Northwest Region Fishing Reports

Fishing reports provide general angling information from KDWPT staff. The department cannot update the reports on a regular, frequent basis. Many factors determine angling success, and fishing conditions and individual fishing success may vary from the report. Anglers are responsible for deciding what species to fish for, what methods to use, and where and when to fish. You can help fellow anglers by sharing successful fishing notes at http://www.facebook.com/kdwpt.

OTTAWA STATE FISHING LAKE - Last Updated: 3/18/2024

Species Rating Size Baits, Method, Location
Largemouth Bass Fair to Good 12-18 inches Bass should be feeding heavily in preparation for the spawn in May. Fish can be caught around any aquatic vegetation, off the rocky jetties, and around the overhanging trees in the water. Fish can be caught use wacky worms, Senkos, Ned Rigs, spinnerbaits, roadrunners, and crankbaits.
Bluegill/Sunfish Good 5 to 7 Inches Look for bluegill around the rocks on the piers, flat shorelines, and around any brush in the water. Worms and small jigs are a good bet. These guys can be caught throughout the year using a variety of techniques. Some anglers prefer to fly fish with small nymphs or dry flies fished on the surface.
Channel Catfish Fair to Good 12-25 inches Fish can be caught just about anywhere on the lake. Anglers should try using shad sides, shad gizzards, shrimp, nightcrawlers, and chicken liver.  Targeting inflow is a popular method as the catfish will congregate there to feed. The shallow upper end is a great area to find big catfish on warm days.
Saugeye Fair 18-25 inches The best number of saugeye can be found on the upper end around the jetties and other rocky areas. Jig and crawler, large shiners, crankbaits, and swim baits are all good options to use for catching saugeye now. Anglers will also find some around the brush piles and off the ends of the jetties closest to the dam.
Crappie Good 8-15 inches Anglers should target the brush piles and other submerged structure with minnows and jigs. Focus on deeper structure like brushpiles and rocks during summer. Anglers are encouraged to harvest high numbers of crappie to help maintain a desirable level. Our recent sample indicated there are very high numbers of crappie in the lake now and anglers could have great success throughout the year. 
General Comments

Water Temperature--44ºF   

CAUTION: LONGER BOAT TRAILERS MAY FALL OFF EDGE OF BOAT RAMP WHEN WATER IS LOW



CEDAR BLUFF RESERVOIR - Last Updated: 3/22/2024

Species Rating Size Baits, Method, Location
Black Bass Fair/Good Up to 6 lbs. Casting lightly weighted swimbaits or other soft plastics along rocky, sun-warmed shorelines.
Channel Catfish Slow Up to 12 lbs. No Report.
Crappie Fair/Good Up to 15 inches Vertically fishing slab spoons, jigs, or minnows around the fish attractors.
Walleye Fair Up to 28 inches Fish have begun their annual spawning run where they can be caught by anglers casting brightly colored stick baits such as floating rapala's or swimbaits at night and during other low-light periods.
White Bass/Wipers Fair/Good

Whites up to 17 inches

Wipers up to 13.5 lbs.

Fish are scattered and difficult to pattern right now.  Some anglers have been successful casting bucktail jigs, swimbaits, and other shad imitations over shallow flats and points mainly along the north shore of the reservoir.  Vertically fishing slab spoons over edges of points and shelves in deeper water has also been productive from time to time.

WATER TEMPERATURE-41 degrees F

SURFACE ELEVATION- 2124.31 ft. above MSL-19.69 ft. below conservation pool

ATTENTION: An established zebra mussel population has been documented at this water making Cedar Bluff an ANS designated water.  With this designation, regulations are in effect primarily aimed at discouraging water containing microscopic zebra mussel larvae from leaving the property and establishing in new waters.  Any time one leaves the reservoir it is best to clean mud, vegetation, or attached zebra mussel adults off of boats and other equipment, drain any thing on a boat or other equipment that holds water, and allow boats and other equipment to dry completely before using them at another body of water.  It is now illegal to use wild-caught bait from Cedar Bluff at any other water.  Live fish are not to be taken off the property.  And all livewells and bilges must be drained prior to leaving the property.

It is illegal to release fish into public water unless it was taken from that water. So please discard any leftover bait in a trash can.



