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: 02/07/2019
Lakes
| Water | Density | Preferred | Lunker | Big Fish | Biologist rating | 3 year average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (>16”) | (>24”) | (>28”) | (LBS.) | (>16”) | ||
| PLEASANTON - WEST LAKE | 14.00 | 2.00 | 0.00 | 8.72 | E | 12.11 |
| GARNETT-CEDAR CREEK LAKE | 13.25 | 1.63 | 0.00 | 8.40 | E | 9.15 |
| HOWARD-POLK DANIELS LAKE | 12.00 | 1.50 | 1.00 | 12.74 | G | 5.17 |
| PLAINVILLE LAKE | 11.50 | 0.25 | 0.00 | 5.27 | G | 8.25 |
| FORT SCOTT-ROCK CREEK LAKE | 10.33 | 0.67 | 0.00 | 6.51 | E | 10.33 |
| COUNCIL GROVE CITY LAKE | 9.00 | 1.25 | 0.25 | 8.74 | E | 5.00 |
| NEBO SFL | 8.50 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 5.30 | E | 5.94 |
| HORTON-MISSION LAKE | 8.17 | 0.17 | 0.00 | 5.36 | E | 4.17 |
| EUREKA CITY LAKE | 7.33 | 0.67 | 0.00 | 6.54 | G | 7.56 |
| BUTLER SFL | 7.25 | 0.75 | 0.50 | 14.95 | G | 6.25 |
| CHASE SFL | 7.25 | 0.25 | 0.25 | 13.91 | G | 5.58 |
| MONTGOMERY SFL | 7.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 3.69 | G | 3.39 |
| COWLEY SFL | 5.75 | 0.50 | 0.25 | 14.23 | G | 4.92 |
| OLATHE-CEDAR LAKE | 5.50 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 4.57 | G | 6.42 |
| SABETHA CITY LAKE | 5.33 | 0.17 | 0.00 | 6.76 | E | 5.08 |
| CHANUTE CITY LAKE | 5.25 | 0.75 | 0.00 | 7.14 | G | 5.67 |
| KINGMAN SFL | 5.20 | 1.00 | 0.40 | 8.53 | G | 4.10 |
| CRITZER LAKE | 5.17 | 0.50 | 0.17 | 7.65 | E | 5.72 |
| MOUND CITY LAKE | 5.17 | 1.67 | 0.00 | 7.35 | E | 6.67 |
| BROWN SFL | 4.75 | 0.25 | 0.00 | 5.51 | G | 2.92 |
| MARION COUNTY LAKE | 4.75 | 0.50 | 0.00 | 6.03 | G | 4.00 |
| SHAWNEE SFL | 4.33 | 0.17 | 0.00 | 5.19 | G | 2.67 |
| JEFFREY ENG. CTR.- AUX. MAKEUP LAKE | 4.25 | 0.75 | 0.38 | 10.98 | G | 2.71 |
| ATCHISON SFL | 4.25 | 0.25 | 0.00 | 6.61 | G | 3.17 |
| POTTAWATOMIE SFL #2 | 4.25 | 0.50 | 0.25 | 8.66 | G | 2.67 |
| WASHINGTON SFL | 4.25 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 5.20 | G | 4.50 |
| JEWELL SFL | 4.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 3.25 | G | 2.92 |
| BOURBON SFL | 3.75 | 0.25 | 0.00 | 4.45 | G | 3.92 |
| NEOSHO SFL | 3.75 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 4.03 | G | 4.17 |
| DOUGLAS SFL | 3.67 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 3.47 | G | 7.44 |
| PARKER CITY LAKE | 3.67 | 0.33 | 0.33 | 8.64 | G | 2.33 |
| YATES CENTER CITY LAKE-NEW | 3.67 | 0.33 | 0.33 | 11.04 | G | 2.11 |
| LYON SFL | 3.50 | 0.17 | 0.17 | 15.87 | G | 2.56 |
| HOLTON - BANNER CREEK LAKE | 3.38 | 0.50 | 0.13 | 13.23 | G | 3.43 |
| MIDDLE CREEK SFL | 3.17 | 0.50 | 0.00 | 4.78 | G | 3.39 |
| SEVERY CITY LAKE | 3.00 | 0.67 | 0.00 | 7.18 | F | 1.22 |
| WINFIELD CITY LAKE | 2.90 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 3.73 | G | 2.83 |
| SEDAN - OLD (NORTH) CITY LAKE | 2.75 | 0.75 | 0.25 | 13.37 | E | 2.75 |
| THAYER CITY LAKE (NEW) | 2.75 | 0.50 | 0.00 | 6.46 | G | 3.13 |
| MCPHERSON SFL | 2.70 | 0.20 | 0.00 | 5.21 | F | 2.17 |
| GREAT BEND-VETS PARK LAKE | 2.67 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2.78 | F | 2.17 |
