Popular Choices For Great Fishing In Kansas
Guide to fishing in the Sunflower State
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A diverse range of popular fishing choices
The state offers a variety of species available in its warm-water fisheries, cold-water fisheries, ponds, lakes, and rivers. Anglers can enjoy a wide selection of fish species and fishing environments throughout the state. The purpose of this page is to share basic information about the best fishing lakes in the state, plus the species found in each lake.
Popular Fishing Options
Warm-water fisheries in Kansas provide excellent opportunities for targeting popular game fish species. Largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie, walleye, catfish, and various sunfish species are just a few examples of the warm water species anglers can pursue. Lakes such as Milford Reservoir, Cheney Reservoir, and Clinton Lake are renowned for their warm-water fisheries, offering abundant fish populations and the chance to catch trophy-sized specimens.
Cold water fisheries in Kansas offer anglers a different angling experience, primarily targeting species that thrive in cooler temperatures. Trout fishing in the winter months is a popular pursuit in lakes such as El Dorado Reservoir, where rainbow trout are stocked to provide an exciting challenge for anglers. Additionally, lakes like Wilson Reservoir provide exceptional opportunities for catching smallmouth bass, known for their love of cooler waters.
Kansas is also home to numerous ponds that are stocked with a variety of fish species, making them ideal for anglers seeking a more intimate fishing experience. These smaller bodies of water often offer convenient access and provide opportunities to catch species such as bass, catfish, bluegill, and crappie. Local city and county parks often maintain stocked ponds that are accessible for public fishing.
The state's rivers also provide excellent fishing opportunities, with the Kansas River, Missouri River, and many smaller tributaries offering diverse fisheries. Anglers can target species such as catfish, bass, walleye, and panfish while enjoying the scenic beauty of Kansas's river systems.
The state of Kansas offers a wide variety of fishing opportunities for anglers of all skill levels. The vast majority of fishing in Kansas is for bass, walleye, crappie and Catfish. There are also waters offering striper and "wiper" (a cross between white bass and stripers) fishing. Ice fishing is available at a limited number of lakes in winter, when conditions allow.
Major Kansas Lakes & Species
Lake & Fish Chart
This section of the website is focused on the larger impoundments and lakes. The lakes chart lists the major fishing lakes and cross references these waters with the major species to be found there. Many of these lakes offer fishing boats for rent.
For a detailed list of primary fish species in KS, plus state fish records, see the list below.
Fishing lake sizes and locations in the state
Big Hill Lake is a 1,200-acre lake in the southeast part of the state, at Dennis.
Cedar Bluff Lake is a 6,000-acre lake in the northwest part of the state, 10 miles north of Brownell.
Cheney Reservoir is a 9,500-acre lake in the south-central part of the state, 5 miles north of Cheney.
Clinton Lake is a 7,000-acre lake in the northeast part of the state, on the southwest outskirts of Lawrence.
Coffey County Lake is a 5,100-acre lake in the eastern part of the state, at New Strawn.
Council Grove Lake is a 3,300-acre lake in the northeast part of the state, at Council Grove.
El Dorado Lake is an 8,000-acre lake in the central part of the state, at El Dorado.
Elk City Lake is a 4,500-acre lake in the southeast part of the state, at Independence.
Fall River Lake is a 2,500-acre lake in the southeast part of the state, at Fall River.
Glen Elder Reservoir, aka Waconda Lake is a 12,600-acre lake in the north-central part of the state, at Glen Elder.
Hillsdale Lake is a 5,400-acre lake in the northeast part of the state, 2 miles southwest of Spring Hill.
John Redmond Reservoir is a 9,400-acre lake in the eastern part of the state, at New Strawn.
Kanopolis Lake is a 3,400-acre lake in the central part of the state, 5 miles southeast of Kanopolis.
Keith Sebelius Lake is a 2,200-acre lake in the northwest part of the state, 2 miles southwest of Norton.
Kirwin Reservoir is a 5,000-acre lake in the north-central part of the state, at Kirwin.
La Cygne Lake is a 2,600-acre lake at the eastern border of the state, 3 miles east of La Cygne.
Lovewell Reservoir is a 3,000-acre lake in the north-central part of the state, 2 miles south of Webber.
Marion Reservoir is a 6,200-acre lake in the east-central part of the state, 2 miles west of Marion.
Melvern Lake is a 7,000-acre lake in the east-central part of the state, at Olivet.
Milford Lake is a 15,700-acre lake in the northeast part of the state, at Milford.
Perry Lake is a 11,100-acre lake in the central-eastern part of the state, at Ozawkie.
Pomona Lake is a 4,000-acre lake in the northeast part of the state, at Vassar.
Toronto Lake is a 2,800-acre lake in the southeast part of the state, at Toronto.
Tuttle Creek Lake is a 12,500-acre lake in the northeast part of the state, at Randolph.
Webster Reservoir is a 3,700-acre lake in the north-central part of the state, 7 miles east of Bogue.
Wilson Lake is a 9,000-acre lake in the north-central part of the state, 5 miles south of Wilson.
Winfield City Lake is a 1,200-acre lake in the south-central part of the state, 5 miles northwest of Winfield.
Fish Species & State Records in Kansas
Bass
Largemouth bass
world record: 22 lbs 4 oz
state record: 11.80 lbs
Smallmouth bass
world record: 11 lbs 15 oz
state record: 6.88 lbs
Spotted bass
world record: 9 lbs 8 oz
state record: 4.44 lbs
Catfish
Channel catfish
world record: 58 lbs 0 oz
state record: 36.5 lbs
Flathead catfish
world record: 123 lbs 9 oz
state record: 123.0 lbs
Blue catfish
world record: 143 lbs 0 oz
state record: 102.8 lbs
Crappie
Black crappie
world record: 6 lbs 0 oz
state record: 4.63 lbs
White crappie
world record: 5 lbs 3 oz
state record: 4.02 lbs
Walleye
Walleye
world record: 25 lbs 0 oz
state record: 13.16 lbs
Sauger
world record: 17 lbs 7 oz
state record: 4.80 lbs
Saugeye
world record: 15 lbs 6 oz
state record: 9.81 lbs
Trout
Rainbow trout
world record: 42 lbs 2 oz
state record: 15.72 lbs
Brown trout
world record: 40 lbs 4 oz
state record: 4.62 lbs
Panfish
Bluegill
world record: 4 lbs 12 oz
state record: 2.31 lbs
Green sunfish
world record: 2.2 lbs
state record: 2.36 lbs
Hybrid sunfish
world record: N/A
state record: 2.65 lbs
Redear sunfish
world record: 5.4 lbs
state record: 1.69 lbs
Warmouth
world record: 2.4 lbs
state record: 1.11 lbs
White Bass
world record: 6.8 lbs
state record: 5.67 lbs
Yellow perch
world record: 4 lbs 3 oz
state record: 1.06 lbs
Stripers
Striped Bass
Saltwater record: 81 lbs 14 oz
state record: 44.0 lbs
Hybrid Striper (Wiper)
world record: 27 lbs 5 oz
state record: 25.0 lbs
Other species
Northern pike
world record: 55 lbs 1 oz
state record: 24.75 lbs
Click the images and links above for species details.
State of KS Fishing Information
Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks has a website loaded with information about fishing in Kansas including rules and regulations. Apply online for a Kansas fishing license.
Fishing in all states
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