Pursue the elusive channel catfish or just enjoy a summer outdoor activity without the heat of the day during a series of Overnight Fishing Saturdays starting in May.
Planned this year are ten Overnight Fishing Saturdays at four JCPRD parks planned between mid-May and mid-September.
The first Overnight Fishing Saturday will take place on May 11 at Shawnee Mission Park Lake. After 11 p.m. on that date, the park will be open strictly for fishing only and park police officers will be on duty throughout the night. All park gates will be open, but access within the park will be limited. The south side of the park will be barricaded east of the 87th Street “Y” and west of the 79th Street “Y” off of Barkley Circle near the main entrance.
Fishing will be allowed from the bank or from watercraft. Park safety officials noted state law requires a white light be on at all times on boats on the water after sunset. Before fishing in district waters, Kansas residents ages 16 to 74 and nonresidents 16 and older need to have a Kansas state fishing license, and all appropriate boat tags, if applicable. Additionally, Johnson County residents ages 16 to 64 and non-county residents age 16 and older must have a
JCPRD fishing permit. Permits are available at the JCPRD Registration Office, Building D, 6501 Antioch Road, Merriam; at Visitor Services in the JCPRD Administration Building in Shawnee Mission Park, 7900 Renner Road; and at numerous local retail outlets.
This year’s other Overnight Fishing Saturdays at Shawnee Mission Park are planned for June 22, July 20, and Aug. 17. Overnight Fishing Saturdays are also being offered on two dates each at: Heritage Park, June 1 and July 13; Kill Creek Park, June 8 and Aug. 10; and Lexington Lake on July 6 and Sept. 14.
Overnight Fishing Saturdays are primarily opportunities to fish for channel catfish. These fish often come to the shallows to feed at night, and generally start biting around 11 pm, which is when the parks normally close. Overnight Fishing Saturdays give fisherman opportunities to catch catfish during their prime feeding hours.
Shawnee Mission Park is located at 7900 Renner Road, Shawnee and Lenexa.
Heritage Park is located at 16050 Pflumm Road, Olathe.
Kill Creek Park is located at 11670 Homestead Lane, Olathe.
Lexington Lake Park is located at 8850 Sunflower Road, north of Kansas 10 Highway near the Lexington Avenue exit in De Soto.
For more information about the overnight fishing program, call Visitor Services at (913) 888-4713.