Want another fishing option in Emporia? One has been green-lighted by the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks.
King Lake, the site of Emporia State’s Prophet Aquatic Research and Outreach Center, is now available as a fishing site as the result of a partnership between Wildlife and Parks and ESU.
The opening of King Lake for fishing follows a study done by Emporia State students in Dr. Rachel Bowles’ fish ecology class and involving Wildlife and Parks biologists. The study found good numbers of largemouth bass, bluegill and white crappie. The study also highlighted different management strategies in the future, including the stocking of channel catfish and largemouth bass to balance the food web and enhance the experience for anglers. Rainbow trout may also be stocked to give some winter fishing opportunities.
The fishery will be managed by Emporia State fish ecology and fisheries management students with guidance from Wildlife and Parks. Anglers can now keep channel cat, crappie and largemouth bass and need a fishing license.
Residents can get to King Lake by using the Interstate 35 underpass off Highland Street. They can also use Burlingame Road to get to East 18th Avenue and drive west on 18th.
