SMALLMOUTH BASS

Smallmouth Bass Image

The smallmouth is a hard-fighting sport fish native only to a few waters in the southeastern corner of Kansas. Introduced in several larger reservoirs, the smallmouth has adapted well and attracts a growing number of angler fans. Smallmouths prefer clear water and rocky structure. The mouth of the smallmouth extends to just below the eye. The world record smallmouth weighed a whopping 11 pounds, 15 ounces. The Kansas record is 6 pounds, 6 ounces.

Regulations
115-07-08 (PDF - 51.15 kB)

Bass fishing tournaments.

115-18-20 (PDF - 8.80 kB)

Tournament bass pass; requirements, restrictions, and pass duration.

115-07-09 (PDF - 57.25 kB)

Weigh-in black bass fishing tournaments not using tournament black bass pass.

115-18-08 (PDF - 9.48 kB)

Retrieval and possession of game animals and migratory game birds - Requirements

115-17-02 (PDF - 113.59 kB)

Commercial Sale of Fish Bait

Fishing Forecast Information

View Fishing Forecast definitions

 

Updated: 02/08/2024

Lakes

NAME Density Preferred Lunker Big fish Bio rating
SMALLMOUTH BASS          
  (>11") (>14") (>17") (lbs.) BR
WINFIELD CITY LAKE 6.00 2.82 0.71 3.68 F
JEFFREY EC-AUXILIARY LAKE 3.56 1.10 0.39 2.55 F
POTTAWATOMIE SFL #2 3.54 0.87 0.00 1.64 F
GREAT BEND-STONE PARK LAKE 2.37 0.00 0.00 1.15 P
BANNER CREEK LAKE 1.18 0.47 0.00 1.42 F
LAKE SHAWNEE 1.15 0.46 0.00 2.16 P
JEFFREY EC-MAKE UP LAKE 1.10 1.10 0.00 2.19 P
GEARY SFL 0.99 0.99 0.00 2.11 P
GRIDLEY CITY LAKE 0.45 0.45 0.00 1.18 P
MELVERN RIVER POND 0.37 0.00 0.00 0.83 P
PRATT COUNTY LAKE 0.25 0.25 0.00 2.11 P
JEWELL SFL 0.20 0.20 0.20 4.25 P
Updated: 02/08/2024

Reservoirs

NAME Density Preferred Lunker Big fish Bio rating
SMALLMOUTH BASS          
  (>11") (>14") (>17") (lbs.) BR
MELVERN 18.69 9.43 0.69 2.86 E
WILSON 13.50 8.53 2.61 3.70 G
GLEN ELDER 11.35 7.90 1.34 3.29 G
WOLF CREEK 7.02 6.09 3.76 5.07 F
BIG HILL 6.59 2.72 0.80 3.79 F
MILFORD 5.52 2.48 0.23 3.08 F
EL DORADO 5.14 2.57 0.43 2.71 F
CLINTON 4.31 1.78 0.37 4.16 F
PERRY 1.24 1.10 0.27 3.87 F
CEDAR BLUFF 0.38 0.19 0.05 3.50 G
HILLSDALE 0.29 0.29 0.15 3.01 P
Stocking Records Information
Smallmouth Bass Image

The smallmouth is a hard-fighting sport fish native only to a few waters in the southeastern corner of Kansas. Introduced in several larger reservoirs, the smallmouth has adapted well and attracts a growing number of angler fans. Smallmouths prefer clear water and rocky structure. The mouth of the smallmouth extends to just below the eye. The world record smallmouth weighed a whopping 11 pounds, 15 ounces. The Kansas record is 6 pounds, 6 ounces.

Impoundment Size Stocking Date Quantity Species Stocking Year
Woodson State Fishing Lake Fingerlings 2021-06-24 185 Smallmouth Bass 2021
Colby-Villa High Lake Intermediates 2020-06-19 68 Smallmouth Bass 2020
Woodson State Fishing Lake Fingerlings 2020-07-02 814 Smallmouth Bass 2020
Clinton Reservoir Fingerlings 2019-06-18 8836 Smallmouth Bass 2019