Kansas Walk-In Fishing Access (WIFA) Program (WIFA)

The Walk-In Fishing Access program leases privately owned ponds, streams and big-river access sites from Kansas landowners for public fishing, paying per surface acre, per stream mile or per river access site. Some participating landowners are also eligible for fish stocking, habitat management, fence crossers, cattle guards, rock boat ramps or rocked parking areas. KDWP publishes enrolled waters in an annual fishing atlas and patrols the sites.

• Landowners with privately owned ponds, streams, or launch sites on the Kansas, Arkansas or Missouri rivers.

• Big-river sites need adequate launch facilities.

Access is limited to foot traffic except on landowner-designated roads; anglers must stay within 50 feet of the shoreline. Impounded WIFA waters carry special creel limits.

Published amounts: Ponds: base lease rates range from $75-$125/acre/year by county, plus $10/acre/year for carry-in boats or $25/acre/year for all-boat access. Streams: $500 to $1,500/mile per year. Kansas, Arkansas and Missouri River access sites: $1,500/site per year ($2,000/site if within 10 river miles of another public access site). Year-round access adds a 10% lease increase.

Contact your nearest KDWP Regional Office to learn more about enrolling your property in the WIFA Program.

Deadline text on the page: No enrollment deadline published; WIFA sites are open to the public March 1 to October 31 or year-round.