Fishing Report For Wilson Lake, KS

Current Report: Fair To Good

There has been an excess population of crappie in Wilson Lake for a couple years now. The fishing has been good as they aggressively compete for food.

WINTER. Now that the shallows have turned cold, crappie have migrated to deeper holding areas, mostly off shore. Good areas to explore include the deeper ends of the Pelican Point, main-lake channel bends, intersecting creek channels, and around Minooka Park Recreation Area. Currently they are being caught using a very slow presentation, in 15 to 35 feet of water. Most are caught around creek channel bends, submerged timber, deep brush piles, and main-lake structure. When they suspend in open water, they often relate to some cover, or structure change, directly below them. During warming trends, especially warm afternoons, they are drawn into 15 to 20 feet of water to feed.

SPRING. In early Spring, crappie begin staging in 8 to 12 feet of water, just outside spawning bays and shallow flats. Spring is prime time to be on the water, as both black crappie and white crappie have moved shallow to spawn. Good numbers typically come from the Hell Creek and Otoe areas, as well as coves off Pelican Point. At that time, they are typically caught in 2 to 8 feet of water. Vegetation, docks, brush and wood are where most anglers catch crappie using small crappie jigs or live minnows. After the spawn, crappie typically move outside the spawning area and hold on cover close by, in 12 to 20 feet of water. Early and late in the day they are being caught in 3 to 8 feet of water. Once they move deep, anglers report success using fish finders and forward facing sonar to locate schools of crappie, which tend to stack vertically around cover. Light tackle, with 4 lb to 8 lb line, is a popular choice.

SUMMER. Water temperatures get quite warm, and crappie fishing is usually pretty good. They feed in 8 to 15 feet of water early and late in the day, until the hot Summer sun causes them to retreat to depths of 12 to 30 feet. Also, a few have embedded in the shade of slightly shallower vegetation. This is a good time to focus around brush piles, standing timber, deep lay downs and deeper docks. Anglers are also locating schools of crappie hanging over deep structure and around creek channel edges, using fish-finder electronics.

FALL. As Fall begins warming the shallows, baitfish, move into shallow flats, coves and bays, which draws crappie into these areas. They will be feeding heavily in preparation for the cold Winter, in 8 to 20 feet of water. Minnows, hair jigs, and crappie jigs, are good options during this feeding marathon. Late Fall which turns the shallows cold, starts pushing crappie deeper, toward winter holding areas. Small flutter spoons, fished in 10 to 20 feet of water, are a good option during this transition. Good results typically come around points, creek channels, and brush piles. Points and channel bends along the Saline River channel are popular areas in Fall.

Current Report: Good

Walleye fishing here has been good, especially early in the morning, and from dusk to long after dark, as during these hours they move shallow to feed.

WINTER. Last Winter, fishing for walleye was pretty good through the ice, as it has been for the last few years. Good results are coming from ledges and channel edges out in front of Minooka Park Recreation Area, and from the Hell Creek arm. Before, during and after the ice, anglers report catching them in the main basin area, in 15 to 35 feet of water, along deep creek channel edges, rocky humps and ledges. Steep drops in the area toward the dam are also producing during these cold months. They primarily feed on small fish, staying close to the bottom. After ice-out blade baits, jigs, swimbaits, spoons, deep-diving crankbaits, and worm harness spinners, all work while deep trolling or drifting.

SPRING. Early Spring brings warming water in the shallows, and draws walleye here to feed, especially rocky areas and inlet channels, around 6 to 15 feet deep. Popular spawning grounds include wind-blown points and deeper spawning flats around Pelican Point, Hell Creek, Otoe and Minooka. In Spring work shallow points, drop offs, submerged structure, rock ledges,and flats adjacent to deeper water. Close to these areas, once the water warms to the mid to high 40's, walleye move into in 3 to 8 feet of water to spawn. When they are in the shallows, bright colored jigs, tipped with minnows or nightcrawlers typically catch them. Spinnerbaits, jerkbaits and crankbaits are also working when walleye are up shallow. Afterwards, they move to 10 to 20 feet deep around creek inlets, shallow rock reefs, windblown rocky points and flats, shoals and ledges, nearby shore. They often stay in close proximity to their spawning locations. Main lake drop offs are producing nice fish.

