Channel Catfish Forecast
The channel catfish is the bread and butter of Kansas fishing. Found in nearly all waters from large rivers and reservoirs to small prairie streams, good channel cat fishing is never far away. State lakes are also popular places to catch channel cats. Department hatcheries produce millions of channel cats each year. The state record channel cat weighed 36 pounds, 8 ounces. The world record is 58 pounds.
Updated: 03/13/2018
Lakes
| WATERBODY | Density | Preferred | Lunker | Big Fish | Biologist rating | 3-yr average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (>16”) | (>24”) | (>28”) | (LBS.) | (>16”) | ||
| CHANUTE CITY LAKE | 9.25 | 1.00 | 0.75 | 14.46 | E | 4.75 |
| NEBO | 8.33 | 0.33 | 0.00 | 6.61 | G | 3.94 |
| MOUND CITY LAKE | 8.17 | 0.67 | 0.33 | 9.39 | E | 8.17 |
| EUREKA CITY LAKE | 8.00 | 2.00 | 0.50 | 11.45 | E | 6.39 |
| CRITZER LAKE | 7.50 | 0.50 | 0.00 | 5.15 | E | 6.00 |
| CARBONDALE CITY LAKE - EAST | 7.50 | 0.33 | 0.17 | 15.01 | G | 5.06 |
| DOUGLAS | 7.17 | 0.50 | 0.00 | 5.63 | G | 8.11 |
| PLEASANTON - WEST LAKE | 7.00 | 0.33 | 0.00 | 5.83 | E | 11.17 |
| CENTRALIA CITY LAKE | 6.75 | 2.25 | 0.25 | 13.45 | E | 4.21 |
| GARNETT-CEDAR CREEK LAKE | 6.63 | 0.25 | 0.00 | 5.13 | G | 6.94 |
| OLATHE-CEDAR LAKE | 5.75 | 0.75 | 0.00 | 8.70 | G | 6.33 |
| WASHINGTON | 5.75 | 0.25 | 0.00 | 5.25 | G | 4.19 |
| BUTLER | 5.25 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 5.39 | G | 5.25 |
| PLAINVILLE LAKE | 5.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 3.02 | G | 5.00 |
| HARVEY CO. LAKE - EAST | 5.00 | 0.17 | 0.00 | 5.58 | G | 5.00 |
| COWLEY | 4.50 | 0.50 | 0.25 | 12.57 | G | 4.17 |
| MELVERN RIVER POND | 4.50 | 0.50 | 0.25 | 11.51 | G | 3.75 |
| PARSONS CITY LAKE | 4.38 | 0.63 | 0.13 | 7.99 | G | 4.38 |
| HERINGTON CITY LAKE-NEW | 4.25 | 0.25 | 0.00 | 4.96 | G | 2.92 |
| GARNETT CITY LAKE-NORTH | 4.25 | 0.50 | 0.00 | 6.36 | G | 5.63 |
| FORD | 4.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 3.57 | G | 4.00 |
| CLARK | 3.75 | 0.13 | 0.00 | 5.73 | G | 3.58 |
| SEDAN - NEW (SOUTH) CITY LAKE | 3.75 | 1.25 | 0.75 | 21.96 | G | 3.75 |
| HOLTON - BANNER CREEK LAKE | 3.75 | 0.13 | 0.00 | 7.50 | G | 2.97 |
| ANTHONY CITY LAKE | 3.75 | 1.75 | 0.00 | 7.63 | G | 3.75 |
| POTT. CO. - CROSS CREEK LK | 3.67 | 0.67 | 0.33 | 15.65 | G | 2.50 |
| OSAGE | 3.67 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 3.89 | G | 3.17 |
| FORT SCOTT CITY LAKE | 3.63 | 0.63 | 0.00 | 7.48 | G | 3.63 |
| LEBO CITY LAKE | 3.50 | 0.25 | 0.00 | 6.17 | G | 1.75 |
| BOURBON | 3.50 | 0.50 | 0.25 | 9.20 | G | 4.00 |
| GRIDLEY CITY LAKE | 3.33 | 0.33 | 0.00 | 4.03 | G | 5.22 |
| CHASE | 3.25 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 4.34 | G | 4.08 |
| BONE CREEK LAKE | 3.13 | 0.75 | 0.38 | 17.39 | F | 3.00 |
| ATCHISON | 3.00 | 0.25 | 0.00 | 5.87 | G | 3.83 |
| JEWELL | 3.00 | 0.25 | 0.00 | 4.21 | G | 3.25 |
| SHAWNEE CO.-LAKE SHAWNEE | 3.00 | 0.25 | 0.13 | 14.01 | G | 3.19 |
| HOLTON-PRAIRIE LAKE | 3.00 | 0.50 | 0.25 | 10.14 | G | 4.50 |
| KINGMAN | 3.00 | 0.25 | 0.00 | 4.96 | F | 3.50 |
| LYON | 3.00 | 0.17 | 0.17 | 10.58 | G | 1.50 |
| GARDNER CITY LAKE | 2.67 | 0.67 | 0.17 | 10.80 | G | 1.94 |
| LOUISBURG CITY LAKE | 2.67 | 0.67 | 0.33 | 9.13 | G | 2.67 |