GLEN ELDER RESERVOIR - Last Updated: 3/18/2024

Species Rating Size Baits, Method, Location
Crappie Fair 9-15 inches As the weather warms fish should be transitioning away from winter holding patterns. Points and channel breaks that allow fish to easily move in between shallow and deep water can be good targets. Try fishing deep brush piles and other hard structure. Prespawn fish should be feeding heavily in preparation for the spawn in April and May. Use minnows, jigs, spoons, or small crankbaits.  
Trout Good 10-15 inches

All trout will be stocked in the GLEN ELDER OUTLET this season due to low water levels in the state park pond. About 825 pounds of quality rainbows were stocked on March 4th. This is the last stocking of the season. Hatchery-raised trout can be targeted by a number of methods. Many anglers use traditional methods like fly fishing or small spinners, while some try corn, pellet feed, and even cheese. 

Please note the season change, and don't forget ALL anglers fishing in the Glen Elder outlet ARE REQUIRED to have a trout permit Dec. 1 through March 31st!

Walleye Fair to Good 11-25 inches Mid-March and early April is spawning season for Walleye. They head to rocky shorelines and dams to spawn at night. Try using lures with a lot of flash and vibration to illicit a reaction bite along these shorelines at night. During the day these fish should be staging in a nearby area. Look for nearby structure, river channels, or flats with baitfish. Fish that have already spawned will be looking to feed and recover. Walleye are often caught using jigging spoons, minnows, crankbaits, and spinners. 
Black Bass Good 12-20 inches As the water starts warming up, bass should be in a prespawn feeding mode.  Smallmouth tend to prefer harder, rockier bottoms, while Largemouth might be found on softer bottoms and weed beds. Don't overlook standing timber and brush piles. Look for areas that hold baitfish. Use a quarter ounce or an eighth ounce jig tipped with a minnow or baitfish imitation. You could also have success with hair jigs and jigging spoons. With a 21 inch length limit these Smallmouth are almost all sublegal so please handle them with extreme care and release them immediately after catching them. 
Catfish Good 15-35 inches

Channel Cats can be found almost anywhere in the lake. Targeting inflows can be successful after rains. Blue Cats tend to prefer deeper structure or windblown flats. Try river channel bends, old road beds, and submerged bridges. Fall sampling indicated good numbers of blues and channel catfish in the reservoir now. Best baits to use include cut bait, stinkbait, shad sides, shrimp, and nightcrawlers. 

Remember, there is a 35 inch length limit on blue catfish at Glen Elder.

White Bass Good to Excellent 11-18 inches White Bass and Wipers can be found chasing shad near brushpiles, river channels, drop offs, and other structure. Higher numbers of big whites tend to be caught west of the causeway. Look for drop-offs and points for suspended fish. Downwind shorelines can produce good numbers of actively feeding fish. Use a variety of jigs, spinners, or minnows to catch fish all year.  
Anglers can now find GPS locations for each of the brush piles located in the reservoir. Simply click on this link Good Fishing Spots and select the individual brush pile. As we enhance these brush piles throughout the year, we'll make a note under each individual location.

Current Water Temperature: 45ºF        Current Water Level: 4.7 feet low

Some boat ramps are unusable due to low water conditions. This currently includes Granite Creek, North Fork River, Carr Creek, and Walnut Creek. Boller Point ramp is very shallow but usable by shallow drafted vessels. Repairs to the face of the dam were completed in February 2023. Water levels should start to rise with rain. 



JEWELL STATE FISHING LAKE - Last Updated: 3/18/2024

Species
Rating Size Baits, Method, Location
Crappie Fair to Good 9-11 inches Anglers should target the brush piles and other submerged structure with minnows and jigs. Anglers are encouraged to harvest high numbers of crappie to help maintain a desirable level. Our recent sample indicated there are very high numbers of crappie in the lake now and anglers could have great success throughout the year.
Largemouth Bass Good 12-22 inches

Fish can be caught around any aquatic vegetation, off the rocky jetties, and around the overhanging trees in the water. I would focus on submerged wood. The larger trunks that provide horizontal cover seem to hold bigger bass. Fish can be caught use wacky worms, Senkos, Ned Rigs, spinnerbaits, roadrunners, and crankbaits. 

