Chase State Fishing Lake

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The lake has a steep to shallow rocky shoreline and shallow mudflats on the upper end. Water clarity is usually very good. Eight fishing piers and many rock and brush fish attractors enhance angling opportunities at the lake. Fair to excellent populations of channel catfish, black bass, saugeye, crappie, white bass, and bluegill are found in the lake. Adjacent uplands primarily consist of native grass prairie. A diversity of wildflowers exists on the property and can provide outstanding viewing opportunities. Several small woody draws also exist on the property, primarily below the dam. Hunting is allowed but game populations are limited. The area does provide opportunities to hunt species such as quail, rabbit, white-tailed deer, turkey, squirrels, waterfowl, and prairie chicken. Camping is allowed (first come, first served) in designated areas along the north shore of the lake.

Address:
1130 Lake Road
Council Grove,KS    66846
County/Counties:

Manager: Brent Konen
Phone: (620) 767-5900

Chase State Fishing Lake and Wildlife Area is located in central Chase County, 1.5 miles west of Cottonwood Falls in the center of the scenic Flint Hills region of Kansas.

Lake News - Updated: 05/01/2020

Lake News  

Zebra Mussels Found in Chase State Fishing Lake:

September 20, 2012

Popular state fishing lake latest to be infested with aquatic nuisance species

EMPORIA – Officials with the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism have confirmed the presence of zebra mussels at Chase State Fishing Lake located in Chase County, 2 ½ miles west of Cottonwood Falls. In regular testing, biologists identified zebra mussel larvae, called veligers, last week. After a thorough search, fisheries biologists found adult zebra mussels. The pristine 109-acre state lake is a popular fishing spot located in the scenic Flint Hills.

This latest discovery highlights the need for anglers and boaters to be aware of new bait regulations and the dangers of moving live baitfish and water between water bodies. On Jan. 1, 2012, new regulations designed to prevent further spread of aquatic nuisance species (ANS) require anglers to use wild-caught baitfish only in the lakes or streams where they were caught. In addition, livewells and bilges of boats must be drained prior to transport from any Kansas water on a public highway. And anglers may not transport live fish from any ANS-designated water. Chase State Lake is now an ANS-designated water.

Zebra mussels are bean-sized, bi-valve mollusks with striped shells. They are native to the Black and Caspian seas of western Asia and eastern Europe and have been spread across the world via shipping. They were discovered in Lake St. Clair and the Detroit River in 1988. Zebra mussels quickly spread through out the Great Lakes and to many inland rivers including the Mississippi, Illinois, Ohio, Tennessee, Arkansas and Hudson. They first appeared in Kansas in 2003 when they were discovered in El Dorado Reservoir. Public education programs were designed to inform boaters about the dangers of zebra mussels in our waters and ways to prevent spreading them. However, zebra mussels have been confirmed in more than a dozen Kansas lakes in the past nine years. Moving water in boats and bait buckets was identified as a likely vector.

Although related, zebra mussels differ from our native mussels in several important categories. Perhaps the most important is their ability to produce very large populations in a short time. Unlike native mussels, zebra mussels do not require a host fish to reproduce. A large female zebra mussel is capable of producing 1 million eggs during the reproductive season. Once fertilized, eggs develop into microscopic veligers. These veligers cannot be seen by the naked eye and thousands can survive in very small quantities of water. Veligers passively float within the water for up to two weeks before they settle out as young mussels. These young mussels quickly grow to adult size and reproduce during their first summer of life, thus adding to the problem of extremely dense populations.

After settling, zebra mussels develop byssal threads that allow the shells to attach to hard surfaces such as rocks, piers, and flooded timber. They also attach themselves to pipes, water intake structures, boat hulls, propellers, and lower units of out board motors. As populations continue to increase in these areas, they can clog intake pipes and prevent water treatment plants and electrical generating plants from drawing water. In 2012, two Kansas communities, Council Grove and Osage City, experienced water shortages because of zebra mussel infestations before water intake structures could be cleaned up. Removing large quantities of zebra mussels to ensure adequate water supplies can be labor-intensive and costly.

Zebra mussels are just one of the non-native aquatic species that threaten our waters and native wildlife. Boaters and anglers must remember to follow regulations and precautions that will prevent the spread:

• Clean, drain and dry boats and equipment between uses

• Use wild-caught bait only in the lake or pool where it was caught

• Do not move live fish from waters infested with zebra mussels or other aquatic nuisance species

• Drain livewells and bilges and remove drain plugs from all vessels prior to transport from any Kansas water on a public highway.

For more information on stopping aquatic nuisance species in Kansas, visit ProtectKSWaters.org

 

 

 

General Information
Address:
1130 Lake Road
 
Council Grove, KS    66846
County/Counties:

Chase SFL & WA (PDF 272.79 kB)

Manager: Brent Konen
Phone: (620) 767-5900

Chase State Fishing Lake and Wildlife Area is located in central Chase County, 1.5 miles west of Cottonwood Falls in the center of the scenic Flint Hills region of Kansas.


Special Regulations
  • Special length and creel limits may apply to some fish species at Chase State Fishing Lake. Please consult the Chase State Fishing Lake Fishing Information Page or area information signs for posted notices prior to fishing.
  • Consumption of alcoholic beverages is prohibited.
  • Vehicles are restricted to established maintained roads. Off-road vehicle use is prohibited.
  • A No Trash Policy is in effect. Trash barrels and dumpsters are not provided and area visitors are asked to take all trash with them.
  • Motorboats must be used for hunting or fishing purposes only.
  • Ground fires must be contained within provided metal rings only.

Here is a complete list of Public Land Regulations or you can download the regulation summary.

History

The 109 acre lake was constructed in 1954. A perpetual easement was granted to the Kansas Forestry, Fish and Game Commission (a predecessor of the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks) for the lake and the 383 acre wildlife area that same year by Chase County. The easement granted complete control and management of the property to the State of Kansas.

Chase Facilities
East Parking Area
  • Type of Facility: Parking Lot
  • Location of Facility: N38 22 09.6 W096 35 11.9

East Camping Area
  • Type of Facility: Camping Area
  • Location of Facility: N38 22 02.4 W096 35 24.3

Shelterhouse Camping Area
  • Type of Facility: Camping Area
  • Location of Facility: N38 21 56.0 W096 35 38.0

West Camping Area
  • Type of Facility: Camping Area
  • Location of Facility: N38 21 48.8 W096 35 52.4

West Parking Area
  • Type of Facility: Parking Lot
  • Location of Facility: N38 21 54.7 W096 35 45.9
  • Click for more information
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Swimming Beach
  • Type of Facility: Swimming Beach
  • Location of Facility: N38 21 57.5 W096 35 33.3

Shelter receives new roof.
Picnic Shelter
  • Type of Facility: Shelter
  • Location of Facility: N38 21 57.0 W096 35 36.6
  • This Facility is Reservable.

New Courtesy Dock
Boat Ramp and Dock
  • Type of Facility: Boat Ramp
  • This facility is ADA accessible
  • Location of Facility: N38 22 00.5 W096 35 27.9

Restroom and Information Kiosk
  • Type of Facility: Vault Toilet
  • This facility is ADA accessible
  • Location of Facility: N38 22 01.0 W096 35 28.1
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    No water or electricity