Northwest Region Fishing Reports
Fishing reports provide general angling information from KDWPT staff. The department cannot update the reports on a regular, frequent basis. Many factors determine angling success, and fishing conditions and individual fishing success may vary from the report. Anglers are responsible for deciding what species to fish for, what methods to use, and where and when to fish. You can help fellow anglers by sharing successful fishing notes at http://www.facebook.com/kdwpt.
OTTAWA STATE FISHING LAKE - Last Updated: 4/11/2024
| Species | Rating | Size | Baits, Method, Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | Fair to Good | 12-18 inches | Bass should be feeding heavily in preparation for the spawn in May. Fish can be caught around any aquatic vegetation, off the rocky jetties, and around the overhanging trees in the water. Fish can be caught use wacky worms, Senkos, Ned Rigs, spinnerbaits, roadrunners, and crankbaits. |
| Bluegill/Sunfish | Good | 5 to 7 Inches | Look for bluegill around the rocks on the piers, flat shorelines, and around any brush in the water. Worms and small jigs are a good bet. These guys can be caught throughout the year using a variety of techniques. Some anglers prefer to fly fish with small nymphs or dry flies fished on the surface. |
| Channel Catfish | Fair to Good | 12-25 inches | Fish can be caught just about anywhere on the lake. Anglers should try using shad sides, shad gizzards, shrimp, nightcrawlers, and chicken liver. Targeting inflow is a popular method as the catfish will congregate there to feed. The shallow upper end is a great area to find big catfish on warm days. |
| Saugeye | Fair | 18-25 inches | The best number of saugeye can be found on the upper end around the jetties and other rocky areas. Jig and crawler, large shiners, crankbaits, and swim baits are all good options to use for catching saugeye now. Anglers will also find some around the brush piles and off the ends of the jetties closest to the dam. |
| Crappie | Good | 8-15 inches | Anglers should target the brush piles and other submerged structure with minnows and jigs. Focus on deeper structure like brushpiles and rocks during summer. Anglers are encouraged to harvest high numbers of crappie to help maintain a desirable level. Our recent sample indicated there are very high numbers of crappie in the lake now and anglers could have great success throughout the year. |
| General Comments | |||
| Water Temperature--52ºF CAUTION: LONGER BOAT TRAILERS MAY FALL OFF EDGE OF BOAT RAMP WHEN WATER IS LOW | |||
CEDAR BLUFF RESERVOIR - Last Updated: 4/14/2024
| Species | Rating | Size | Baits, Method, Location |
| Black Bass | Fair/Good | Up to 6 lbs. | Casting lightly weighted swimbaits or other soft plastics along rocky, sun-warmed shorelines. |
| Channel Catfish | Slow | Up to 12 lbs. | No Report. |
| Crappie | Slow | Up to 15 inches | Vertically fishing jigs and minnows around flooded timber and brush primarily in the mouths of coves. |
| Walleye | Fair | Up to 28 inches | Spawning activity is winding down. Look for fish to begin post-spawn feeding where they can be caught drifting or casting jigs tipped with nightcrawlers, and shad imitating swim baits and crank baits over main lake points and other structure. |
| White Bass/Wipers | Fair/Good | Whites up to 17 inches Wipers up to 13.5 lbs. | Casting shad imitating jigs and swim baits over wind-swept shallow areas in coves, especially those characterized by a hard bottom type. |
| WATER TEMPERATURE-48 degrees F SURFACE ELEVATION- 2124.10 ft. above MSL-19.90 ft. below conservation pool ATTENTION: An established zebra mussel population has been documented at this water making Cedar Bluff an ANS designated water. With this designation, regulations are in effect primarily aimed at discouraging water containing microscopic zebra mussel larvae from leaving the property and establishing in new waters. Any time one leaves the reservoir it is best to clean mud, vegetation, or attached zebra mussel adults off of boats and other equipment, drain any thing on a boat or other equipment that holds water, and allow boats and other equipment to dry completely before using them at another body of water. It is now illegal to use wild-caught bait from Cedar Bluff at any other water. Live fish are not to be taken off the property. And all livewells and bilges must be drained prior to leaving the property. It is illegal to release fish into public water unless it was taken from that water. So please discard any leftover bait in a trash can. | |||