There is an 18 inch minimum length limit on all bass in Jewell

Channel Catfish Good 11-25 inches

Fish can be caught just about anywhere on the lake. Anglers should try using shad sides, shad gizzards, shrimp, nightcrawlers, and chicken liver.  Targeting inflow is a popular method as the catfish will congregate there to feed. However, in the colder months catfish tend to congregate in deeper holes. 

Remember there is a 15 inch minimum length limit on channel catfish

Bluegill

Redear Sunfish

Good 6-9 inches Look for bluegill around the rocks on the piers and around any brush in the water. Worms and small jigs are a good bet.  These guys can be caught throughout the year using a variety of techniques.  Some anglers prefer to fly fish with small nymphs or dry flies fished on the surface.
General Comments
ATTENTION ANGLERS! There is a regulation for all sunfish species which began in January 2019. Fish between 6 and 9 inches must be immediately released. There is no limit on the number of fish less than 6 inches, but anglers are limited to only 5 fish greater than 9 inches per day. This applies to bluegill, redear sunfish, green sunfish, and their hybrids.

Water temperature: 45ºF 

Water level: 7.5 Feet Low



KANOPOLIS RESERVOIR - Last Updated: 2/29/2024

Species Rating Size Baits, Method, and Location
Channel/Blue Catfish Good 16 - 21"

Fishing cut and prepared baits along the river channel from the south boat ramp all the way to buzzard bay. Try deeper catfish humps and structure near bluffs.

Remember there is a 35" minimum length limit on Blue Catfish at Kanopolis Reservoir.

Crappie Good 10 to 14+ inches Try deeper structure, brush piles, or the river channel with 1/16 oz. jigs and live minnows. 
Trout Good   The third trout stocking for the seep stream occurred on February 16th. 
Saugeye Good 14 - 22" Wind blown points and flats in the middle and lower ends of the reservoir are best. Also try shallow shoreline areas first thing in the morning.  Shad imitating swimbaits and jigs tipped with minnows or worms can be productive baits.
White Bass Fair All sizes - up to 17 inches Casting swimbaits, bucktail jigs, and Kastmaster spoons along wind blown points and areas near the river channel. Using slab spoons or live minnows is also producing some fish right now along brush piles and in the river channel. 
Wiper Fair All sizes Similar locations and baits as those used for white bass.
General Comment

Currently the south shore boat ramp is the only ramp in the water but due to the large sandbar at the end of the breakwater it is difficult to get most boats from the ramp and out of the cove.

Current lake elevation and water temperature is available on the location page linked to this fishing report. It is updated daily by the Corps of Engineers.

 



KEITH SEBELIUS RESERVOIR - Last Updated: 3/14/2024

Species Rating Size Baits, Method, and Location
Crappie Fair 7 to 16 inches Did have reports of crappies being caught around the public fishing dock using jigs and jigs tipped with minnows prior to ice development.  
Saugeye/Walleye Fair 13 to 27 inches No Reports.  An 18" minimum length limit is in effect.
Wiper Good 10 to 28 inches Would recommend fishing for them around the east side of Leota Cove, Monkey Island and Concrete cove using jigs and swim baits.
Catfish Fair 10 to 30 inches Did hear of some catfish being caught up in the shallows using shad, gizzards, shrimp, or stink bait on the bottom.
Largemouth/Spotted Bass Good 10 to 20 inches Would recommend fishing up in the coves or along the Dam and Breakwater using crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and plastics. 
General Comments

WATER TEMPERATURE- 45°

SURFACE ELEVATION- 2295.21 ---- 9.09 feet below conservation pool

Currently, the water level is 4.08 feet higher than it was one year ago, at this time. 

Remember it is illegal to release any fish into public water unless it was taken from that water.  Please discard leftover bait in a trash can.