| GARNETT-CRYSTAL LAKE | 2.67 | 0.33 | 0.00 | 7.89 | G | 1.33 |
| GRIDLEY CITY LAKE | 2.67 | 0.67 | 0.00 | 7.19 | G | 4.56 |
| GRAHAM COUNTY-ANTELOPE LAKE | 2.50 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 4.38 | F | 2.58 |
| (FISH) GRAHAM CO - TREXLER POND | 2.33 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2.29 | F | 1.11 |
| ALTAMONT CITY LAKE-WEST | 2.33 | 2.33 | 1.33 | 11.80 | G | 2.33 |
| BONE CREEK LAKE | 2.25 | 1.00 | 0.50 | 28.75 | E | 2.67 |
| YATES CENTER-SOUTH OWL LAKE | 2.17 | 0.17 | 0.00 | 5.82 | G | 1.72 |
| HARVEY COUNTY LAKE - EAST | 2.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 5.22 | E | 3.50 |
| MADISON CITY LAKE | 2.00 | 0.17 | 0.00 | 6.00 | G | 1.83 |
| STERLING CITY LAKE | 2.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2.09 | F | 1.00 |
| GEARY SFL | 1.75 | 0.25 | 0.00 | 7.13 | F | 2.08 |
| LOGAN CITY LAKE | 1.75 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 3.29 | F | 0.88 |
| SEDAN - NEW (SOUTH) CITY LAKE | 1.75 | 0.50 | 0.00 | 9.19 | G | 2.75 |
| BROWNING OXBOW | 1.67 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 5.51 | P | 1.67 |
| ALTAMONT CITY LAKE-EAST | 1.67 | 1.67 | 0.33 | 12.80 | F | 1.67 |
| PLEASANTON - EAST LAKE | 1.67 | 0.17 | 0.17 | 10.06 | F | 2.61 |
| SABETHA - PONY CREEK LAKE | 1.50 | 0.50 | 0.17 | 13.23 | P | 2.17 |
| CRAWFORD SFL | 1.33 | 0.17 | 0.00 | 6.81 | F | 2.00 |
| ALMA CITY LAKE | 1.33 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1.75 | F | 2.17 |
| CENTRALIA CITY LAKE | 1.25 | 0.25 | 0.13 | 12.61 | G | 3.71 |
| LEBO CITY LAKE | 1.25 | 0.25 | 0.00 | 6.23 | F | 2.08 |
| ANTHONY CITY LAKE | 1.20 | 0.20 | 0.00 | 6.72 | F | 2.48 |
| MEADE STATE LAKE | 1.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1.83 | F | 1.06 |
| ROOKS STATE LAKE | 1.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1.83 | F | 0.63 |
| WILSON SFL | 1.00 | 0.33 | 0.00 | 8.82 | G | 1.06 |
| GREAT BEND-STONE PARK LAKE | 1.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1.92 | F | 0.94 |
| HERINGTON CITY LAKE-NEW | 1.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 3.97 | F | 2.67 |
| LENEXA-LAKE LENEXA | 1.00 | 0.33 | 0.00 | 5.59 | F | 1.00 |
| MOLINE NEW (NORTH) CITY LAKE | 1.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1.60 | F | 0.83 |
| LEAVENWORTH SFL | 0.67 | 0.17 | 0.00 | 7.14 | P | 1.28 |
| EDNA CITY LAKE | 0.67 | 0.33 | 0.00 | 4.83 | F | 0.67 |
| ELLIS CITY LAKE | 0.67 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2.76 | F | 0.56 |
| WELLINGTON CITY LAKE | 0.67 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1.66 | G | 1.17 |
| JEFFREY ENERGY CENTER - MAKE UP LAKE | 0.50 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2.01 | F | 0.83 |
| MIAMI SFL | 0.50 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 3.95 | F | 1.50 |
| OLPE CITY LAKE | 0.50 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2.45 | F | 0.75 |
| PAOLA CITY LAKE | 0.50 | 0.17 | 0.17 | 13.89 | F | 2.39 |
| BLACK KETTLE SFL | 0.33 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1.98 | P | 0.50 |
| ATWOOD-LAKE ATWOOD-MAIN | 0.33 | 0.33 | 0.00 | 6.88 | F | 0.11 |
