Fish Wizards 2022 | The Volland Foundation

3rd Annual Kansas Fish Wizards Tour

June 4 and June 5, 2022

A fundraiser for the Native Stone Scenic Byway and the Volland Foundation

photos from the 2022 tour!

Reservations

$45 + tax and fee

at Eventbrite

New this year! by popular demand

A Fish Wizards T-shirt

featuring the Longer Sunfish that was collected last year and illustrated by Joe Tomelleri

Pre-order your Fish Wizards shirt by May 27

at the Volland Online Store

Flash! now taking orders through May 30!

You may pick up your shirt when you arrive for your tour

Can’t come, but want a shirt?
Order by May 27 and we will mail it to you following the event

The Volland Foundation and the Native Stone Scenic Byway announce the 3rd Annual Fish Wizards Tour

Come along for a fun-filled trip to see and learn more about the beautiful and amazing fish species in the streams of beautiful Wabaunsee County, Kansas! More than 20 species of fish are found in the crystal clear waters of these Flint Hills streams.

The Fish Wizards Tour will be led by renowned fisheries scientists, Dr. Bill Stark, Joe Tomelleri, Mike Kaminski, and other Kansas fisheries scientists. Participants are in for an unforgettable experience as they learn sampling techniques, fish identification, and life history information of many native fish species.

Our tour leaders are quite an accomplished crew! Dr. Bill Stark is a professor at Fort Hays State University and specializes in fisheries and aquatic environment studies. His research includes numerous studies on Kansas’ native fish and aquatic invertebrates. Joe Tomelleri is the world’s leading freshwater fish illustrator and has more than 1,100 illustrations. His work has been featured in more than 1,000 publications, including Trout and Salmon of North America, Outdoor Life, Eddie Bauer, and of course Kansas Fishes. His illustrations are scientifically accurate and document the species in their native colors. Joe’s prints will be available for sale creekside this year. Mike Kaminski is a fisheries biologist and an adjunct professor at College of Saint Mary in Omaha, Nebraska. He has collected fishes from throughout the U.S. and now enjoys sharing knowledge with students and people of all ages.

Dr. Brian Bohnsack will assist with the tours and provide insights on the principles of fish and wildlife management based on his long career with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, and Wichita State University.

June is an ideal time for the 3rd annual Fish Wizards Tour. Many of the fish will be dressed in their peak spawning colors and will be ready to impress us with their brilliant colors.

TOUR LOGISTICS

The tour begins at 10am and will last about four hours. The tour will occur at a selected sampling site on a tributary of Mill Creek in Wabaunsee County.

Attendees should wear comfortable walking or hiking shoes and will need to be able to walk down stream banks. Attendees may get wet during the trip, so dress accordingly. You are encouraged to bring waders or hip boots, though they are not required. Volunteers can wade in and help with the sampling efforts if desired. Please bring sunscreen, bug repellent, a lawn chair, and if the weather is hot, bring an umbrella for shade from the sun.

The fun begins when we arrive at the creek! The Fish Wizards will locate and seine for fish, then bring them up for the participants to see “up close and personal.” After wading and watching and learning, a boxed lunch will be provided around noon, and you are invited to visit and linger in the shade, departing at your leisure.

Attendance is limited to 30 individuals for each day. Reserve your spot now! The registration is $45 + tax. The event is a fundraiser for the Native Stone Scenic Byway and the Volland Foundation. Registration fees are non-refundable. Every effort will be made to provide the tour on-site. In the case of heavy rain and/or stream flows, a presentation will be given about Kansas fish species and the history of Wabaunsee County at the Wabaunsee County Historical Museum, 227 Missouri St., Alma, KS.