BESTEKA – This month, Kansas fishermen will have a unique chance to go fishing while the sun is out.
On Monday, April 8, there will be a sun eclipse that will make Kansas seem very dark. The Sunflower State will be close enough to feel some of the eclipse’s effects, but not in its straight path.
“This doesn’t happen very often,” said Bryan Sowards, director of the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks’ (KDWP) Fisheries Division.
A study from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) says that animals all over the country change how they act when the eclipse is happening. The darker sky and cooler weather may affect animals by making them think it is night for a short time. During past sun eclipses, insects and birds that normally do their things at night have been seen doing them during the day.
Sowards says there isn’t a proven way to explain how fish behave differently during an eclipse. He does say, though, that Kansas fish might act like they do at night while the eclipse is in the sky, which could give anglers a better chance of catching a big one.
Sowards said, “We have the most kids when the sun comes up and when it goes down.” “The most active times for most species are during the transition periods.”
He says that fish like walleye, saugeye, and channel catfish may come out in large numbers to find food during the eclipse because it will be dark. These fish usually hide during the day or stay near the bottom of the state’s lakes. For the same reason, bass sounds might get louder during the eclipse.
“They love it when there isn’t much light,” Sowards said.
Even though Kansans will only see 80 to 90% of the eclipse, Sowards says hunters may need to change how they fish during the event. People who are on boats in the eastern parts of the state might want to turn on their lights as they would at night while the eclipse is in the sky.
Sowards told them, “When you get out on the lake, you’ll need your navigation lights ready.” It’s likely that you’ll want them at that time to be safe.
Sowards says that fishermen should also look for chances to catch white bass. This month, these fish are breeding, so there should be lots of chances to catch some.