GLEN ELDER RESERVOIR - Last Updated: 4/11/2024
| Species | Rating | Size | Baits, Method, Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crappie | Fair | 9-15 inches | As the weather warms fish should be transitioning into the spawn very soon. Anglers target shallow vegetation or wood and rock structure during spawn. Transition areas like points and channel breaks that allow fish to easily move in between shallow and deep water can be good targets. Try fishing deep brush piles and other hard structure for pre- and post-spawn fish. Use minnows, jigs, spoons, or small crankbaits. |
| Trout | Good | 10-15 inches | All trout will be stocked in the GLEN ELDER OUTLET this season due to low water levels in the state park pond. About 825 pounds of quality rainbows were stocked on March 4th. This is the last stocking of the season. Hatchery-raised trout can be targeted by a number of methods. Many anglers use traditional methods like fly fishing or small spinners, while some try corn, pellet feed, and even cheese. Please note the season change, and don't forget ALL anglers fishing in the Glen Elder outlet ARE REQUIRED to have a trout permit Dec. 1 through March 31st! |
| Walleye | Fair to Good | 11-25 inches | Post-spawn walleye disperse from their rocky shoreline spawning areas to feed and recover soon after spawning. Look for river channels or flats with baitfish. Walleye are often caught using nightcrawlers, jigging spoons, minnows, crankbaits, and spinners. |
| Black Bass | Good | 12-20 inches | As the water starts warming up, bass should be in a prespawn feeding mode. Smallmouth tend to prefer harder, rockier bottoms, while Largemouth might be found on softer bottoms and weed beds. Don't overlook standing timber and brush piles. Look for areas that hold baitfish. Use a quarter ounce or an eighth ounce jig tipped with a minnow or baitfish imitation. You could also have success with hair jigs and jigging spoons. With a 21 inch length limit these Smallmouth are almost all sublegal so please handle them with extreme care and release them immediately after catching them. |
| Catfish | Good | 15-35 inches | Channel Cats can be found almost anywhere in the lake. Targeting inflows can be successful after rains. Blue Cats tend to prefer deeper structure or windblown flats. Try river channel bends, old road beds, and submerged bridges. Fall sampling indicated good numbers of blues and channel catfish in the reservoir now. Best baits to use include cut bait, stinkbait, shad sides, shrimp, and nightcrawlers. Remember, there is a 35 inch length limit on blue catfish at Glen Elder. |
| White Bass | Good to Excellent | 11-18 inches | White Bass and Wipers can be found chasing shad near brushpiles, river channels, drop offs, and other structure. Higher numbers of big whites tend to be caught west of the causeway. Look for drop-offs and points for suspended fish. Downwind shorelines can produce good numbers of actively feeding fish. Use a variety of jigs, spinners, or minnows to catch fish all year. |
|
Anglers can now find GPS locations for each of the brush piles located in the reservoir. Simply click on this link Good Fishing Spots and select the individual brush pile. As we enhance these brush piles throughout the year, we'll make a note under each individual location. Current Water Temperature: 53ºF Current Water Level: 5.4 feet low Some boat ramps are unusable due to low water conditions. This currently includes Granite Creek, North Fork River, Carr Creek, and Walnut Creek. Boller Point ramp is very shallow but usable by shallow drafted vessels. Repairs to the face of the dam were completed in February 2023. Water levels should start to rise with rain. | |||
JEWELL STATE FISHING LAKE - Last Updated: 4/11/2024
KANOPOLIS RESERVOIR - Last Updated: 4/11/2024