SUMMER. Water temperatures rise in Summer, and walleye fishing is good if you can get your bait deep enough. Early in the day, and again at dusk, walleye tend to concentrate in 8 to 12 feet of water. Throughout Summer, early in the morning, and from dusk to long after dark are good times to catch walleye. At those times they move slightly shallower to feed in low-light conditions. Night fishing is often good in Summer, as well. The rest of the time they are cruising flats and creek channel edges, 15 to 25 feet deep , preferring the cooler temperatures. When the bite is slow, grubs and nightcrawlers, fished just off the bottom typically catch walleye.

FALL. Fall brings cooler temperatures to shallow water, drawing walleye and baitfish back into the shallows. Locals report catching nice walleye on long points, flats along the river and creek channels, and structure off shore. Jigs, swimbaits, spoons, crankbaits, jerkbaits, and spinnerbaits are all historically good for catching walleye this time of year. Early and late in the day finds them in 12 to 18 feet of water, mid day they hold 15 to 35 feet deep. Later in Fall, they may move deeper. Dragging jigs, bottom bouncers, or worm harnesses with nightcrawlers or leeches, around ledge drop-offs is catching walleye fairly consistently. Watch for the bigger walleye to be slightly deeper than the majority of the school.

Current Report: Good To Very Good

The Kansas state record striped bass was caught here in Wilson Lake, not that long ago. IT weighed well over 40 pounds. Many anglers report catching stripers over the 20-pound mark with some regularity.

WINTER. Now that Winter has set in, stripers are hanging out in deeper water. Good numbers typically come from deeper stretches around Marshall Cove, Pelican Point, Rock Town, and off shore from Lucas Park Recreation Area. They usually feed close to the bottom, often as deep as 40 feet. Warm, sunny afternoons occasionally draw stripers shallower, to around 15 or 35 feet deep as they feed on roaming schools of threadfin shad and blueback herring. The main lake basin, along deep channels is holding schools of stripers, especially in the section of lake around the dam. Locate schools of bait, then look for stripers close by. Fish finders, and forward facing sonar, are a big help in locating these roaming schools. Nice stripers are caught while drift fishing with live bait or cut bait. Spoons, blade baits, and heavy hair jigs are also effective this time of year. Due to the stripers slower metabolism this time of year, anglers are triggering more strikes by working baits more slowly.

SPRING. Water temperatures are return to the mid 60's, and that's ideal for the stripers to spawn. In Spring, work the upper end of the lake, and the backs of coves, where there is inflowing water. If they spawn, this is where they will lay eggs in the moving water. They also move into transition zones on the main lake, in 6 to 18 feet of water, feeding on baitfish which are moving toward the shallows. Expect to locate them on mid-depth ledges, flats or points. The lake record is over 44 pounds, and many anglers believe there may be bigger ones to be caught.

SUMMER. Summer months are the ideal time to chase striped bass here. These stripers hang out in deeper water during the heat of the day, 8 to 25 feet deep, early in the season. Much of the time they are holding over deeper, open water. Morning often draws the stripers shallower, so look for them around the 10-foot range as they feed on roaming schools of baitfish. Being successful at fishing for stripers in Summer is a matter of locating schools of bait, and the wolf packs of stripers are likely to be nearby. Later in Summer, expect to locate schools 20 to 35 feet deep. Fish finders, and sonar electronics, are a big help in locating these roaming schools. Nice stripers are being caught while trolling or drift fishing. Spoons, blade baits, crankbaits, live bait and cut bait are all effective here.

FALL. In Fall, stripers return to shallower water. Early in the day stripers chase bait to the surface and feed aggressively, making this an excellent time for topwater action. Popular areas include wind-blown points, flats and channel edges around Marshall Cove, Hell Creek, and Otoe. They follow schools of bait, which are hanging out in 6 to 20 feet of water. Look for shallow water along wind-blown shorelines, nearby deeper river channels, and fish them thoroughly. Most any lure that resembles shad will catch striped bass at this time of year. Late Fall will find most of the stripers in 20 to 30 feet of water.