| PLEASANTON - EAST LAKE | 2.67 | 0.33 | 0.00 | 8.38 | G | 3.08 |
| MIDDLE CREEK | 2.50 | 0.50 | 0.17 | 10.56 | G | 3.22 |
| NEOSHO | 2.50 | 0.50 | 0.00 | 7.41 | G | 4.17 |
| SHAWNEE | 2.33 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 3.23 | G | 1.78 |
| MIAMI | 2.33 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 3.55 | F | 1.50 |
| LEAVENWORTH | 2.00 | 0.17 | 0.17 | 11.02 | G | 1.56 |
| WILSON | 2.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 4.77 | F | 1.39 |
| BROWN | 2.00 | 0.25 | 0.00 | 4.28 | G | 1.83 |
| POTTAWATOMIE #2 | 2.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2.64 | G | 1.58 |
| OLATHE-LAKE OLATHE | 2.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 3.53 | F | 1.33 |
| MONTGOMERY | 2.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2.29 | F | 1.22 |
| SABETHA - PONY CREEK LAKE | 2.00 | 0.83 | 0.33 | 20.83 | G | 3.00 |
| COUNCIL GROVE CITY LAKE | 2.00 | 0.25 | 0.00 | 4.67 | G | 2.42 |
| JEFFREY EC - AUX. MAKEUP LAKE | 1.88 | 0.25 | 0.13 | 11.90 | F | 1.46 |
| MCPHERSON | 1.80 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 5.13 | G | 1.57 |
| HOWARD-POLK DANIELS LAKE | 1.75 | 0.75 | 0.25 | 13.45 | G | 2.08 |
| GRAHAM CO.-ANTELOPE LAKE | 1.75 | 0.50 | 0.00 | 7.41 | G | 2.17 |
| YATES CENTER CITY LAKE-NEW | 1.67 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 3.02 | F | 1.06 |
| WINFIELD CITY LAKE | 1.60 | 0.10 | 0.00 | 7.48 | G | 2.37 |
| YATES CENTER-SOUTH OWL LAKE | 1.50 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 4.81 | F | 1.28 |
| PAOLA CITY LAKE | 1.50 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 4.95 | F | 2.44 |
| OTTAWA | 1.40 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 4.24 | F | 0.80 |
| CRAWFORD | 1.33 | 0.17 | 0.00 | 7.03 | G | 2.39 |
| GREAT BEND-STONE PARK LAKE | 1.33 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2.19 | F | 0.67 |
| MOLINE NEW (NORTH) CITY LAKE | 1.33 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 3.00 | F | 0.72 |
| OLPE CITY LAKE | 1.25 | 0.25 | 0.00 | 4.99 | F | 0.75 |
| JEFFREY EC - MAKEUP LAKE | 1.17 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 4.94 | F | 0.78 |
| LENEXA-LAKE LENEXA | 1.00 | 0.33 | 0.00 | 6.14 | F | 1.22 |
| KIOWA | 1.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2.46 | F | 0.67 |
| THAYER CITY LAKE | 1.00 | 0.25 | 0.00 | 5.95 | G | 0.75 |
| PRATT CO. LAKE | 1.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 5.27 | F | 1.33 |
| DOUGLAS CO.-LONESTAR LAKE | 1.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2.63 | F | 1.89 |
| MOLINE OLD (SOUTH) CITY LAKE | 1.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 3.84 | F | 1.92 |
| MADISON CITY LAKE | 1.00 | 0.17 | 0.00 | 5.37 | G | 1.94 |
| WELLINGTON CITY LAKE | 0.83 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 4.07 | G | 1.61 |
| BARBER -LOWER | 0.67 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 3.09 | F | 0.47 |
| ELLIS CITY LAKE | 0.67 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 4.40 | F | 0.50 |
| GEARY | 0.50 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2.69 | F | 1.67 |
| MEADE STATE LAKE | 0.50 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1.74 | F | 1.22 |
| SCOTT STATE LAKE | 0.42 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 5.16 | F | 0.47 |