| Species | Rating | Size | Baits, Method, and Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Channel/Blue Catfish | Good | 16 - 21" | Fishing cut and prepared baits along the river channel from the south boat ramp all the way to buzzard bay. Try deeper catfish humps and structure near bluffs. Remember there is a 35" minimum length limit on Blue Catfish at Kanopolis Reservoir. |
| Crappie | Good | 10 to 14+ inches | Try deeper structure, brush piles, or the river channel with 1/16 oz. jigs and live minnows. As the water warms up look for fish to start moving shallow to spawn. |
| Trout | Good | The third trout stocking for the seep stream occurred on February 16th. | |
| Saugeye | Good | 14 - 22" | Wind blown points and flats in the middle and lower ends of the reservoir are best. Also try shallow shoreline areas first thing in the morning. Shad imitating swimbaits and jigs tipped with minnows or worms can be productive baits. |
| White Bass | Fair | All sizes - up to 17 inches | Casting swimbaits, bucktail jigs, and Kastmaster spoons along wind blown points and areas near the river channel. Using slab spoons or live minnows is also producing some fish right now along brush piles and in the river channel. |
| Wiper | Fair | All sizes | Similar locations and baits as those used for white bass. |
| General Comment | |||
| Current lake elevation and water temperature is available on the location page linked to this fishing report. It is updated daily by the Corps of Engineers. | |||
KEITH SEBELIUS RESERVOIR - Last Updated: 4/16/2024
| Species | Rating | Size | Baits, Method, and Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crappie | Fair | 7 to 16 inches | Did have reports of crappies being caught around the public fishing dock using jigs and jigs tipped with minnows. Would also try fishing the maintained fish attractors. |
| Saugeye/Walleye | Fair | 13 to 27 inches | No Reports. An 18" minimum length limit is in effect. |
| Wiper | Good | 10 to 28 inches | Would recommend fishing for them around the east side of Leota Cove, Monkey Island and Concrete cove using jigs and swim baits. |
| Catfish | Fair | 10 to 30 inches | Did hear of some catfish being caught up in the shallows using shad, gizzards, shrimp, or stink bait on the bottom. |
| Largemouth/Spotted Bass | Good | 10 to 20 inches | Would recommend fishing up in the coves or along the Dam and Breakwater using crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and plastics. |
| General Comments | |||
| WATER TEMPERATURE- 59° SURFACE ELEVATION- 2295.39 ---- 8.91 feet below conservation pool Currently, the water level is 4.34 feet higher than it was one year ago, at this time. Remember it is illegal to release any fish into public water unless it was taken from that water. Please discard leftover bait in a trash can. | |||
KIRWIN RESERVOIR - Last Updated: 4/16/2024
| Species | Rating | Size | Baits, Method, and Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crappie | Fair | 7 to 17 inches | Have had reports of some crappie being caught. The boat closure has expired, and boats are now allowed back on the reservoir. Would recommend fishing the north and south shore fish attractors using jigs and jigs tipped with minnows. Could also possibly catch some off the Dam using jigs and minnows. |
| Walleye | Fair | 10 to 29 inches | Did have reports of some walleye being caught. Might still be able to pick some up off the Dam casting jigs or crankbaits and would also recommend getting the night crawlers our and fish the drop-offs and flats. Trolling diving lures could also be productive. |
| White Bass/ Wiper | Good | 10 to 28 inches | Did have reports of a few being caught. Trolling diving lures up to the upper end and casting jigs could be productive. |
| Catfish | Fair | 10 to 30 inches | Did have reports of some cat's being caught. Would recommend fishing the shallow area with shrimp, cut bait, stink bait or shad off the bottom. |
| Largemouth Bass | Fair | 12 to 22 inches | No Reports |
| General Comments | |||
| WATER TEMPERATURE- 59° SURFACE ELEVATION- 1720.99 ---- 8.26' below conservation pool Currently, the water level is 3.01' lower than it was one year ago, at this time. The north boat ramp courtesy dock has been reinstalled into the reservoir and the south lane of the north ramp is the only usable ramp on the north side. The fish cleaning station is currently closed for the winter. A boat cleaning facility (CD3) has also been added by the fish cleaning station and should be turned on shortly. If you have any questions regarding Kirwin Reservoir and the surrounding public lands, contact the USFWS at 785-543-6673. Remember it is illegal to release any fish into public water unless it was taken from that water. Please discard leftover bait in a trash can. | |||
