On July 7, 2005, the Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks stocked 600 tagged blue catfish in to El Dorado Reservoir.  The stocked fish ranged in length from 10 to over 23 inches.  The minimum length limit for blue catfish at El Dorado is 35 inches so all tagged fish will need to be released.  The tag is located at the base of the dorsal fin and is yellow in color.  If you catch a tagged fish at El Dorado Reservoir record the 5-digit number on the tag, measure the length of the fish, promptly release the fish with the tag intact, note the location the fish was caught, and contact the fisheries biologist at 316-322-7513.  Information received from anglers regarding tagged blue catifsh will provide useful information to the biologists and will assist in the tracking of the population.

The July 2005 stocking was the second stocking of blue catfish at El Dorado.  The first stocking was in October 2004 when 12,500 advanced fingerlings (7 to 9 inches in length) were stocked.  Since there is a 35-inch minimum length limit on blue catfish at El Dorado, anglers need to be able to correctly identify their catch.  Click HERE for tips in properly identifying the catfish you have caught.  In the above photo, the yellow tag can be seen just below the dorsal fin of this blue catfish.