| POTTAWATOMIE #1 | 0.33 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1.75 | P | 0.22 |
| ROOKS STATE LAKE | 0.25 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2.63 | F | 0.25 |
| HORSETHIEF | 0.25 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2.54 | G | 0.64 |
| LOGAN CITY LAKE | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1.21 | F | 0.00 |
| SHERIDAN | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.54 | P | 0.11 |
| ATWOOD - LAKE ATWOOD-MAIN | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.78 | P | 0.00 |
Updated: 03/13/2018
Ponds
| WATERBODY | Density | Preferred | Lunker | Big Fish | Biologist rating | 3-yr average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (>16”) | (>24”) | (>28”) | (LBS.) | (>16”) | ||
| JEWELL CITY LAKE | 4.50 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 3.92 | G | 2.39 |
| PARKER CITY LAKE | 1.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2.18 | G | 1.00 |
| LAWRENCE - P. DAWSON BILLINGS - N | 1.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1.89 | F | 1.00 |
| STERLING CITY LAKE | 0.33 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 3.25 | F | 0.50 |
| GLEN ELDER SP POND | 0.33 | 0.33 | 0.00 | 6.33 | F | 0.33 |
| OVERBROOK CITY LAKE | 0.25 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1.41 | G | 2.13 |
| SEVERY CITY LAKE | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1.10 | F | 0.44 |
Updated: 03/12/2018
Reservoirs
* - Designates waters that were not tested during the current year.
| WATERBODY | Density | Preferred | Lunker | Big Fish | Biologist rating | 3-yr average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (>16”) | (>24”) | (>28”) | (LBS.) | (>16”) | ||
| CLINTON | 6.06 | 0.38 | 0.06 | 9.45 | G | 5.42 |
| MARION | 5.20 | 0.73 | 0.13 | 8.84 | G | 3.62 |
| BIG HILL | 5.10 | 0.30 | 0.00 | 5.74 | G | 4.68 |
| HILLSDALE | 5.08 | 0.25 | 0.17 | 9.89 | G | 4.25 |
| MELVERN | 4.50 | 0.19 | 0.00 | 6.67 | G | 3.75 |
| LOVEWELL | 4.30 | 0.60 | 0.00 | 7.25 | G | 2.78 |
| ELK CITY | 4.08 | 1.08 | 0.00 | 7.46 | G | 3.79 |
| KANOPOLIS | 3.71 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 4.56 | G | 3.05 |
| POMONA | 3.25 | 0.25 | 0.00 | 4.91 | G | 3.57 |
| COUNCIL GROVE | 2.60 | 0.30 | 0.00 | 8.07 | G | 1.78 |
| WILSON | 2.57 | 0.10 | 0.00 | 7.93 | G | 2.06 |
| PERRY | 2.45 | 0.34 | 0.03 | 8.60 | G | 2.45 |
| LACYGNE | 2.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 3.93 | G | 1.76 |
| TORONTO | 1.75 | 0.67 | 0.17 | 9.64 | G | 1.69 |
| GLEN ELDER | 1.67 | 0.21 | 0.04 | 14.18 | F | 1.90 |
| FALL RIVER | 1.25 | 0.50 | 0.17 | 11.49 | G | 1.11 |
| CHENEY | 1.15 | 0.60 | 0.15 | 13.07 | F | 0.85 |
| MILFORD | 1.15 | 0.10 | 0.00 | 6.59 | F | 1.20 |
| WOLF CREEK | 1.13 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 4.25 | F | 1.10 |
| JOHN REDMOND | 1.06 | 0.56 | 0.56 | 22.05 | G | 0.84 |
| WEBSTER | 1.00 | 0.08 | 0.00 | 6.04 | F | 0.99 |
| CEDAR BLUFF | 0.35 | 0.04 | 0.00 | 5.81 | F | 0.35 |
| KIRWIN | 0.33 | 0.17 | 0.00 | 6.71 | F | 0.61 |
| EL DORADO | 0.27 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 3.78 | G | 0.31 |
| SEBELIUS (NORTON) | 0.20 | 0.10 | 0.10 | 9.45 | F | 0.33 |
| TUTTLE CREEK | 0.15 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 4.38 | F | 0.45 |