LOVEWELL RESERVOIR - Last Updated: 4/11/2024
| Species | Rating | Size | Baits, Method, Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walleye | Fair | 16-25 inches | Post-spawn walleye should disperse from their rocky shoreline spawning areas to feed and recover. Look for flats, river channels, and points holding baitfish. Try using jigging spoons, minnows, brightly colored lures, or nightcrawlers. *KDWP stocked 3 million Walleye fry into Lovewell last April and 15,000 intermediates last fall. |
| White Bass/Wipers | Good | 7-14 inches 15-25 inches | White Bass and Wipers will suspend on river channels, drop-offs, and deep brushpiles. Downwind shorelines will attract actively feeding fish. Look for schools of baitfish and these predators are probably nearby. Using a variety of jigs, spinners, or minnows can catch fish most of the year. *600,000 wiper fry were stocked into Lovewell last May |
| Crappie | Fair | 8-14 inches | Crappie should start spawning soon. Typically, crappie will spawn in less the 10 feet of water. Try shallow brush, rocks, or vegetation with gravel bottom when looking for spawning Crappie. Look for places that hold baitfish and structure near these spawning areas as fish transition to the spawn. |
| Catfish | Good | 16 to 38 inches | Fall sampling indicated good numbers of Channel Catfish, Blue Catfish, and Flathead Catfish. Best baits to use for Channel Catfish include stinkbait, shad gizzards, shad sides, shrimp, and nightcrawlers. Blue Catfish usually go for cut bait and Flatheads tend to prefer live bait. Anglers often report good spring catches of blue catfish near Walleye Point, Cedar Point, and Pawnee Point. Remember there is a 35 inch minimum length limit on blue catfish in Lovewell. All blue catfish less than 35 inches must be released immediately. |
| Comments | |||
|
Anglers can now find GPS coordinates, descriptions, and histories of some of the major brush piles in Lovewell. Simply follow this link Good Fishing Spots and select the individual brush pile to find out more information. More Georgia Cubes were added in April 2020! Current water temperature: 54ºF Current water level:0.5 feet low Please discard of leftover bait in a trash can, even baitfish. Remember it is illegal to release any fish into public water unless it was taken from that water! | |||
ROOKS STATE FISHING LAKE - Last Updated: 4/16/2024
| Species | Rating | Size | Baits, Method, and Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| CURRENT FISHING | |||
| Largemouth Bass | Fair | 6-21 inches | No Reports. |
| Bluegill | Fair | 3-9 inches | No Reports. |
| Catfish | Fair | 10-25 inches | Did have reports of some cats being caught off the bottom. |
| Black Crappie | Fair | 5-12 inches | No Reports |
| General Comments | |||
| Water Temp. 61 Degrees Lake is approx. eight to nine feet low. | |||
SHERIDAN STATE FISHING LAKE - Last Updated: 3/22/2024
| Species | Rating | Size | Baits, Method, and Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Comments | |||
| The lake is currently being dewatered to enable lake renovation. As part of lake renovation, the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks has issued Sheridan State Fishing Lake be opened to public fish salvage effective 11/6/2023. The order is posted on signs around the lake. It allows the public to collect fish by any legal methods as well as by hand, dip net, throw net, minnow trap or seine, snagging, gig, speargun, bow and arrow or crossbow with a barbed head and line attached from bow/crossbow to arrow per regulation 115-7-1. This fish salvage order also removes all daily creel limits and size limits per regulation 115-25-14. This public fish salvage will remain in effect until posted notice signage on site is removed. For more information contact Dave Spalsbury, District Fisheries Biologist at 785-726-3212. | |||
WEBSTER RESERVOIR - Last Updated: 4/16/2024
