TOPEKA (KSNT) – Kansas wildlife officials are eyeing a proposal that could open the door to new snagging opportunities for anglers to help curb the spread of highly invasive aquatic species.
Commissioners with the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) are scheduled to meet in Topeka on April 9 to discuss several topics and regulations. One regulation commissioners will be voting on involves several regulations that would authorize snagging of non-sport and prohibited species.
Laura Clawson with the KDWP told 27 News the regulations would provide the wildlife agency with the framework to authorize new snagging opportunities, but only in places and time periods explicitly posted by the KDWP. By itself, this regulation change would not create any new snagging opportunities for anglers.
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Snagging is defined as hooking a fish in any part of its body other than the inside of its mouth, according to the KDWP’s website. Snagging is a method used to catch species like paddlefish in Kansas.
Clawson said the purpose of the regulation change is to help the KDWP manage some invasive species causing problems for Kansas’ environment and native species. Specifically, this would help the KDWP fight back against the spread of invasive carp species, such as silver and bighead carp, that are infesting parts of the Kansas River.
Invasive carp leap from the Illinois River during the Original Redneck Fishing Tournament on Aug. 4, 2023. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
“We anticipate the first authorized snagging zone to be the Kansas River, from below Bowersock Dam in Lawrence to the mouth of the Kansas River in Kansas City, and to specifically target invasive carp,” Clawson said.
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Invasive Asian carp species are causing big problems for native fish species and anglers on the Kansas River from Lawrence to Kansas City. KDWP biologists recently reported the removal of over 100,000 pounds of invasive carp from the lower Kansas River from 2022 to 2025.
Clawson said the KDWP can’t give an exact date yet for the potential snagging opportunities as the regulations must undergo some additional work first and signage would need to be posted. Anglers could expect, at the earliest, more information on this topic by May this year.
“Another helpful piece of information is that if someone snags a fish other than the ones allowed, they must immediately return that fish to the water,” Clawson said.
Commissioners will also be voting on the 2026-2027 waterfowl season dates along with the bag and possession limits during the April meeting. KDWP staff are expected to deliver updates about this year’s deer seasons on military units, nonresident waterfowl hunting on public lands and trail camera use on public lands.
People can participate in the meeting in-person or virtually. The meeting is scheduled for noon on Thursday, April 9 at the Robert B. Docking State Office Building located at 915 SW Harrison St. in Topeka. You can learn more about the upcoming meeting and the agenda by clicking here.
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