Kansas Health and Wildlife Officials have warned against the consumption of certain types of fish from certain bodies of water due to risk of pesticides and chemicals. Health officials indicated there are many benefits to the consumption of locally caught fish, however, all fish contain trace amounts of mercury. Those who are mercury-sensitive, women who are pregnant, nursing or may become pregnant and children under the age of 18, should make certain fish is eaten only once or twice a week. Those include blue or channel catfish, carp, crappie, white bass, perch, striped bass, sunfish, including bluegill, and several others.
In our area, officials advise against eating anything caught in the Kansas river from below Bowerstock Dam in Lawrence, downstream to Eudora at the confluence of the Wakarusa River in Douglas and Leavenworth counties on all bottom feeding fish due to PCB contamination.
Also remember you must have a valid fishing license to fish from public lakes and rivers.
