Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks announced recently that it has stocked over 20,000 paddlefish in Perry, Pomona, and Tuttle Creek reservoirs as part of ongoing efforts to restore historical populations. They have been stocking paddlefish in these reservoirs since 2019 and have already documented some individuals during routine sampling. The department noted that paddlefish grow quickly, and future updates will track their progress.
Officials emphasized that it is currently illegal to snag paddlefish—or any fish—in the stocked reservoirs, their spillways, or the rivers above them. Because snagging is not size-selective and can harm fish populations, officials say the practice could threaten the success of restoration efforts. The department may consider opening the reservoirs to snagging in the future once populations are strong enough to withstand the increasing numbers of people that fish.