KIRWIN RESERVOIR - Last Updated: 3/14/2024

Species Rating Size Baits, Method, and Location
Crappie Fair 7 to 17 inches No Reports because No boats allowed from October 1 to April 1, 2024.  Would recommend fishing the north and south shore fish attractors using jigs and jigs tipped with minnows when boats are allowed back on April 1.  Could also possibly catch some off the Dam using jigs and minnows.
Walleye Fair 10 to 29 inches No Reports.  However, walleye should be moving into the Dam to spawn. Therefore, should get those roadrunners and crankbaits out.
White Bass/ Wiper Good 10 to 28 inches No Reports. 
Catfish Fair 10 to 30 inches No Reports
Largemouth Bass Fair 12 to 22 inches No Reports
General Comments

WATER TEMPERATURE- 45°

SURFACE ELEVATION- 1720.83 ---- 8.42' below conservation pool

Currently, the water level is 3.14' lower than it was one year ago, at this time.  

The fish cleaning station is currently closed for the winter. A boat cleaning facility (CD3) has also been added by the fish cleaning station and should be turned on shortly.   

If you have any questions regarding Kirwin Reservoir and the surrounding public lands, contact the USFWS at 785-543-6673.  

Remember it is illegal to release any fish into public water unless it was taken from that water.  Please discard leftover bait in a trash can.

 



LOVEWELL RESERVOIR - Last Updated: 3/18/2024

Species Rating Size Baits, Method, Location
Walleye Fair  16-25 inches

Mid-March to early April is usually spawning season for Walleye. These fish seek out rocky shorelines or dams to spawn on at night. Use lures with a lot of flash and vibration to illicit a reaction strike on these spawning fish. During the day these fish should be staging nearby. Post-spawn fish are often caught using jigging spoons, minnows, brightly colored lures, or nightcrawlers.

*KDWP stocked 3 million Walleye fry into Lovewell last April and 15,000 intermediates last fall. 

White Bass/Wipers Good

7-14 inches

15-25 inches

White Bass and Wipers will suspend on river channels, drop-offs, and deep brushpiles. Downwind shoreline will attract actively feeding fish. Look for schools of baitfish and these predators are probably nearby. Using a variety of jigs, spinners, or minnows can catch fish most of the year.

*600,000 wiper fry were stocked into Lovewell last May 

Crappie Fair 8-14 inches Try fishing deep brush piles and other hard structure. Use minnows or jigs as fish prepare to spawn in April or early May. Typically crappie will spawn in less the 10 feet of water. Look for places that hold baitfish and structure near these spawning areas as fish transition to the spawn. 
Catfish Good 16 to 38 inches

Fall sampling indicated good numbers of Channel Catfish, Blue Catfish, and Flathead Catfish. Best baits to use for Channel Catfish include stinkbait, shad gizzards, shad sides, shrimp, and nightcrawlers. Blue Catfish usually go for cut bait and Flatheads tend to prefer live bait. Anglers often report good spring catches of blue catfish near Walleye Point, Cedar Point, and Pawnee Point.

Remember there is a 35 inch minimum length limit on blue catfish in Lovewell.  All blue catfish less than 35 inches must be released immediately. 

Comments
Anglers can now find GPS coordinates, descriptions, and histories of some of the major brush piles in Lovewell. Simply follow this link Good Fishing Spots and select the individual brush pile to find out more information. More Georgia Cubes were added in April 2020! 

Current water temperature:  44ºF            Current water level:0.6 feet low 

Please discard of leftover bait in a trash can, even baitfish. Remember it is illegal to release any fish into public water unless it was taken from that water!



ROOKS STATE FISHING LAKE - Last Updated: 3/14/2024

Species Rating Size Baits, Method, and Location
      CURRENT FISHING
Largemouth Bass Fair 6-21 inches No Reports.
Bluegill Fair 3-9 inches No Reports.
Catfish Fair 10-25 inches No Reports.
Black Crappie Fair 5-12 inches No Reports
General Comments

Water Temp. 47 Degrees

Lake is approx. eight to nine feet low.   



SHERIDAN STATE FISHING LAKE - Last Updated: 3/22/2024

Species Rating Size Baits, Method, and Location
Comments

The lake is currently being dewatered to enable lake renovation.

As part of lake renovation, the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks has issued Sheridan State Fishing Lake be opened to public fish salvage effective 11/6/2023. 

