Southwest 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.
BARBER STATE FISHING LAKE - LOWER - Last Updated: 8/12/2019
| Species | Rating | Size | Baits, Method, & Location |
| Crappie | No report | Up to 12 inches | Try minnows, small slab spoons, or jigs around brush in 4-8 feet of water. |
| Channel catfish | No report | Up to 5 lbs | Try fishing anywhere water is running in. Try prepared stinkbait, cut bait or liver under a bobber or on the bottom. Also try drifting nightcrawlers. |
| Largemouth bass | No report | Up to 4 lbs | Try spinnerbaits and plastics around the submerged brush. |
| Bluegill | No report | Up to 8 inches | Try small jigs, crickets or worms under a bobber around brush and rock piles. |
| Walleye | No report | Up to 4 lbs | Try curl tail jigs or slim minnow type baits around the dam. |
Water temperatures should be in the upper 70's. Most fishing should be typical summer time patterns.
You may call the Dodge City Regional office as 620-227-8609 to make a report.
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!
A Dodge City District newsletter is available. Information about fishing and fisheries management throughout southwest Kansas will be updated at least twice each year. If you would like to subscribe to this newsletter you can go to the following link to get on the mailing list. http://kdwp.state.ks.us/news/KDWP-Info/News/Newsletter-Request-Forms/Request-a-Newsletter-for-the-Dodge-City-Fishing-District
CLARK STATE FISHING LAKE - Last Updated: 8/12/2019
Work to repair the Clark State Fishing Lake spillway will begin May 20, 2019, weather permitting, and will entail lowering the lake level only about 11 feet. To learn more, CLICK HERE.
| Species | Rating | Size | Baits, Method, & Location |
| Crappie | Slow | up to 11 inches | Jigs cast around any deeper brush |
| Channel catfish | Good | Stinkbait, worms and livers fished on the bottom | |
| Largemouth bass | Good | Just about any artificial bait seems to be working right now, especially topwater baits early in the morning and late in the day. | |
| Bluegill | Good | Worms and crickets under a bobber as well and small jigs. | |
| Walleye | Slow | Jig and nightcrawler | |
| White bass | Fair | Jigs, small crankbaits and topwaters. |
The repair work is progressing with the lake about 11 feet low. Very difficult to get a boat on the water and MUCH more difficult to get it loaded back on the trailer.
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!
A Dodge City District newsletter is available. Information about fishing and fisheries management throughout southwest Kansas will be updated at least twice each year. If you would like to subscribe to this newsletter you can go to the following link to get on the mailing list. http://kdwp.state.ks.us/news/KDWP-Info/News/Newsletter-Request-Forms/Request-a-Newsletter-for-the-Dodge-City-Fishing-District
HORSETHIEF RESERVOIR - Last Updated: 8/12/2019
| Species | Rating | Size | Baits, Method, & Location |
| Crappie | Slow | Up to 12 inches | Try minnows, small slab spoons, or jigs around brush in 4-8 feet of water. |
| Channel catfish | Good | Up to 5 lbs | Try fishing the upper lake where water is running in. Try prepared stinkbait, cut bait or liver under a bobber or on the bottom. Also try drifting nightcrawlers. |
| Largemouth bass | Slow | Up to 4 lbs | Try spinnerbaits and plastics around cover and the rocks. |
| Bluegill | Fair | Up to 8 inches | Try small jigs, crickets or worms under a bobber around brush and rock piles. |
| Walleye | Slow | Up to 8 lbs | Try jig and worm, curl tail jigs or crankbaits. |
Water temperatures should be in the upper 70's. Most fish should be in typical summer time patterns.
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!
A Dodge City District newsletter is available. Information about fishing and fisheries management throughout southwest Kansas will be updated at least twice each year. If you would like to subscribe to this newsletter you can go to the following link to get on the mailing list. http://kdwp.state.ks.us/news/KDWP-Info/News/Newsletter-Request-Forms/Request-a-Newsletter-for-the-Dodge-City-Fishing-District
MEADE STATE LAKE - Last Updated: 8/12/2019
| Species | Rating | Size | Baits, Method, & Location |
| Crappie | No report | Up to 12 inches | Try minnows, small slab spoons, or jigs around brush in 4-8 feet of water. |
| Channel catfish | No report | Up to 5 lbs | Try fishing on windblown side of the lake. Try prepared stinkbait, cut bait or liver under a bobber or on the bottom. Also try drifting nightcrawlers. |
| Largemouth bass | No report | Up to 4 lbs | Try spinnerbaits around the brush piles and cattails. Topwater baits early and late. |
| Bluegill | No report | Up to 8 inches | Try small jigs, crickets or worms under a bobber around brush and rock piles. |
| Flathead catfish | No report | Up to 40 lbs | Live bait around brushpiles |
Water temperatures should be in the upper 70's. Most fish should be in summer time patterns.
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!
A Dodge City District newsletter is available. Information about fishing and fisheries management throughout southwest Kansas will be updated at least twice each year. If you would like to subscribe to this newsletter you can go to the following link to get on the mailing list. http://kdwp.state.ks.us/news/KDWP-Info/News/Newsletter-Request-Forms/Request-a-Newsletter-for-the-Dodge-City-Fishing-District
PRATT COUNTY LAKE - Last Updated: 7/3/2019
The fish salvage condition is no longer in place at Pratt County Lake. The repairs have been completed and the lake is filling. On July 2, 700 pounds of channel catfish averaging 1.5 pounds each were stocked to begin building fish populations back up. Largemouth bass, walleye and wipers, as well as more channel catfish, will be stocked when they are available.
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!
A Dodge City District newsletter is available. Information about fishing and fisheries management throughout southwest Kansas will be updated at least twice each year. If you would like to subscribe to this newsletter you can go to the following link to get on the mailing list. http://kdwp.state.ks.us/news/KDWP-Info/News/Newsletter-Request-Forms/Request-a-Newsletter-for-the-Dodge-City-Fishing-District
SCOTT STATE LAKE - Last Updated: 8/9/2019
| Species | Rating | Size | Baits, Method & Location |
| Channel Catfish | Good | Most in the 13 to 18 inch range | Fishing shrimp, cut or prepared baits lake-wide. |
| Crappie | Fair | Up to 13 inches | Minnows under a bobber up in the creek or drifting jigs or minnows in deeper water out in the main lake has been best. |
| Largemouth Bass | Fair/Good | Up to 5.5 lbs. | Casting soft plastics and swim baits around shoreline habitat and brush piles. |
| Sunfish | Good | Up to 8 inches | Worms and small jigs fished around laydown trees and shrubs along the shoreline has been productive for some pretty nice fish in the 6-7 inch range. |
| Saugeye/Walleye | Fair | Up to 7 lbs. | Casting minnow-imitating swim baits or crank baits over points, along edges of cattails, or over edges of the dredge channel. |
| General Comments | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Release all walleye/saugeye less than 18 inches and largemouth bass less than 15 inches. 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! Cedar Bluff District Newsletter: A biannual newsletter detailing fishing related projects and activities in the Cedar Bluff District, which includes such waters as Cedar Bluff Reservoir, Sheridan and Scott State Fishing Lakes, Antelope Lake, and other public fishing waters in northwest Kansas are available. If you would like to subscribe to this newsletter you can go to the following link to get on the mailing list. The link is: http://kdwp.state.ks.us/news/KDWP-Info/News/Newsletter-Request-Forms/Request-a-Newsletter-for-the-Cedar-Bluff-Fishing-District | |||