Kansas bass anglers have another good year to look forward to in 2010.

There are big bass at Cedar Bluffs Reservoir. PowerBait soft baits, Whistler Jigs and .38 Special spinnerbaits are popular lures here. Photo by Tim Lilley.

Water conditions statewide are good, and that bodes well for anglers in every region.

What follows is a look at your best bets for great Sunflower State bass fishing this season.

One of the challenges in doing a story like this is emphasizing that readers shouldn't conclude that the lakes specifically mentioned will be the only Sunflower State waters that offer good bass prospects, either for numbers of fish or good numbers of larger fish. That's not the case.

We've focused on specific bodies of water because data show them to be primed for offering quality fishing throughout 2010.

"Folks need to know that water conditions out west have improved dramatically, and that definitely will have a positive impact on the bass fishing and many other species," said Kyle Austin, Kansas' statewide fisheries management coordinator. "But water conditions also are going to be very good throughout the eastern part of the state.

"There are some that will stand out this coming year," said Austin.

I like to take a multifaceted look at things because the additional information provides a more complete picture of bass-fishing prospects around the Sunflower State. Kansas anglers are fortunate to have a variety of water types to fish, including large impoundments, small public impoundments and private water that include hundreds of farm ponds full of bass.

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Not every bass fan sets out in search of the next wallhanger. Many are thrilled to simply spend time on waters that give them the opportunity to catch a lot of fish on most outings, regardless of their size. These lakes also provide wonderful opportunities for introducing newcomers to fishing in general and bass fishing in particular. The positive reinforcement of having a "first outing" that produces a good number of bass is priceless; it goes a long way toward hooking newcomers like they hook the bass.

Residents both east and west have good reservoir options for trips when they just want to catch some bass. Keith Sebelius Reservoir in Norton County is a great destination in western Kansas for this kind of outing, while Hillsdale and Perry reservoirs are at the top of the list in the eastern part of the state.

"These recommendations are direct results of the annual samplings our biologists take on waters around the state," Austin said. "Hillsdale, Perry and Sebelius all are home to really good numbers of bass, which means anglers have the chance to enjoy great days on the water."

There is, of course, always a "but" in these kinds of forecasts.

"We have a lot of fishing going on in Kansas, and the bass in our major, popular reservoirs get a lot of pressure. They get educated," Austin said. "As a result, anglers are going to have to be ready to change up and try a variety of baits of techniques until they key in on what the fish are responding to that day. When they figure that out, they have a chance to catch a lot of bass on an outing."

That's especially important to note with the eastern reservoirs mentioned here. Hillsdale is a short drive southwest of the state's major population center, the greater Kansas City area, and Perry is a short drive north of Topeka, the state capitol. Kansas City-area anglers also have easy access to Perry.

Later, you'll hear from a longtime angler who now guides on Hillsdale. When I talked to him, he mentioned a series of weeknight bass tournaments during the heart of the fishing season that runs more than 20 weeks. So in addition to the pressure from more casual weekend anglers, Hillsdale's bass get attention every week from a core group of anglers who are the best of the best when it comes to finding and catching bass on the lake.