| Species | Rating | Size | Baits, Method, and Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crappie | Fair | 7 to 17 inches | Did have reports of fish being caught on the maintained fish attractors. Would recommend fishing around the north and south shore breakwaters and fish attractors using jigs, slab spoons and jigs with minnows. |
| Walleye | Fair | 14 to 28 inches | Did have reports of some fish being caught. Would recommend fishing for them just outside the maintained fish attractors using jigs and slab spoons. Spawn is winding down, however, should still be some fish to be caught along the Dam. Would also think about getting the night crawlers out and start fishing the drop-offs and flats. Trolling diving lures could also be productive. |
| White Bass/Wiper | Fair | 8 to 28 inches | Did have reports of both species being caught around the north and south shore fish attractors and breakwaters using jigs and jigs tipped with minnow. Trolling diving lures could also be productive. |
| Catfish | Fair | 12 to 30 inches | Did have reports of catfish being caught up in the shallows of Old Marina and Rock Point Coves using shad, shrimp, gizzards, or stink baits on the bottom. |
| Largemouth Bass | Fair | 12 to 22 inches | Did have reports of fish being caught around the maintained fish attractors. |
| General Comments | |||
| WATER TEMPERATURE- 60° SURFACE ELEVATION- 1878.27 ---- 14.18' below conservation pool The water level is 4.89' lower than it was one year ago at this time. Old Marina and Morel boat ramps are not usable; however, Rock Point, Goose Flats and Lakeview boat ramps are open at this time. Fish cleaning station is currently closed for the winter. A boat cleaning station (CD3) has also been added by the fish cleaning station and should be turned on shortly. Remember it is illegal to release any fish into public water unless it was taken from that water. Please discard leftover bait in a trash can. | |||
WILSON RESERVOIR - Last Updated: 4/11/2024
| Species | Rating | Size | Baits, Method, Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Striped Bass | Fair | 7-25 pounds | No Reports. Larger fish are relating to deeper water near Lucas campground, mouth of Marshall Cove, Hell Creek and towards the dam. Try trolling crankbaits, casting/jigging large bucktail jigs, or drifting live shad or sunfish along channel breaks. |
| Walleye | Good | 18-27 inches | Trolling or casting crankbaits and swimbaits over main lake points early morning or late evening are your best bets. As the spawn wraps up look for fishing to pick up as they begin feeding more heavily. |
| Blue/Channel Catfish | Good | 2-20 pounds | Channel Catfish: Fish can be found from shallow to moderate depths. Try cut bait or dough bait thorough the reservoir. Blue Catfish: scattered throughout the reservoir, try fresh cutbait in 6-30 feet of water on river channel swings or flats near these swings. Release all Blue Catfish between 32 - 40 inches. Two can be kept outside this range but only one can be kept over 40 inches. |
| White Bass | Fair | 12-18 inches, up to 3 pounds | No Reports. Casting shad imitating swimbaits and bucktail jigs over windblown points and using slab spoons along the river channel. |
| Black Bass | Good | 12-20 inches | No Reports. Soft plastics, spinnerbaits, and crankbaits around structure. |
| White Perch | Poor | 4 to 12 inches | - IT IS ILLEGAL TO HAVE A WHITE PERCH ALIVE IN YOUR POSSESSION - IF YOU CATCH IT AND WANT TO KEEP IT - IT HAS TO BE DEAD IN A COOLER OR LIVEWELL. THEY ARE NO LONGER LEGAL AS LIVE BAIT FOR STRIPERS OR OTHER FISH!!!!! |
| General Comments | |||
| Lake Elevation = 2.55 feet below conservation pool. We have two Aquatic Invasive Species - white perch and zebra mussels and have joined Cheney and El Dorado as lakes with both species. The law now says that if anyone leaves the lake with water in your livewell or boat, you are subject to a ticket for transporting Zebra Mussels since they will spawn and the microscopic little mussels will probably be in every drop of water in the lake. Make sure you drain all water from the boat before you leave the boat ramp area!!! We have been taking veliger samples and the samples were high so be sure to drain and dry everything!!!!!! | |||