| MOLINE OLD (SOUTH) CITY LAKE | 0.25 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 3.99 | F | 1.75 |
| GLEN ELDER STATE PARK POND | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | F | 0.33 |
| OTTAWA SFL | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.75 | F | 0.74 |
| POTTAWATOMIE SFL #1 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1.01 | P | 0.22 |
| SCOTT STATE LAKE | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.60 | G | 0.22 |
| SHERIDAN SFL | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.64 | P | 0.06 |
| AGRA CITY LAKE | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.44 | F | 0.00 |
| OLATHE-LAKE OLATHE | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1.07 | F | 1.11 |
Updated: 02/07/2019
Ponds
| Water | Density | Preferred | Lunker | Big Fish | Biologist rating | 3 year average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (>16”) | (>24”) | (>28”) | (LBS.) | (>16”) | ||
| JEWELL CITY LAKE | 5.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 4.87 | G | 3.39 |
| ELWOOD WILDLIFE AREA POND | 0.25 | 0.25 | 0.00 | 7.72 | P | 0.25 |
| BELLEVILLE-ROCKY POND | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1.29 | F | 0.00 |
Updated: 02/07/2019
Reservoirs
* - Designates waters that were not tested during the current year.
| Water | Density | Preferred | Lunker | Big Fish | Biologist rating | 3 year average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (>16”) | (>24”) | (>28”) | (LBS.) | (>16”) | ||
| BIG HILL | 4.60 | 0.60 | 0.00 | 6.16 | G | 4.68 |
| CLINTON | 4.50 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 4.33 | G | 5.48 |
| HILLSDALE | 4.08 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 5.04 | G | 4.53 |
| ELK CITY | 3.50 | 0.69 | 0.13 | 8.62 | G | 3.53 |
| MELVERN | 3.25 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 3.28 | G | 3.71 |
| WILSON | 3.07 | 0.37 | 0.03 | 9.23 | F | 2.46 |
| LOVEWELL | 3.00 | 0.60 | 0.20 | 13.58 | G | 3.35 |
| MARION | 2.60 | 0.13 | 0.07 | 11.70 | G | 3.73 |
| FALL RIVER | 2.33 | 1.00 | 0.33 | 9.59 | G | 1.56 |
| GLEN ELDER | 2.08 | 0.50 | 0.13 | 18.12 | G | 1.72 |
| POMONA | 1.83 | 0.08 | 0.00 | 5.03 | G | 2.74 |
| WEBSTER | 1.75 | 0.58 | 0.08 | 13.00 | G | 1.11 |
| TORONTO | 1.67 | 0.67 | 0.17 | 13.23 | G | 1.44 |
| PERRY | 1.45 | 0.15 | 0.00 | 6.86 | F | 2.05 |
| KIRWIN | 1.40 | 0.73 | 0.13 | 12.91 | G | 0.61 |
| KANOPOLIS | 1.31 | 0.06 | 0.00 | 5.11 | G | 2.17 |
| WOLF CREEK | 1.11 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 5.54 | G | 1.11 |
| JOHN REDMOND | 0.95 | 0.45 | 0.40 | 17.64 | G | 0.95 |
| LACYGNE | 0.92 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 3.57 | G | 1.56 |
| CHENEY | 0.55 | 0.30 | 0.05 | 9.79 | G | 0.70 |
| MILFORD | 0.50 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 3.48 | F | 0.80 |
| EL DORADO | 0.40 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 3.10 | F | 0.28 |
| SEBELIUS (NORTON) | 0.30 | 0.20 | 0.20 | 13.21 | F | 0.27 |
| COUNCIL GROVE | 0.27 | 0.07 | 0.07 | 6.83 | F | 1.38 |
| CEDAR BLUFF | 0.25 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2.52 | P | 0.29 |