By MIKE CORN

mcorn@dailynews.net

WEBSTER RESERVOIR -- Most likely, Mark Shaw spends as much -- if not more -- time in and around the waters of northwest Kansas than anyone.

That's why he's been delighted by Mother Nature's decision to send a proverbial river of water into the lakes.

You see, Shaw is a fisheries biologist, responsible for Webster, Kirwin and Keith Sebelius reservoirs. He's also responsible for smaller lakes in the area, such as city lakes at Plainville and Logan, and the recently revived Rooks State Fishing Lake.

He lives and breathes (figuratively speaking) water and fishing.

Shaw got his start in fisheries in 1988, as a seasonal employee, working at the Pratt hatchery for two years. He spent three more years at Glen Elder, working for the fisheries biologist there.

He started working full-time in Arkansas in 1992 and stayed there two years.

It was there he had his eyes opened, most notably at the 12-pound, 2-ounce largemouth bass an angler caught.

"That's the biggest largemouth I've ever seen," Shaw said. "If I would have caught that, it would have been on the wall, no doubt about it."

Shaw just happened upon the fisherman, who said he had a nice fish, but no scale to see how big it was. Shaw retrieved a set of scales, and that's when it weighed in as such a lunker.

"He put it over the side and let it go," Shaw said of the man returning the fish to the water.

It's unlikely that incident had anything to do with it, but Shaw had the chance to return to Kansas in 1994. A couple years later, he was serving as the aquatic ecologist for the eastern part of the state, while living in Pratt.

That meant plenty of time on the road, traveling from Pratt to eastern destinations.

So when the opportunity the Webster fisheries biologist position came open, he took it.

"I'm originally from Jennings," Shaw said, so he and his wife were closer to home.

While he hasn't seen any 12-pound bass in any of the lakes he monitors, he is seeing improved fishing.

Especially as a result of the improved water conditions at Webster and Kirwin, both brim-full as the fishing season approaches.

During the winter months, Shaw spends time updating reports and outlining tasks for the summer when anglers will be out on the water.

He and other fisheries biologists are gearing up for the annual walleye project, the collection of eggs to hatch and release in lakes throughout the state.

With the increased water, it's possible the walleye egg collection project will be taking place at Kirwin and Webster next year, something that was last done in 2006. Cedar Bluff has been the star of egg collection in recent years.

During the summer, and all the way up until October or November, Shaw will be in and on the water. The extra water in the two lakes has increased the time he spends sampling to determine fish density.

It's the sampling that Shaw likes.

"You get to see what the (fish) population is," he said, "get to see what people can catch."

It doesn't hurt any that Shaw also gets to see some of the lake's biggest fish while he's at it.

Shaw also spends time introducing kids to fishing, through 4-H and other groups.

He's just as excited about Kirwin and Webster filling up.

"I've never seen Webster and Kirwin full," he said, noting Webster was 13 feet low when he arrived on the scene. Just three years ago, it was 29 feet low, with a maximum depth of 13 feet.

The higher water and inundated trees and brush are the makings of a good fishing spot.

"Overall, they're going to be pretty good," he said of fishing at Kirwin and Webster. "There's going to be some good crappie fishing this year."