Lake Shawnee Fishing Report -
Species Rating Size Bait, Methods, Location
Bluegill Good Up to 10 inches Sunfish can be found near aquatic vegetation.  Bigger sunfish will be on the outside weed line.  Worms and small lures will produce bites
Walleye/Saugeye Fair up to 20 inches Fish can be found on mudflats or near river channels in 10-20ft. Nightcrawlers rigged with bottom bouncers or jigs with plastics are producing bites. 
Channel Catfish Good 0.5-10 lbs Catfish can be caught using stink bait, worms, or cut bait.
Largemouth/Smallmouth Bass Good Up to 5 lbs. Largemouth Bass can be found near aquatic vegetation edges.  Larger bass will be on the outside weed lines.  Soft plastic baits will produce bites.  Topwater baits fished during dawn and dusk can be effective.  Smallmouth can be found on rocky shorelines and steep drop offs.  Crayfish imitations will produce bites. 
White Bass/Wiper Good up to 10 lbs. In late evening or early morning, look for white bass chasing shad schools and breaking the surface.  Cast top water baits to the schools.
Crappie Fair up to 12 inches Crappie can be caught on deep weed edges and brush piles.  Minnows and small jigs will produce bites
Trout Poor up to 5lbs Trout can be caught on powerbait, spoons, or rooster tails.  Trout Season will run from December 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024.  A trout license is required to possess trout during the trout season. After March 31, anyone with a valid fishing license may harvest up to 5 trout/day. 
General Comments

General Comments:

Urban Catfish stocking.  Catchable sized Channel Catfish will be stocked in March, April, May, and September.  

On May 31, the following ponds will be stocked with catchable-sized Channel Catfish: Governor's Ponds, West Lake (Gage Park), Central Park, Shawnee Jr., Horseshoe Bend, Clarion Park, Shawnee State Fishing Lake.

20 cedar tree brush piles were submerged in Feb. 2024.  New habitat should provide good structure for anglers to target.  

Invasive species: 

Zebra Mussels, Eurasian watermilfoil, and Curley-leaf pondweed.  Lake users should clean, drain, and dry fishing equipment and boats to prevent the spread.

2,500 Smallmouth Bass fingerlings were stocking in June 2024. 

400,000 Saugeye fry were stocked in May 2024. The walleye population has been relatively low in recent years.  Saugeye have experienced great success in other Kansas lakes.  Saugeye were first introduced this year.  

50,000 Wiper fry were stocking June 2024.  Wiper provide predatory control on Gizzard Shad.  Too many shad can reduce survival of young of year sportfish species that compete for similar resources. 

8,320 Channel Catfish were stocked in October 2023.

Bass and sunfish populations were surveyed in May 2024.  Both populations are healthy and reproduce naturally.  Largemouth Bass up to 18-20 inches, weighing 5-6lbs are present.