The order is posted on signs around the lake.  It allows the public to collect fish by any legal methods as well as by hand, dip net, throw net, minnow trap or seine, snagging, gig, speargun, bow and arrow or crossbow with a barbed head and line attached from bow/crossbow to arrow per regulation 115-7-1.  This fish salvage order also removes all daily creel limits and size limits per regulation 115-25-14.  This public fish salvage will remain in effect until posted notice signage on site is removed.           

For more information contact Dave Spalsbury, District Fisheries Biologist at 785-726-3212.



WEBSTER RESERVOIR - Last Updated: 3/14/2024

Species Rating Size Baits, Method, and Location
Crappie Fair 7 to 17 inches Did have reports of fish being caught on the maintained fish attractors. Would recommend fishing around the north and south shore breakwaters and fish attractors using jigs, slab spoons and jigs with minnows. 
Walleye Fair 14 to 28 inches Did have reports of some fish being caught. Would recommend fishing for them just outside the maintained fish attractors using jigs and slab spoons. They will also be coming into the Dam to spawn; therefore, it would be a good time to cast diving lures, roadrunners and curly tails around dawn and dusk.
White Bass/Wiper Fair 8 to 28 inches Did have reports of both species being caught around the north and south shore fish attractors and breakwaters using jigs and jigs tipped with minnow. Trolling diving lures could also be productive.
Catfish Fair 12 to 30 inches Did have reports of catfish being caught up in the shallows using shad, shrimp, gizzards, or stink baits on the bottom.
Largemouth Bass Fair 12 to 22 inches Did have reports of fish being caught around the maintained fish attractors.
General Comments

WATER TEMPERATURE- 45°

SURFACE ELEVATION- 1877.91 ---- 14.54' below conservation pool

The water level is 5.20' lower than it was one year ago at this time.  

Old Marina and Morel boat ramps are not usable; however, Rock Point, Goose Flats and Lakeview boat ramps are open at this time.  Fish cleaning station is currently closed for the winter.  A boat cleaning station (CD3) has also been added by the fish cleaning station and should be turned on shortly.

Remember it is illegal to release any fish into public water unless it was taken from that water. Please discard leftover bait in a trash can.



WILSON RESERVOIR - Last Updated: 2/29/2024

Species Rating Size Baits, Method, Location
Striped Bass Fair 7-25 pounds No Reports. Larger fish are relating to deeper water near Lucas campground, mouth of Marshall Cove, Hell Creek and towards the dam. Try trolling crankbaits, casting/jigging large bucktail jigs, or drifting live shad or sunfish along channel breaks.
 Walleye Good 18-27 inches No Reports. Trolling or casting crankbaits and swimbaits over main lake points early morning or late evening are your best bets. 
Blue/Channel Catfish Good 2-20 pounds

Channel Catfish: Fish can be found from shallow to moderate depths. Try cut bait or dough bait thorough the reservoir.

Blue Catfish: scattered throughout the reservoir, try fresh cutbait in 6-30 feet of water on river channel swings or flats near these swings. 

Release all Blue Catfish between 32 - 40 inches. Two can be kept outside this range but only one can be kept over 40 inches.

White Bass Fair 12-18 inches, up to 3 pounds No Reports. Casting shad imitating swimbaits and bucktail jigs over windblown points and using slab spoons along the river channel.
Black Bass Good 12-20 inches No Reports. Soft plastics, spinnerbaits, and crankbaits around structure.
White Perch Poor 4 to 12 inches - IT IS ILLEGAL TO HAVE A WHITE PERCH ALIVE IN YOUR POSSESSION - IF YOU CATCH IT AND WANT TO KEEP IT - IT HAS TO BE DEAD IN A COOLER OR LIVEWELL. THEY ARE NO LONGER LEGAL AS LIVE BAIT FOR STRIPERS OR OTHER FISH!!!!!
General Comments

Lake Elevation = 2.41 feet below conservation pool.

We have two Aquatic Invasive Species - white perch and zebra mussels and have joined Cheney and El Dorado as lakes with both species. The law now says that if anyone leaves the lake with water in your livewell or boat, you are subject to a ticket for transporting Zebra Mussels since they will spawn and the microscopic little mussels will probably be in every drop of water in the lake. Make sure you drain all water from the boat before you leave the boat ramp area!!! We have been taking veliger samples and the samples were high so be sure to drain and dry everything!!!!!!