issues have been scheduled. The closest sessions to Lawrence are May 8 at the Wildlife and Parks office in Topeka and May 9 at Cabela’s in Kansas City, Kan.

Fishing report

CLINTON LAKE (Updated 4-7) – Walleye poor. Spawn will begin to wind down this week. A few have been caught along the face of the dam at night on jigs and four-inch floating-diving crankbaits. Crappie fair. Fishing has picked up. Some days crappie are close to shore. Most fish being caught on jigs over rocky areas. Note: When substantial water is flowing through the outlet, walleye and sauger fishing can be good in this location. Most anglers use jigs.

LONE STAR LAKE (Updated 4-7) – Largemouth bass fair. Anglers are picking some fish up on shallow running crankbaits, jigs and plastic worms. Crappie good. Most being caught off rocky banks and brushpiles.

DOUGLAS STATE LAKE (Updated 4-7) – Closed to fishing. Lake has been drained for repair of dam and water-intake line. An additional 22 cedar tree fish attractors were anchored last week.

LEAVENWORTH STATE LAKE (Updated 4-7) – Largemouth bass fair using jigs, plastic worms and suspending crankbaits. Crappie fair using jigs off piers and in coves. Walleye should be moving into rocky areas to spawn and anglers may have success through mid-April casting floating-diving crankbaits or jigs along dam at night.

PERRY LAKE (Updated 4-11) – Channel catfish fair up the creeks when the waters runs on worms or cut shad. Sauger fair on rocky points on west side towards the dam on crankbaits and twisters. White bass good. Spawn is on. Fish up the river or on rocky points using twisters or shad-colored crankbaits. White crappie fair on tube jigs or minnows at 6-16 feet over brush. Some are moving to banks for spawn.

LAKE SHAWNEE (Updated 4-7) – Crappie fair near heated dock using minnows and jigs. Some being taken over brush off channels mainly on jigs. Largemouth bass fair on small crankbaits, jigs and plastic worms. Trout fair. Action has slowed, but some trout still being caught on Little Cleos, roadrunners, roostertails and power bait.